JP2008079153A - Image scan system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the forgery of paper money in an image scanning system comprising a scanner and a personal computer and to eliminate the need of a large memory capacity for that. <P>SOLUTION: In the personal computer, the size data of paper money to be used with a high possibility in a country where the personal computer is used is selectively installed beforehand. After scanning is started (YES in S1), the personal computer receives the size information of a document from a printer with a scanner (S2) and continues scanning (S4) when the size of the document does not match with the installed paper money size data (NO in S3). When it matches (YES in S3), the personal computer displays an alarm message on a display panel (S5) and then determines whether or not a consent button has been pressed (S6). In determining that the consent button has been pressed, scanning is continued and data to the effect is recorded inside the personal computer (S8). In determining that a cancellation button has been pressed, scanning is stopped (S9). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading system, and more particularly to an image reading system including an apparatus having an image reading function and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) connected to the apparatus and controlling the apparatus.

  In recent years, devices having an image reading function such as a scanner, a printer with a scanner, and a copier have drastically improved performance, and thus cases of being misused for counterfeit bills have arisen.

  Therefore, when the device as described above is used for the purpose of creating counterfeit bills, reading becomes impossible, or in the case of a device having a printing function such as a printer with a scanner, until reading is completed. Various anti-counterfeit bill making prevention functions have been developed such that printing can be performed only incompletely.

  For example, an image forming apparatus that detects the vertical and horizontal sizes of a document set on a document table and disables printing when the detected size is the same as the size of a banknote is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

  Also, there is known an image forming apparatus that prohibits copying when the image data read by the image reading means can be determined as an image of a banknote and stores the user ID in the storage means (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

Furthermore, when the read image image is a specific image such as a banknote or a security, it is based on a forgery prevention system that issues a warning to the user via the Internet (see, for example, Patent Document 3), the color of the image, the design, and the like. In the apparatus for determining whether or not the document is a banknote, if it is determined that the document is a banknote, the banknote that makes it easier to determine that the document is a banknote by changing subsequent determination criteria A forgery prevention device (see, for example, Patent Document 4) is known.
JP 2004-219893 A JP-A-7-135564 JP 2002-532812 A JP-A-6-350846

  However, as in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 above, when it is detected that the size of the document is the same as the size of the banknote in order to prevent the creation of counterfeit banknotes, printing is always impossible. However, there are the following problems with the device. In other words, if the size of the document happens to be the same as the size of the banknote, or there is a case where a document of the same size as the banknote is read as a sample size of the banknote to be put in the wallet. If the printing is disabled, it is inconvenient and inconvenient for the user.

  Also, since devices that have image reading functions such as scanners and copiers are usually not specified in any country or region in the world when they are manufactured, they are not specified. In order to surely prevent the device of this type from being used for counterfeiting of banknotes in the country of sale, it is necessary to store the size data of banknotes of all countries in the memory in those devices. In order to store such a large amount of size data, there is a problem that a large memory capacity is required.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an image reading system comprising a device having an image reading function and a personal computer connected to the device and controlling the device. In addition to being able to suppress the reading, even a document of the same size as the banknote can be read by the user's consent, and a large amount of banknote size data is stored to make the device compatible with the world An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading system that does not require a large memory capacity.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides various control data including a device having an image reading function (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) and software connected to the scanner and installed from an external recording medium. In an image reading system composed of a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) that controls the scanner based on (hereinafter referred to as control data), the control data includes banknote sizes for a number of countries and regions. Data (hereinafter referred to as original size data), and the scanner transmits to the personal computer a size reading unit that reads an image size of a document set on a platen and the image size read by the size reading unit. Transmission means, and the personal computer installs the control data from the external recording medium. The country and region where the personal computer is used is estimated based on the time zone and language set in the personal computer, and the size data of banknotes used in the estimated country and region is the original size data. Selective installation means for selectively installing from among the above, storage means for storing size data of banknotes installed by the selective installation means, reception means for receiving the image size transmitted by the transmission means, and the reception Determining means for determining whether the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means when the image size is received by the means; and It is determined that the image size matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means Warning message on the display panel of the relevant computer, an inquiry message asking whether or not to continue reading, and a notification message notifying that if reading is continued, that fact will be recorded in the personal computer. When the user inputs an instruction to continue reading the document by the scanner after displaying the inquiry message by the warning unit, the reading of the document by the scanner is continued. Recording control means for controlling to record data indicating that the reading of the original has been continued after the warning by the warning means, and the warning when the user tries to read the original having the same size as the banknote It is characterized by deterring counterfeit bills by means of warning.

  The invention of claim 2 includes a device having an image reading function (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) and various control data (hereinafter referred to as control data) including software installed on an external recording medium connected to the scanner. In an image reading system comprising a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) that controls the scanner based on the control data, the control data includes banknote size data (hereinafter referred to as original size data) for each country and region. The scanner includes a size reading unit that reads an image size of a document set on a document table, and a transmission unit that transmits the image size read by the size reading unit to the personal computer. When the personal computer installs the control data from the external recording medium, Selected install means for selectively installing the size data of banknotes likely to be used in the country and region where the personal computer is used, and the size data of the banknotes installed by the selective install means Storing means for storing the image size, receiving means for receiving the image size transmitted by the transmitting means, and when the image size is received by the receiving means, the image size of the document is stored in the storage means. Determining means for determining whether or not it matches the size data of the banknote, and when it is determined by the determining means that the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means Warning means for issuing a warning message, and after issuing a warning message by the warning means, When an instruction to continue reading the document by the canner is input by the user, the reading of the document by the scanner is continued, and data indicating that the reading of the document has been continued after the warning by the warning means is displayed. Recording control means for controlling to record.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the second aspect, the selective installation means estimates a country and a region where the personal computer is used based on a time zone and a language set in the personal computer. The size data of the banknote used in the estimated country and region is selectively installed from the original size data.

  According to the present invention, when the original set on the scanner table is the same size as the banknote, the personal computer asks the user whether or not to continue reading and selects to continue reading. Since the user is notified that the fact is recorded in the personal computer and the user instructs to continue the reading, the reading is continued. Reading is suppressed and the user can read a document of the same size as the banknote when the user accepts it. In addition, when installing the original size data from an external recording medium, the personal computer selectively installs the size data of banknotes that are likely to be used in the country and region where the personal computer is used. Therefore, a large memory capacity is not required to store bill size data.

  Hereinafter, an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading system 1 of the present embodiment includes a printer 2 with a scanner having an image reading function, and a personal computer 3 that is connected to the printer 2 with a scanner and controls the printer 2 with a scanner. Is composed of.

  Control data (hereinafter referred to as control data) including software for the personal computer 3 to control the printer 2 with the scanner is recorded on a CD-ROM 4 (external recording medium), and the CD-ROM 4 loaded in the personal computer 3. Installed on the personal computer 3.

  In the CD-ROM 4, in addition to normal control data for controlling the reading function and printing function of the printer 2 with scanner, banknote size data (hereinafter referred to as original size data) for each country and region is recorded. ing.

  For example, in Japan, in addition to the vertical and horizontal sizes of banknotes such as the current 10,000 yen bill and 5,000 yen bill, the vertical and horizontal sizes of old banknotes that have been distributed in the past and are still usable are recorded. For other countries and regions, the vertical and horizontal sizes of current banknotes and old banknotes that can be used are recorded.

  The printer with scanner 2 will be described. The printer with a scanner 2 according to the present embodiment includes a scanner unit 6 that reads an image of a document D set on a document table 5 and a printer unit 7 that prints an image read by the scanner unit 6 on a sheet. A microprocessor 8 (size reading means, transmission means) that controls the unit 6 and the printer unit 7 is provided.

  The microprocessor 8 is configured to read from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) when an original reading instruction is input from the personal computer 3 after the original D is set on the original table 5 by the user. The unit 9 is operated to read the image of the document D from the lower side of the document table 5. At this time, the microprocessor 8 performs the reading operation of the reading unit 9 twice, calculates the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image of the document D from the image data obtained in the first reading operation (pre-scan), and performs the second time. In the reading operation, an actual image is read.

  Specifically, the microprocessor 8 calculates the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image from the information on the number of pixels included in the edge portion of the image obtained by the first reading operation (pre-scan) and the information on the preset resolution. . For example, when the vertical edge portion of the image is 400 pixels and the resolution is 72 dpi, 400 pixels / 72 dpi = 5.55 inches is obtained as the vertical size information of the image.

  Further, the microprocessor 8 transmits the size information of the image of the document D calculated as described above to the personal computer 3 through the interface 11 of the printer with scanner 2, the interface 12 of the personal computer 3, and the like as described later.

  Next, the personal computer 3 will be described. The personal computer 3 of this embodiment includes a disk drive (not shown), and is composed of a personal computer body 13 and a display panel 14 that can read a CD-ROM 4 loaded in the disk drive. A processor 15 (selective installation means, reception means, determination means, warning means, recording control means) and a hard disk 16 (storage means) are provided.

  The microprocessor 15 determines whether the personal computer 3 is based on the time zone and language set in the personal computer 3 from the original size data recorded on the CD-ROM 4 when the control data is installed from the loaded CD-ROM 4. The countries and regions to be used are estimated, and the size data of banknotes used in the estimated countries and regions and the size data of banknotes in major countries and regions of the world are selectively installed.

  Specifically, the personal computer 3 has a reference table in which the country and region corresponding to the time zone and language are stored in the hard disk 16, and the time zone and language are stored in the personal computer 3 prior to use of the personal computer 3. By setting by the sales company or the user, the place (country and region) where the personal computer 3 is used is estimated.

  For example, when the East Asian region is set as the time zone and Japanese is set as the language, the country in which the personal computer 3 is used is estimated to be Japan, and size data relating to Japanese banknotes is selectively installed. . At the same time, the size data of banknotes (for example, US dollar banknotes, euro banknotes, etc.) in major countries and regions other than Japan estimated to be the country where the personal computer 3 is used is selectively installed. Major countries and regions other than the estimated country of use of the personal computer 3 are determined in advance in this embodiment, but may be configured to be changed later by a personal computer sales company or the like. .

  The banknote size data selectively installed by the microprocessor 15 as described above is stored in the hard disk 16. Since part of the original size data recorded on the CD-ROM 4 is selectively installed, the time required for installation can be shortened and the capacity of the installed data in the hard disk 16 can be reduced.

  As described above, the personal computer 3 stores the size data of banknotes used in the country and region where the personal computer 3 is used, and the size data of banknotes in major countries and regions.

  Next, a procedure when the user actually sets the document D on the document table 5 of the printer 2 with the scanner and reads it will be described with reference to FIG. When the microprocessor 15 determines that the user has operated the keyboard of the personal computer 3 to give an instruction to start reading the document (YES in S1), the microprocessor 15 receives information on the image size of the document D from the printer with scanner 2 (S2).

  As described above, when the document reading operation is started, the scanner-equipped printer 2 first performs a first reading operation (pre-scan), calculates the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image of the document D, and transmits the size information to the personal computer 3. Therefore, the microprocessor 15 can receive information on the image size of the document D set on the document table 5. The scanner-equipped printer 2 performs a first reading operation (pre-scan) to calculate the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image of the document D, and then transmits a signal instructing the continuation of the reading operation from the personal computer 3 (microprocessor 15). The second reading operation is not started until there is.

  Next, the microprocessor 15 determines whether or not the received image size of the document D matches the size data of any banknote stored in the hard disk 16 (S3). If the image size of the received document D does not match the size data of any banknote stored in the hard disk 16 (NO in S3), the microprocessor 15 instructs the printer with scanner 2 to continue the reading operation. The printer with scanner 2 executes the second reading operation and reads the image of the document (S4).

  If the received image size of the document D matches the size data of any banknote stored in the hard disk 16 (YES in S3), the microprocessor 15 is set on the document table 5 on the display panel 14. A warning message M1 for warning that the size of the original D matches the size of the banknote, an inquiry message M2 for inquiring whether or not to continue reading the original D, and if the reading is to be continued, A notification message M3 for notifying that it is stored in the personal computer 3 is displayed.

  The warning message M1, the inquiry message M2, and the notification message M3 are displayed as a series of sentences as shown in FIG. 3, for example. That is, “the image size that is about to be scanned is the same as the banknote size” is displayed as the warning message M1, and the “accept button” is displayed when the scan is continued, and the “OK button” is displayed when canceling. Please press "Cancel button". "Is displayed, and if" OK "button is pressed as notification message M3, the action is recorded on the personal computer. Is displayed.

  Specific sentences as the warning message M1, the inquiry message M2, and the notification message M3 can be variously changed. In short, the user is first warned that the size of the document D matches the size of the banknote, and asked whether or not he / she wishes to continue reading. In the case where the user is notified that the information is stored and the user is trying to read a genuine banknote for counterfeiting the banknote, it is only necessary to apply a psychological load to prevent the reading from continuing. In addition to displaying the messages M1, M2, and M3 on the display panel 14, the message text may be pronounced through a speaker (not shown) attached to the personal computer 3, or displayed on the display panel 14. Instead, a warning, inquiry, and notification by voice from a speaker may be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the display panel 14 is configured as a touch panel, and as shown in FIG. 3, an OK button 21 and a cancel button 22 are displayed below the positions where the messages M1, M2, and M3 are displayed. . The user presses the OK button 21 when he / she wishes to continue reading after viewing the messages M1, M2 and M3, and presses the cancel button 22 when canceling the reading.

  The microprocessor 15 determines whether or not the OK button 21 has been pressed (S6). If the microprocessor 15 determines that the OK button 21 has been pressed (YES in S6), it instructs the printer with scanner 2 to continue the reading operation. A signal is transmitted to cause the scanner-equipped printer 2 to execute the second reading, and indicates that the reading is continued after the warning message is displayed in a location (for example, registry) where the user in the personal computer body 13 is difficult to access. Data is recorded (S8).

  Various data can be used to indicate that the reading has been continued after the warning message is displayed, such as data on the date of the operation, and data on the size of the bill in addition to the date. However, it may be as simple as a few bits recorded in a specific location in the registry. Data indicating that reading has been continued after the warning message is displayed may be recorded in a special folder format that is difficult for the user to access.

  If it is determined that the OK button 21 has not been pressed (NO in S6), the microprocessor 15 determines whether or not the cancel button 22 has been pressed (S7) and determines that the cancel button 22 has been pressed. If yes (YES in S7), the reading operation is not transmitted to the scanner-equipped printer 2 and reading is stopped (S9).

  It should be noted that after the reading is continued in S4 and S8 and the image of the document D is read, it is automatically continued or by the printer unit 7 of the printer 2 with the scanner by inputting a printing instruction by the user. The image is printed.

  As described above, in the image reading system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the document D set on the document table 5 of the printer 2 with the scanner is the same size as the banknote, the reading operation is temporarily stopped and the display panel 14 is set. Messages M1, M2, and M3 are displayed to ask the user whether or not to continue reading, and when selecting to continue reading, the user is notified that this is recorded in the personal computer 3 Since the reading is continued only when the user instructs to continue the reading, a psychological load is given to the user and the reading for counterfeiting of bills is suppressed.

  Even after the messages M1, M2, and M3 are displayed on the display panel 14, the user can read the document D having the same size as the banknote by pressing the OK button 21. Furthermore, when installing the original size data from the CD-ROM 4, the personal computer 3 selectively selects the size data of banknotes that are likely to be used in the country and region where the personal computer 3 is used from the original size data. Since installation is performed, a large memory capacity is not required to store bill size data, and the time required for installation can be shortened.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image reading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a document reading procedure in the image reading system. FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a message displayed on a display panel of a personal computer in the image reading system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image reading system 2 Printer with scanner 3 Personal computer 4 CD-ROM (external recording medium)
5 Document table 6 Scanner unit 8 Microprocessor (size reading means, transmission means)
14 Display panel 15 Microprocessor (selective installation means, receiving means, determination means, warning means, recording control means)
16 Hard disk (storage means)
D Document M1 Warning message M2 Inquiry message M3 Notification message

Claims (3)

A device having an image reading function (hereinafter referred to as a scanner);
An image that is connected to the scanner and includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) that controls the scanner based on various control data (hereinafter referred to as control data) including software installed from an external recording medium. In the reading system,
The control data includes banknote size data for each country and region (hereinafter referred to as original size data),
The scanner is
Size reading means for reading the image size of the document set on the document table;
Transmitting means for transmitting the image size read by the size reading means to the personal computer,
The personal computer
When installing the control data from the external recording medium, the country and region in which the personal computer is used is estimated based on the time zone and language set in the personal computer, and used in the estimated country and region. Selective installation means for selectively installing the size data of banknotes from the original size data;
Storage means for storing size data of banknotes installed by the selective installation means;
Receiving means for receiving the image size transmitted by the transmitting means;
Determining means for determining whether the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means when the image size is received by the receiving means;
When the determination means determines that the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means, a warning message is displayed on the display panel of the personal computer and whether or not to continue reading. A warning means for displaying an inquiry message to be inquired, and a notification message for notifying that the reading is recorded in the personal computer if reading is continued;
When an instruction to continue reading the document by the scanner is input by the user after the warning message is displayed by the warning unit, the reading of the document by the scanner is continued, and after the warning by the warning unit, Recording control means for controlling to record data indicating that reading of the document has been continued,
An image reading system that suppresses counterfeiting of a bill by warning the warning means when a user tries to read a document having the same size as the bill. A device having an image reading function (hereinafter referred to as a scanner);
An image that is connected to the scanner and includes a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) that controls the scanner based on various control data (hereinafter referred to as control data) including software installed from an external recording medium. In the reading system,
The control data includes banknote size data for each country and region (hereinafter referred to as original size data),
The scanner is
Size reading means for reading the image size of the document set on the document table;
Transmitting means for transmitting the image size read by the size reading means to the personal computer,
The personal computer
When installing the control data from the external recording medium, a selection to selectively install size data of banknotes that are likely to be used in the country and region where the personal computer is used from the original size data Installation means;
Storage means for storing size data of banknotes installed by the selective installation means;
Receiving means for receiving the image size transmitted by the transmitting means;
Determining means for determining whether the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means when the image size is received by the receiving means;
Warning means for issuing a warning message when it is determined by the determination means that the image size of the document matches the size data of any banknote stored in the storage means;
When an instruction to continue reading the document by the scanner is input by the user after issuing a warning message by the warning means, the reading of the document by the scanner is continued, and after the warning by the warning means An image reading system comprising: a recording control unit that controls to record data indicating that the reading of the original is continued.   The selective installation means estimates a country and a region where the personal computer is used based on a time zone and a language set in the personal computer, and calculates size data of banknotes used in the estimated country and region. The image reading system according to claim 2, wherein the image reading system is selectively installed from size data.

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