Title: Color-image processing apparatus and method, and storage medium
Abstract: Conventionally, a color-image processing apparatus, such as a computer, or the like, cannot determine whether or not color-image data stored in an image storage device, such as a hard disk, or the like, is an image corresponding to a specific original. According to the present invention, a color-image processing apparatus includes a determination unit for comparing color-image data stored in an image storage device with a pattern stored in a pattern storage device. The color-image data stored in the image storage device is read with a predetermined timing, and determination by the determination unit is performed. The color-image processing apparatus is a computer, and the image storage device is a hard disk.
Patent Number: 6,975,757 Issued on 12/13/2005 to Ohta
| Inventors:
|
Ohta; Ken-ichi (Kawasaki, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Canon Kabushiki Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo, JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
557912 |
| Filed:
|
April 21, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Apr 26, 1999[JP] | 11-118143 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
382/165; 382/170; 382/219; 358/524 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06K 009/00 |
| Field of Search: |
382/164,165,166,167,170,171,172,190,194,209,217,218,219,224,278,282,305
358/515,516,518,519,520,538,523,524
348/129,130,149,179,209.99,210.99
707/3,6,7
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
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| |
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| |
| 4908873 | Mar., 1990 | Philibert et al.
| |
| 5126795 | Jun., 1992 | Maruyama et al.
| |
| 5157762 | Oct., 1992 | Snietka.
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| 5162821 | Nov., 1992 | Fukuchi et al.
| |
| 5216724 | Jun., 1993 | Suzuki et al.
| |
| 5239175 | Aug., 1993 | Jawad et al.
| |
| 5319473 | Jun., 1994 | Harrisngton.
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| 5363454 | Nov., 1994 | Udagawa et al.
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| 5416715 | May., 1995 | Kinoshita et al.
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| 5475468 | Dec., 1995 | Natsudaira.
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| 5502575 | Mar., 1996 | Kai et al.
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| 5515451 | May., 1996 | Tsuji et al.
| |
| 5638496 | Jun., 1997 | Sato.
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| 5659628 | Aug., 1997 | Tachikawa et al.
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| 5678155 | Oct., 1997 | Miyaza.
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| 5790165 | Aug., 1998 | Kuboki et al.
| |
| 6014453 | Jan., 2000 | Sonoda et al.
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| 6069696 | May., 2000 | McQueen et al.
| |
| 6335794 | Jan., 2002 | Herley et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 0779603 | Jun., 1997 | EP.
| |
Other References
"Automated Virus Protection Software Without Noticeable System Overhead", IBM
Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 36, No. 10, Oct. 1993, p. 383.
"Hardware Monitor Security Feature", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol.
32, No. 3A, Aug. 1989, pp. 284-285.
"Employment of Virus Detection Procedures at Domain Boundaries", IBM Technical
Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 34, No. 7A, Dec. 1991, pp. 199-200.
|
Primary Examiner: Shah; Sanjiv
Assistant Examiner: Kassa; Yosef
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto
Claims
1. A color-image processing apparatus comprising:
reading means for reading color image data stored in image storage means provided
in said color-image processing apparatus; and
determination means for determining the similarity between the color image data
and a pattern of a specific image,
wherein the color image data used by said determination means for determining
the similarity between the pattern of the specific image and the color image data
is read from the image storage means at a predetermined time which is independent
of a read instruction given by a user to read the color image data stored in the
image storage means, and
wherein said determination means adds determination-completed flag information
to each piece of the color image data that has been subjected to determination.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said color-image processing apparatus
comprises a computer, and wherein the image storage means comprises a hard disk.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image storage means and said
determination means are controlled by an operating system on a computer, and wherein
the operating system periodically controls said determination means to perform
determination on the color image data stored in the image storage means.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said determination means determines
the similarity when application software executed on a computer reads the color
image data from the storage image means.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color image data is stored
in the image storage means as a file.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising alteration means for
performing alteration of the color-image data when said determination means determines
that the color image data coincides with the pattern.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means does not
determine the similarity with respect to the color image data having determination-completed
flag information.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination when an operation input from an operator is not provided for a
predetermined period.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination when a CPU (central processing unit) of said color-image processing
apparatus does not execute application software.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination when said color-image processing apparatus is turned on.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination when copying the color image data from an external storage device
to the image storage means.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination when copying the color image data from the image storage means
to an external storage device.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means performs
a determination during communication of the color image data with an external apparatus
connected to said color-image processing apparatus via a network.
14. A color-image processing apparatus comprising:
reading means for reading color image data stored in image storage means provided
in said color-image processing apparatus; and
determination means for determining the similarity between the color image data
and a pattern of a specific image,
wherein the color image data used by said determination means for determining
the similarity between the pattern of the specific image and the color image data
is read from the image storage means at a predetermined time which is independent
of a read instruction given by a user to read the color image data stored in the
image storage means,
wherein the color image data is stored in the image storage means as a file, and
wherein said determination means performs a determination by obtaining bit-map
data other than data buried within the image file in a format of a tag.
15. A color-image processing apparatus comprising:
reading means for reading color image data stored in image storage means provided
in said color-image processing apparatus; and
determination means for determining the similarity between the color image data
and a pattern of a specific image,
wherein the color image data used by said determination means for determining
the similarity between the pattern of the specific image and the color image data
is read from the image storage means at a predetermined time which is independent
of a read instruction given by a user to read the color image data stored in the
image storage means,
wherein said determination means performs a determination when an operation input
from an operator is not provided for a predetermined period, and
wherein, when another operation input from the operator is not provided for a
predetermined period after starting an operation input from the operator, said
determination means resumes determination processing for the color image data for
which a determination by said determination means has not been performed.
16. A color-image processing apparatus comprising:
reading means for reading color image data stored in image storage means provided
in said color-image processing apparatus; and
determination means for determining the similarity between the color image data
and a pattern of a specific image,
wherein the color image data used by said determination means for determining
the similarity between the pattern of the specific image and the color image data
is read from the image storage means at a predetermined time which is independent
of a read instruction given by a user to read the color image data stored in the
image storage means,
wherein said determination means performs a determination when a CPU (central
processing unit) of said color-image processing apparatus does not execute application
software, and
wherein, when the CPU of said color-image processing apparatus does not execute
the application software after starting execution of the application software,
said determination means resumes determination processing for the color image data
for which a determination by said determination means has not been performed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a color-image processing apparatus and method,
and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, color work stations and so-called personal computers have been
developed in which a color-image reading apparatus utilizing a CCD (charge-coupled
device), or the like, a host apparatus for performing color-image processing utilizing
CAD (computer aided design) and CG (computer graphics), and a color printing apparatus,
such as a color laser-beam printer, a color ink-jet printer, or the like, are combined.
In such work stations or personal computers, a multicolor image can be printed.
Accordingly, there is the possibility that a specific original for which
it is prohibited to make a copy, such as paper money, securities, or the like,
is easily forged by reading the original by the color-image reading apparatus,
temporarily storing the read image in the work station or the personal computer,
and outputting the read image by the color printing apparatus.
This problem arises because the above-described image reading apparatuses, printing
apparatuses, work stations and personal computers do not have means for preventing
forgery of a specific original in themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problem.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a configuration in which,
in a color work station, serving as a color-image processing apparatus, and a personal
computer, the work station can execute determination processing for color-image
data stored within the personal computer.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide new functions.
According to one aspect, the present invention which achieves these objectives,
relates to a color-image processing apparatus including determination means for
comparing color-image data stored in image storage means with a pattern stored
in pattern storage means. The color-image data stored in the image storage means
is read with a predetermined timing, and determination by the determination means
is performed.
According to another aspect, the present invention which achieves these
objectives, relates to a color-image processing method for comparing color-image
data stored in image storage means with a pattern stored in pattern storage means
includes the step of reading the color-image data stored in the image storage means
with a predetermined timing, and performing determination by the determination means.
According to still another aspect, the present invention which achieves
these objectives relates to a color-image processing apparatus, in which the above-described
color-image processing method is executed by a computer, and the above-described
image storage means is a hard disk.
According to yet another aspect, the present invention which achieves these
objectives relates to a storage medium, capable of being read by a computer, including
codes of a determination process for comparing color-image data stored in image
storage means with a pattern stored in pattern storage means. The color-image data
stored in the image storage means is read at a predetermined timing, and determination
in the determination process is performed.
The foregoing and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system according to a first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a forgery determination operation according
to the first embodiment; and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference
to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a computer system according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 18 represents a host computer. A reader unit
11 for inputting color-image data by optically reading an original, a handy
scanner 19, an external storage device 20 for reading/writing data
using a magnetooptical disk, a CD(compact disc)-ROM (read-only memory), a tape
device, or the like, a keyboard 17 for performing input of various data,
input of a command for instructing one of various functions, or the like, by means
of a key operation, a display device 12, such as a CRT (cathode-ray tube),
an LCD (liquid-crystal display), or the like, for displaying an image, and a printer
13 for forming an image on a recording sheet are connected to the host computer 18.
In the host computer 18, a memory 15 can input and temporarily store
color-image data from the reader unit 11, the handy scanner 19 or
the external storage device 20, and output the stored color-image data to
the display device 12 or the printer unit 13. A data storage device
16, such as a hard disk, stores image data temporarily stored in the memory
15. A forgery determination unit 14 performs comparison/determination
processing for image data input in the memory 15 or image data read from
the data storage device 16 and transferred to the memory 15.
The forgery determination unit 14 includes a table which has registered
in advance image patterns peculiar to specific originals, such as paper money,
securities, and the like. Image patterns peculiar to a specific original includes,
for example, a two-dimensional density distribution pattern peculiar to paper money,
a histogram or an appearance-frequency distribution pattern of a specific color-component
signal, and electronic watermark. The degree of coincidence of a transferred image
pattern with each registered pattern is detected by a well-known method.
It is desirable to register in advance a plurality of patterns, such as characteristic
patterns included, for example, in Japanese yen currency or U.S. dollar currency,
and common patterns printed commonly in securities and various high-price bonds.
A CPU (central processing unit) 18
a controls the entire computer
18. A ROM 18
b stores a program representing the flowchart
shown in FIG. 2, various other control programs, and parameters. A RAM (random
access memory) 18
c is used as working areas for various programs.
The same device may be used for the memory 15 and the RAM 18
c.
Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a forgery determination operation according
to the first embodiment.
The operation described below is basically controlled by the CPU 18
a
and an OS (operating system). Timings for executing the operation will be described later.
When processing has started (step 201), the CPU 18
a retrieves
color-image files stored in the data storage unit 16, and assigns one image
file (step 202).
Then, the CPU 18
a determines if a flag indicating the execution
of forgery determination (to be described later) is recorded in the assigned color-image
file (step 203). If the result of the determination in step 203 is
negative, color-image data is read from the file and is written in the memory 15
(step 204), and the image data is transferred to the forgery determination
unit 14 (step 205).
Upon reception of the color-image data from the image memory 15, the
forgery determination unit 14 compares the received color-image data with
the image pattern of each of a plurality of specific originals. When coincidence
with the image pattern of a specific original has been confirmed as a result of
determination in step 206, it is determined that an image susceptible to
be forged is stored in the file, and the contents of the image data are erased
(altered) (step 207), and the color-image data whose contents have been
erased is again stored in the data storage unit 16 with the same file name
as the original image file (step 208).
At that time, a determination-execution flag indicating the execution of forgery
determination is recorded in a specific region of the image file (step 209).
When it has been determined in step 206 that the color-image data does
not coincide with a specific pattern, the data is not erased, and the process proceeds
to step 209, where only a determination-execution flag is recorded in the
corresponding image file of the data recording unit 16.
Then, it is determined if the above-described processing has been executed
for all image files stored in the data storage unit 16 (step 210).
If the result of the determination in step 210 is affirmative, the processing
is terminated (step 211). If the result of the determination in step 210
is negative, the process returns to step 202, and the same processing is
repeated for the next image file.
As described above, according to the first embodiment, by providing a forgery
determination unit for determining forgery for all image data stored in a storage
device of a host computer within the host computer, forgery determination processing
can be performed.
Although timings for executing the processing shown in FIG. 2 has not been
described, it is effective if the processing is executed by providing, for example,
the following rules.
(1) Since the host computer does not perform various types of processing by always
operating the CPU, processing is started when input from the keyboard is not provided
for a certain period, and the CPU does not execute specific application software.
When there is an input operation from the keyboard during the processing, the processing
is temporarily interrupted. At a timing such that the above-described conditions
are again satisfied, the interrupted processing is resumed for unfinished color-image data.
(2) When the power supply of the host computer is turned on from an off-state,
an OS is first started. At this timing, processing from step 201 to step
211 is periodically executed as a part of the processing.
(3) When specific application software instructs reading of an image file of
the data storage unit, processing from step 203 to step 207 is executed
before reading the file into a working area used by the application software.
(4) When the user instructs an operation of copying a specific image file, for
example, when copying a file on a hard disk to the same hard disk, or when copying
a file from the hard disk to an external storage device, such as a floppy disk,
a magnetooptical disk, or the like, or in cases reverse to the above-described
cases, the OS executes processing from step 203 to step 207 for the
image file to be copied, before executing the copying processing.
In this case, when coincidence with a specific image pattern is detected, for
example, processing of stopping the execution of a copying operation by displaying
a warning message on the display device 12 may be performed instead of erasing
the image.
(5) Also when the user instructs to print a specific image file by the printer
unit 13 through the keyboard 17 or a mouse, determination processing
is performed in the same procedure as in the above-described item (4), and erasure
of the image or stop of a printing operation is performed.
If determination processing is executed at the above-described plurality of timings
or at all timings, forgery determination processing can also be assuredly executed
for color-image data obtained according to various types of processing.
Second Embodiment
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, components 11 through 20 are the same as those shown
in FIG. 1. An external interface unit 31 is added to the configuration shown
in FIG. 1, and is connected to another host computer 33, a color scanner
35, a color printer 36, a file server 37, and the like, via
an external communication channel 32 (in general, a network, such as Ethernet,
Internet or the like, or a high-speed data transfer channel, such as IEEE 1394).
Although the host computer 33 and the file server 37 have
the same basic internal configuration as the host computer 18, the host
computer 33 and the file server 37 generally include data storage
units 34 and 38, respectively.
The host computer 33 executes the forgery determination processing described
in the first embodiment. In the configuration of the second embodiment, however,
the forgery determination processing is also executed when moving image data via
the external communication channel 32, or when inputting image data from
the scanner 35, or when printing image data by the printer 36.
For example, when transferring an image file stored in the data storage unit
16 within the host computer 18 to the data storage unit 34
of the host computer 33 or the data storage unit 38 of the file server
37, the processing of steps 203-209 shown in FIG. 2 is executed
by transmitting image data to the forgery determination unit 14 before the
transfer of the image file.
In another example, when transferring an image file stored in the data storage
unit 16 within the host computer 18 to the printer 36 in order
to print the image file, the processing of steps 203-207 shown in
FIG. 2 is executed by transmitting image data to the forgery determination unit
14 before the transfer of the image file.
Although in the foregoing description, only image files are determined,
the determination processing is not limited to the image files. The determination
processing may, of course, be performed for all of ordinary document files.
As for the internal structure of a file, image data itself is stored in various
formats of storage whether the file is an image file or an ordinary document file,
and necessity to extract necessary data by analyzing the file by an OS or application
software always exists.
For example, there exists a TIFF format as a well-known image file format. In
this format, the size and the date of formation of data, the image compression
method, a comment peculiar to the data, and the like, are buried in the file in
the form of tags. Accordingly, before transferring the data to the forgery determination
unit 14, an OS or application software, of course, extracts and transfers
only two-dimensional image data (bit-map data) by analyzing the file structure
in advance.
Although in the foregoing embodiments, a configuration is provided in which,
when it has been determined that data in a file coincides with a specific image
pattern, the image data is erased, various modifications may be considered. For
example, the color of the image data may be changed, or a character string, such
as "sample", may be synthesized in the data in order to prevent output of forgery
even if the specific pattern is printed by a printer.
Although the forgery determination unit 14 has been described as
an independent component, this unit may, of course, be provided as a program in
the ROM 18
b so that image data in the memory 15 or the data
storage unit 16 is directly accessed and determined.
It is possible to perform determination processing at a predetermined timing
for
color-image data stored in image storage means (a hard disk, or the like).
It is also possible to determine color-image data stored in a hard disk.
Since determination is performed at various timings, for example, when an operation
of the operator is not provided for a predetermined period while application software
periodically reads color-image data, when starting a color-image processing apparatus,
when copying color-image data stored in image storage means to an external storage
device, when copying color-image data from an image storage device to an external
storage device, and during communication of color-image data with an external apparatus
connected via a network, it is possible to improve accuracy in determination. Particularly,
although determination processing is interrupted, for example, when an operation
of the operator has been started, or when a CPU has started execution of application
software, processing is resumed from the immediately preceding determination processing
when an operation of the operator is not provided for a predetermined period or
when the CPU does not execute application software. Hence, it is possible to efficiently
perform determination processing.
Since information indicating end of determination is added to color-image data
which has been determined, it is possible to prevent occurrence of useless determination
processing due to a plurality of determination operations for the same color-image data.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
The present invention may also be applied to a processing method in which a program
for operating the configuration of one of the above-described embodiments is stored
in a storage medium in order to realize the functions of the embodiment, and the
program stored in the storage medium is read in the form of codes and is executed
by a computer, and to a storage medium storing the program.
For example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk,
a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or a ROM may be used as the
storage medium.
The present invention may be applied not only to the above-described case of
executing processing only by the program stored in the storage medium, but also
to a case of executing the operation of one of the above-described embodiments
by operating in an OS in cooperation with the functions of other software or expanding board.
The individual components designated by blocks in the drawings are all well known
in the image processing apparatus and method arts and their specific construction
and operation are not critical to the operation or the best mode for carrying out
the invention.
While the present invention has been described with respect to what are presently
considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention
is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the present invention
is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following
claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
*
