Image Formation Device Abnormality Detection with Content Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image formation devices face challenges in determining and addressing abnormalities in printed images, especially when user content is involved, due to security concerns that prevent sampling or preservation of images containing confidential information.
Innovation Solution
An image formation device with a control section that acquires and analyzes read images, determines abnormalities, and performs masking processing when user content is detected, allowing for secure analysis and preservation of image data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If masking processing is performed on read images containing user content, then security is improved, but image quality and analysis accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the read image into multiple regions: a first region containing user content that requires masking for security, and a second region containing adjustment patterns that remain unmasked for quality analysis. This segmentation allows selective masking that preserves both security and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the image are treated differently: the first region (user content) undergoes masking to protect security, while the second region (adjustment patterns) maintains its original quality for analysis. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between security and measurement precision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If masking processing is performed on read images, then security is improved, but abnormality determination accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The image is segmented into masked and unmasked regions, allowing abnormality determination to be performed on the unmasked adjustment pattern region while the masked user content region maintains security. This ensures reliable abnormality detection without compromising security.
Solution Approach 2:
The unmasked adjustment pattern region acts as an intermediary that enables abnormality determination without exposing user content. This intermediary region allows the system to verify image quality and detect abnormalities while maintaining security through masking of sensitive areas.
3Reliability
If read images are sampled for analysis, then abnormality determination is improved, but security is worsened due to potential unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The read image is segmented such that only the necessary adjustment pattern region is available for analysis, while the user content region is masked. This allows abnormality determination to proceed with minimal exposure of sensitive information, balancing reliability and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (adjustment patterns) for abnormality determination while leaving the sensitive user content masked. This extraction approach enables reliable analysis without extracting or exposing confidential information.
Data Source
AI summary
An image formation device includes an image formation section that forms an image on a transfer medium, and a control section that acquires a read image for which the image formed on the transfer medium is read, the control section has a function of determining abnormality regarding the read image, and a function of performing masking processing on the read image in a case where user content is included in the read image.