JP2008005179A - Manuscript reader and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manuscript reader and recorder which can notify a manager of the copy information, when a confidential document has been copied, while giving elasticity to constraint added to copy of the confidential document. <P>SOLUTION: If the scanned manuscript data are stored at the time of copy operation, by comparing the scanned image data with the image data of each confidential document one by one, the scanned manuscript data and the manuscript data of confidential document scanned are compared, and then it is determined whether the scanned manuscript is a confidential document (Steps 201-203). If the scanned manuscript is a confidential document, when the confidential document is prohibited to copy, "copying prohibited" is indicated (Steps 205 and 206). Furthermore, when copying is limited of confidential documents, only when an inputted manager ID matches, will the copy information be sent by mail to the manager of the confidential document and will the scanned image be printed out (Steps 207-214). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an original reading and recording apparatus having a function of restricting copying of confidential documents, that is, confidential documents.

In general, a digital multifunction machine having a copying function, a facsimile function, a printing function, a scanner function, and the like is used for copying a document, and the same applies to a document having a confidentiality obligation.
At present, there is no restriction in the digital multi-function peripheral for copying confidential manuscripts, the management system is laid down by the will of the person to copy, and the paper itself is used to prevent copying confidential documents. A special process is applied to make characters and images printed on the paper uncopyable.

However, in order to prevent copying of confidential documents, the method of performing special processing on the paper itself requires the use of special paper, which is inconvenient and causes the problem that the creation of confidential documents is expensive. .
Also, if confidentiality depends on the user's morals, the digital multi-function peripheral makes any distinction even if the document is a confidential document such as “Confidential” or “Copy prohibited”. Since the document is copied without being noticed, it is impossible to know who and what manuscripts and how many copies without knowing the person who manages the documents, and information may be leaked.

For this reason, information that is not desired to be copied is stored in the storage means, and if it is determined that the image data of the copy original is the same as the image data stored in the storage means, image recording is prohibited. Thus, it has been proposed to prevent important documents from being copied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-80403 A

  As described above, it has been proposed to prohibit copying of a confidential document by comparing the image data of the copy original with the confidential document data stored in the storage means, but it is simply stored in the storage means. If the copying of the original image data is only prohibited, the copying operation cannot be performed unless an operation such as erasing the image data from the storage means is performed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides elasticity to restrictions imposed on the copy of a confidential document, and notifies the administrator of the copy information when the confidential document is copied. An object of the present invention is to provide an original reading and recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a document reading and recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a confidential document storing unit that stores confidential document data, and the scanned document data is stored in the confidential document storing unit. And a control means for restricting the recording of the read data when it matches the data of the read manuscript, wherein the confidentiality manuscript storage means includes management information and restrictions on each confidentiality manuscript. The content is preserved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the original reading / recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the restriction content is copy prohibition or copy restriction, and the restriction content is copy prohibition. When the control unit prohibits the recording of the original reading data and the restriction content is copy restriction, the control unit records the original reading data only when the management information of the confidentiality manuscript is input and the copy information Is notified to the administrator of the confidentiality manuscript,
A document reading and recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the document reading and recording apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the management information is an administrator ID, the copy information is copy date and time, user information, document information, and the number of copies. It is characterized by being.

  Furthermore, the document reading and recording apparatus of the invention according to claim 4 is the document reading and recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means is a confidentiality duty corresponding to the inputted management information. By comparing the data of the original and the read original, it is determined whether the data of the read original is an original stored in the confidentiality original storage unit.

  According to the document reading and recording apparatus of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the copy restriction content includes copy prohibition and copy restriction. When the constraint content is copy prohibition, recording of the original read data is prohibited. When the restriction content is copy restriction, the original reading data is recorded only when the administrator ID is input, and the copy information, for example, copy date / time, user information, original information, the number of copies, etc. Therefore, the restrictions imposed on the copy of the confidential manuscript are made elastic, and if the confidential manuscript is copied, the manager of the confidential manuscript can easily know the copy information. It becomes possible.

  Further, according to the document reading and recording apparatus of the invention of claim 4, the input management information, for example, the confidential number original data corresponding to the confidential number original management number and the manager ID and the read original data are stored. Since the comparison is made, it is not necessary to compare the read document data with all the document data stored in the confidential document storage unit, and the document data verification time can be shortened.

  An embodiment in which the document reading / recording apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral having a copying function, a facsimile function, a printing function, a scanner function, and the like will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration example of a system including a digital multifunction peripheral, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the digital multifunction peripheral.

  In the network configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral, 2, 3, 4... Are personal computers, 5 is a public switched telephone network (PSTN), 6 is a LAN (Local Area Network), and 7 is an Internet network. is there. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has copy mode, printer mode, and fax mode functions, and also has a mail transmission function, and is connected to the PSTN 5 and the LAN 6. A plurality of personal computers 2, 3, 4.・ ・ Is connected. The LAN 6 is also connected to the Internet network 7, and the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can send and receive mail via the Internet network 7.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the digital multi-functional peripheral 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a display / operation unit 14, a reading unit 15, an image memory 16, a recording unit 17, a codec. 18, a modem 19, a network control unit NCU 20, a LAN interface (I / F) 21, and a confidential document storage unit 22, which are connected via a bus 23.

  The CPU 11 controls each part of the hardware of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via the bus 23 and executes various programs based on the programs stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 performs various programs necessary for the operation of the digital multi-function peripheral. Operation messages and the like are stored in advance. The RAM 13 is composed of an SRAM or the like and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed.

  The display / operation unit 14 includes a display unit that displays an operation state of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 and displays operation screens of various functions, and a plurality of keys for operating the digital multi-function peripheral 1. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 31 includes an LCD display unit 31 constituting a display unit and a number of operation keys. The LCD display unit 31 is provided with a touch panel switch, and by pressing an item part displayed on the LCD display unit 31, a corresponding item can be selected and a function can be executed. As operation keys, a numeric keypad 32, a start key 33, a reset key 34, a stop key 35, a plurality of one-touch dial keys 36, a cross key 37, a return key 38, a set key 39, a FAX switching key 40, a copy switching key 41, Various keys such as a scanner switching key 42 are provided. Note that some or all of these operation keys can be substituted by the LCD display unit 31.

The reading unit 15 includes a reading document placing table such as an auto document feeder (ADF) or a flat bed scanner (FBS), reads a document with a scanner using a CCD or the like, and outputs dot image data.
The image memory 16 is configured by using a DRAM or the like, and stores image data to be transmitted or received image data or image data read by the reading unit 15, and a recording unit 17 is a printer device such as an electrophotographic system. The received data, the copy original data, or the print data transmitted from the external personal computers 2, 3, 4, etc. are printed out.

The codec 18 encodes and decodes in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In order to transmit the image data of the read original, the codec 18 is encoded by the MH, MR, or MMR method, and decodes the image data received from the outside. Also, encoding and decoding are also performed in correspondence with the TIFF method, which is an image format generally used as a file that can be attached to an e-mail.
The modem 19 is connected to the bus 23 and has a function as a fax modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 19 is also connected to the NCU 20 connected to the bus 23. The NCU 20 is hardware that closes and opens an analog line, and connects the modem 19 to the PSTN 5 as necessary.

The LAN interface 21 is connected to the LAN 6 and receives signals from the Internet network 7 while transmitting signals and data to the LAN 6 and executes interface processing such as signal conversion and protocol conversion.
On the other hand, the confidential document storage unit 22 is configured by storage means such as an HDD, and stores an image storage area for storing image data obtained by scanning the confidential document, a management number for each of the image data, an administrator ID, and an administrator email. A management table storage area is provided for storing management information such as addresses and flags representing copy restriction contents.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has the above-described configuration. When transmitting a facsimile, the image data of the original is read by the reading unit 15, compressed by the codec 18, and stored in the image memory 16. The compressed image data is read from the image memory 16, modulated by the modem 19, and transmitted from the NCU 20 to the communication partner through the PSTN 5. At the time of facsimile reception, the received image data is demodulated by the modem 19, stored in the image memory 16, decoded by the codec 18, and printed by the recording unit 17.

On the other hand, the digital multi-function peripheral can store the image data of the confidential document as described above. Hereinafter, the operation when storing the image data of the confidential document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user sets a confidential document to be stored on the reading document placing table of the reading unit 15 and then selects image data storage of the confidential document on the function selection screen displayed on the LCD display unit 31 of the display / operation unit 14, the CPU 11 4 starts the confidential document image data storage program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and first displays the confidential document scan setting screen shown in FIG. 5 on the LCD display unit 31 (step 101).

As shown in the figure, the confidential document scan setting screen includes a management number for managing the confidential document data, a selection field for restricting whether to copy or restrict copying of the confidential document, and an administrator ID. In addition, a field for manually inputting a mail address, an “execute” button, and a “cancel” button are displayed.
After displaying the confidential document scan setting screen, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the “execute” button is pressed on the confidential document scan setting screen (step 102), and determines that the “execute” button is not pressed. If so, it is determined whether or not the “Cancel” button has been pressed (step 103).

If it is determined in step 103 that the “cancel” button has not been pressed, the CPU 11 returns to step 102 again to determine whether or not the “execute” button has been pressed, and determines that the “cancel” button has been pressed. If so, exit the program.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 102 that the “execute” button has been pressed, the CPU 11 stores the administrator ID and email address input on the confidential document scan setting screen in the management table of the confidential document storage unit 22 (step 104). ) Thereafter, the confidential document set by the reading unit 15 is scanned, and the read image data is compressed by the codec 18 and stored in the image storage area of the confidential document storage unit 22 with the management number. (Step 105).

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the administrator selects “copy prohibited” as a copy restriction item on the confidential document scan setting screen of FIG. 5 (step 106), and the administrator selects “copy prohibited”. If so, the "copy prohibition" flag of the management number in the management table of the confidential document storage unit 22 is turned on (step 107), and then the program ends.
If the administrator has not selected “copy prohibited”, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the administrator has selected “copy restriction” as a copy restriction item on the confidential document scan setting screen of FIG. Step 108) If the administrator has selected “copy restriction”, the “copy restriction” flag of the management number in the management table of the confidential document storage unit 22 is turned on (step 109). finish.

As a result, the confidential document original data is sequentially numbered and stored in the image storage area of the confidential document storage unit 22, and the management table of the confidential document storage unit 22, as shown in FIG. Corresponding to the management number of the confidential document, an administrator ID, a mail address, and a copy restriction flag are stored.
It is desirable that the confidential document original data in the confidential document storage unit 22 can be deleted only with the administrator's ID.

Next, the operation when the user copies various documents will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the user presses the copy switch key 41 of the display / operation unit 14 and sets a copy document on the reading document placing table of the reading unit 15 and then presses the start key 33, the CPU 11 causes the copy program shown in the flowchart of FIG. Is started, the document set by the reading unit 15 is scanned, and the read image data is compressed by the codec 18 and stored in the image memory 16 (step 201).

Next, the CPU 11 sequentially compares the image data stored in the image memory 16 and the image data of each confidential document stored in the confidential document storage unit 22, thereby scanning the document data of the scanned document and the document of the confidential document. Collation with the data is executed (step 202).
Note that this collation can determine the coincidence of the documents by comparing the information on the position and direction of the feature points as in the fingerprint collation.

  When the collation between the scanned document data and the confidential document document data is completed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is confidential document document data that matches the scanned document data, and is set on the reading document mounting table. It is determined whether the original is a confidential document (step 203), and there is no confidential document original data that matches the scanned original data, and it is determined that the original set on the reading original mounting table is not a confidential document. In this case, the image data stored in the image memory 16 is decoded by the codec 18 and then printed out by the recording unit 17 (step 204), and the program is terminated.

  On the other hand, if there is document data of a confidential document that matches the document data scanned in step 203 and it is determined that the document set on the reading document table is a confidential document, the CPU 11 refers to the management table of FIG. Thus, it is determined whether or not the confidential document is prohibited from being copied (step 205). When it is determined that the confidential document is prohibited from being copied, the LCD display unit 31 displays, for example, “This document is a confidential document”. "Copying is not possible" is displayed (step 206), and the program is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 205 that the confidential document is not copy-prohibited, the CPU 11 refers to the management table in FIG. 6 to determine whether the confidential document is copy-restricted (step 207). If it is determined that the document is not copy-restricted, the image data stored in the image memory 16 is decoded by the codec 18 and then printed out by the recording unit 17 (step 204), and the program ends.

  If it is determined in step 207 that the confidential document is copy-restricted, the CPU 11 displays the administrator ID / user ID input screen shown in FIG. 8 on the LCD display unit 31 (step 208). On this screen, as shown in the figure, an input field for an administrator ID and a user ID is displayed, and after inputting the administrator ID of the confidential document and the user's own ID, the “OK” button is pressed. Thus, a confidential document can be printed.

After displaying the administrator ID / user ID input screen, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the “OK” button has been pressed (step 209), and if it is determined that the “OK” button has not been pressed, the administrator It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the ID / user ID input screen was displayed (step 210).
If it is determined in step 210 that a certain period of time has not elapsed since the administrator ID / user ID input screen was displayed, the CPU 11 returns to step 209 and determines whether the “OK” button has been pressed. When it is determined that a certain period of time has elapsed since the administrator ID / user ID input screen was displayed, for example, “This manuscript is a confidential document and cannot be copied without an administrator ID. After displaying that copying cannot be performed (step 211), the program is terminated.

  When it is determined in step 209 that the “OK” button has been pressed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the administrator ID input on the administrator ID / user ID input screen matches the administrator ID of the confidential document. If it is determined (step 212) and it is determined that the input administrator ID does not match the administrator ID of the confidential document, a message indicating that copying cannot be performed is displayed (step 211), and the program is terminated. .

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the administrator ID input in step 212 matches the administrator ID of the confidential document, the CPU 11 refers to the management table of FIG. 6 and is set by the administrator of the confidential document. After reading the e-mail address, the copy information of the confidential document, for example, the copy date and time, the user ID entered on the administrator ID / user ID input screen, the management number of the copied confidential document, the number of copies, etc. are sent to the administrator. An e-mail attached with the text data to be notified is created and transmitted to the e-mail address via the LAN interface 21 and the LAN 6 using the SMTP protocol (step 213). Next, after decoding the image data stored in the image memory 16 by the codec 18, the CPU 11 prints out the data by the recording unit 17 (step 204) and ends the program.

  As described above, it is possible to set copy prohibition or copy restriction as copy restriction contents of each confidential document. When the restriction contents are copy prohibition, recording of the original reading data is prohibited and the restriction contents are copy restriction contents. In this case, only when the administrator ID is input, the document reading data is recorded, and the copy information, for example, the copy date / time, user information, document information, the number of copies, and the like are notified to the administrator of the confidential document. Therefore, it is possible to give elasticity to restrictions imposed on the copy of the confidential document, and when the confidential document is copied, the administrator of the confidential document can easily know the copy information.

  In the above embodiment, every time copying is performed, the scanned document data must be compared with the document data of all the confidential documents stored in the confidential document storage unit. By inputting management information in advance when copying a confidential document, it is possible to reduce the number of manuscript data of the confidential document to be compared with the scanned document data. Hereinafter, the management number of the confidential document is input in advance when copying the confidential document. An embodiment in the case of making them will be described.

When the user sets a copy document on the reading document placing table of the reading unit 15 and then selects a confidential document copy on the function selection screen displayed on the LCD display unit 31 of the display / operation unit 14, the CPU 11 performs the flowchart of FIG. 10 is started. First, the confidential document copy operation screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the LCD display unit 31 (step 301).
As shown in the figure, the confidential document copy operation screen displays a confidential document management number and user ID input field. After entering the confidential document management number and the user's own ID, the user clicks “OK”. By pressing the “” button, the confidential document can be copied.

After displaying the confidential document copy operation screen, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the “OK” button is pressed on the confidential document copy operation screen (step 302), and determines that the “OK” button is not pressed. If so, it is determined whether or not the “Cancel” button has been pressed (step 303).
If it is determined in step 303 that the “cancel” button has not been pressed, the CPU 11 returns to step 302 again to determine whether or not the “OK” button has been pressed, and determines that the “cancel” button has been pressed. If so, exit the program.
If it is determined in step 302 that the “OK” button has been pressed, the CPU 11 scans the document set by the reading unit 15, compresses the read image data by the codec 18, and saves it in the image memory 16. (Step 304).

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a confidential document management number has been input on the confidential document copy operation screen of FIG. 10 (step 305), and the confidential document management number has been input on the confidential document copy operation screen. If it is determined, after the image data of the confidential document to which the inputted management number is assigned is read from the confidential document storage unit 22 (step 306), whether the image data of the scanned document matches the image data of the confidential document. It is determined whether or not (step 307).
When determining that the scanned document data does not match the document data of the confidential document to which the management number is assigned, the CPU 11 causes the LCD display unit 31 to display, for example, “This document is not the designated confidential document”. After displaying that it is not a confidential document (step 308), the program is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the scanned document data matches the document data of the confidential document to which the management number is assigned, the CPU 11 refers to the management table in FIG. (Step 309), and if it is determined that the confidential document with the management number is copy-prohibited, the LCD display unit 31 displays a copy-prohibition such as “This document is copy-prohibited”. After displaying the message (step 310), the program is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 309 that the confidential document with the management number is not copy-prohibited, the CPU 11 refers to the management table in FIG. 6 to determine whether or not the confidential document with the management number is copy-restricted ( If it is determined in step 311) that the confidential document with the management number is not copy-restricted, the image data stored in the image memory 16 is decoded by the codec 18 and then printed out by the recording unit 17 (step 313). finish.

  Further, when it is determined in step 311 that the confidential document with the management number is copy-restricted, the CPU 11 reads the mail address set by the administrator of the confidential document by referring to the management table of FIG. After that, an e-mail attached with text data notifying the administrator of copy information of the confidential document, for example, the copy date and time, the user ID input on the confidential document copy operation screen, the management number of the copied confidential document, the number of copies, etc. Is transmitted to the mail address via the LAN interface 21 and LAN 6 using the SMTP protocol (step 312). Next, the CPU 11 decodes the image data stored in the image memory 16 by the codec 18 and then prints it out by the recording unit 17 (step 313), and ends the program.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 305 that the confidential document management number has not been input, the CPU 11 receives the scan data stored in the image memory 16 and the image data of each confidential document stored in the confidential document storage unit 22. By sequentially comparing, the scanned document and the confidential document are collated (step 314).
When the collation between the scanned document data and the confidential document document data is completed, the CPU 11 determines whether or not there is confidential document document data that matches the scanned document data, and is set on the reading document mounting table. It is determined whether the original is a confidential document (step 315), and there is no confidential document original data that matches the scanned original data, and it is determined that the original set on the reading document placement table is not a confidential document. In this case, as described above, the fact that the document is not a confidential document is displayed on the LCD display unit 31 (step 308), and then the program is terminated.

  If it is determined in step 315 that the original scanned is a confidential document, the CPU 11 refers to the management table in FIG. 6 to determine whether the confidential document is copy-prohibited (step 316). If it is determined that the confidential document is copy-prohibited, the LCD display unit 31 displays a copy-prohibit message such as “This document is copy-prohibited” in the same manner as described above (step 310). finish.

  Further, when it is determined in step 316 that the confidential document is not copy-prohibited, the CPU 11 refers to the management table of FIG. 6 to determine whether or not the confidential document is copy-restricted (step 317). If it is determined that the document is not copy-restricted, the image data stored in the image memory 16 is decoded by the codec 18 and then printed out by the recording unit 17 (step 313), and the program ends.

  If it is determined in step 317 that the confidential document is copy-restricted, the CPU 11 sends an email attached with text data describing the copy information of the confidential document to the administrator of the confidential document, as described above. (Step 312), the image data stored in the image memory 16 is decoded by the codec 18, and printed out by the recording unit 17 (step 313), and the program is terminated.

As described above, it is possible to determine whether or not the read original is a confidential document only by comparing the original data of the confidential document corresponding to the management number of the input confidential document with the data of the read original. Since it is not necessary to perform comparison with all document data stored in the document storage unit, it is possible to reduce the document data verification time.
In this embodiment, the confidential document corresponding to the management number of the input confidential document is selected and compared with the scan data. However, the administrator ID is input, and all confidential documents having the same administrator ID are input. The document data and the scan data can be compared to check whether the document is a confidential document. Even in this case, the confidential document data to be compared with the scan data can be reduced. Time can be shortened.

In the above embodiment, the copy date / time, user ID, management number of the confidential document copied, the number of copies, etc. are notified to the administrator as copy information. It is possible to change.
Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the document reading / recording apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral has been described. Can also be applied.

It is a figure which shows the network structural example of the system provided with the digital multifunctional device. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a display / operation part. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action at the time of the preservation | save of the image data of a confidential document. It is an example of a confidential document scan setting screen. It is an example of the management table preserve | saved at a confidential document preservation | save part. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action at the time of copying various originals. It is an example of an administrator ID / user ID input screen. It is a flowchart which shows an effect | action when inputting the management number of the said confidential document previously at the time of copying of a confidential document. It is an example of a confidential document copy operation screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital MFP 2, 3, 4 PC 5 PSTN
6 LAN
7 Internet 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 RAM
14 Display / Operation Unit 15 Reading Unit 16 Image Memory 17 Recording Unit 18 Codec 19 Modem 20 NCU
21 LAN I / F
22 confidential document storage 23 bus

Claims (4)

Confidentiality manuscript storage means for storing confidential manuscript data, and control means for restricting recording of the read data when the read manuscript data matches the manuscript data stored in the confidentiality manuscript storage means A document reading and recording apparatus comprising:
The document reading and recording apparatus, wherein the confidentiality manuscript storing means stores management information and restriction contents of each confidential manuscript. The document reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1,
When the restriction content is copy prohibition or copy restriction, and when the restriction content is copy prohibition, the control unit prohibits recording of original reading data. When the restriction content is copy restriction, the control unit An original reading / recording apparatus which records original reading data only when management information of a mandated original is input, and notifies the manager of the confidential duty original document of copy information. In the document reading and recording apparatus according to claim 2,
An original reading and recording apparatus, wherein the management information is an administrator ID, and the copy information is copy date and time, user information, original information, and the number of copies. In the document reading and recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The control means determines whether or not the read original data is an original stored in the confidentiality original storage means by comparing the confidential original and the read original data corresponding to the input management information. A document reading and recording apparatus.

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