Image forming device

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus that reduces erroneous transmission in routine work consisting of printing and reading a document image.SOLUTION: When an image forming apparatus performs scanning, it determines whether a user of the apparatus is the same as a request source indicated in a printing history of image data used for printing. The image forming apparatus collates image data obtained through document scanning and obtained through document reading with the image data used for printing and verifies if the image data obtained through reading satisfies a predetermined condition. When a user who has instructed scanning is the same as a request source associated with the image data used for printing and the image data obtained through document reading satisfies the predetermined condition, the image forming apparatus creates a setting screen using a transmission history and a registered destination of the user and presents the screen to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus capable of printing based on image data and reading an image of an original document, and in particular to setting support when creating and transmitting image data by reading an original document image. [Background technology]

[0002] When scanning the document, various parameters such as the image data transmission method, destination, etc. must be entered by operating the panel. Since inputting the destination such as an email address, URL, or fax number is particularly troublesome, various support functions are provided.

[0003] Representative support functions include a function for accepting the selection of a destination from among previously registered destinations, a function for accepting the selection of a destination from a past transmission history, etc. A function that goes further and presents a unique destination to a user is described in Patent Document 1.

[0004] The image forming device described in Patent Document 1 accepts input of a user name and password for the user who is to perform an operation, and performs personal authentication of the user who is to perform the operation. Once the user's legitimacy is confirmed through user authentication, data indicating the destination and image format preregistered in the server (called My Address Data) is downloaded from the server and stored in a memory provided in the image forming device. Then, when transmitting pixels, if there is no input operation by the user, the downloaded My Address Data is used to create the destination. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-273028 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-203874 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Even though IT technology has become widespread, documents with seals and signatures are still the basis of social activities. For example, in a situation where a contract needs to be concluded in a hurry, after the parties agree, they send a document with a seal or signature section created on a terminal such as a computer to an image forming device to print it, sign and seal the printed document, read the document image as a manuscript with these documents, and send the image data to a terminal, so that the data of the formal document is saved on the terminal, etc., and the psychology of wanting to hand it over as soon as possible is at work. This is because without a document with a seal and a signature, the document will not have legal effect. When trying to read and send a manuscript in a hurry, the panel operation can be troublesome and annoying. In the midst of a hurry, if the transmission history and destination registrations are stored in the image forming device and you see them, you may inadvertently select them as the destination of the image data with a seal and signature, and send it by mistake.

[0007] Such erroneous transmissions cannot be solved even by the image forming device described in Patent Document 1. The image forming device described in Patent Document 1 only confirms the identity of the person through personal authentication, and presents the destination indicated in the My Address data, so it ends up selecting an inappropriate destination for the image data bearing a seal or signature.

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing erroneous transmissions in routine work such as printing and reading document images. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The above problem is achieved by an image forming apparatus comprising: a holding means for holding a print history indicating the source of previous printing requests in association with image data used for the printing; a storage means for storing an operation history indicating operations performed in the device body; a determination means for determining, when a document is read, whether or not the user is the same as the requester indicated in the print history of the printing; a comparison means for comparing the image data obtained by reading the document with the image data used for the printing, and verifying whether the image data obtained by reading satisfies predetermined conditions; and a presentation means for creating and presenting a setting screen using operations performed by the user that are indicated in the operation history, when the user is the same as the requester indicated in the print history associated with the image data used for printing, and the image data obtained by reading the document satisfies predetermined conditions.

[0010] The comparison means may compare the image data obtained by reading with the image data used for printing after the determination by the determination means.

[0011] The determining unit may determine whether or not the user is the same as the requester indicated in the print history after the verifying unit verifies that a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0012] The system may include a table showing the correspondence between the host name or network address of the terminal that made the print request and a user ID, and an authentication means for verifying the identity of a user using a pre-registered user ID, and the determination by the determination means may be made by judging whether the user ID used for the identity verification is the same as the user ID corresponding to the host name or network address of the terminal that made the print request.

[0013] The specified condition may be that the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document are different only in specified portions, and the remaining portions are identical.

[0014] The specified portion may be a signature section, and the comparison means may determine whether a signature section exists in corresponding positions in the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and whether handwritten characters are written only in the signature section of the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and may determine that there is a difference if handwritten characters are written only in the signature section of the image data obtained by reading the manuscript.

[0015] The specified area may be a stamp area, and the comparison means may determine whether a stamp area exists in the corresponding positions of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and whether a seal exists only in the stamp area of ​​the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and may determine that there is a difference if a seal is written only in the stamp area of ​​the image data obtained by reading the manuscript.

[0016] Character recognition may be performed on the remaining areas of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading other than the specified areas, and if the character strings obtained by the character recognition are identical, it may be determined that there is the identity.

[0017] When feature points extracted from areas other than the specified areas in the image data used for the printing and feature points extracted from areas other than the specified areas in the image data obtained by reading the document form a specified geometric relationship, they may be deemed to have the identity.

[0018] If the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document do not contain a specified portion or if there are no differences in the specified portion, it may be determined that the specified condition is not met.

[0019] The storage means may reduce the image data used for printing at a predetermined magnification and store it, and the comparison means may reduce the image data obtained by reading the document at the predetermined magnification and compare it with the image data stored in the storage means.

[0020] Of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading from the original, the image data with a larger data size may be subjected to a determination as to whether it contains the image content of the image data with a smaller data size, and if so, it may be deemed to satisfy the specified condition.

[0021] The storage unit may receive image data from the request source, and store the image data used in the printing for a predetermined period after printing is performed using the image data.

[0022] The operation history may indicate a destination of image data designated by a user, and the setting screen created and presented by the presentation means may indicate a transmission setting using the destination.

[0023] When the operation history indicates a plurality of destinations specified by a user, the presenting means may arrange a list of selection candidates on the setting screen, in which each of the plurality of destinations is a selection candidate.

[0024] In the list of selection candidates, the selection candidates corresponding to the destinations may be sorted in descending order of the sending date and time or in descending order of frequency of use.

[0025] The apparatus may also be provided with a transmission means which, when one of the selection candidates included in the setting screen is selected, transmits image data obtained by reading the document to a destination indicated in the selection candidate without waiting for the start key to be pressed.

[0026] The device may include a transmission means for transmitting image data obtained by reading the document to a destination indicated in one of the selection candidates included in the setting screen when a specified operation is performed by a user, and the presentation means may display a confirmation screen when one of the selection candidates included in the setting screen is selected after the setting screen is displayed, and the specified operation may be an affirmative operation on the confirmation screen displayed by the presentation means.

[0027] The device may include a transmission means for transmitting image data obtained by reading the document to a destination indicated in a selection option included in the setting screen at a predetermined timing, and the predetermined timing may be a timing when a predetermined period has elapsed since the presentation means presents the setting screen to the user.

[0028] The operation history may be a transmission history that is generated based on a destination designated by a panel operation.

[0029] The operation history may be registration information input by a user through a panel operation to indicate a destination of the image data obtained by the scanning.

[0030] The destination may be any one of an email address, a file path, and a fax number. Effect of the Invention

[0031] According to the above, when performing routine tasks such as printing a document created on a terminal such as a PC, signing and stamping it, reading the document with these steps, and sending it, if the printing of the document without the signature and the reading of the document with the signature are performed by the same person, and the image data of each document meets a predetermined condition, it is determined that the printing of the document and the reading of the original are mutually related, and a setting screen is automatically created from the subject's past operation history. This reduces erroneous sending compared to a conventional configuration in which a setting screen is presented to the user when the user can be authenticated with a user ID and password. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 shows the external appearance of an image forming apparatus 1000. [Diagram 2] 10 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of an image forming unit main body 1003, a scanner 1004, and an automatic document feeder 1006. [Diagram 3] 1 shows the configuration of a control system of the image forming unit main body 1003. [Figure 4] Fig. 4(a) shows print histories 231, 232, and 233. Fig. 4(b) shows a backup of printed image data. Fig. 4(c) shows an example of a linking table 245. [Diagram 5] Fig. 5(a) shows scan job transmission histories 221, 222, 223, ... 229. Fig. 5(b) shows registration information stored in non-volatile memory 205 by a user's panel operation. [Figure 6] 10 shows a flowchart of a document reading and transmission procedure performed by the image forming unit main body 1003. [Figure 7] 3 shows an authentication screen including a user ID input field 311, a password input field 312, and an icon 316 for accepting matching with a print image. [Figure 8] 1 shows a flowchart of a document reading and transmission procedure by an image forming unit main body 1003 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for collating image data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a diagram showing a series of routine tasks, including printing a document and reading a signed and stamped manuscript. [Figure 11] 1 shows a flow of a series of processes from collating image data obtained by reading an original document with image data used for printing in the first embodiment to creating a transmission setting screen. [Figure 12] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing an example of a transmission setting screen 501. FIG. [Figure 13] 1 shows a flowchart of a document reading and transmission procedure by an image forming unit main body 1003 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for collating image data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] 13 shows a flow of a series of processes from collating image data obtained by reading an original with image data used for printing to creating a transmission setting screen in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0034] [1] Appearance of image forming device Fig. 1 shows the appearance of an image forming apparatus 1000. The image forming apparatus 1000 shown in Fig. 1 is a multifunction peripheral, and is composed of an input panel 1010, a touch panel display 1001, paper feed cassettes 1002a, b, c, and d, an image forming unit main body 1003, a scanner 1004, and an automatic document feeder 1006 integrated with a document holding cover 1005, and executes jobs such as document reading, FAX, copying, and document printing according to operations from a user. The touch panel display 1001 displays various tabs (see Figs. 7 and 12(a)) for accepting setting operations from the user, and also displays a soft keyboard (not shown) to accept panel operations from the user. The input panel 1010 includes buttons 141, 142, 143, and 144 for selecting the type of operation to be performed out of document scanning, FAX, copying, and document printing, a start button 145 for accepting an operation to start a job, and a cancel button 146 for accepting cancellation of a job.

[0035] [2] User authentication When accepting panel operations from touch panel display 1001 and input panel 1010, one of a number of authentication methods is executed to authenticate the user attempting to perform the operation and determine the legitimacy of the user. User authentication methods include face authentication using camera 161, card authentication using card reader 162, password authentication using touch panel display 1001, and smartphone authentication using smartphone communication unit 163. When the legitimacy of the user standing in front of image forming apparatus 1000 is recognized by any of the authentication methods, transmission settings are accepted from input panel 1010 and touch panel display 1001, and image data is created and transmitted by having scanner 1004 optically read the document in accordance with these settings.

[0036] [3] Configuration of Scanner 1004 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the image forming unit main body 1003, the scanner 1004, and the automatic document feeder 1006. As shown in FIG. 2, the scan unit 10 is configured by mounting an LED unit 31 and a mirror member 32 on a carriage 35, and performs document reading in two ways, a sheet-through method and a document scanning method. In the sheet-through method, documents of a document stack placed on a placement table 1006T are fed one by one by roller members 41, 42, 43, and 44 of the automatic document feeder 1006 and transported to the position of the slit glass 1007. At this time, the scan unit 10 is moved to a position directly below the slit glass 1007, and the scan unit 10 is stopped at that position, and light is irradiated onto the document passing over the slit glass 1007, and the reflected light is guided to the line sensor 12.

[0037] In the document scanning method, the automatic document feeder 1006 is opened, a document is placed on the platen glass 1008, and the scan unit 10 is moved in the positive direction of the X-axis. The scan unit 10 is configured such that when the carriage 35 is moved in the positive direction of the X-axis, the set of mirror members 33 and 34 moves at half the speed of the set of mirror members 32, so that the distance from the document surface on the platen glass 1008 is kept constant. In this way, the document placed on the platen glass 1008 is scanned by keeping the distance from the document surface. By reading the document using the document scanning method and the sheet-through method described above, image data to be transmitted by scanning and image data to be transmitted by FAX are obtained. Note that the process contents executed by the image forming apparatus 1000 for scanning and FAX are almost the same, with only the transmission method and destination being different. For the sake of simplification, only scanning will be described, and FAX will not be described. Moreover, in image data obtained by reading an original using the original scanning method or the sheet-through method, each pixel has a gradation of the three primary colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

[0038] [4] Components for electrophotographic image formation The image forming unit main body 1003 includes, as multiple components for forming an image by an electrophotographic method, as shown in FIG. 2, exposure devices 110Y, M, C, K that expose photoconductor drums 109Y, M, C, K to light based on an image read by a scanner 1004 to obtain an electrostatic latent image, developers 111Y, M, C, K that develop the electrostatic latent images obtained on the photoconductor drums 109Y, M, C, K to obtain a toner image, a transfer device 112 that transfers the toner image obtained by development to an intermediate transfer belt 112N, transports it to a secondary transfer position 112P, and transfers it onto a sheet of paper at the secondary transfer position 112P, a transport unit 113 that pays out and transports paper from paper feed cassettes 1002a, b, c, d (paper feed cassettes 1002b, c, d are omitted in FIG. 2, and only paper feed cassette 1002a is shown), and a fixer 114 that thermocompresses the toner image transferred to the paper. The toner image transferred to the paper is fixed by this heat and pressure bonding, and a printed document is obtained, which is then discharged onto a discharge tray 1003T shown in FIG.

[0039] [5] Control system of the image forming unit main body 1003 3 shows the configuration of a control system of the image forming unit main body 1003. As shown in FIG.

[0040] A NIC (Network Interface Card) 201 transmits and receives data to and from a terminal 1011 shown in FIG. 1 via a wired or wireless network, and a peripheral port 202 inputs and outputs data to and from a scanner 1004 and an image forming unit main body 1003 .

[0041] The CPU 203 executes document printing and original reading in response to a request from the terminal 1011 through data transmission and reception by the NIC 201 and input / output by the peripheral port 202 .

[0042] (5-1) Printing control When a printing request is made from the terminal 1011, the CPU 203 receives job data transmitted by the terminal 1011 via the NIC 201 and writes the job data to the RAM 204. The job data is data in a PCL (Printer Control Language) format created by a device driver installed in the terminal 1011.

[0043] The CPU 203 converts the job data into image data, and drives the exposure units 110Y, 110M, 110C, and 110K, the development units 111Y, 111M, 110C, and 110K, the transfer unit 112, the conveyance unit 113, and the fixing unit 114 through the peripheral port 202, thereby causing the image forming unit main body 1003 to output a print document.

[0044] (5-2) History information written during printing After the above process, when printing of the document is completed, the CPU 203 writes print history information (print history) to the non-volatile memory 205, and also writes a backup of the image data used for printing to the non-volatile memory 205.

[0045] The print history 231, 232, and 233 shown in FIG. 4(a) is in a format in which the host name of the terminal that requested printing (PC-A, PC-B, and PC-C in the figure), IP address (00.01.23.45, 00.01.23.67, 00.01.23.89), and image data ID (01001, 02002, and 03003) used for printing are associated with the job date and time (August 1, 2020, 14:00, August 2, 2020, 17:00, and August 3, 2020, 13:00). The host name is a name given by the user to the terminal 1011, etc., and the terminal is identified by this host name in the network to which the image forming apparatus 1000 and the terminal 1011 belong.

[0046] The non-volatile memory 205 stores image data used for printing when each terminal requests printing. In the printing requested by the PC-A terminal, image data 241, 1241, 2241, and 3241 shown in FIG. 4(b) are used. In the printing requested by the PC-B terminal, image data 242, 1242, 2242, and 3242 shown in FIG. 4(b) are used. In the printing requested by the PC-C terminal, image data 243, 1243, 2243, and 3243 shown in FIG. 4(b) are provided. These image data are image data obtained by expanding the job data in PCL format into a display format, and are stored in association with each print history in FIG. 4(a). The print history indicates the association between the image data used for printing and the terminal that requested the print by including a pair of the image data ID of the image data used for printing and the host name and IP address of the terminal that requested the print. In non-volatile memory 205, the period for which image data used for printing is held is limited, such as one week, and multiple backups of the image data used for printing are held for the limited period. When this period is exceeded, CPU 203 releases the area in non-volatile memory 205 in which the image data is recorded to free space, and makes it available for overwriting with other data. In addition, personal information of each of multiple users who may use image forming apparatus 1000 is stored. This personal information is for identity verification, and includes pre-registered user IDs, passwords, face images, and card information of personal cards.

[0047] (5-3) Control during document reading In scanning, when the user operates the touch panel display 1001 and input panel 1010, the CPU 203 reads in the input data entered based on those panel operations through the peripheral port 202, registers the destination, and sets up transmission of the scanned document. Then, the image data read by the scanner 1004 is read into the RAM 204 through the peripheral port 202. Once the destination of the image data obtained by scanning the document has been determined through these processes, the image data obtained by scanning the document is transmitted through the NIC 201 to the terminal 1011, other terminals, servers, or other MFPs.

[0048] (5-4) Document scanning history When scanning an original, a user stands in front of the image forming apparatus 1000 and operates the touch panel display 1001 and the input panel 1010. At this time, a history of operations performed by the user on the image forming unit main body 1003 is stored in the non-volatile memory 205. The operation history of the panel operations includes a transmission history indicating the destination of the image data obtained by scanning the original, and registration information indicating the registration contents registered by the user's panel operations.

[0049] When the image data obtained by scanning the document is sent through the above process, the CPU 203 writes the transmission history shown in Fig. 5(a) in the non-volatile memory 205. The scan history 221, 222, 223, . . . 229 shown in Fig. 5(a) includes the user ID of the user who requested the job (character strings such as akiyama, inoue, ueyama), the transmission method (e-mail, SMB, FTP), and the destination. The destination can be an e-mail address (e-mail address of akiyama, inoue, manager in the domain company), or an IP address and file path of the storage destination (00.01.23.45 / akiyama / document, 00.01.23.67 / inoue, etc.). The user ID is an alphanumeric string named by the user when setting up the account, and is usually a part of the user's name (first name, last name), a nickname, etc.

[0050] In addition, when a user registers a destination for executing a scan, registration information such as that shown in Fig. 5(b) is stored in non-volatile memory 205. As shown in this figure, registration information 251, 252, and 253 include the user ID of the user who requested the job (akiyama, inoue, ueyama), the transmission method (e-mail, SMB, PC), the destination (00.01.23.45 / akiyama / document, 00.01.23.67 / inoue / document, etc.), and the file format (compact PDF, PDF).

[0051] (5-5) Associating devices with users In addition, the non-volatile memory 205 stores a linking table 245 shown in Fig. 4(c) as information showing the correspondence between terminals and users. The linking table 245 shows host names (PC-A, PC-B, PC-C in the figure) and IP addresses (00.01.23.45, 00.01.23.67, 00.01.23.89 in the figure) in association with user IDs of users who operate the terminals (character strings such as akiyama, inoue, ueyama).

[0052] [6] Control procedures The CPU 203 executes a process to assist the user in setting scan transmission, using the print history, scan transmission history, and scan registration information stored in the non-volatile memory 205. The procedure for setting scan transmission using the print history, scan transmission history, and scan registration information is shown in the flowcharts of Figs. 6 and 8. Figs. 6 and 8 are flowcharts showing the procedure for reading and transmitting an original. The variable u in the flowcharts of Figs. 6 and 8 is a variable that indicates the user who has commanded the scanner 1004 to read an original. Max in Fig. 8 is the total number of transmission histories stored in the non-volatile memory 205. The variable v is a variable that indicates the terminal that has requested document printing shown in the print history, and varies in the range from 1 to Max.

[0053] (6-1) Document scanning and transmission procedure 6 starts with a loop of steps S101 to S102. In step S101, it is determined whether printing has been requested, and in step S102, it is determined whether scanning has been requested. If printing has been requested (Yes in step S101), printing is performed in steps S103 to S106, and the process returns to the loop of steps S101 to S102. If scanning has been requested (Yes in step S102), scanning is performed in steps S111 to S127, and the process returns to the loop of steps S101 to S102.

[0054] When printing is to be performed, the terminal operated by the user is authenticated using the association table 245 (step S103), and it is determined whether the authentication has revealed the authenticity of the terminal (step S104). If the authenticity is revealed (Yes in step S104), printing is performed on the requested image data (step S105). Then, the print history and the image data used for printing are saved in the non-volatile memory 205 (step S106). The image data used for printing is written in association with the history information of the job that was printed, making it clear what kind of image was printed.

[0055] (6-2) Control procedure during scanning The control procedure during scanning is as follows. If scanning is requested (Yes in step S102), an authentication screen is displayed (step S111). The authentication screen is as shown in Fig. 7, and includes a user ID input field 311 and a password input field 312, and accepts input of a user ID and password. The authentication screen also presents a face authentication icon 313, a card authentication icon 314, and a smartphone authentication icon 315, and accepts selection of an authentication method using these icons.

[0056] If any authentication method is selected, the selected authentication method is used to determine the authenticity of the user (step S112). If a user ID and password are used as the authentication method, the above determination is made by determining whether a pair of the user ID and password has been registered in advance as information of a legitimate user. If the user ID and password have been registered in advance and the authenticity of the user has been authenticated (Yes in step S112), the user ID is obtained by authentication, and the user identified by the user ID is set as user u (step S113). After substituting 1 for variable v (step S114), a linking table showing the correspondence between the terminal host name, IP address, and user ID is used to convert the host name or IP address shown in the print history of terminal v into a user ID (step S115), and the user who requested printing is identified.

[0057] It is determined whether the user ID obtained by authentication is the same as the user ID obtained by converting the host name / IP address (step S116). If they are the same, the process leaves the loop of steps S115 to S118 and proceeds to step S119.

[0058] If the user IDu obtained by authentication is different from the user IDv obtained by the host name / IP address conversion (No in step S116), it is determined whether the variable v is less than the total number max of print histories (step S117), and if it is less (Yes in step S117), the variable v is incremented (step S118), and the process returns to step S115. If the user IDu obtained by authentication is the same as the user ID obtained by the host name / IP address conversion (Yes in step S116), the process waits for a document to be placed on the tray of the automatic document feeder 1006 (No in step S119), and when the document is placed (Yes in step S119), image reading is started (step S120), and then the image data obtained by document reading is compared with all image data stored in the non-volatile memory 205 (step S121).

[0059] 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for verifying image data that satisfies the matching conditions. In this flowchart, variable p is a variable that indicates image data read by the scanner 1004. Variable t is a variable that specifies the job date and time of the image data used in each printing requested by terminal v, and variable q is a variable that indicates each of the one or more pieces of image data that are requested to be printed by terminal v out of the multiple pieces of image data stored in non-volatile memory 205.

[0060] First, the old and new job dates and times t of the image data used for each printing requested by the terminal v are compared (step S200), and the image data used for each printing requested by the terminal v with the most recent job date and time t in the print history is set as the image data q (step S201). In step S202, it is determined whether or not a pixel group representing an isolated horizontal line not connected to other ruled lines exists in the corresponding positions of the image of the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image of the image data q used for printing. Such a pixel group representing a horizontal line corresponds to a signature field. If a pixel group of a horizontal line exists in both image data (Yes in step S202), offline handwritten character recognition is performed on the characters read from the signature field of the image data p obtained by reading the document, and it is determined whether or not a handwritten signature exists in the signature field (step S203).

[0061] Offline handwritten character recognition consists of steps 1 and 2 below.

[0062] [Step 1] Separate and extract each character written in the signature field of image data p.

[0063] [Step 2] Input the images of each extracted character into a recognition engine to identify the corresponding character code. The recognition engine determines the characteristics according to pre-defined attributes and compares the determined characteristics with a threshold value for each typeface to determine which character code the characters in the signature field correspond to. The attributes here include aspect ratio, upper half pixel ratio, right half pixel ratio, number of line segments drawn in one stroke, average distance from the center of the image, symmetry around the Y axis, and symmetry around the X axis.

[0064] If handwritten characters are written only in the signature section of the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, out of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the manuscript (Yes in step S203), it is determined that the image data p obtained by reading the manuscript and the image data q used for printing satisfy the condition that they have a difference (step S206).

[0065] In step S204, a determination is made as to whether a group of pixels representing a circle exists in the corresponding location of each image of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document, and whether the group of pixels inside the circle contains the character "SEAL". Such a circle and the character "SEAL" form a stamping field. If the result in step S204 is Yes, a determination is made as to whether a stamping field exists in both the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing, and whether a seal represented by red pixels exists only in the stamping field in the image data p (step S205).

[0066] If either step S203 or step S205 is Yes, in step S206, the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing are deemed to satisfy the difference requirement among the collation conditions, and in step S207, OCR is performed on the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing to identify the character strings written in the image of the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing. In step S208, it is determined whether the character string identified from the image shown in the image data p obtained by reading the document is the same as the character string identified from the image shown in the image data q used for printing. If they are the same, steps S209 and S210 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S211. If the character strings are not the same (No in step S208), in step S209, template matching is performed between the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing.

[0067] The comparison by template matching in step S209 includes the following steps i) to iii). i) A feature extraction filter is applied to each of the image data obtained by scanning the document and the image data used for printing to extract feature points. ii) The neighborhood of each feature point is compared using template matching to obtain candidate correspondences between feature points. iii) From the correspondences between feature points, those that satisfy the geometric constraints are selected by random voting using the least median method. Geometric constraints include those based on projective transformation and epipolar equations. If a relationship in terms of translation, rotation, enlargement, or distortion is recognized between feature points extracted from image data p obtained by scanning the original and feature points extracted from image data q used for printing, the image data p obtained by scanning the original and the image data q used for printing satisfy the geometric constraints.

[0068] It is assumed that, by the feature extraction filter in i), N feature points are extracted from the image data p obtained by reading the document, and M feature points are extracted from the image data used for printing.

[0069] If the collection of n x n luminance values ​​centered on N feature points P in image data p is denoted as TP(I,J), and the collection of n x n luminance values ​​centered on M feature points Q in image data q used for printing is denoted as TQ(I,J), the similarity between the image data p obtained by reading the original and the image data q used for printing is calculated using the following formula 1.

[0070]

number

[0071] If the layout of characters, frames, and lines other than the signature and seal areas is the same, the similarity calculated by equation (1) in ii) is large, and the geometric constraint condition in iii) is satisfied.

[0072] If there is no circle surrounding the character at the corresponding position of the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing (No in step S204), if there is a circle surrounding the character at the corresponding position of the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing but there is no red-colored character within the circle (Yes in step S204, No in step S205), or if the image data u obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing do not satisfy the geometric constraint requirements (No in step S210), it is determined that the image data q used for printing requested by the terminal v does not satisfy the matching condition. If the image data q used for printing requested by the terminal v does not satisfy the matching condition, it is determined whether the image data q used for printing is the image data with the oldest job date and time t among the multiple image data requested by the terminal v (step 212). If the next newest print image data is stored in the non-volatile memory 205, not the oldest image data (No in step S212), the image data with the next newest job date and time t among the multiple image data used in the printing requested by the terminal v is set as image data q (step S213), and the process proceeds to step S202. Steps S202 to S210 are executed for each of the image data used in the printing requested by the terminal v. If steps S208 and S210 are judged as Yes for the image data used in any printing, information indicating the image data q is set as the return value as the image data that satisfies the matching condition (step S211), and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 6. If the processes from step S202 to step S210 have been executed for the image data used in all the printing requested by the terminal v, the result of step S212 becomes Yes, and a return value indicating that there is no image data used in the printing by the terminal v that satisfies the matching condition is set (step S214), and the process returns to the main routine.

[0073] Returning to the flowchart of Fig. 8, it is determined whether there is an image that satisfies the matching condition. If there is image data that satisfies the matching condition (Yes in step S122), a setting screen is created from the transmission history of user u and the registration information registered by user u, and is presented to the user (step S123), and it is determined whether any destination has been selected on the setting screen (step S124). If any destination has been selected (Yes in step S124), the image data obtained by scanning the document is sent to the destination selected on the setting screen (step S127).

[0074] If the image data obtained by scanning the document does not satisfy the matching condition (No in step S122), the system waits for the destination to be set by character input (No in step S125), and if the destination is input (Yes in step S125), the system waits for the start key to be pressed (No in step S126), and if the start key is pressed (Yes in step S126), the system transmits the image data obtained by scanning the document to the destination shown on the set setting screen (step S127). Incidentally, when the image data is transmitted, the scan transmission history shown in FIG. 5(a) is written.

[0075] [7] Operation The operation of the device configured as above will be described. In this operation example, it is assumed that the print history 231, 232 (see FIG. 4(a)) is stored in the non-volatile memory 205, and the image data 241, 1241, 2241, 3241, 242, 1242, 2242, 3242, 243, 1243, 2243, 3243 (see FIG. 4(b)) used for printing is stored in the non-volatile memory 205 as a backup of the image data used for printing. In addition, three users have operated the image forming device 1000, and the transmission history 221 to 229 shown in FIG. 5(a) and the registration information 251, 252, 253 shown in FIG. 5(b) are stored in the non-volatile memory 205.

[0076] In such a situation, user X shown in FIG. 10 launches an application installed on terminal 1011, creates a document, and then commands the application to print the document, causing the printed document 400 to be ejected onto ejection tray 1003T.

[0077] After that, the user X removes the printed document 400 from the discharge tray 1003T of the image forming apparatus 1000 (arrow 1003Y in FIG. 10). Then, together with the other party of the contract, he signs 425 and 426 in the signature field 411 and puts seals 422 and 423 in the seal field 412. He goes to the image forming apparatus 1000 with the paper 401a with the signature and seal (1004S in FIG. 10). In this case, the image forming apparatus 1000 displays the screen in FIG. 7 and performs personal authentication of the user X. When the user X is identified as a result of the personal authentication (assuming that the user X is Ueyama shown in FIG. 6(a)), the host name or IP address shown in the print history in FIG. 4(a) is converted to a user ID using a linking table as shown in FIG. 11 (step S115). The printing history 231, 232, and 233 in Figure 4(a) show host names PC-A, PC-B, and PC-C, and the linking table 245 in Figure 4(c) associates the host names PC-A, PC-B, and PC-C with the user IDs akiyama, inoue, and ueyama.

[0078] Since the user ID ueyama corresponding to the host name PC-C matches the user ID ueyama used for identity verification on the authentication screen (Yes in step S116), it becomes clear that the user attempting to scan is the same as the user who printed. Image data 243, 1243, 2243, and 3243 used for printing are stored as image data used for printing requested by PC-C. Of these, it is assumed that the job date and time of image data 243 is the most recent. When image data 401a obtained by reading the original document shown in FIG. 11 is obtained by reading with scanner 1004, comparison of image data 401a obtained by reading the original document with image data 243 with the most recent job date and time is started (step S201).

[0079] Image data 243 used for printing, which is a land purchase contract, has a signature field 411 (see FIG. 10) at the bottom, similar to image data 401 obtained by reading a manuscript. There are no handwritten characters in signature field 411 of image data 243 used for printing, but handwritten signatures 425, 426 (see FIG. 10) exist in signature field 411 of image data 401 obtained by reading a manuscript, which is a land purchase contract, so steps S202 and S203 are Yes. Furthermore, since the character strings in other parts are identical, step S208 is Yes, and the comparison result is as shown by arrow 242m in FIG. 11, which means that image data 243 is a match, and image data 243 is deemed to satisfy the comparison requirements (step S211).

[0080] Referring to the example of the print history in Fig. 4(a), the command to print image data 243 was issued to image forming apparatus 1000 by a terminal with a host name of "PC-C" and an IP address of "00.01.23.89." These host names are associated with a user ID of "ueyama" in association table 245 in Fig. 4(c).

[0081] The destinations input by user X ueyama through panel operation include the email address of manager, who is the person in charge of the department (based on the domain name manager@company.com), and a URL indicating a folder on terminal 1011 (a combination of IP address 00.01.23.89 and file path ueyama / document). The registration information input by user ueyama through panel operation includes a destination 00.01.23.89 / ueyama / document and a file format called compact PDF. As shown by arrows 221f and 222f in Fig. 11, these destinations are extracted and arranged in alphabetical order by transmission date and time, to create transmission setting screen 501 (step S123).

[0082] 12(a), includes a list of transmission candidates 511, 512, and 513, and a button 514 for the file format described in the registration information. Although the transmission candidate 511 in the list includes the email address of the department manager, the transmission setting screen including the transmission candidate is presented to the user only when the print requester shown in the print history is the same as the user attempting to operate, and the image data obtained by scanning the original satisfies the matching conditions, so that the user will not easily send image data to the department manager. Therefore, it is possible to minimize erroneous transmissions when the transmission setting screen includes an important destination.

[0083] [8] Summary As described above, according to this embodiment, when performing routine work of printing a document created on the terminal 1011, signing and stamping it, and reading the document with these details using the scanner 1004 and sending it, if the subject who prints the document without a signature or the like and the subject who reads the document with a signature or the like are the same, and the image data of each document meets a predetermined condition, it is determined that the document printing and the document reading are mutually related, and a setting screen for sending is automatically created from the subject's past operation history. This reduces erroneous sending compared to a conventional configuration in which a setting screen is presented to the user when the user can be authenticated with a user ID and password.

[0084] Second embodiment [9] Overview of the second embodiment In the first embodiment, personal authentication of the user attempting to scan is performed, and a determination is made as to whether the entity attempting to scan is the same person as the person requesting PC printing, and then the document is read by the automatic document feeder. In contrast, in the second embodiment, after comparing the image data used for printing with the image data obtained by document reading, personal authentication of the user is performed, and a determination is made as to whether the operating entity stored as the scan history is the same person as the person requesting document printing.

[0085]

[10] Control procedure of the second embodiment In the second embodiment, the processes from step S111 in FIG. 6 to step S122 in FIG. 8 are replaced with the processes from step S301 to step S310 in FIG. 13. The steps common to the flowchart in FIG. 8 (step S123 to step S127) are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8, and the description thereof is omitted. The variable r in FIG. 13 is a variable indicating each of the image data used for multiple printings stored in the non-volatile memory 205 that is determined to satisfy the matching condition. The variable u is a variable indicating the user who is going to perform scanning, as in FIG. 8. When scanning is selected (Yes in step S102 in FIG. 6), it is determined whether or not a document is placed on the scanner 1004 (step S301), and if it is placed (Yes in step S301), the document is read using the scanner 1004 (step S302). When image data is obtained by scanning the document, the image data is collated with image data used for printing that has already been printed for each terminal (step S303).

[0086] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the procedure of step S303. The flowchart in this figure has some contents in common with FIG. 9. Steps in common with FIG. 9 are given the same reference numerals as in FIG. 9 and will not be described. In the flowchart in FIG. 14, after substituting 1 for variable v (step S401), the old and new job dates of the image requested to be printed by terminal v are compared (step S200 in FIG. 14), as in the flowchart in FIG. 9, and among the image data used for the printing requested by terminal v, the image data with the newest job date t in the printing history is set as image data q (step S201 in FIG. 14). Thereafter, the process of steps S202 to S211 in FIG. 9 is performed for the image data q used for printing, to determine whether the image data p obtained by reading the document and the image data q used for printing satisfy the matching condition.

[0087] The processing of steps S202 to S210 is performed for all image data used for printing requested by terminal v, and if there is no image data that satisfies the matching condition, step S212 becomes Yes, and it is determined whether the variable v is below the total number of terminals max (step S402). If it is below (Yes in step S402), the variable v is incremented (step S403) and the process returns to step S200. In this way, each of the image data used for multiple printings requested by the next terminal is matched with the image data obtained by reading the document. Thereafter, the processing of steps S202 to S210 is repeated until step S402 is judged to be No. If either step S208 or S210 is Yes for the image data requested to be printed by any terminal, the image data used for printing by terminal v is entered as image data that satisfies the matching condition (step S404), and the process proceeds to step S213.

[0088] When the variable v reaches max and step S402 becomes No, step S405 determines whether image data that satisfies the matching condition has been entered, and if there is image data that has been entered as satisfying the matching condition (Yes in step S405), all image data that has been entered as satisfying the matching condition is set as the return value and returned (step S406).

[0089] If the entered image data does not exist (No in step S405), the process sets a return value indicating that there is no image data that satisfies the matching condition and returns (step S407). When returning to the flowchart of FIG. 13, it is determined whether image data that satisfies the matching condition exists among the image data used for printing by each terminal (step S304). If there is no image data that satisfies the matching condition (No in step S304), the process proceeds to step S125, and the destination is set by character input. If there is image data that satisfies the matching condition (Yes in step S304), an authentication screen is displayed to verify the user's identity (step S305), and the user u is identified from the user ID used for identity verification (step S306).

[0090] After this, the process proceeds to a loop consisting of steps S307 to S311. A variable (variable r) indicating the image data determined to satisfy the matching condition is initialized to 1 (step S307), the host name / IP address of the terminal that requested printing of the image data r used in printing is converted to a user ID (step S308), and it is determined whether the user ID entered for authentication is the same as the user ID obtained by conversion (step S309). If they are not the same (No in step S309), it is determined whether the variable r is below max (step S310), and if it is below max (Yes in step S310), the variable r is incremented (step S311), and the process returns to step S307. The processes of steps S308 to S311 are repeated for each image data that satisfies the matching condition.

[0091] If the user ID entered for authentication is the same as the user ID obtained by conversion (Yes in step S309), the process proceeds to step S123, and similarly to the first embodiment, a setting screen is created from the sending history and registration information of user u and presented to the user, and a wait is performed for one of the options on the setting screen to be selected (step S124 in FIG. 8).

[0092]

[11] Operation The operation of the device configured as above will be described. In the situation shown in Fig. 10 of the first embodiment, assume that user X signs 425 and 426 in signature field 411 of printed document 400, stamps 422 and 423 in stamp field 412, and then goes to image forming device 1000 with the paper bearing the signature and stamp (1004S in Fig. 10) and commands scanner 1004 to read the paper.

[0093] When the image data 401 shown in Fig. 15 is obtained by reading with the scanner 1004, collation is started between the image data 401 obtained by reading the document and the image data 241, 1241, 2241 used for the printing requested by the terminal PC-A, the image data 242, 1242, 2242 used for the printing requested by the terminal PC-B, and the image data 243, 1243, 2243 used for the printing requested by the terminal PC-C (steps S401 to S403, steps S201 to S213). The result in step S201 is No for both the image data 241 used for printing with a different signature field position and the image data 242 used for printing without a signature field. In addition, the result in step S201 is No for the image data 1241, 2241 used for printing, and the image data 1242, 2242 used for printing.

[0094] Among the image data used for printing requested by the terminal PC-C, the image data 243 with the latest job date and time is set as the image data 243 used for printing. As in the first embodiment, the image data 243 used for printing is determined to satisfy the collation requirements and is entered (step S404), and the image data 243 used for printing is set as a return value (step S406), and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 13. The image forming apparatus 1000 is commanded to print the image data 243 used for printing by a terminal with a host name of "PC-C" and an IP address of "00.01.23.89". These host names are associated with the user ID ueyama in the linking table 245 of FIG. 4(c), so the user ID ueyama is acquired (step S306). On the other hand, if the document is read, an authentication screen is displayed and the input of the user ID and password is accepted (step S305). If the user ID ueyama is entered on the authentication screen, it is determined whether the user ID entered on the authentication screen is the same as the user ID obtained by converting the host name (step S309). Since both are ueyama, the transmission setting screen 501 using the scan transmission history and user registration information of ueyama is presented to the user, as in the first embodiment (step S123).

[0095]

[12] Variations Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is of course not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications are possible.

[0096] (1) The image data used for printing stored in the non-volatile memory 205 as the print history may be a thumbnail image with a lowered resolution obtained by reducing the image data printed in the executed job at a predetermined magnification. In this case, the image data read from the original by the scanner 1004 is reduced at the same magnification as the thumbnail image, and the image data is compared with the image data constituting the print history after the image data has been reduced to the same resolution.

[0097] (2) In the above embodiment, the image data used for printing is compared with the image data obtained by scanning the document to determine whether the comparison condition is satisfied, but this is not limited to the above. It may be determined whether the data size of the image data obtained by scanning the document is larger than the data size of the image data used for printing, and whether the image data obtained by scanning the document contains the image content of the image data used for printing, and if the data size of the image data obtained by scanning the document is larger than the data size of the image data obtained by scanning the document and the image content of the image data obtained by scanning the document contains the image content of the scanned image data, the comparison condition may be satisfied.

[0098] (3) It is desirable to increase or decrease the period for which the backup of image data used for printing in non-volatile memory 205 is retained according to the number of users who use image forming device 1000. For example, the period is set to one month for image forming device 1000 installed in an office with a small number of users, and to one day for image forming device 1000 installed in an office with a large number of users. Also, a default period of one week may be set. When such a period is exceeded, the backup of image data used for printing is deleted from non-volatile memory 205, which makes it possible to prevent erroneous matching when another user happens to have a similar image and scans it.

[0099] (4) On the transmission settings screen, when presenting multiple selection candidates corresponding to a transmission destination in a list of selection candidates, it is desirable to present the selection candidates to the user in order of the most recent transmission date and time and / or the most recent frequency of use.

[0100] (5) In the above embodiment, a transmission setting screen is created from destinations included in the transmission history or destinations registered by the user's panel operation, and is presented to the user, and image data obtained by scanning the document is transmitted after waiting for a selection operation from the user, but this is not limited to the above. If there is only one destination to select, or if a default destination is set, the transmission setting screen may be displayed for a predetermined period of time, and then transmission may be performed automatically.

[0101] (6) In the above embodiment, the image data obtained by reading the document is sent when one of the selection candidates included in the setting screen is selected, but this is not limited to this. When a selection candidate corresponding to the destination is touched on touch panel display 1001, confirmation dialog 521 shown in Fig. 12(b) is displayed at the timing when touch panel display 1001 is touched. When an affirmative operation is performed on confirmation dialog 521 or the start key is pressed, the image data obtained by reading the document may be sent to the destination indicated by the selection candidate.

[0102] (7) Although the print history indicates both the host name and the network address of the terminal that is the source of the data, it may indicate only one of them. Also, the user name may be determined without using the association table 245. Specifically, if the host name of the terminal includes all or part of the user name, the user who requested printing may be identified from all or part of the user name in the host name.

[0103] (8) When the image data obtained by scanning a document spans multiple pages, it is desirable to identify the page(s) containing the signature and seal areas and to compare the image data on that page with the image data used for printing.

[0104] (9) There are various formats for signature and seal fields, and FIG. 8 merely discloses a verification procedure for verifying one typical one of these various formats. It is desirable to perform verification for two or more formats so as to verify signature and seal fields of various formats. For example, verification may be performed for a signature in a signature field surrounded by a line and a seal in a seal field surrounded by a line. Verification may also be performed for a seal in a seal field consisting of only a circular frame.

[0105] In the above embodiment, the matching condition is satisfied when either the signature in the signature column or the seal in the seal column is present, but this is not limited to the above. The matching condition may be that both the signature in the signature column and the seal in the seal column are present. Furthermore, the matching condition may be any handwritten or stamped mark added to the paper, not limited to the signature or seal.

[0106] (10) In the above embodiment, the setting screen is created using the destination input by panel operation, but this is not limited to this. A setting screen consisting of only setting items other than the destination, such as the file format, may be automatically created.

[0107] The operation history of the setting items when the user sets density adjustment, background adjustment, contrast adjustment, brightness adjustment, and sharpness adjustment may be stored in the non-volatile memory 205, and a setting screen may be created using these. Also, the operation history of the setting items when the user sets watermark, date / time, page number, and stamp may be stored in the non-volatile memory 205, and a setting screen may be created and displayed using these settings. Character strings that can be selected as a watermark include duplicate, copy, invalid, confidential, confidential, and handle with care. By presenting a setting screen including these setting items, it is possible to prevent omissions in inputting setting items.

[0108] (11) In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1000 is a multi-function multifunction machine, but this is not limiting. It may be provided in a production print device. It may also be configured to be provided in a peripheral device of a personal computer (a printer with a scanning function). It is not limited to an electrophotographic system, and may be an inkjet system. In addition, while an exposure unit and a developer are provided for Y, M, C, and K to form a color image forming apparatus, an exposure unit and a developer may be provided for K to form a monochrome image forming apparatus. An exposure unit and a developer may be provided for two or three of the Y, M, C, and K colors to form a two-color or three-color image forming apparatus. [Industrial Applicability]

[0109] This disclosure can be used in industries where printing, signing, stamping, and then scanning a document are routine tasks, and has the potential to be used in a wide variety of industrial sectors, including the office automation equipment and information equipment industries, as well as retail, rental, real estate, advertising, transportation, and publishing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 201NIC 202 Peripheral Port 203 CPU 204 RAM 205 Non-volatile memory 1000 Image forming device 1001 Touch Panel Display 1003 Image forming unit main body 1003T Output Tray 1004 Scanner 1005 Cover 1010 Input Panel 1011 Terminal

Claims

1. a storage means for storing a print history indicating a request source of the print request made so far in association with image data used for the print request; a storage means for storing an operation history indicating operations performed on the device body; a determination means for determining whether or not the user is the same as the requester indicated in the print history of the print operation when the document is read; a verification means for verifying whether the image data obtained by reading the document satisfies a predetermined condition by verifying that the image data obtained by reading the document meets the image data used for printing; a presentation means for creating and presenting a setting screen using operations performed by the user, which are indicated in an operation history, when the user is the same as the requester indicated in a print history associated with the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document satisfies a predetermined condition; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The collating means collates the image data obtained by reading with the image data used for printing after the judgment by the judging means.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The determining means determines whether the user is the same as the requester indicated in the print history after the verifying means verifies that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

4. a table showing a correspondence between a host name or a network address of a terminal that has requested printing and a user ID; An authentication means for verifying the identity of a user by using a preregistered user ID, The determination by the determining means is made by judging whether the user ID used for the identity verification is the same as the user ID corresponding to the host name or network address of the terminal which issued the print request.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

5. The predetermined condition is that the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document have differences only in predetermined areas, and the remaining areas are identical.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The predetermined portion is a signature area, The comparison means determines whether a signature field exists at a corresponding position between the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document, and whether handwritten characters are written only in the signature field of the image data obtained by reading the document, and determines that there is the difference when handwritten characters are written only in the signature field of the image data obtained by reading the document.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The predetermined area is a stamp area, The collation means judges whether a seal field exists at a corresponding position of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and whether a seal exists only in the seal field of the image data obtained by reading the manuscript, and determines that there is the difference when a seal is described only in the seal field of the image data obtained by reading the manuscript.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

8. performing character recognition on the remaining portions of the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading, other than the predetermined portion; If the character strings obtained by the character recognition are identical, the identity is determined.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:

9. When a feature point extracted from a portion other than the predetermined portion of the image data used for the printing and a feature point extracted from a portion other than the predetermined portion of the image data obtained by reading the document form a predetermined geometric relationship, the feature points are deemed to have the identity.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:

10. If the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading the document do not have a predetermined portion or if there is no difference in the predetermined portion, it is determined that the predetermined condition is not satisfied.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:

11. the storage means stores image data used for printing after reducing the image data at a predetermined magnification; The collation means reduces the image data obtained by reading the document at the predetermined magnification and collates the reduced image data with the image data stored in the storage means.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

12. Among the image data used for printing and the image data obtained by reading from the document, the image data with a larger data size is judged as to whether it contains the image content of the image with a smaller data size, and if it does, it is deemed to satisfy the predetermined condition.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

13. The storage unit receives image data from the request source, and stores the image data used in the printing for a predetermined period after the printing is performed using the image data.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

14. the operation history indicates a destination of image data designated by a user, The setting screen created and presented by the presentation means shows transmission settings using a destination.

14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

15. When the operation history indicates a plurality of destinations designated by the user, the presenting means arranges a list of selection candidates on the setting screen, in which each of the plurality of destinations is designated as a selection candidate.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.

16. In the list of selection candidates, the selection candidates corresponding to the destinations are sorted according to the highest to lowest transmission date and time or the highest to lowest frequency of use.

16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15.

17. A transmission means is provided for transmitting image data obtained by reading the document to a transmission destination indicated in the selection candidate when any of the selection candidates included in the setting screen is selected, without waiting for the start key to be pressed.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image forming apparatus is a multi-layered image forming apparatus.

18. a transmission unit for transmitting image data obtained by the document reading to a destination indicated in one of the selection candidates included in the setting screen when a predetermined operation is performed by a user, the presenting means displays a confirmation screen when any of the selection candidates included in the setting screen is selected after the setting screen is displayed, The predetermined operation is a positive operation on the confirmation screen displayed by the presenting means.

17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image forming apparatus is a multi-layered image forming apparatus.

19. a transmission unit that transmits image data obtained by reading the document to a destination indicated in a selection candidate included in the setting screen at a predetermined timing; The predetermined timing is a timing when a predetermined period has elapsed since the presenting means presented the setting screen to the user.

15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14.

20. The operation history is a transmission history that is generated based on the designation of a transmission destination by a panel operation.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

21. The operation history is registration information input by a user through a panel operation to specify a destination of the image data obtained by the scanning.

20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

22. The destination is either an email address, a file path, or a fax number.

22. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises:

Images