Image processing apparatus and image processing system

• US 8,018,625 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matsuura, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker; Charlotte M
• Application Number:
  US12/078,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 358/3.28, 358/405, 358/434, 358/404, 358/406, 358/407, 358/435, 358/436, 358/438, 358/439, 382/232, 382/306, 713/176, 235/375, 235/385, 235/491, 283/45, 283/89, 283/900
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/04 Preventing copies being made of an original

Abstract

New information is added to an information medium and is managed such that the information is not leaked when outputted. An image reading section reads the information medium and inputs images including a unique image and a code image. A detecting section determines the code image and the unique image from inputted images to detect the code image. An extracting section restores the code image to obtain confidential information. Alternatively, the extracting section restores the code image and obtains access information. A control section accesses a management apparatus and requests confidential information related to the information medium. The management apparatus transmits the specified confidential information to an image processing apparatus. The control section combines an image of the information medium and the code image or the confidential information and outputs the result. An image forming section prints the image on a record sheet.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reading section for reading an image from an information medium having a unique image and a specific image regarding confidential information formed on the surface of the information medium;

a detecting section for detecting a specific image from the read image;

an extracting section for extracting the confidential information by analyzing the specific image;

an output section for outputting the confidential information as an image along with the unique image and the specific image; and

an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user,

wherein if a user who has instructed outputting is not authenticated, the output section outputs the specific image instead of the confidential information.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output section combines and outputs the unique image, the specific image and the confidential information.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the output section prints the image on a record sheet, the output section prints the confidential information in a margin part.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if a user who has instructed outputting is not authenticated, the output section outputs the specific image instead of the confidential information.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a specific image is a code image produced by encoding confidential information and the extracting section restores a code image to obtain the confidential information.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the unique image and the specific image are formed on the surface of the information medium, and the reading section reads the surface of the information medium and inputs an image.

8. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a reading section for reading an image from an information medium having a unique image and a specific image regarding confidential information formed on the surface of the information medium;

a detecting section for detecting a specific image from the read image;

an extracting section for extracting the confidential information by analyzing the specific image;

an output section for outputting the confidential information as an image along with the unique image and the specific image; and

an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user,

wherein if the user authentication is not performed, the output section does not output the particular image and the confidential information, but only outputs the unique image.

9. An image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and a management apparatus for managing confidential information related to an information medium are connected communicatively, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:

a reading section for reading an image having a unique image and a specific image from the surface of the information medium;

a detecting section for detecting a specific image from the read image;

an extracting section for extracting information to access the confidential information by analyzing the specific image;

an access section for accessing the management apparatus and obtaining the confidential information;

an output section for outputting the obtained confidential information as an image along with the image read from the information medium; and

an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user,

wherein if a user who has instructed outputting is not authenticated, the output section outputs the specific image instead of the confidential information.

10. The image processing system according to claim 9, wherein the output section combines and outputs the image of the information medium and the confidential information.

11. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein when the output section prints the image on a record sheet, the output section prints the confidential information in a margin part.

12. The image processing system according to claim 9, comprising an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user.

13. The image processing system according to claim 12, wherein if a user who has instructed outputting is not authenticated, the output section outputs the specific image instead of the confidential information.

14. The image processing system according to claim 9, wherein a specific image is a code image produced by encoding access information and the extracting section restores a code image to obtain the access information.

15. The image processing system according to claim 14, wherein the management apparatus stores the registered confidential information in the storage section and creates access information corresponding to the confidential information.

16. An image processing system in which an image processing apparatus and a management apparatus for managing confidential information related to an information medium are connected communicatively, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises:

a reading section for reading an image having a unique image and a specific image from the surface of the information medium;

a detecting section for detecting a specific image from the read image;

an extracting section for extracting information to access the confidential information by analyzing the specific image;

an access section for accessing the management apparatus and obtaining the confidential information;

an output section for outputting the obtained confidential information as an image along with the image read from the information medium; and

an authenticating section for authenticating a user, wherein the output section outputs the confidential information that is limited depending on a user,

wherein if the user authentication is not performed, the output section does not output the specific image and the confidential information, but only outputs the unique image.