JPH10285385A - Image processing system and apparatus and method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: In an image processing apparatus or the like connected to a network, predetermined additional information is reliably added to prevent formation of an image for which image formation is prohibited. SOLUTION: First image data is input, and second image data is generated and output by adding first additional information to the first image data so as to be difficult for human eyes to identify. A printer controller, and inputting the second image data output by the printer controller,
An image processing system comprising: a printer engine unit that outputs third image data by adding second additional information to the second image data so that the second additional information is difficult to recognize by human eyes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing system, apparatus, method, and storage medium capable of processing an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, color laser beam printers have become capable of printing high-resolution, high-gradation-value images on plain paper, and have lower running costs than sublimation printers, which have been the mainstays of high-quality color printing. , Realized a significant reduction in system costs. As a result, the market for high-definition full-color printers is about to expand significantly.

On the other hand, in the personal computer market, multimedia has been advanced and large-capacity full-color image data can be easily handled. Therefore, image input devices such as digital cameras and high-definition scanners have been enhanced, and users can easily use full-color image data. The environment that can handle is getting ready.

As a result, a high-definition full-color image can be copied onto plain paper, and it is also possible to copy an image for which copying of banknotes, securities, licenses and the like is prohibited.

[0005] In order to suppress such copying, there is a technique in the technical field of a copying machine that enables analysis of the situation in which an image is formed based on the prohibited image. For example, a method is known in which an identification number unique to the device of the printer that has formed the image is formed into a dot pattern, combined with a print image, and printed.

By analyzing the dot pattern of the print image in this way, the printer that has formed the image can be specified.

[0007]

However, in an image processing apparatus connected to a conventional network, an identification number unique to the apparatus is added in order to prevent the formation of an image whose image formation is prohibited as described above. The method of adding information has not been established yet.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and is provided with a predetermined addition for preventing the formation of an image for which image formation is prohibited in an image processing apparatus or the like connected to a network. The purpose is to add information reliably.

More specifically, for example, a printer controller and a printer engine are provided separately in a printer, and even if one of the devices is rearranged, additional information is added without fail, or different information possessed by each unit is added. It is an object of the present invention to further suppress the image formation by adding them together.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a configuration in which mutual additional areas can be adjusted even when additional information is added by a plurality of devices.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system comprising:
A printer controller for generating and outputting second image data by inputting the first additional information to the first image data so that the first additional information is difficult to recognize by human eyes; The second image data output by the printer controller unit is input, and the third image data is output by adding the second additional information to the second image data so that the second information is hard to be recognized by human eyes. It has a printer engine unit.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Before describing an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration of a color laser beam printer suitable for application to the following embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Although a printer applied to the embodiment will be described as a color laser beam printer, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applicable to a case where another printing method printer such as a sublimation printer or an ink jet printer is used. Included in the category.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the first output device, and shows a case of a color laser beam printer (hereinafter referred to as CLP).

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1600 denotes a CLP main body which receives code data and image data described in a printer language sent from an external host computer 3000 to be described later, and processes one page of magenta, A controller 1000 (hereinafter simply referred to as a “controller”) for generating cyan, yellow, and black multivalued image data, and scanning a photosensitive drum with a laser beam modulated according to input multivalued image data Printer engine 1500 (hereinafter referred to as “engine”) that performs recording by a series of electrophotographic processes in which a latent image is formed on a recording paper, and then transferred to recording paper and then fixed.
May be written). An operation panel 1530 has switches for operating the color laser beam printer, an LCD display, and the like.

The controller 1000 and the optical unit 1518 in the printer engine 1500 are connected by an interface signal line 1200. Note that the controller 1000 and the printer engine 1500 are not necessarily a combination of the same model. The main interface signal in the above connection is / RD
Y, / PRNT, / TOP, / LSYNC, VDO7 ~
There are VDO0 and VCLK, which will be briefly described below.

The / RDY signal is a signal sent from the engine to the controller, and indicates that the printing operation can be started at any time when the engine receives the / PRNT signal described later, or the printing operation is continued. This is a signal indicating that the state is possible. / PRN
The T signal is a signal sent from the controller to the engine, and is a signal for instructing the start of the printing operation or the continuation of the printing operation. The / TOP signal is a synchronization signal in the sub-scanning (vertical scanning) direction, and is sent from the engine to the controller. The / LSYNC signal is a synchronization signal in the main scanning (horizontal scanning) direction, and is sent from the engine to the controller.

The VDO7 to VDO0 signals are image signals sent from the controller to the engine and indicate image density information to be printed by the engine. VDO7 is represented by the most significant bit, and VDO0 is represented by the least significant eight bits. In the engine, the VDO7 to VDO0 signals are printed at the maximum density of the developing toner color at FFH, and are not printed at 00H. These are sent out in synchronization with the transfer synchronization signal VCLK.

Next, the operation of the printer engine 1500 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Upon receiving the / PRNT signal from the printer controller 1000, the printer engine 1500 rotates the photosensitive drum 1506 and the transfer drum 1508 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Subsequently, charging of the roller charger 1509 is started, and the photosensitive drum 150 is charged.
6 is uniformly charged to a predetermined value.

Next, the recording paper 1528 is fed from the recording paper cassette 1510 to the transfer drum 1508 by the paper feed roller 1511. The transfer drum 1508 is formed by stretching a dielectric sheet on a hollow support.
It rotates in the direction of the arrow at the same speed as 506.

A recording paper 152 is attached to the transfer drum 1508.
When 8 is supplied, the recording sheet 1528 is held by the gripper 1512 provided on the support of the transfer drum, and the recording sheet 1528 is attracted to the transfer drum 1508 by the attraction roller 1513 and the attraction charger 1514. At the same time, by rotating the support 1515 of the developing device, the four developing devices 15 supported by the support 1515 are rotated.
Of the 16M, 1516C, 1516Y and 1516Bk, the developing device 1516M containing the magenta toner as the first toner is made to face the photosensitive drum 1506. Reference numeral 1516C denotes a developing device containing cyan toner, 1
Reference numeral 516Y denotes a developing device containing yellow toner;
6Bk is a developing device containing black toner.

On the other hand, the printer engine 1500 detects the leading end of the recording paper 1528 attracted to the transfer drum 1506 by the detector 1517, generates a vertical synchronization signal / TOP at a predetermined timing, and sends it to the controller 1000. Upon receiving the first / TOP signal for the print page, the controller 1000 reads out the magenta data, which is the first print color, from the image data stored in the page memory in the RAM 19 at a predetermined timing. The read 8-bit image data D7 to D0
The printer engine 1500 (the optical unit 15) synchronizes with the VCLK signal as image signals VDO7 to VDO0.
18).

VD output from controller 1000
The signals O7 to VDO0 are input to a pulse width modulation circuit 1501 as shown in FIG.
(56 steps), and is sent to the laser driver. At the time of development, which will be described later, the amount of toner adhesion can be adjusted according to the pulse width of the laser drive signal VDO, thereby reproducing 256 shades of each color.

Next, referring to FIG.
A laser beam 1527 from a laser diode 1503 driven according to DO is deflected by a rotating polygon mirror 1504 driven to rotate in the direction of an arrow by a motor (not shown), passes through an imaging lens 1505 arranged on an optical path, and The photosensitive drum 150 is scanned in the main scanning direction on the drum 1506.
6, a latent image is formed. At this time, the beam detector 1
A detection start point 507 of the laser beam is used to generate a / LSYNC signal, which is a horizontal synchronization signal for determining an image writing timing of main scanning, from the detection signal.

The main scanning operation described above is repeated to
A magenta latent image for a page is formed on the photosensitive drum 1506.

Returning to FIG. 2, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1506 is a developing device 1 containing the magenta toner.
516M to develop a magenta toner image. This magenta toner image is transferred to a transfer charger 1519.
As a result, the image is transferred onto the recording paper 1528 that is attracted to the rotating transfer roller 1508. At this time, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1506 without being transferred is removed by the cleaning device 1525. Through the above operation, a magenta toner image for one page is formed on the recording paper 1528.

Next, the support 1515 of the developing device is rotated so that the developing device 1516C containing cyan toner as the second toner is opposed to the photosensitive drum 1506. Subsequently, as in the case of magenta, the leading end of the recording paper 1528 that rotates while being attracted to the transfer roller 1508 is detected by the detector 1517, and a vertical synchronization signal / TOP is generated and sent to the controller 1000. In response, the controller 1000 reads cyan data from the page memory 19.

Hereinafter, the recording paper 152
The cyan toner image is transferred onto the magenta image 8 so as to overlap the magenta toner image. Further, similarly, a yellow toner image as the third toner and a black toner image as the fourth toner are transferred onto the recording paper 1528 in a superimposed manner, and become a full-color toner image.

The recording paper 1528 to which all of the four color toner images have been transferred passes through a separation charger 1520, and the separation claw 1
The sheet is peeled from the transfer drum 1508 by 521, and is supplied to the fixing device 1523 by the conveyance unit 1522. At this time, the transfer drum cleaner 1526 cleans the surface of the transfer drum.

The toner image on the recording paper is fixed by a fixing device 1523.
Is heated and pressurized to be melted and fixed to form a final color output image. Then, the recording paper on which recording has been completed is discharged to a paper discharge tray 1524.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printer control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As will be described later, if the functions of the present invention are executed,
Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a single device, a system including a plurality of devices, and a system in which processing is performed via a network such as a LAN.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer shown in FIG. 1, which will be described later. The host computer 3000 displays figures, images, characters, tables (table calculation, etc.) based on a document processing program stored in a program ROM which is a part of the ROM 3. And the like, and a CPU 1 for executing document processing in which the system device 4 is mixed. The CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system device 4.

The program ROM of the ROM 3
Stores a control program of the CPU 1 and the like, a font ROM of the ROM 3 stores font data and the like used in the document processing, and a data ROM of the ROM 3 stores the font and the like when performing the document processing and the like. Various data used (for example,
Overlay form data, background image data, and external characters) are stored. 2 is a RAM, a main memory of the CPU 1,
Functions as a work area. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown).

6 is a CRT controller (CRTC),
The display of the CRT display (CRT) 10 is controlled.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a disk controller (DKC) for controlling access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, and editing files, and a floppy disk (FD).

Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC)
A predetermined bidirectional interface (interface)
21 and is connected to the printer 1600 to execute communication control processing with the printer 1600.

The CPU 1 executes a process of rasterizing the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, for example,
YSIWYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the RT 10,
Perform various data processing.

In the printer 1600, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU which controls various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program or the like stored in a program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14. Control access to
An image signal as output information is output to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16.

The program ROM of the ROM 13
Stores a control program of the CPU 12 and the like. RO
The font ROM used for generating the output information is stored in the font ROM of the M13. In the case of a printer without the external memory 14 such as an IC card, the data ROM of the ROM 13 is used as a host. It stores overlay forms, external character information, and the like used on the computer.

The CPU 12 is capable of communicating with the host computer via the input unit 18, and is configured to be able to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer and the like. Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, a page memory, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an additional port (not shown).

The RAM 19 has an output information development area,
Used for environmental data storage area, NVRAM, etc. The access to the external memory 14 such as the above-mentioned IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is connected as an option, and stores font data.
Data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. Reference numeral 1530 denotes the above-described operation unit in which switches for operation, an LCD display, and the like are arranged.

The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are connected. It may be configured to be able to do so. Furthermore, an NVRAM (not shown) may be provided to store printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1530.

According to the present invention, the host computer 3000 is added to the printer control system thus configured.
A host ID / user ID storage unit that stores host identification information and user identification information, etc., notified by the printer driver software started on the above, and an ID encoding pattern that generates a hidden dot pattern in a print image based on the ID information Unit, an image synthesizing unit in a printer controller for synthesizing the print image generated in the print image storage unit by the conventional method and the ID encode pattern, and outputting it as multi-valued print image information to a printer engine. Printer I that stores a certain printer ID
D storage unit, an ID pattern generation unit that generates a hidden dot pattern in a print image based on the ID information, and a printer ID
An image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the dot pattern and the multi-value print image information from the printer controller is added.

The details of each embodiment will be described below.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color laser beam printer which realizes a first embodiment of the present invention. The same numbers are given to the blocks already described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, and the detailed description is omitted.

Reference numeral 1000 denotes a color printer controller used in the first embodiment, which is the same as the component of the controller 1000 described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a host ID and user ID storage unit, which stores the host ID and user ID transmitted from printer driver software activated on the host computer 3000. In this embodiment, each ID is alphanumeric 8
The amount of information up to characters.

Reference numeral 102 denotes an ID encode pattern generation unit which converts a host ID and a user ID into a dot pattern by a method described later. A print image generation unit 103 generates a print image by a conventional method based on print information from the host, and stores the print image in the print image storage unit 19. Reference numeral 104 denotes an image synthesizing unit in the printer controller.
D. The dot pattern of the user ID is combined so that it is difficult for the human eye to recognize it.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a print image temporary storage unit in the printer engine, which is a data buffer for adjusting timing with the next processing. A printer ID storage unit 112 stores a printer ID, which is a printer-specific code such as a lot number and a serial number. In the present embodiment, the printer ID is represented by alphanumeric characters that can be converted into 1-byte ASCII codes. Reference numeral 113 denotes an ID encoding pattern generation unit which converts the printer ID into a dot pattern by a method described later.

An image synthesizing unit 114 in the printer engine synthesizes the dot pattern of the printer ID with the multivalued print information from the printer controller so that the dot pattern of the printer ID cannot be easily recognized by human eyes.

Reference numeral 121 denotes print information, host, and user ID information transmitted from the host via the signal line. 122
Is multi-valued print image information in which a dot pattern indicating a host / user ID is added to the original print image so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify. Reference numeral 123 denotes multi-valued print image information to which a printer ID dot pattern is added in the printer engine so that it is difficult for human eyes to recognize. Reference numeral 124 denotes a final print image, which is a host for the original print image.
/ User / Printer ID information is all added.

Next, the ID of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The operation of the encode pattern generator 102 or the ID pattern generator 113 will be described in detail. The operation method described below is an example, and the case where a dot pattern representing additional information is formed by another method is also included in the present invention.

In this embodiment, the method of generating an encoded dot pattern of additional information such as a host ID, a user ID, and a printer ID is the same.

First, 32 dots × 3 from the first line in the print area
An encoding pattern for one character of the ID code is expressed in a 2 dot area. First, a dot corresponding to the coordinates (0, 0) is painted out to indicate that an encode pattern exists. Then I
One character of the D code is ASCII-coded, and the upper 4 bits are represented by coordinates in the laser sub-scanning direction (Y-axis) and the lower 4 bits are represented by coordinates in the laser main scanning direction (X-axis).

For example, “a” is 97 (10
97d = C1h coordinates (1, 12). These coordinates are relative coordinates of a 16 × 16 matrix. In addition, the x component and the y component are both +1.
With an offset of 6, the corresponding dot of the previous 32 × 32 matrix is finally filled. That is, in the case of "a", it becomes (1 + 16, 12 + 16) (17, 28). That is, first, (0,
A reference dot is generated at (0), and then dots indicating information at relative positions with respect to this reference dot are (16, 16), (31, 16), (16, 31).
It is generated in an area surrounded by (31, 31).

Similarly, for the next one character, (0, 0) in the 32 × 32 matrix area on the right and the corresponding coordinates calculated by the ASCII code are painted out. In this way, if the information amount of the host ID and user ID is 16 alphanumeric characters, 512dot x 32
It will be represented by 32 dots scattered in the dot area.

After one dot pattern indicating necessary additional information, such as a host ID, a user ID, and a printer ID, is generated, if a dot pattern is periodically repeated in the right area and the lower area thereof, It is possible to draw dot patterns on printing paper evenly.

However, as shown in FIG.
Host ID and user ID in controller 1000
Since the engine 1500 further adds a printer ID dot pattern to the image data to which the dot pattern has been added, if the host ID and user ID dot patterns are drawn in the same area as the printer ID,
It becomes difficult to perform analysis for restoring information of the host ID, user ID, and printer ID using the finally formed image 124.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the area where the dot pattern indicating the host / user ID and the printer ID is added by the number of lines from the leading edge of the printing paper, that is, the controller 1000 and the engine 1500 It is assumed that an area in which each of the necessary information is added is determined in advance.

For example, the first 640 lines are the printer ID
640 lines are the host / user I
D is the drawing area, and the third 640 lines are the drawing area of the printer ID. . . . In this way, the additional area of the dot pattern is allocated alternately.

A unit area representing one of a host ID, a user ID, and a printer ID (sometimes described as additional information) has a resolution of 600 DPI.
47μm, 512dot is 21mm, 640Line is 27mm, and it is a sufficiently narrow unit area. Therefore, if an image including a prohibited image such as banknotes, securities, and the like is generally prohibited, the final The additional information is surely added to the area of the prohibited image in the image 124 that has been formed.

The present invention is based on the premise that the additional information is added to all the images 124 to be finally formed. Therefore, the additional information is added even when forming an image for which image formation is not prohibited. Therefore, the dot pattern representing the additional information needs to minimize the deterioration of the image quality of the original image.
In order to solve this problem, the present invention is applied to a case where a color image is formed by superimposing a plurality of images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and an image combining unit 104 in the controller and an image combining unit 114 in the engine. Performs addition of a dot pattern representing the additional information only to the image of the yellow surface. According to this method, 47 μm on a white background (paper)
When the yellow dot of m is added, it is hardly noticed by the naked eye, and it can be said that the image is not substantially deteriorated.

According to the present embodiment, the image synthesizing unit 104 in the controller and the image synthesizing unit 11 in the engine are used.
4 can add additional information such as a host ID, a user ID, and a printer ID. Therefore, even if there is any problem with either the controller 1000 or the engine 1500, the other is added with the additional information. Is added, additional information can be added reliably.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a color laser beam printer which realizes a second embodiment of the present invention. The same numbers are given to the blocks already described in FIGS. 1 to 6, and the detailed description is omitted.

A color printer controller 200 according to the second embodiment is the controller 1000 described with reference to FIG.
Has the same components as

A host ID storage unit 201 stores various header information, such as a host ID, a user ID, an application name, and a file name transmitted from a printer driver on the host computer 3000. In this embodiment, it is assumed that each piece of information is alphanumeric.

Reference numeral 211 denotes an ID encode pattern generation unit which forms the printer ID into a dot pattern by a method spread over one surface of the printing paper as in the method described in the first embodiment. Reference numeral 224 denotes a final print result obtained by adding a dot pattern indicating host / user / printer ID information to the original print image.

Next, the second embodiment will be described focusing on points different from the first embodiment.

The host ID information or the like from the host computer 3000 is converted into an encoded dot pattern in the printer controller, printed with yellow toner, and converted into an encoded dot pattern in the printer engine 1500 based on the printer ID built in the printer. A series of flows for printing with yellow toner is the same as in the first embodiment.

The major difference from the first embodiment is that the printer controller 200 and the printer engine 1500
Are methods of allocating an area to which additional information is added.
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the dot pattern representing the host-related additional information generated in the printer controller 200 is a specific number of lines (640 lines in this case).
The printer engine 1500 is added every time.
It is assumed that the dot pattern representing the printer ID information generated within the printing paper is added to the entire printing paper.

In general, a specific maker develops a printer engine, supplies it on an OEM basis, and often commercializes another brand maker by incorporating a printer controller. Therefore, it is desirable to construct a system in which the printer controller and the printer engine are each closed, and minimize the interface between them.

In view of the above-mentioned background, when there is no restriction on the additional area of the dot pattern on the engine side as in the present embodiment, the number of additional circuits is reduced and the degree of freedom is increased.

For example, even if the printer controller does not have the function of adding the additional information, the additional information can be reliably added to the entire surface of the sheet.

Various IDs from the host computer
The information currently includes a file name and an application name in addition to the user ID as header information sent by the printer driver. These pieces of information are also input to the storage unit 201 such as a host ID in the printer controller, and are similarly converted into a dot pattern by the ID encode pattern generation unit 102 to overwrite the print image information as a hidden pattern. Accordingly, the amount of information added to the image 124 increases, so that the situation in which the image has been formed can be specified from multiple angles based on the image 124.

In the above embodiment, the printer controllers 1000 and 200 and the printer engine 15
The area of the paper to which the additional information is added in each of 00 is predetermined. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and indicates the area to which the additional information is added by the printer controller or the area to be added by the engine. If the information is transmitted to the engine side and the engine adds the additional information according to this information, the area of each section to which the additional information is added can be made variable.

On the contrary, after the area to be added on the engine side or the information to which the additional information is to be added by the printer controller is transmitted from the engine side to the printer controller side, the printer controller adds the additional information according to this information. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, since the printer controller and the printer engine add the additional information, at least one of them can be added even if one of them cannot add the additional information. This has the effect that it is possible to cope with the situation.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any of the printer driver, printer controller, and printer engine of the host computer has an image synthesizing function of adding additional information to one image, If the additional information of each part is added to the area, the additional information can be added more reliably.

Also, as in the above embodiment, the case where the additional information is added by the printer driver and the printer controller of the host computer, and the case where the additional information is added by the printer driver and the printer engine of the host computer are also within the scope of the present invention. include.

In the present invention, a host ID, a user ID, a printer ID and the like are used as an example of the additional information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and information such as a network ID and an Internet address of the host computer may be added. Is also possible.

In the above embodiment, the printer controller receives the host ID and the user ID from the host and adds them to the input image data. However, the printer controller exclusive ID for determining the printer controller itself is set in advance. If the host ID and the user ID are stored in the storage unit 101 and the host ID, the user ID, and the printer controller-specific ID are added to the input image data, the possibility of tracking the state of image formation is increased.

Even if the present invention is applied as a part of a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), one device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine)
May be applied to a part of the apparatus comprising:

Further, the present invention is not limited to only the apparatus and method for realizing the above-described embodiment, but includes a computer (CPU or MP) in the above-described system or apparatus.
U), a program code of software for realizing the above-described embodiment is supplied, and the computer of the system or the apparatus operates the various devices according to the program code to realize the above-described embodiment. It is included in the category of the present invention.

In this case, the software program code itself implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer, specifically, A storage medium storing the above program code is included in the scope of the present invention.

As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM and the like can be used.

Further, not only when the computer controls the various devices according to only the supplied program code, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the program code operates on the computer. Such a program code is included in the scope of the present invention even when the above-described embodiment is realized in cooperation with an OS (Operating System) or other application software.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function is stored based on the instruction of the program code. The case where the CPU or the like provided in the storage unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a network-connected image processing apparatus or the like, predetermined additional information is securely transmitted to prevent formation of an image for which image formation is prohibited. Can be added. For example,
The printer controller and the printer engine are separate inside the printer, and even if one of the devices is rearranged, the additional information is surely added, or different information held by each unit such as the host, the printer controller, the printer engine, etc. By adding them together, additional information can be added reliably, and illegal image formation can be suppressed.

Further, even in a case where additional information is added by a plurality of devices, it is possible to provide a configuration in which the mutual added area can be adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color laser beam printer according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a color laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an optical unit of a color laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer control system to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 5 shows details of an encoded dot pattern generation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram relating to an occupied area of an encoded dot pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color laser beam printer according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram related to an occupied area of an encoded dot pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 System bus 5 Keyboard controller 6 CRT controller 7 Memory controller 8 Printer controller 9 Keyboard 10 CRT 11 External memory 12 CPU 13 ROM 14 External memory 15 System bus 16 Printing unit interface 17 Image generation unit 18 Input unit 19 RAM 20 Memory controller 21 Bidirectional interface 100 Color printer controller 101/201 Host ID etc. storage unit 102 Host ID etc. encoding pattern generation unit 103 Print image generation unit 104 Image synthesis unit 111 Print image temporary storage unit 112 Printer ID storage unit 113 ・211 Printer ID encoding pattern generation unit 114 Image synthesizing unit 121 Print information, host & user ID 122 Multi-valued print image Information 123 Multi-valued print image information B 124/224 Print result with added ID information pattern 1000 Color printer controller 1200 Interface signal line 1500 Color printer engine 1501 Pulse width modulation circuit 1502 Laser driver 1503 Laser diode 1504 Rotating polygon mirror 1505 Imaging lens 1506 photosensitive drum 1507 beam detector 1508 transfer drum 1509 roller charger 1510 paper feed cassette 1511 paper feed roller 1512 gripper 1513 suction roller 1514 suction charger 1515 developing device support 1516 each color developing device 1517 recording paper leading edge detector 1518 optical unit 1519 Transfer charger 1520 Separation charger 1521 Separation claw 1522 Conveying means 1523 Fixing device 1524 Discharge Ray 1525 cleaning unit 1526 a transfer drum cleaner 1527 laser beam 1528 recording paper 1530 operation unit 1600 color printer 3000 host computer

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: inputting first image data, generating second image data by adding first additional information to the first image data so as to be difficult for human eyes to recognize, and outputting the second image data; A first image processing unit for performing the processing, and inputting the second image data output by the first image processing unit, and identifying second additional information for the second image data to a human eye. An image processing system comprising: a second image processing unit that outputs third image data by adding the image data to the image processing system. 2. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing unit is a host computer. 3. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first image processing unit is a printer controller. 4. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein said second image processing unit is a printer controller. 5. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second image processing unit is a printer engine. 6. The third image data output by the second image processing section is input, and third additional information is added to the third image data so that the third information is difficult to recognize by human eyes. The image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a third image processing unit that outputs fourth image data. 7. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the third image processing unit is a printer engine. 8. An image area to which the first image processing unit adds first additional information, and an image area to which the second image processing unit
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein image areas to which the additional information is added are different from each other in an image represented by the first image data. 9. The first image processing section indicates an area where the first image processing section adds the first additional information or an area where the second image processing section adds the second additional information. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein information is transmitted to the second image processing unit. 10. The second image processing unit indicates an area where the second image processing unit adds the second additional information or an area where the first image processing unit adds the first additional information. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein information is transmitted to the first image processing unit. 11. A second image data is generated by inputting first image data and adding first additional information to the first image data so that the first additional information is hardly discernable to human eyes.
A printer controller for outputting the second image data output by the printer controller, and adding the second additional information to the second image data so as to be difficult for human eyes to identify. An image processing system comprising a printer engine unit that outputs third image data. 12. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the first additional information is information of an ID or a user ID of a host computer connected to the image processing system. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the second additional information is information unique to the image processing system.
An image processing system according to claim 1. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the addition of the first additional information and the second additional information is performed after the first additional information and the second additional information are formed into a dot pattern. The image processing system described in the above. 15. The first image data is color image data composed of a plurality of color components, and the addition of the first additional information and the second additional information is performed by adding some color components of the plurality of color components. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the processing is performed only on the corresponding color image data. 16. The image processing system according to claim 15, wherein a part of the plurality of color components is a yellow component. 17. An image area to which the printer controller section adds first additional information and an image area to which the printer engine section adds second additional information are included in an image represented by the first image data. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein the image processing systems are different from each other. 18. The printer controller transmits, to the printer engine, information indicating an area where the printer controller adds the first additional information or an area where the printer engine adds the second additional information. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein: 19. The printer engine unit transmits, to the printer controller unit, information indicating an area where the printer engine unit adds the second additional information or an area where the printer controller unit should add the first additional information. The image processing system according to claim 11, wherein: 20. A method for controlling an image processing system, comprising: inputting first image data to a first image processing unit of the image processing system; Control to output the second image data by adding the additional information of the image processing system so as to be difficult for the human eyes to recognize, and to the second image processing unit of the image processing system, The first processing is performed by the image processing unit.
The third image data is output by inputting the second image data output by the image processing unit of (1), and adding the second additional information to the second image data so that the second information is hard to be discerned by human eyes. A control method characterized by performing control to cause the control to be performed. 21. A storage medium storing a control program for an image processing system, comprising: inputting first image data to a first image processing unit of the image processing system; Outputting the second image data by adding the first additional information to the image processing system so that the first additional information is hardly discernible to the human eye; and outputting the second image data to the second image processing unit of the image processing system. The first image processing unit of the first
The third image data is output by inputting the second image data output by the image processing unit of (1), and adding the second additional information to the second image data so that the second information is hard to be discerned by human eyes. A storage medium storing a control program, wherein the control program has a step of causing the computer to read the control program. 22. An image processing apparatus connected to an external device capable of adding additional information, which is previously provided to input image data, to a human eye so that the additional information is difficult to recognize. It has additional output means for generating additional image data by adding additional information held in predetermined storage means to the image data so as to be difficult for human eyes to identify, and outputting the additional image data to the external device. Characteristic image processing device. 23. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a printer controller. 24. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to an external device capable of adding additional information which is previously stored to input image data without being easily recognized by human eyes, comprising the steps of: An additional output step of generating additional image data by adding additional information held in predetermined storage means to the image data so as to be hardly discernible to human eyes, and outputting the additional image data to the external device. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: 25. A storage medium storing a control program for an image processing apparatus connected to an external device capable of adding additional information which is previously provided to input image data so as to be hardly discernible to human eyes and connected thereto. Inputting image data, generating additional image data by adding additional information held in a predetermined storage means to the image data so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify, and outputting the additional image data to the external device. A storage medium storing a control program of an image processing apparatus in a state readable by a computer, the storage medium having an additional output step of performing the following. 26. An image processing apparatus connected to an external device, comprising: an adding unit that adds additional information to an input image so that the additional information is difficult to recognize by human eyes; and an image to which the additional unit is to add the additional information. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits information indicating an area to the external device. 27. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to an external device, comprising: an additional step of adding additional information to an input image so that it is difficult for human eyes to recognize; Transmitting an information indicating an image area to be transmitted to the external device. 28. A storage medium storing a control program of an image processing apparatus connected to an external device, wherein an additional step of adding additional information to an input image so that the additional information is hardly discernable to a human eye; A transmission step of transmitting, to the external device, information indicating an image area to which additional information is to be added, wherein the control program of the image processing apparatus is stored in a computer-readable state. 29. An image processing apparatus connected to an external device having additional means for adding the additional information so that the additional information is difficult to recognize by the human eye, wherein the additional means of the external device has an image area to which the additional information is to be added. An image processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit information indicating the following to the external device. 30. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus connected to an external device having an additional device for adding additional information so that the additional information is hardly discernible to human eyes, wherein the additional device of the external device adds the additional information. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising: transmitting information indicating an image area to be transmitted to the external device. 31. A storage medium storing a control program of an image processing apparatus connected to an external device having an additional device for adding additional information so that the additional information is difficult to recognize by a human eye, wherein the external device has the additional device. A storage medium storing a control program of an image processing apparatus in a state readable from a computer, comprising a transmission step of transmitting information indicating an image area to which additional information is to be added to the external device.