Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To quickly perform evaluation of the image quality of a printed material associated with print settings.SOLUTION: A scan image file creation device reads, with an image reading unit, a printed material on which an image is printed by an image forming apparatus and acquires scan image data of the printed material. The scan image file creation device acquires a scan condition for the image reading unit. The scan image file creation device reads out, with a code detection unit, code image data in an area where a QR code embedded with print setting information is located from the acquired scan image data. The scan image file creation device decodes, with a code decoding unit, the QR code indicated by the acquired code image data. The scan image file creation device stores the acquired print setting information in a TIFF header. The scan image file creation device stores the scan image data in the IFD of the TIFF.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for performing quality control on printed matter. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image quality evaluation is performed by analyzing scanned images of representative prints for each purpose and type of print image, and the obtained image quality information is associated with print setting information of the printing device used to print the print. This makes it possible to identify print settings suitable for achieving the desired image quality depending on the type of print. Patent Document 1 presents a method of combining print setting information of the printing device and image quality information of the print with a customer characteristic database, estimating the image quality required by the customer from past data, and determining print settings suitable for achieving the required image quality. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-246722 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the method of Patent Document 1, although print setting information and image quality information of the printed matter are associated, depending on the purpose of the printed matter, print settings cannot be determined using only the existing image quality information, and additional image quality information for different evaluation conditions may be required. In such cases, it is necessary to print again using the print settings specified in the print setting information, and then analyze the scanned image of the resulting printed matter to obtain the additional image quality information, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention is an information processing device, comprising: means for acquiring scanned image data obtained by scanning a printed matter on which an image is printed on a recording medium by a printing device; and means for acquiring print setting information that specifies printing conditions when the printed matter is printed. means for acquiring information regarding evaluation conditions for evaluating the scanned image data; the scanned image data 、 The print setting information and information regarding the evaluation conditions. and a generating means for generating a file storing the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The present invention makes it possible to quickly evaluate the image quality of a printed matter associated with print settings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are block diagrams of an image forming apparatus and a scanned image file generating apparatus according to a first embodiment, and a diagram showing the position of a QR code (registered trademark) on an image quality measurement chart. [Figure 2] 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process of printing an image quality measurement chart on a recording medium in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process in which the scanned image file generating device according to the first embodiment stores and saves scanned image data of a printed matter in an electronic file in TIFF format. [Figure 4] 10 shows examples of TIFF tag numbers and description contents in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process of storing and saving scanned image data of a printed matter in an electronic file in TIFF format in a scanned image file generating device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus including an image reading unit according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process of storing and saving scanned image data of a printed matter in an electronic file in TIFF format in an image forming apparatus 600 according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart for explaining a process for acquiring print setting information from a scanned image file according to the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. Note that the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

[0009] [Embodiment 1] In this embodiment, scanned image data is generated by reading the printed matter using an image reading device separate from the image forming device that outputs the printed matter, and no data communication takes place between the image forming device and the image reading device.

[0010] 1A is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 is composed of an input interface (I / F) 103, a printing unit 104, and a printing condition adding unit 105. The input I / F 103 receives an image to be printed, in this embodiment an image quality measurement chart 101, along with printing conditions 102, and outputs these to the printing unit 104 and a control unit (not shown).

[0011] The printing condition adding unit 105 is composed of a chart determination unit 106, a printing condition encoding unit 107, and a code output setting unit 108. The chart determination unit 106 determines whether the image received by the input I / F 103 is an image quality measurement chart. The printing condition encoding unit 107 generates a QR code with the printing conditions embedded. The code output setting unit 108 adds a code image representing the QR code generated by the printing condition encoding unit 107 to a predetermined position on the image quality measurement chart. The printing condition encoding unit 106 and the code output setting unit 108 are enabled only when the chart determination unit 106 determines that the input image is an image quality measurement chart, and have the function of adding a QR code with the printing conditions embedded to the image quality measurement chart.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the process of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment printing an image quality measurement chart on a recording medium.

[0013] In S201, the printing condition adding unit 105 acquires the image data for printing via the input I / F 103.

[0014] In S202, the printing condition adding unit 105 acquires printing setting information via the input I / F 103. In this embodiment, the printing setting information is information specifying printing conditions, and the printing conditions include identification information of the printing device, printing date and time, printing paper, printing speed, and color profile.

[0015] In S203, the printing condition adding unit 105 uses the chart determining unit 106 to determine whether the image to be printed acquired in S201 is a chart for measuring image quality. This determination may be made by analyzing the image data to be printed, or may be made based on specific information included in the print setting information. If it is determined in S203 that the image to be printed is a chart for measuring image quality, the process proceeds to S204; if it is determined that the image to be printed is not a chart for measuring image quality, the process proceeds to S206. When proceeding from S203 to S206, the printing condition adding unit 105 outputs the image data to be printed acquired in S201 as is to the printing unit 104 and prints it on a recording medium.

[0016] In S204, the printing condition adding unit 105 encodes the printing setting information acquired in S202 in the printing condition encoding unit 107. In this embodiment, the printing condition encoding unit 107 converts the printing setting information into a QR code in which the printing setting information is embedded.

[0017] In S205, the printing condition adding unit 105 causes the code output setting unit 108 to add a QR code embedded with the print setting information generated in S204 to the image to be printed, i.e., to a predetermined position on the image quality measurement chart. For example, the QR code is added to area 120 in FIG. 1(c).

[0018] If the process proceeds from S205 to S206, in S206 the printing condition adding unit 105 outputs the printing image data including the code image data of the QR code, that is, the image data of the image quality measurement chart, to the printing unit 104 to print on a recording medium.

[0019] FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a scanned image file generation device 110 according to the first embodiment. The scanned image file generation device 110 includes an image reading unit 111 that optically reads a printed material and converts it into digital data, and a code detection unit 112 that detects code image data representing a QR code from the read scanned image data. The scanned image file generation device 110 also includes a code decoding unit 113 that decodes the QR code indicated by the detected code image data to obtain text information indicating print setting information. The scanned image file generation device 110 also includes an evaluation value calculation unit 114 that calculates an evaluation value from the scanned image read by the image reading unit 111, and an electronic file output unit 115 that outputs the read scanned image, print setting information, and evaluation value into a single electronic file. The scanned image file generation device 110 also includes an input / output I / F 116 that can present information to a user and obtain user input.

[0020] The scanned image file generating device 110 scans the image quality measurement chart output in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and stores the scanned image data in a file together with the print setting information read from the code.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart for explaining the process of storing and saving scanned image data of a printed matter in an electronic file in TIFF format in the scanned image file generating device 110 according to the first embodiment.

[0022] In S301, the scanned image file generating device 110 causes the image reading unit 111 to read a printed matter printed by the image forming device 100 and acquire scanned image data of the printed matter.

[0023] In S302, the scanned image file generating device 110 acquires the scanning conditions of the image reading unit 111. In this embodiment, the scanning conditions include identification information of the image reading unit 111, the scan date and time, and the scan resolution.

[0024] In S303, the scanned image file generation device 110 reads code image data of the area where the QR code with embedded print setting information is located from the scanned image data acquired in S301 in the code detection unit 112. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1(c), the code image data of the area 120 in the scanned image is read.

[0025] In S304, the code decoding unit 113 of the scanned image file generating device 110 decodes the QR code in which the print setting information indicated by the code image data acquired in S302 is embedded.

[0026] In S305, the scanned image file generation device 110 determines whether or not the print setting information was acquired in S304. If the specified QR code can be decoded and character information indicating the print setting information can be acquired in S304, the process proceeds to S308. On the other hand, if the code image data representing the QR code cannot be detected from the area acquired in S303, or if the code image data representing the QR code can be detected but cannot be decoded correctly in S304 and the print setting information cannot be acquired, the process proceeds to S306.

[0027] In S306, the scanned image file generation device 110 displays a printing condition input screen on the input / output I / F 116 in order to externally acquire the print setting information that could not be acquired.

[0028] In S307, the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires the print setting information entered by the user on the print condition input screen displayed on the input / output I / F 116 as the print setting information of the printed matter read by the image reading unit 111.

[0029] In S308, the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires evaluation conditions suitable for the scanned image data to be evaluated from among pre-stored evaluation conditions consisting of evaluation items, evaluation methods, and evaluation areas. In this embodiment, a predetermined combination of evaluation items, evaluation methods, and evaluation areas is acquired based on the characteristics of the scanned image. That is, if a line is located at a predetermined position, the evaluation item is line width, the ISO 24790 line width measurement method is acquired, and the evaluation area is approximately the center of the detected line. Also, if a square area measuring 5 cm on each side is located at the predetermined position, the evaluation items are graininess and mottle, the ISO 24790 graininess and mottle measurement method is acquired, and the evaluation area is approximately the center of the detected square area. Note that instead of determining the evaluation conditions based on the characteristics of the scanned image, the user may select any evaluation conditions.

[0030] In S309, the scanned image file generation device 110 calculates an image quality evaluation value for the scanned image data in accordance with the evaluation conditions acquired in S308 in the evaluation value calculation unit 114. Since the evaluation method according to ISO 24790 is a well-known method, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the line width, graininess, and mottle of ISO 24790 are calculated.

[0031] Through the subsequent processing of S310 to S312, the scanned image data, scanning conditions, print setting information, and image quality evaluation value are stored in one TIFF file.

[0032] In S310, the scanned image file generation device 110 stores the identification information of the scanner used as the image reading unit 111, the scan date and time, and the scan resolution as scanning conditions in the TIFF header. FIG. 4 shows a list of TIFF tag numbers and the contents described in this embodiment. As the scanner identification information, the scanner manufacturer is described in ASCII in the Make tag (tag number 271), and the scanner model name and an individual identification number that identifies each scanner are described in ASCII in the Model tag (tag number 272). The scan date and time is described in ASCII in the DateTime tag (tag number 306) in the format YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS. The scanner resolution is described using three tags: the ResolutionUnit tag, the XResolution tag, and the YResolution tag. The ResolutionUnit tag (tag number 296) contains "2," which indicates inches as the unit of resolution notation. The XResolution tag (tag number 282) and YResolution tag (tag number 283) describe the resolution in the X and Y directions, respectively. That is, if scanned at 1200 dpi, the ResolutionUnit tag will contain the value "2" and the XResolution and YResolution tags will contain the value "1200".

[0033] In S311, the scanned image file generation device 110 stores in the TIFF header the print setting information acquired in S304, the evaluation conditions acquired in S308, and the evaluation value calculated in S309. Because the tags describing the print setting information, evaluation conditions, and evaluation value are not defined in the TIFF format, they are stored in a private tag with a tag number greater than 32768 (8000H in hexadecimal).

[0034] In this embodiment, the printing conditions specified in the print setting information include the identification information of the printing device used as the printing unit 104, the printing date and time, printing paper, printing speed, and color profile, and each piece of information is written in the following tags. As the identification information of the printing device, the manufacturer name of the printing device is written in ASCII type in tag number 45057 <B001 in hexadecimal>, and the model name of the printing device is written in ASCII type in tag number 45058 <B002 in hexadecimal>. The printing date and time is written in ASCII type in tag number 45059 <B003 in hexadecimal> in the format YYYY:MM:DD. As for the printing speed, the printing speed unit is written in SHORT type in tag number 45060 <B004 in hexadecimal>. As for the unit of printing speed, [sheets / minute] is written as "1", [m 2 / hour] is represented as "2". For color profile information, enter the URL where color profile information can be obtained in ASCII type in tag number 45061 <B005 in hexadecimal>. For printing paper information, enter the paper manufacturer name in ASCII type in tag number 45062 <B006 in hexadecimal>, and the paper product name in ASCII type in tag number 45063 <B007 in hexadecimal>.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the evaluation conditions, including the evaluation item, evaluation method, coordinate values ​​indicating the evaluation area, and calculated evaluation value, are written as a single text data in ASCII format in tag number 45065 (B009 in hexadecimal).As the evaluation method, for example, the identification information of the evaluation algorithm, the name of the evaluation algorithm, and version information may be written.

[0036] In S312, the scanned image file generating device 110 stores the scanned image data in the IFD (Image File Directory) of the TIFF, and this flow ends.

[0037] According to the method of this embodiment, the scanned image data obtained by scanning a printed material is stored in a single file together with print setting information, evaluation conditions, and evaluation values ​​that are the evaluation results. This makes it easy to trace the printing conditions and the evaluation values ​​calculated from the printed material from a single file.

[0038] In S311, the print setting information, evaluation conditions, and evaluation values ​​are stored in a file, but the evaluation conditions and evaluation values ​​do not necessarily have to be stored. As long as the scanned image data and print setting information are stored in a file, the scanned image data can be evaluated under desired evaluation conditions to calculate an evaluation value. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an evaluation value under desired evaluation conditions for the printing conditions without printing an image quality measurement chart on a recording medium and then scanning the printout.

[0039] [Embodiment 2] In this embodiment, when multiple sheets of image quality measurement charts are scanned and multiple pieces of scanned image data are obtained, the print setting information of the first chart is used as the print setting information of all the scanned image data.

[0040] In the first embodiment, it is not known how many charts there are for image quality measurement, and the QR code is decoded and print setting information is obtained for each scanned image data. In this embodiment, if it is known in advance that there are multiple charts for image quality measurement, each of the multiple scanned image data obtained from those multiple charts is stored in a file together with the same print setting information.

[0041] 5 shows a flowchart for explaining the process of storing and saving scanned image data of a printed matter in a TIFF format electronic file in the scanned image file generation device 110 according to the second embodiment. Operations similar to those in the first embodiment are given the same numbers, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0042] In S501, the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires the number N of image quality measurement charts specified by the user from the input / output I / F 116. In this embodiment, the image quality measurement charts are assumed to be three (N=3): a line evaluation chart, a noise evaluation chart, and a sharpness evaluation chart.

[0043] In S502, the scan image file generation device 110 initializes an image counter i (i=1).

[0044] In S503, the scanned image file generating device 110 acquires scanned image data of the first printed page read by the image reading unit 111.

[0045] In S302, the scanned image file generating device 110 acquires the scanning conditions of the image reading unit 111.

[0046] In S303, the code detection unit 112 of the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires code image data representing a QR code in which print setting information is embedded from the scanned image data of the first printed page.

[0047] In S304, the code decoding unit 113 of the scanned image file generating device 110 decodes the QR code in which the print setting information is embedded and which is represented by the code image data acquired in S303.

[0048] In S305, the scanned image file generation device 110 determines whether or not the print setting information was acquired in S304. If the QR code can be identified and text information indicating the print setting information can be acquired by decoding the QR code, the process proceeds to S308. If, in S304, the code image data representing the QR code cannot be detected from the area acquired in S303, or if the code image data representing the QR code can be detected but cannot be decoded correctly to acquire the print setting information, the process proceeds to S306.

[0049] In S306, the scanned image file generation device 110 displays a printing condition input screen on the input / output I / F 116 in order to externally acquire the print setting information that could not be acquired.

[0050] In S307, the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires the print setting information entered by the user on the print condition input screen displayed on the input / output I / F 116 as the print setting information of the printed matter read by the image reading unit 111.

[0051] In S308, the scanned image file generation device 110 acquires evaluation conditions suitable for the scanned image data to be evaluated from pre-stored evaluation conditions consisting of evaluation items, evaluation methods, and evaluation areas. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a predetermined combination of evaluation items, evaluation methods, and evaluation areas is acquired based on the characteristics of the scanned image.

[0052] In S309, the scanned image file generating device 110 causes the evaluation value calculation unit 114 to calculate an image quality evaluation value for the scanned image data of the ith printed sheet according to the evaluation conditions acquired in S308.

[0053] In S310, the scanned image file generating device 110 stores the identification information of the scanner used as the image reading unit 111, the scan date and time, and the scan resolution as the scan conditions in the TIFF header.

[0054] In S311, the scanned image file generating device 110 stores the print setting information acquired in S304, the evaluation conditions acquired in S308, and the evaluation value calculated in S309 in the TIFF header.

[0055] In S312, the scanned image file generating device 110 stores the scanned image data in the IFD of the TIFF.

[0056] In S504, the scanned image file generation device 110 compares the image counter i with the number N of charts for image quality measurement acquired in S501. If the counter i is less than the number N, the process proceeds to S505; if not, the process ends. In this embodiment, if i=3, it is determined that TIFF files have been generated for all three types of charts, and the process ends.

[0057] In S505, the scan image file generation device 110 adds 1 to the image counter i.

[0058] In S506, the scanned image data of the ith printed matter is acquired, and the process returns to S308.

[0059] As a result, in S311, the print setting information that is the same as the scanned image data of the first printed page acquired in S303 is stored in a file together with the scanned image data of the ith printed page. According to the method of this embodiment, even if the image quality measurement chart is made up of multiple pages, the QR code only needs to be detected and decoded once, thereby reducing the processing load.

[0060] [Embodiment 3] In this embodiment, a scanned image file is generated using a device that is capable of data communication between the image forming device and the image reading device.

[0061] In the first and second embodiments, the image forming apparatus 100 that outputs printed materials and the scanned image file generating apparatus 110 that scans the printed materials and saves them as electronic files are separate devices. However, some recent image forming apparatuses are equipped with inline scanners or the like and have a mechanism for constantly scanning printed materials. In this embodiment, a scanned image file is generated using an image forming apparatus that includes such a printing unit and an image reading unit.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an image forming apparatus 600 equipped with an image reading unit. In FIG. 6, the same numbers are assigned to components that perform the same operations as the image forming apparatus 100 and the scanned image file generation device 110 of the first embodiment. When such an image forming apparatus 600 is used, it is not necessary to transmit print setting information via a QR code. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 600 does not require the print condition addition unit 105, the code detection unit 112, and the code decoding unit 113. Instead, in the image forming apparatus 600, the print condition acquisition unit 601 acquires print setting information specifying print conditions from the printing unit 104 and transmits the data to the electronic file output unit 115. Note that the printing unit 104 may transmit the print setting information to the electronic file output unit 115, in which case the print condition acquisition unit 601 can be omitted.

[0063] 7 shows a flowchart for explaining the process of storing and saving scanned image data of a printed material in an electronic file in TIFF format in the image forming apparatus 600 according to the third embodiment. Note that the same numbers as in FIG. 3 are assigned to steps that perform the same operations as in the first embodiment, and detailed explanations will be omitted. Note that the process of printing an image quality measurement chart on a recording medium by the image forming apparatus 600 is the same as in the first embodiment, and therefore explanations will be omitted.

[0064] In S301, the image forming apparatus 600 causes the image reading unit 111 to read the printed matter printed by the printing unit 104 and acquire scan image data of the printed matter.

[0065] In S701, the image forming apparatus 600, in the printing condition acquisition unit 601, queries the control unit (not shown) of the printing unit 104 about print setting information.

[0066] In S702, the image forming apparatus 600 uses the printing condition acquisition unit 601 to acquire the print setting information and information about the image to be printed that were returned in response to the inquiry. In addition to the print setting information, the printing condition acquisition unit 601 also acquires information for determining whether the image to be printed is an image quality measurement chart. In this embodiment, it is possible to determine that an image quality measurement chart will be printed in a test printing mode that is predefined in the image forming apparatus 600. There are also various other possible methods, such as providing an image quality measurement mode separate from the test printing mode and determining that an image quality measurement chart will be printed only in that mode, or making this determination from the input file name of the image to be printed.

[0067] In S703, the image forming apparatus 600 determines whether or not a chart for measuring image quality is being printed based on the print setting information and information related to the image to be printed acquired in S702. If it is determined that a chart for measuring image quality is being printed, the process proceeds to S307. The operations of S302 and S308 to S312 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. On the other hand, if it is determined in S703 that a chart for measuring image quality is not being printed, the process proceeds to S312, where the scanned image data acquired in S301 is saved in a TIFF IFD.

[0068] According to this embodiment, the electronic file output unit 115 can directly acquire print setting information from the image forming device 600, eliminating the need for a user to manually set the print setting information as in embodiment 1. This prevents erroneous print setting information from being stored in a file together with scanned image data due to human error.

[0069] In addition, when the image quality measurement chart is made up of multiple sheets, as in embodiment 2, the print setting information is inquired about and obtained only for the first scanned image data, and the same print setting information is assigned to all scanned image data.

[0070] [Embodiment 4] In the first to third embodiments, a method for adding print setting information and the like to scanned image data has been described. In the present embodiment, a method for acquiring print setting information from a scanned image file in which print setting information and the like has been added to scanned image data generated in the first to third embodiments will be described. This embodiment can be a program that causes a computer to execute the processes described below, or an information processing device that implements this program. In this embodiment, the tag numbers and description contents shown in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment will be used.

[0071] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for explaining the process of acquiring print setting information from a scanned image file in this embodiment.

[0072] In S801, the information processing apparatus acquires a scanned image file that stores scanned image data about which print setting information is desired.

[0073] In S802, the information processing apparatus analyzes the header of the acquired scanned image file. The header analysis method may be the same as that for a normal TIFF header.

[0074] In S803, the information processing apparatus determines whether print setting information is written in the header of the scanned image file. In this embodiment, the print setting information is stored in a private tag, which has seven tag numbers: 45057 to 45063. These seven tag numbers can be acquired by analysis. In S803, it is determined whether at least one of the seven tag numbers is present. Because tag numbers are written in ascending order in the TIFF header, if a number greater than 45064 or an offset value to the IFD is found before the relevant tag number is found, it can be determined that there is no tag containing print setting information. If it is determined in S803 that print setting information has been written, the process proceeds to S804; if it is determined that no written print setting information is found, the process proceeds to S805.

[0075] In S804, the information processing apparatus reads and outputs the print setting information, and then ends this flow. The print setting information can be read using the same process as when reading information stored in a general TIFF header.

[0076] In S805, the information processing apparatus notifies the user that the print setting information is not included in the scanned image file, and then ends this flow.

[0077] In this embodiment, even if it is a private tag, the output method follows the TIFF format, so if you know the tag number containing the print setting information, you can easily read it using software that can read TIFF headers.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reading of print setting information has been described, but the evaluation conditions and scanner conditions are also similarly TIFF format compliant, so they can be easily read using software that can read TIFF headers.

[0079] In this way, print setting information and scanned image data of the printout printed using that print setting information can be obtained from a single file, allowing for quick evaluation of the image quality of the printout associated with the print settings, making it easy to identify the print setting information needed to obtain a printout of the desired image quality.

[0080] In the first to third embodiments, evaluation conditions, including evaluation items, evaluation methods, and evaluation areas, as well as evaluation values, are saved in the scanned image file along with print setting information. However, data other than the print setting information may be added later. The scanned image file generated in the first to third embodiments allows the creation date and time, scanner model, and other information to be identified. Therefore, by using the scanned image file, it is possible to search for scanner calibration information suitable for the scanned image data, and to easily change the evaluation area, evaluation tool, evaluation algorithm, and so on, depending on the search results.

[0081] In the first and second embodiments, a QR code is used to add print setting information to a chart. However, this is not limiting. For example, a barcode or a character string may be used, and the print image data may include character image data in addition to code image data. The print setting information may be embedded directly in the QR code, barcode, or character string, or a URL indicating the address of a server where the print setting information is stored may be embedded. In this case, the scanner image file generation device 110 may obtain the print setting information by querying the server specified by the URL via the network. If a character string is embedded, the print setting information may be read by executing OCR.

[0082] Furthermore, in the present invention, the evaluation conditions may include information specifying the tool used to calculate the evaluation value. Also, although the coordinates of the evaluation area are specified using text, they may be specified using image data indicating the location of the evaluation area using the multi-page function of TIFF.

[0083] In addition, although the present invention uses the TIFF format for the scanned image file, other image formats are also acceptable. However, since the scanned image data stored in the scanned image file will be reused for image quality evaluation, an image format that can store the scanned image data uncompressed or losslessly compressed is desirable. For example, PNG format may also be used. In this case, a private chunk can be created and the print setting information, scan conditions, evaluation conditions, and evaluation values ​​stored there.

[0084] (Other Examples) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 100 Image forming device 104 Printing Department 105 Printing condition addition section 110 Scanned image file generator 111 Image reading unit 115 Electronic File Output Section

Claims

1. a means for acquiring scanned image data obtained by scanning a printout in which an image is printed on a recording medium by a printing device; means for acquiring print setting information specifying printing conditions when the printed matter is printed; means for acquiring information regarding evaluation conditions for evaluating the scanned image data; a generating means for generating a file that stores the scanned image data, the print setting information, and information about the evaluation conditions; An information processing device comprising:

2. a reading means for reading the scanned image data, the print setting information, and the information regarding the evaluation conditions from the file; an evaluation unit that evaluates the image quality of the scanned image data read from the file based on evaluation conditions corresponding to the information about the evaluation conditions, and outputs the evaluation result together with the print setting information; 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. The print setting information includes at least one of identification information of the printing device, print date and time, print paper, print speed, and color profile.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

4. The scan image data further includes a means for acquiring information about a scan condition of the scan image data, the generating means stores the information about the scan conditions in the file; 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

5. The information on the evaluation conditions includes at least one of the scan date and time, scanner identification information, evaluation method, evaluation area, and evaluation result.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

6. the evaluation methodology includes at least one of an evaluation tool, identification information of an evaluation algorithm, and scanner calibration information; 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The means for acquiring the print setting information includes: an inquiry means for inquiring about the print setting information from the printing device; a receiving means for receiving the print setting information transmitted from the printing device; 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

8. The means for acquiring the print setting information includes: reading means for reading image data of a predetermined area from the scanned image data; a conversion means for converting the image data of the predetermined area into character information; 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

9. The image data of the predetermined area includes code image data representing a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,

10. the conversion means decodes the QR code (registered trademark) or the barcode represented by the code image data to obtain the character information.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9,

11. The image data of the predetermined area includes character image data.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8,

12. the conversion means performs OCR on the character image data to obtain the character information; 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11,

13. the character information is the print setting information; 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

14. the character information includes an address of a server that stores the print setting information; the means for acquiring the print setting information acquires the print setting information from the server based on the address; 13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information processing apparatus is a computer.

15. an acquisition means for acquiring a file from a storage device in which a file storing scan image data obtained by scanning a printed matter in which an image is printed on a recording medium by a printing device, print setting information specifying information on printing conditions when the printed matter was printed, and evaluation conditions for evaluating the scan image data, is stored; a reading means for reading the scanned image data, the print setting information, and the information regarding the evaluation conditions from the acquired file; an evaluation unit that evaluates the image quality of the scanned image data based on evaluation conditions corresponding to the information about the evaluation conditions and outputs the evaluation results together with the print setting information; An information processing device comprising:

16. a step of acquiring scanned image data obtained by scanning a printout in which an image is printed on a recording medium by a printing device; acquiring print setting information specifying printing conditions when the printed matter is printed; acquiring information about evaluation conditions for evaluating the scanned image data; generating a file that stores the scanned image data, the print setting information, and information about the evaluation conditions; An information processing method comprising:

17. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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