Image forming apparatus and image forming method

Abstract

To provide an image formation device and an image formation method with which it is possible to prevent forgeries by, not just free design, but design changes corresponding to information related to tickets and invisible printing to the tickets.SOLUTION: The present invention comprises: a ticket information acquisition unit that receives ticket information from a ticket information server; a ticket design information acquisition unit that receives ticket design information from a ticket printing design server; a masking unit that executes masking on the ticket design information to conceal the ticket information; an embedding unit that embeds the ticket information in the ticket design information having been subjected to the masking, and generates an embedded image; and an image printing unit that prints the embedded image. The ticket design information is switched in accordance with ticket-related information that is related to tickets.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for, in ticket printing, with the object of printing a commemorative image for a user, allowing a user to select from a plurality of design proposals displayed on a display, combining a print layout with the selected design proposal, and performing printing. [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0003] However, with the technique described in Patent Document 1, although it is possible to on-demand issue tickets with a free design in accordance with an image selected by a user, no anti-counterfeiting measure is implemented on the ticket, so there is a possibility that the ticket may be counterfeited.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can achieve anti-counterfeiting not only through a free design, but also through design changes in accordance with information related to a ticket and invisible printing on the ticket. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem and achieve the object, the present invention comprises: a ticket information acquisition unit that receives ticket information from a ticket information server; a ticket design information acquisition unit that receives ticket design information from a ticket print design server; a masking processing unit that executes masking processing for concealing the ticket information on the ticket design information; an embedding processing unit that embeds the ticket information into the ticket design information subjected to the masking processing to generate an embedded image; and an image printing unit that prints the embedded image, wherein the ticket design information is switched in accordance with ticket-related information related to the ticketFurthermore, it functions as a latent image mask image for invisible printing. ru. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, not only is a free design possible, but counterfeit prevention can be achieved through design changes according to information related to the ticket and invisible printing on the ticket. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in the image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mask image printed by the image forming system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in the image forming system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in the image forming system according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the image forming apparatus and image forming method will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0009] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the image forming system according to this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100 such as an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) capable of invisible printing (stealth printing), a ticket printing design server 2 that stores images or information for multiple designs (for example, ticket designs, ticket printing formats), and a ticket information server 3 that stores event information to be printed on the ticket (for example, the date of the event corresponding to the ticket: year and month).

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the general configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100, which functions as an image processing apparatus, is a multifunction device having at least two of the following functions: copying, printing, scanning, and facsimile.

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, the image forming apparatus 100 comprises a paper feeding unit 103, a main unit 104, a scanner 101, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 102.

[0012] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a plotter 120, which is an image forming unit, within the apparatus body 104. The plotter 120 includes a tandem image forming unit 105, a registration roller 108 that supplies recording paper to the image forming unit 105 from the paper feeding unit 103 via a transport path 107, an optical writing device 109, a fuser unit 110, and a double-sided tray 111.

[0013] The imaging unit 105 has four photoreceptor drums 112 arranged side by side, corresponding to four colors: Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (infrared-absorbing visible toner (black)). Imaging elements, including a charger, developer 106, transfer unit, cleaner, and static eliminator, are arranged around each photoreceptor drum 112. An intermediate transfer belt 113 is positioned between the transfer unit and the photoreceptor drums 112, stretched between the drive roller and the driven roller while being held between the nip of both units.

[0014] In this tandem-type image forming apparatus 100, based on the original image scanned by the scanner 101 from the original document sent from the ADF 102, the optical writing device 109 performs optical writing to each color of the YMCK toner on the corresponding photoreceptor drum 112, the developer unit 106 develops each toner color, and the toners are primary transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 113 in the order of, for example, Y, M, C, K. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 performs a secondary transfer of the full-color image superimposed by the four colors through the primary transfer onto the recording paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 103, and then fixes it in the fuser unit 110 and discharges the paper to form a full-color image on the recording paper.

[0015] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

[0016] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with an image processing device 200 that performs predetermined processing on the original image read by the scanner 101 and outputs it as image data to the plotter 120. The scanner 101, ADF 102, and image processing device 200 constitute a tilt correction device and a reading device.

[0017] The image processing unit 200 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, main memory 205, chipset 206, image processing ASIC 207, controller ASIC 208, main memory 209, and I / O ASIC 210. ASIC stands for Application Specific Integrated Circuit.

[0018] CPU 201 is for controlling the image forming apparatus 100. The main memory 205 is (an image memory) where programs for CPU 201 to control the image forming apparatus 100 are deployed, used as a work area, or temporarily stores image data and the like to be processed. The chipset 206 is used together with CPU 201 to control the access of the controller ASIC 208 and I / O ASIC 210 to the main memory 205.

[0019] The program executed in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) as an installable or executable file.

[0020] Furthermore, the program executed in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. The program executed in the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment may also be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0021] The scanner 101 has a function of reading image data to be copied or image data to be output to an external interface. The plotter 120 has a function of printing image data stored in the main memory 209. Specifically, the plotter 120 is an example of an image printing unit capable of invisible printing. Invisible printing (stealth printing) will be described later.

[0022] The image processing ASIC 207 performs image processing on the image data read from the scanner 101 and outputs the image data to the controller ASIC 208. The image processing ASIC 207 also processes the image data from the controller ASIC 208 so that it can be printed by the plotter 120, and sends the image data in accordance with the printing timing of the plotter 120.

[0023] The controller ASIC 208 uses the main memory 205, accessed via the chipset 206, to rotate and edit image data handled by the image forming apparatus 100, storing it in the HDD 211 and sending and receiving image data with the image processing ASIC 207. The main memory 209 is used as image memory for image processing by the controller ASIC 208. The HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 211 is used for temporary storage of the processed image data.

[0024] The I / O ASIC210 is an external interface for providing additional functions to the image forming apparatus 100. For example, the I / O ASIC210 is equipped with interfaces such as a network interface, USB, SD card, control unit, SPI, I2C, document width sensor 85 (width detection sensors SN1~SN5), or a hardware accelerator for speeding up image processing, an encryption processing circuit, etc.

[0025] Next, we will explain the functions performed by the image processing device 200.

[0026] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. Here, we will describe the characteristic functions of the image processing apparatus 200 in this embodiment.

[0027] The image processing device 200, in general terms, has the function of generating a latent image embedded image by mutually utilizing a color-matching masking effect and a visual masking effect that compensates for its shortcomings, and by using a black colorant that exhibits infrared absorption characteristics and four colorants of cyan, magenta, and yellow that exhibit infrared transmission characteristics. The generated latent image embedded image is printed by the plotter 120, thereby printing a printed material that includes an infrared latent image.

[0028] Here, an infrared latent image refers to image information that is difficult to see under visible light but can only be detected by sensing devices that respond to infrared light. Furthermore, a latent image-embedded image, as described later, refers to an image in which invisible information, including an infrared latent image, is embedded. Furthermore, a background image, as described later, represents the visible image into which the latent image is embedded. When observing a latent image-embedded image, only the background image will be observed. Furthermore, a latent image, as described later, refers to image information embedded as invisible information in the background image.

[0029] Furthermore, the term "masking effect" refers to the physical masking effect used to conceal a latent image, while "masking processing" refers to the image processing applied to the background to achieve this masking effect.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the image processing apparatus 200 includes a first masking processing unit 301, a second masking processing unit 302, a latent image embedding processing unit 303, a ticket information acquisition unit 304, and a ticket design information acquisition unit 305.

[0031] The ticket information acquisition unit 304 is an example of a ticket information acquisition unit that receives ticket information from the ticket information server 3. Here, the ticket information is a latent image that makes the ticket identifiable and is embedded in the ticket design information, and may be, for example, a date (year and month, etc.).

[0032] The ticket design information acquisition unit 305 transmits the ticket information acquired by the ticket information acquisition unit 304 to the ticket printing design server 2 and requests a change in the ticket design information. The ticket design information acquisition unit 305 then receives the ticket design information that has been changed according to the ticket-related information from the ticket printing design server 2. In other words, the ticket design information is changed according to the ticket-related information. This makes it possible to provide tickets that users can keep as souvenirs and to provide tickets that are protected against counterfeiting through invisible printing.

[0033] Here, ticket design information refers to information that has been processed to conceal the ticket information (latent image), such as a background image into which the ticket information is embedded. Ticket-related information refers to information related to the ticket, and may include, for example, the ticket information itself.

[0034] The masking processing unit 310 performs a masking process on the ticket design information acquired by the ticket design information acquisition unit 305 to conceal the ticket information. As a result, the masked ticket design information functions as a latent image mask image for invisible printing. In this embodiment, the plotter 120 performs invisible printing of the ticket information on the latent image, but it is not limited to this, as long as the ticket information is printed invisiblely, for example, the ticket information may be printed invisiblely on a white background. In this embodiment, the masking processing unit 310 has a first masking processing unit 301 and a second masking processing unit 302.

[0035] The first masking processing unit 301, which is an auxiliary masking processing unit, performs a first masking process on the image (ticket design information) to conceal the latent image (ticket information). The first masking process refers to a process that changes the density change characteristics between pixels in the image in order to obtain a visual masking effect to conceal the latent image. Here, it is called a visual masking process.

[0036] Generally, areas in an image with little change in density and a flat surface are easier to notice when it comes to noise or other density changes. On the other hand, areas with large changes in density are harder to notice because the noise or other density changes blend in with the surrounding differences. This characteristic of human perception is called the visual masking effect.

[0037] Therefore, in order to utilize the visual masking effect, the first masking processing unit 301 prevents the latent image (ticket information) from becoming apparent by compositing a specific masking pattern onto the background image (ticket design information) to be embedded.

[0038] The second masking processing unit 302, which is a color matching masking processing unit, performs a second masking process on the image (ticket design information) to conceal the latent image (ticket information). The second masking process refers to a process that performs color conversion to enhance the color matching masking effect in order to conceal the latent image. Here, it is called color matching masking. Furthermore, the effect of concealing the latent image within the background using the masking effect by conditional color matching is defined as the color matching masking effect.

[0039] The first masking processing unit 301 and the second masking processing unit 302 generate a masked background image with high latent image concealment, which has undergone the first masking process and the second masking process, respectively.

[0040] The latent image embedding processing unit 303 is an example of an embedding processing unit that performs latent image synthesis processing to generate a latent image embedded image by embedding specified ticket information (latent image) into the ticket design information (background image after masking) that has been masked by the masking processing unit 310 (first masking processing unit 301 and second masking processing unit 302). The latent image is preferably image information specified in the K plane. The latent image embedding processing unit 303 can also perform latent image embedding by changing the amount of ink generated according to the pixel values ​​of the latent image.

[0041] The plotter 120 functions as an example of an image printing unit that achieves invisible printing (stealth printing) by printing the latent image embedded image generated by the latent image embedding processing unit 303 onto a recording medium such as paper. Here, the timing at which the plotter 120 performs invisible printing may be at the time of ticket purchase, or at the time of issuing the commemorative ticket after the electronic ticket has been purchased.

[0042] Figure 5 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in the image forming system according to the first embodiment. First, the ticket information server 3 transmits the ticket information to be printed to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S101). The ticket information acquisition unit 304 of the image forming apparatus 100 receives the ticket information transmitted from the ticket information server 3 (step S102). Furthermore, the ticket information acquisition unit 304 transmits the received ticket information to the ticket printing design server 2 (step S103).

[0043] The ticket printing design server 2 receives ticket information from the image forming apparatus 100 (step S104). The ticket printing design server 2 also switches the ticket design information according to the ticket-related information of the ticket indicated by the received ticket information (step S105). Then, the ticket printing design server 2 transmits the switched ticket design information to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S106).

[0044] Next, the ticket design information acquisition unit 305 of the image forming apparatus 100 receives ticket design information from the ticket printing design server 2 (step S107). Then, the plotter 120 of the image forming apparatus 100 performs invisible printing of the ticket information by printing the latent image embedded image generated by the image processing device 200 onto a recording medium such as paper (step S108).

[0045] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a mask image printed by the image forming system according to the first embodiment. A mask image (latent image embedded image) denoted by reference numeral 401 represents how the ticket information (latent image) looks under visible light. Also, a mask image (latent image embedded image) denoted by reference numeral 402 represents how the ticket information (latent image) looks under infrared light.

[0046] The mask images denoted by reference numerals 401 and 402 apply a latent image technology that invisibly prints part of the ticket information, and show that characters inside a circle mark that is not visible under visible light (for example, the character "certified") become visible under infrared light scanning (NIR scanning).

[0047] As described above, according to the image forming system according to the first embodiment, it is possible to provide tickets that users can keep as souvenirs, and also provide tickets with anti-counterfeiting measures provided by invisible printing.

[0048] (Second Embodiment) The present embodiment is an example in which ticket-related information includes ticket issuer information indicating the issuer of a ticket, and ticket design information is switched according to the ticket issuer information. In the following description, descriptions of configurations similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the ticket-related information includes ticket issuer information indicating the issuer of the ticket. Then, the ticket design information acquisition unit 305 acquires, from the ticket print design server 2, the ticket design information that has been switched based on the ticket issuer information. This makes it possible to switch the mask image (ticket design information), which is an image subjected to masking processing, according to the issuer of the ticket, thereby improving the security level of the ticket information.

[0050] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in an image forming system according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the ticket printing design server 2 acquires ticket issuer information based on the ticket information received from the image forming apparatus 100. The ticket printing design server 2 then switches the ticket design information according to the acquired ticket issuer information (step S701). The ticket printing design server 2 then transmits the switched ticket design information to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S702).

[0051] Thus, according to the image forming system of the second embodiment, the mask image (ticket design information), which is a masked image, can be switched according to the ticket issuer, thereby improving the security of the ticket information.

[0052] (Third embodiment) This embodiment is an example in which ticket-related information indicates ticket information, and ticket design information is switched according to that ticket information. In the following description, the same configuration as in the first embodiment will be omitted from the explanation.

[0053] In this embodiment, ticket-related information may include ticket information. The ticket design information acquisition unit 305 acquires ticket design information that has been switched based on the ticket information from the ticket printing design server 2. This allows the mask image, which is an image that has undergone masking processing according to the ticket information, to be switched, thereby improving the security level of the ticket information.

[0054] Figure 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the printing process flow in an image forming system according to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the ticket printing design server 2 switches the ticket design information based on the ticket information received from the image forming apparatus 100 (step S801). Then, the ticket printing design server 2 transmits the switched ticket design information to the image forming apparatus 100 (step S802).

[0055] Thus, according to the image forming system of the third embodiment, it is possible to switch mask images, which are images that have undergone masking processing according to the ticket information, thereby improving the security level of the ticket information.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is described using an example in which it is applied to a multifunction device having at least two functions from among a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. However, it can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, scanner, or facsimile device. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 2 Ticket Printing Design Server 3. Ticket Information Server 100 Image forming apparatus 120 plotters 200 Image Processing Devices 201 CPU 202 ROM 205 Main Memory 206 Chipset 207 Image Processing ASICs 208 Controller ASIC 209 Main Memory 301 First masking section 302 Second masking section 303 Latent Image Embedding Processing Unit 304 Ticket Information Acquisition Department 305 Ticket Design Information Acquisition Department [Preliminary Technology Documents] [License]

[0058] [License 1] Patent No. 4642445

Claims

1. A ticket information acquisition unit that receives ticket information from the ticket information server, A ticket design information acquisition unit that receives ticket design information from the ticket printing design server, A masking processing unit that performs a masking process to conceal the ticket information on the ticket design information, An embedding processing unit that embeds the ticket information into the ticket design information from which the masking process has been performed and generates an embedded image, The system includes an image printing unit for printing the embedded image, The aforementioned ticket design information is switched according to ticket-related information associated with the ticket, and functions as a latent image mask image for invisible printing.

2. The aforementioned ticket-related information includes ticket issuer information indicating the ticket issuer, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ticket design information is switched according to the ticket issuer information.

3. The aforementioned ticket-related information includes the aforementioned ticket information, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ticket design information is switched according to the ticket information.

4. An image forming method performed in an image forming apparatus, The process of receiving ticket information from the ticket information server, The process of receiving ticket design information from the ticket printing design server, The process of performing a masking process on the ticket design information to conceal the ticket information, The process of embedding the ticket information into the ticket design information after performing the masking process and generating an embedded image, The process includes printing the embedded image, An image forming method wherein the aforementioned ticket design information is switched according to ticket-related information associated with the ticket, and functions as a latent image mask image for invisible printing.

Images