Image processing device, image processing system, program product therefor, and image processing method

• US 8,498,413 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp. (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kita, Hiromi, Kanda, Masakatsu, Suzuki, Tadaomi, Hayashi, Hiroshi, Kimura, Tsutomu, Furuyama, Takeshi, Hanaoka, Shinji, Adachi, Shintaro, Yamada, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Blair, April Y
• Application Number:
  US11/812,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 399/365, 399/366, 380/243
• US Class Current: 380/243
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/323 for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently

Abstract

An image processing device includes: an image obtaining unit that obtains original images one by one from an original document on which image processing is to be performed by the image processing device; an output unit that outputs each of the original images obtained by the image obtaining unit; an information acquiring unit that acquires control information for controlling operations to be performed by the image processing device, the control information being extracted from a control image represented by a specific image in the original image obtained by the image obtaining unit; and a control unit that determines whether the control information acquired by the information acquiring unit requires an authentication, determines whether an output of the original image having the control information is restricted on the basis of a result of the authentication when the control information requires an authentication, restricts the output of the original image when the output is determined to be restricted, and controls the output unit to output the original image when the original image does not require an authentication or when the output of the original image is determined not to be restricted.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising:

a hardware processor that performs image processing configured to;

obtain original images one by one from an original document on which the image processing is to be performed;

output each of the original images obtained;

acquire control information including an authenticated password from the original image; and

in response to the acquired control information from the original image, control a display portion to display a select screen for selecting one of;

(1) a first process of acquiring the authenticated password from the original image;

(2) a second process of outputting a restriction image indicating that the output of the original image is restricted, instead of the original image;

or (3) a third process of skipping the output of the original image, wherein

in response to the first process being selected, control the output portion to output the original image when the authenticated password and an input password inputted by a user are the same,

in response to the second process being selected, control the output portion to output the restriction image, and

in response to the third process being selected, control the output portion to skip the output of the original image.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

combine the original image with the restriction image, wherein;

control to output the restriction image combined with the original image, instead of the original image, when the second process is selected; and

the restriction image is an image that conceals information represented by the original image combined with the restriction image.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction image includes an image that is stored beforehand in a memory unit.

4. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction image includes a blank image or a black image.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, the hardware processor is further configured to:

store the original images;

output an image;

control to store the restriction image instead of the original image when the second process is selected; and

the restriction image is an image that is stored beforehand.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to control to restrict all output operations for images, when all output images are the restriction images.

7. The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to print out a plurality of images stored on one printing face of a printing medium;

and control to restrict printing of all the images printed on the one printing face, when all the images printed on the one printing face are the restriction images.

8. The image processing device according to claim 5, wherein:

the hardware processor is further configured to control to store the original image when the two passwords are the same.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the control information includes request information for requesting a password authentication.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program to execute a process for image processing, the process comprising:

obtaining original images one by one from an original document on which image processing is to be performed;

outputting each of the original images obtained;

acquiring control information including an authenticated password from the original image obtained; and

controlling, in response to the acquired control information from the original image, a display portion to display a select screen for selecting one of;

(1) a first process of acquiring the authenticated password from the original image;

(2) a second process of outputting a restriction image indicating that the output of the original image is restricted, instead of the original image;

or (3) a third process of skipping the output of the original image, wherein

in response to the first process being selected, outputting the original image when the authenticated password and an input password inputted by a user are the same,

in response to the second process being selected, outputting the restriction image, instead of the original image, and

in response to the third process being selected, skipping the output of the original image.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 10, wherein the control information includes request information for requesting a password authentication.

12. An image processing method comprising:

obtaining original images one by one from an original document on which image processing is to be performed;

outputting each of the original images obtained;

acquiring control information including an authenticated password from the original image obtained; and

controlling, in response to the acquired control information from the original image, a display portion to display a select screen for selecting one of;

(1) a first process of acquiring the authenticated password from the original image;

(2) a second process of outputting a restriction image indicating that the output of the original image is restricted, instead of the original image;

or (3) a third process of skipping the output of the original image, wherein

in response to the first process being selected, outputting the original image when the authenticated password and an input password inputted by a user are the same,

in response to the second process being selected, outputting the restriction image, instead of the original image,

in response to the third process being selected, skipping the output of the original image, and

all the steps being performed by a hardware processor.

13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein the control information includes request information for requesting a password authentication.