Information processing system, information processing program, and information processing method

Abstract

To prevent hidden information from being printed with a second color material when a first color material predetermined as a color material for printing the hidden information is replaced with the second color material.SOLUTION: An information processing system 80 comprises at least one processor. During execution of printing of image information on a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the processor causes the hidden information to be printed using a predetermined first color material, and when the first color material is replaced with a second color material, the processor does not cause the hidden information to be printed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes an image processing device that adds a tracking pattern that is difficult or impossible to distinguish with the naked eye to a copy, so that the tracking pattern on the copy is not visible even when copying an original that already has a tracking pattern added. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-84251 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure prevents hidden information from being printed by a second coloring material when a first coloring material predetermined as a coloring material for printing hidden information is replaced with a second coloring material. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The information processing system of the first aspect includes at least one processor, which, when printing image information on a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, causes hidden information to be printed using a predetermined first color material, and does not cause the hidden information to be printed when the first color material is replaced with a second color material.

[0006] In the information processing system of the second aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, when the first color material is replaced with the second color material, the processor causes the image information to be printed and does not cause the hidden information to be printed.

[0007] In a third aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the second aspect, the processor prints the image information and prints the hidden information when the second color material is replaced with the first color material.

[0008] In a fourth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor acquires color information indicating whether the color material is the first color material or the second color material from a color identification sensor capable of identifying the color of the color material.

[0009] In an information processing system of a fifth aspect, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the first coloring material is a yellow or transparent coloring material, and the second coloring material is a coloring material of a color other than yellow and transparent.

[0010] In a sixth aspect of the information processing system, in the information processing system of the first aspect, the processor acquires the color of the recording medium, and if the color of the recording medium and the color of the second color material match a predetermined combination, the hidden information is printed using the second color material.

[0011] An information processing system of a seventh aspect is the information processing system of the sixth aspect, wherein the processor causes the hidden information to be printed when the color of the second colorant is white and the color of the recording medium is white.

[0012] An information processing program of an eighth aspect causes a computer to print hidden information using a predetermined first color material when printing image information on a recording medium using multiple color materials, and does not print the hidden information if the first color material is replaced with a second color material.

[0013] In a ninth aspect of the information processing method, when printing image information on a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material, and if the first color material is replaced with a second color material, the hidden information is not printed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the information processing system of the first aspect, the information processing program of the eighth aspect, and the information processing method of the ninth aspect, when a first color material predetermined as a color material for printing hidden information is replaced with a second color material, it is possible to prevent the hidden information from being printed by the second color material.

[0015] According to the information processing system of the second aspect, it is possible to print image information while preventing hidden information from being printed with the second color material.

[0016] According to the information processing system of the third aspect, when the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material, hidden information is printed when image information is printed using the first coloring material.

[0017] According to the information processing system of the fourth aspect, it is possible to prevent the actual color of the color material from being erroneously acquired, compared to when color information provided on a cartridge filled with the color material is acquired.

[0018] According to the information processing system of the fifth aspect, it is possible to prevent hidden information from being printed in a color other than yellow or transparent.

[0019] According to the information processing system of the sixth aspect, hidden information can be printed with a color material other than the first color material depending on the color of the recording medium.

[0020] According to the information processing system of the seventh aspect, hidden information can be printed on a white recording medium using a white second color material. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of hidden information printing determination processing in the information processing system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the hidden information printing determination process in the information processing system according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, an information processing system, an information processing program, and an information processing method according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Components indicated by the same reference numerals in the drawings are the same components. However, unless otherwise specified in the specification, each component is not limited to one, and multiple components may exist.

[0023] Furthermore, descriptions of overlapping configurations and symbols in each drawing may be omitted. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and may be implemented by making appropriate modifications, such as omitting configurations, replacing them with different configurations, or combining one embodiment with various modified examples, within the scope of the purpose of the present disclosure.

[0024] <Information Processing System> 1 is a system built within the image forming apparatus 20. In the present disclosure, the term "system" includes a system built with a single apparatus, a system built with multiple apparatuses, and a system built within a higher-level apparatus or system. In other words, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure may be built across multiple apparatuses other than the image forming apparatus 20.

[0025] In addition, the various processes executed by the information processing system 80 can also be executed on the cloud, an on-premise server, an edge server, an end point, or the like.

[0026] As will be described in more detail later, the information processing system 80 can prevent the hidden information from being printed in color materials other than predetermined color materials in the image forming device 20 that can print hidden information.

[0027] <Image forming device> The image forming apparatus 20 according to this embodiment accepts a job input by a user and executes the specified job. One example of a job executed by the image forming apparatus 20 is a print job for forming an original image generated from a scanned original or the like on a recording medium such as paper.

[0028] The document to be read by the image forming apparatus 20 may be a document set in an image reading unit 30 (described later), or may be a document acquired from a network via a communication interface (I / F) unit 18 (described later).

[0029] The image forming apparatus 20 is formed with a main body section 22, an input section 24, a duplex automatic document feeder 28, an image reading section 30, a paper transport device 32, and an output section 34. The image forming apparatus 20 also has a control device 10.

[0030] The image forming device 20 can print "hidden information" on a recording medium as a tracking pattern that is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. The hidden information is printed using dots of a predetermined size or smaller. The hidden information is also printed using an inconspicuous color material.

[0031] (Main body) The main body 22 is a housing that houses an image forming unit 22A, a cartridge 22B, a color sensor 22C, and the like.

[0032] The image forming unit 22A forms an original image generated by the image reading unit 30 (described later) on a recording medium such as paper using, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet recording method.

[0033] When an electrophotographic system is adopted as the image forming unit 22A, the cartridge 22B is a toner cartridge containing toner as an example of a color material. When an inkjet recording system is adopted as the image forming unit 22A, the cartridge 22B is an ink cartridge containing ink as an example of a color material.

[0034] The image forming device 20 can print image information on a recording medium using a plurality of color materials. For this purpose, a plurality of cartridges 22B are stored in the image forming device 20. These cartridges 22B can store various combinations of color materials.

[0035] Examples of the combination of coloring materials include the following: Black, cyan, magenta, yellow Black, silver, gold, white Black, silver, gold, transparent Silver, cyan, magenta, yellow

[0036] Of these, the yellow and transparent color materials are "first color materials" that can print the above-mentioned "hidden information," while the other colors are "second color materials" that do not normally print hidden information. Note that there are cases where hidden information is printed using the second color material, but this will be discussed in more detail later.

[0037] The color sensor 22C is a color identification sensor that can identify the color of the color material filled in the cartridge 22B. The color sensor 22C can identify the color of the color material filled in each cartridge 22B. The color sensor 22C can also identify whether the color material filled in each cartridge 22B includes a first color material.

[0038] (Input section) The input unit 24 is an interface that allows a user to input and operate a job to be executed by the image forming apparatus 20. The user can input a print instruction for image information and a print instruction for hidden information via the input unit 24. The input unit 24 includes a display unit 24A and an operation unit 24B. Note that the hidden information may be printed regardless of the execution instruction from the user.

[0039] The display unit 24A is configured by combining, for example, a touch panel with a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, etc. Images, etc. are displayed on the display unit 24A in response to touch operations by the user and processing of the image forming device 20, etc. The operation unit 24B is an operation key, operation button, power button, etc. provided on the image forming device 20.

[0040] The user can specify job contents or input instructions to execute a job to the image forming apparatus 20 by performing a touch operation on the display unit 24A or pressing an operation button on the operation unit 24B. Note that the user's input operation may be performed via the operation unit 24B.

[0041] (Automatic duplex document feeder) The duplexing automatic document feeder 28 (DADF) is a transport device that transports documents using transport rollers (not shown). The duplexing automatic document feeder 28 is installed at the upper end of the main body 22, covers the image reading unit (platen glass) 30 (described later), and also serves as an openable and closable platen cover.

[0042] A paper tray is provided in the automatic double-sided document feeder 28. The paper tray is a tray on which one or more documents to be read by the image reading unit 30 can be set.

[0043] (Image reading unit) The image reading unit 30 is a platen on the upper end surface of the main body 22 that is equipped with a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and the like that reads the document set on the paper tray of the automatic double-sided document feeder 28 and generates a document image.

[0044] A double-sided automatic document feeder 28 serving as a platen cover can be opened to set one document to be read by the image reading unit 30 .

[0045] (Paper transport device) The paper transport device 32 transports, along a paper transport path, paper as a recording medium supplied from a paper tray provided near the lower end of the main body 22. Paper for forming an original image in the image forming unit 22A can be set in the paper tray.

[0046] The image forming apparatus 20 is also provided with a manual paper tray on the side of the main body 22, and paper for forming an original image in the image forming unit 22A can also be set in this paper tray.

[0047] A color sensor 32A is provided on the paper transport path in the paper transport device 32. The color sensor 32A is a color identification sensor that can identify the color of the paper transported on the paper transport path.

[0048] (output section) The output unit 34 is configured to include a paper output tray provided on the side of the main body unit 22. An output object on which an original image has been formed in the image forming unit 22A is output to the paper output tray. The output unit 34 may be provided with only one paper output tray or multiple paper output trays.

[0049] (Control device) The control device 10 accepts a job input by a user to the image forming device 20, and executes control to cause the image forming device 20 to execute the specified job. The control device 10 also determines whether or not hidden information is to be printed on the recording medium.

[0050] (Electrical configuration of the control device) The control device 10 includes a CPU 11, a memory 12 serving as a temporary storage area, a non-volatile storage unit 13, a medium read / write device (R / W) 16, a communication interface (I / F) unit 18, and an external I / F unit 19. The CPU 11, the memory 12, the storage unit 13, the medium read / write device 16, the communication I / F unit 18, and the external I / F unit 19 are connected to one another via a bus B1. The medium read / write device 16 reads information written to a recording medium 17 and writes information to the recording medium 17. The communication I / F unit 18 is an interface for communicatively connecting the control device 10 to, for example, a server provided outside the control device 10 or various terminals used by users. The communication I / F unit 18 uses a communication standard such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or LAN (Local Area Network).

[0051] (Storage part) The storage unit 13 is realized by an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, or the like. An information processing program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 as a storage medium. The information processing program 13A is stored in the storage unit 13 by setting a recording medium 17 on which the information processing program 13A is written in the medium reading and writing device 16 and having the medium reading and writing device 16 read the information processing program 13A from the recording medium 17. The CPU 11 reads the information processing program 13A from the storage unit 13, expands it in the memory 12, and sequentially executes the processes of the information processing program 13A. A color information database 13B, which will be described later, is stored in the storage unit 13.

[0052] (Functional configuration of the control device) Next, the functional configuration of the control device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11A, an instruction unit 11B, and a control unit 11C. The CPU 11 of the control device 10 executes an information processing program 13A to function as the acquisition unit 11A, the instruction unit 11B, and the control unit 11C.

[0053] (Acquisition Department) The acquisition unit 11A acquires a print job execution instruction from a user via the input unit 24 or via a network. At this time, the acquisition unit 11A acquires "image information" which is the document data that the user has instructed to print.

[0054] Furthermore, when a user issues an instruction to print hidden information, the acquisition unit 11A can acquire the "instruction to print hidden information" together with the instruction to execute the print job.

[0055] The acquisition unit 11A acquires color information of the color material packed in the cartridge 22B from the color sensor 22C. The acquisition unit 11A can also acquire color information of the recording medium on which the image information instructed to be printed is printed from the color sensor 32A.

[0056] (instruction section) If the color of the recording medium is not acquired A case will be described in which acquisition unit 11A does not acquire the color of the recording medium. In this case, instruction unit 11B causes image forming unit 22A to print hidden information using a predetermined first color material when printing image information on the recording medium using multiple color materials.

[0057] Specifically, when either a yellow colorant or a transparent colorant, which is an example of a first colorant, is filled in any of the cartridges 22B, the instruction unit 11B causes the image forming unit 22A to "print" hidden information.

[0058] On the other hand, if neither cartridge 22B is filled with a yellow colorant or a transparent colorant, which is an example of the first colorant, the instructing unit 11B does not cause the image forming unit 22A to "print" the hidden information.

[0059] However, even when the hidden information is not to be printed, the instructing section 11B causes the image forming section 22A to print the image information that has been instructed to be printed.

[0060] Furthermore, when the cartridge 22B filled with the first coloring material is replaced with the cartridge 22B filled with the second coloring material during printing, the instruction section 11B does not cause the image forming section 22A to print hidden information during subsequent printing.

[0061] That is, if the first coloring material is replaced with a second coloring material that does not print the hidden information while the image information and the hidden information are being printed using the first coloring material, the hidden information will not be printed.

[0062] Similarly, when the cartridge 22B filled with the second coloring material is replaced with the cartridge 22B filled with the first coloring material during printing, the instruction section 11B causes the image forming section 22A to print hidden information during subsequent printing.

[0063] In other words, if the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material capable of printing hidden information while image information is being printed using the second coloring material (at this time, hidden information is not printed), the hidden information is printed.

[0064] When obtaining the color of the recording medium The case where the acquisition unit acquires the color of the recording medium will be described. In this case, when the image forming unit 22A prints image information on the recording medium using a plurality of color materials, if the color of the recording medium and the color of the second color material match a predetermined combination, the instruction unit 11B can print hidden information using the second color material.

[0065] As an example, if one of the cartridges 22B is filled with black colorant, which is an example of a second colorant, and the color of the recording medium is black, the instruction unit 11B can cause the image forming unit 22A to print hidden information using the black colorant.

[0066] As another example, if one of the cartridges 22B is filled with a white colorant, which is an example of a second colorant, and the color of the recording medium is white, the instruction unit 11B can cause the image forming unit 22A to print hidden information using the white colorant.

[0067] In this way, combinations of recording medium colors and second coloring material colors on which hidden information can be printed are stored in color information database 13 B. In addition to the above, examples of such combinations include blue:cyan, red:magenta, pink:magenta, etc., as recording medium color:second coloring material color.

[0068] Furthermore, white as the color of a recording medium on which hidden information can be printed using a white coloring material is, for example, a lightness L * It can be defined as a color with a value of 80 or more.

[0069] Similarly, blue as a color of a recording medium on which hidden information can be printed using cyan colorants has a lightness L * , chromaticity a * , b * The same applies to the colors of other color materials and recording media. In this way, the administrator of the information processing system 80 can arbitrarily set the combination of the color of the recording medium and the color of the second color material on which hidden information can be printed.

[0070] In the following description, a combination of the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material that can print hidden information is referred to as an “approximate color.” In other words, if there are similar colors between the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material, the instruction unit 11B can print the hidden information using a second coloring material that is similar in color to the color of the recording medium.

[0071] (Control unit) The control unit 11C controls various functions of the image forming device 20, such as the image forming unit 22A, color sensor 22C, display unit 24A, automatic double-sided document feeder 28, image reading unit 30, paper transport device 32, color sensor 32A, etc. The various instructions from the instruction unit 11B may be executed via the control unit 11C.

[0072] <Hidden information printing judgment process 1> First, a case will be described in which the CPU 11 of the control device 10 does not acquire color information of the recording medium. To avoid confusion, a case will be described in which a user issues an instruction to print hidden information. If a user does not issue an instruction to print hidden information and it is predetermined that the hidden information be printed, step S102, which will be described below, is omitted.

[0073] The CPU 11 executes the "hidden information print determination process" shown in FIG. 3 in response to an execution instruction for image information of a print job via the input unit 42 of the user's device 40.

[0074] When the hidden information printing determination process is executed, in step S102, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a print instruction for the hidden information has been acquired along with a print instruction for the image information. If the determination in step S102 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if the determination in step S102 is negative, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0075] In step S104, the CPU 11 waits for acquisition of color information on the color materials packed in each cartridge 22 B. Once the color information on the color materials packed in each cartridge 22 B has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0076] In step S106, the CPU 11 determines whether the first coloring material is present in any of the cartridges 22B based on the acquired color information. If the determination in step S106 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the determination in step S106 is negative, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0077] In step S108, the CPU 11 causes the image forming unit 22A to print the image information and the hidden information using the first color material. After step S108, the process proceeds to step S112.

[0078] In step S110, the CPU 11 causes the image forming unit 22A to print the image information but not the hidden information. After step S110, the process proceeds to step S112.

[0079] In step S112, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the instructed print job has been completed. If the determination in step S112 is affirmative, the hidden information printing determination process ends.

[0080] On the other hand, if the determination in step S112 is negative, the process returns to step S104. That is, until the print job is completed, the CPU 11 acquires color information of the coloring materials and switches between printing and not printing the hidden information as necessary.

[0081] As a result, when the first color material is replaced with the second color material during execution of a print job, the CPU 11 does not cause the image forming unit 22A to print the hidden information. Also, when the second color material is replaced with the first color material during execution of a print job, the CPU 11 causes the image forming unit 22A to print the hidden information.

[0082] <Hidden information printing judgment process 2> Next, a description will be given of a manner in which the CPU 11 of the control device 10 acquires color information of the recording medium. To avoid confusion, a case in which a user issues a print instruction to print hidden information will be described. If a user does not issue a print instruction to print hidden information and it is predetermined that the hidden information be printed, step S202, which will be described below, is omitted.

[0083] The CPU 11 executes the "hidden information print determination process" shown in FIG. 4 in response to an execution instruction for image information of a print job via the input unit 42 of the user's device 40.

[0084] When the hidden information printing determination process is executed, in step S202, the CPU 11 determines whether or not a print instruction for the hidden information has been acquired together with a print instruction for the image information. If the determination in step S202 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if the determination in step S202 is negative, the process proceeds to step S210.

[0085] In step S204, the CPU 11 waits to acquire color information of the color materials packed in each cartridge 22B and color information of the recording medium. After acquiring the color information of the color materials packed in each cartridge 22B and color information of the recording medium, the process proceeds to step S206.

[0086] In step S206, the CPU 11 determines whether the first coloring material is present in any of the cartridges 22B based on the acquired color information. If the determination in step S206 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S208. On the other hand, if the determination in step S206 is negative, the process proceeds to step S207.

[0087] In step S207, the CPU 11 determines whether there are similar colors between the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material. If there are similar colors, the process proceeds to step S208. On the other hand, if the determination in step S207 is negative, the process proceeds to step S210.

[0088] In step S208, CPU 11 causes image forming unit 22A to print the image information and the hidden information. At this time, if the determination in step S206 is affirmative, CPU 11 causes the hidden information to be printed using the first color material. On the other hand, if the determination in step S207 is affirmative, CPU 11 causes the hidden information to be printed using the second color material that is similar in color to the recording medium. After step S208, the process proceeds to step S212.

[0089] In step S210, the CPU 11 causes the image forming unit 22A to print the image information but not the hidden information. After step S210, the process proceeds to step S212.

[0090] In step S212, the CPU 11 determines whether the instructed print job has been completed. If the determination in step S212 is affirmative, the hidden information printing determination process ends.

[0091] On the other hand, if the determination in step S212 is negative, the process returns to step S204. That is, until the print job is completed, the CPU 11 acquires color information of the color materials and recording medium, and switches between printing and not printing hidden information as necessary.

[0092] As a result, when the first color material is replaced with the second color material during execution of a print job and there is no similar color between the color of the recording medium and the color of the second color material, the CPU 11 does not cause the image forming unit 22A to print hidden information.

[0093] Furthermore, when the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material during execution of a print job, and when the second coloring material that is not similar to the color of the recording medium is replaced with the second coloring material that is similar to the color of the recording medium, the CPU 11 causes the image forming unit 22A to print hidden information.

[0094] <Action and effect> In the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, when a first color material predetermined as a color material for printing hidden information is replaced with a second color material, the hidden information is not printed. This prevents the hidden information from being printed using the second color material. In other words, it prevents the hidden information from being printed in a color such as black, which is more noticeable than yellow or transparency.

[0095] Furthermore, in the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, when the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the image information is printed but the hidden information is not printed. This allows the image information to be printed while preventing the hidden information from being printed by the second coloring material.

[0096] Furthermore, in the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, when the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material, the image information is printed and the hidden information is printed. This allows the hidden information to be printed when the image information is printed using the first coloring material. In other words, it is possible to prevent the hidden information from not being printed.

[0097] For example, during a print job that does not print hidden information (e.g., a print job using black, cyan, magenta, and gold colorants that does not include the first colorant), a user can replace the second colorant (e.g., gold colorant) with the first colorant (e.g., yellow colorant). In this case, the print job is executed using the first colorant instead of the second colorant before the swap.

[0098] If the state in which the hidden information is not printed is maintained in this state, the hidden information is not printed with the first color material, even though the image information is printed with a color material including the first color material. In contrast, in the present disclosure, when the second color material is replaced with the first color material, the hidden information is printed. As a result, when the image information is printed with a color material including the first color material, the hidden information is also printed.

[0099] Furthermore, the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure acquires color information indicating whether the color material filled in the cartridge 22B is the first color material or the second color material from the color sensor 22C that can distinguish the color of the color material. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous acquisition of the actual color of the color material compared to, for example, acquiring color information attached to the cartridge 22B filled with the color material.

[0100] Furthermore, in the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, the first coloring material is a yellow or transparent coloring material. Yellow coloring material is less noticeable when printed on a recording medium of a bright color, for example. Transparent coloring material is less noticeable when printed on any color of recording medium. By using such a color as the first coloring material, it is possible to prevent hidden information from being printed in a color that is more noticeable than yellow or transparent.

[0101] Furthermore, in the information processing system 80 of the present disclosure, when the color of the recording medium and the color of the second color material match a predetermined combination, hidden information can be printed using the second color material. This allows hidden information to be printed using a color material other than the first color material depending on the color of the recording medium. For example, hidden information can be printed using a white second color material on a white recording medium. This makes the hidden information less noticeable.

[0102] <Other embodiments> In the above embodiment, when the first color material is replaced with the second color material, the image information is printed but the hidden information is not printed. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, when the first color material is replaced with the second color material, the image information may not be printed. In other words, the image information may not be printed using the second color material that cannot print hidden information.

[0103] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, color information indicating whether the color material is a first color material or a second color material is obtained from a color sensor 22C that can identify the color of the color material, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this; for example, color information may be obtained from a two-dimensional code attached to a cartridge filled with the color material.

[0104] In the above embodiment, the first coloring material is a yellow or transparent coloring material, but the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The color of the first coloring material can be appropriately set depending on the color of the recording medium to be used.

[0105] In the above embodiment, both an embodiment in which the color of the recording medium is acquired and an embodiment in which the color of the recording medium is not acquired have been described, but even when the color sensor 32A is provided, it is possible to set as appropriate whether or not to acquire the color of the recording medium. Furthermore, even when the color of the recording medium is acquired, it is possible to set as appropriate whether or not to print hidden information based on the combination of the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material.

[0106] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for example, the following various processors can be used as the hardware structure of the processing unit that executes the processes of the acquisition unit 11A, the instruction unit 11B, and the control unit 11C. The above various processors include, as described above, a CPU, which is a general-purpose processor that executes software (programs) and functions as a processing unit, as well as dedicated electrical circuits that are processors having a circuit configuration specifically designed to execute specific processes, such as a programmable logic device (PLD), which is a processor whose circuit configuration can be changed after manufacture, such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0107] The processing unit may be configured with one of these various processors, or may be configured with a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (for example, a combination of multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). The processing unit may also be configured with a single processor. Some or all of these processors may be configured on the cloud. At least each of the processes described in the above embodiments may be executed by a processor on the cloud.

[0108] Examples of configuring a processing unit with a single processor include, first, a form in which one processor is configured with a combination of one or more CPUs and software, and this processor functions as the processing unit, as typified by computers such as client and server. Second, a form in which a processor is used to realize the functions of the entire system, including the processing unit, on a single IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, as typified by systems on chips (SoCs). In this way, the processing unit is configured using one or more of the above-mentioned various processors as a hardware structure.

[0109] Furthermore, the hardware structure of these various processors may be, more specifically, an electric circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. As such, the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways.

[0110] <Additional Notes> (((1))) at least one processor; The processor: When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing system.

[0111] (((2))) The processor: When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the image information is printed and the hidden information is not printed. The information processing system according to (((1))).

[0112] (((3))) The processor: When the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material, the image information is printed and the hidden information is printed. The information processing system according to (((1))) or (((2))).

[0113] (((4))) The processor: acquiring color information indicating whether the color material is the first color material or the second color material from a color identification sensor capable of identifying the color of the color material; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))).

[0114] (((5))) the first colorant is a yellow or transparent colorant; the second colorant is a colorant of a color other than yellow and transparent; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))).

[0115] (((6))) The processor: acquiring the color of the recording medium; When the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material match a predetermined combination, the hidden information is printed using the second coloring material. The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((5))).

[0116] (((7))) The processor: When the color of the second colorant is white and the color of the recording medium is white, the hidden information is printed. The information processing system according to (((6))).

[0117] (((8))) On the computer, When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing program.

[0118] (((9))) When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing methods.

[0119] According to the information processing system (((1))), the information processing program (((8))), and the information processing method (((9))), when a first coloring material predetermined as a coloring material for printing hidden information is replaced with a second coloring material, it is possible to prevent the hidden information from being printed by the second coloring material.

[0120] According to the information processing system (((2))), image information can be printed while preventing hidden information from being printed with the second coloring material.

[0121] According to the information processing system of (((3))), when the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material, hidden information is printed when printing image information using the first coloring material.

[0122] According to the information processing system (((4))), it is possible to prevent the actual color of the color material from being erroneously acquired, compared to when color information provided on a cartridge filled with the color material is acquired.

[0123] According to the information processing system (((5))), hidden information can be prevented from being printed in a color other than yellow or transparent.

[0124] According to the information processing system (((6))), hidden information can be printed with color materials other than the first color material depending on the color of the recording medium.

[0125] According to the information processing system (((7))), hidden information can be printed on a white recording medium using a white second coloring material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 11 CPU (processor) 80 Information Processing Systems

Claims

1. at least one processor; The processor: When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing system.

2. The processor: When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the image information is printed and the hidden information is not printed. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: When the second coloring material is replaced with the first coloring material, the image information is printed and the hidden information is printed. The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor: acquiring color information indicating whether the color material is the first color material or the second color material from a color identification sensor capable of identifying the color of the color material; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

5. the first colorant is a yellow or transparent colorant; the second colorant is a colorant of a color other than yellow and transparent; The information processing system according to claim 1 .

6. The processor: acquiring the color of the recording medium; When the color of the recording medium and the color of the second coloring material match a predetermined combination, the hidden information is printed using the second coloring material. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

7. The processor: When the color of the second colorant is white and the color of the recording medium is white, the hidden information is printed. The information processing system according to claim 6.

8. On the computer, When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing program.

9. When printing image information onto a recording medium using a plurality of color materials, the hidden information is printed using a predetermined first color material; When the first coloring material is replaced with the second coloring material, the hidden information is not printed. Information processing methods.

Images