JPH0749645A - Copying control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a copying control method for preventing a confidential document from being easily copied by a copying machine. CONSTITUTION:As for the copying control method for controlling the copying of the confidential document, etc., in the copying machine; an image is digitally read in the copying machine, a non-volatile memory is installed inside the copying machine, the password or the identification number (ID number) of an operator, and the identification number of a person to whom the document is intended to be distributed are required in the case of copying operation. When they are satisfied, the copying machine starts the read of the document, the copying machine reads out the ID number from a specified pattern existing in the document, and the set of the password, the ID number of the document and the ID number of a distributor stored in a memory is retrieved. In the case both ID numbers of the distributor and the document have been already stored in the memory, as the result of retrieval, a signal is transmitted to restrict the function of copying.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copy management method for a copying machine, and more particularly to a copy management method for managing copying of confidential documents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of copying machines, it has become possible to easily obtain a copy of a document. With this, copying of a confidential document has become easy, and the confidential contents have been transferred to the outside. There is a problem of leakage and unauthorized use.

[0003]

However, in the currently popular copying machines, no measures are taken to prevent copying of confidential documents and the like. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a copy management method for preventing easy copying of a confidential document by a copying machine.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a copy management method for managing copying of confidential documents and the like in a copying machine, in which an image is digitally read and the copying is performed. It has a non-volatile memory inside the machine. At the time of copying operation, the password or identification number (ID number) of the operator is requested, and the identification number of the prospective person of this document is requested. Starts reading the document, the copying machine reads the ID number from a specific pattern existing in the document, and retrieves a set of the password, the document ID number, and the ID number of the distributor stored in the memory. It is characterized by doing.

In the above copy management method, the copying machine sends a signal to limit the copying function when both the distributor ID number and the document ID number are already stored in the memory as a result of the search. In addition to that, the fact is notified to the operator (claim 2).

Further, in the above copy management method, the copy machine prints both the image of the document to be copied and the information of the operator of the copy machine and the distribution target person (copy management information). 3) Further, it is characterized in that the copy management information to be printed together with the image of the document to be copied is printed so as to overlap the image of the target document, or the copy management information is printed multiple times in the document. (Claim 4).

[0007]

According to the copy management method of the present invention, when copying a confidential document, both the password or ID number of the copying person and the ID number of the distributing person are requested, and the copying is not accepted unless these are entered. The ID number and the document ID number are always recorded in a non-volatile recording-only memory inside the copying machine. Then, when reading the confidential document, the ID number is read from a specific pattern existing in the document, and it is searched whether or not the same document ID number and the same distributor ID number are already recorded in the memory. Then, if there is a set of the same document ID number and the same distributor ID number, the copying machine restricts copying and informs the operator to that effect. This can prevent easy copying of confidential documents.

Further, in the above copy management method, when copying a confidential document, the copy machine prints both the image of the document to be copied and the information of the operator of the copy machine and the distribution target person (copy management information). If the copy management information to be printed overlaps with the image of the target document, or if the copy management information is printed multiple times in the document, the confidential document can be copied easily. It is possible to weaken the intent to set and prevent easy copying of confidential documents.

[0009]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. The copying machine to which the present invention is applied includes a document reading device that digitally reads a document image and stores it in a memory as image information, and an image is formed by an electrophotographic process by performing optical writing on a photoconductor according to the read image information. A digital copying machine which is equipped with an image forming apparatus for carrying out control of each part and manages copying by a well-known microcomputer is suitable, and further, a document ID number and a distributor I.
Those equipped with a non-volatile memory (IC memory or the like) for storing management information such as D number and operator ID number are suitable. Since the memory size required for managing the ID number and the like is 4 to 6 bytes for one piece of information, one IC memory chip can manage about 100,000 cases.
Further, since the copying machine needs to read not only whether the set original is a confidential document but also the ID number printed on the original, an optical character recognition device (OCR) or an optical mark recognition device is required. The function of (OMR) is essential.

Here, FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an example of a copy management process according to the present invention executed by the microcomputer. As shown in FIG. 1, in the copy management system of the present invention, first, an original image is read, and whether or not there is a mark indicating a confidential document registered in advance in the read original using the functions of OCR and OMR. To detect.
If there is no mark indicating a confidential document, copying is permitted and normal copying operation is executed. If there is a mark indicating a confidential document, the password or ID of the person who operates it
Number and ID number of the person who distributes it (or distribution destination code, etc.)
Is requested each time, and it is searched each time whether or not the same document ID number and the same distributor ID number are already recorded in the memory. Then, if a set of the same document ID number and the same distributor ID number exists in the memory, the copying machine rejects the copying, displays a confidential document on the display device, and informs the operator to that effect. . If a set of the same document ID number and the same distributor ID number does not exist in the memory, the document ID number and the distributor ID number are recorded in the memory and copying is permitted.

Next, a more specific example will be described.
First, as an example of a manuscript of a confidential document, the one shown in FIG. 2 can be given. In this example, the document is mainly composed of characters, but a "document ID" overlapping the character information is printed on a part of the document. As an example of this document ID, there is a method of using a barcode as shown in FIG. In this example, a fairly thick line is used, but in this case, it is appropriate to give a black-and-white inverted pattern to the portion overlapping the character portion. Of course,
Even if the barcode is not such a one, a two-dimensionally distributed dot pattern may be used. Further, regarding the contents to be recorded, "date, reporter, document classification code, identification (ID) number" can be considered.

When it is desired to copy a document on which a document ID indicating a confidential document as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is to be copied, first, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 1, the copying machine is operated. Enter the person's password or ID number. If you do not enter this and suddenly try to copy a confidential document, the copier will identify the pattern in FIG. 3 and request the operator's password (or ID number). Then request the person to whom this document should be distributed, or the ID number (or name, etc.) of the person who distributes this document.

The inputted operator password (or ID number) is the password (or ID number) on the storage device (memory) stored inside the copying machine, and the corresponding document ID number and distributor. Compare the ID numbers of. And if already the same distributor ID number and document I
If there is a set of D numbers, further operations are rejected, the copying operation is stopped, and a confidential document is displayed on the display device. If there is no set of the same number, the operation is continued, and thereafter, the password (or ID number) of the operator, the document ID number and the distributor ID number are stored in the storage device, and the copying operation is executed. At this time, at the same time, if necessary, similar contents are printed as copy management information on the recording paper. In this case, what is particularly effective as the copy management information is the printing of the operator and distributor names.

In this embodiment, both the person who copies this document and the person who distributes this document are printed on the copied document. As shown in FIG. 4, the name is printed in such a manner that the image is overlaid on the document. In this example, the person making the copy is "Cunning" and the person making the distribution is "Pon".
s ". Other information that is printed at the same time is
The date and organization name may be considered. It is also effective to print the above management information in the document multiple times.
In the example of, the printing is performed twice. In this embodiment, it is not easy to erase the person who operates and the person who is distributed, because they overlap the ordinary document. Therefore, at least it is possible to weaken the intention to copy easily. Further, by doing so, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the copied document is intentionally leaked to the outside. In this example, the name is printed using blank characters, but it goes without saying that it is also possible to print using halftone as another method. Further, if the copying machine is capable of printing two or more colors, it is also possible to print by changing the color of the copy image of the document and the color of the management information.

[0015]

As described above, in the copy management method of the present invention, it is assumed that a confidential document is confidential if it is printed with some mark or the like, and the copying machine reads this mark at the stage of reading. , Reject copying normally. However, by accepting both the password (or ID number) of the person who makes the copy and the ID number (for example, employee code) of the prospective distributor, in advance or at the stage when the mark is read, copying is enabled. By doing so, it is possible to give the operator psychological pressure for unauthorized use after copying. Further, the operator ID number (and password), the distributor ID number, and the document ID number are recorded in the memory inside the copying machine, and these ID numbers are searched every time a confidential document is copied, and if the same number is used in the past, If there is a combination, unauthorized use can be more strictly prevented by rejecting copying.

Further, in the copy management method of the present invention,
When copying a confidential document, the copying machine prints both the image of the document to be copied and the information of the operator of the copying machine and the distribution target person (copy management information). By printing so that it overlaps with the image of the target document, or by printing the copy management information multiple times in the document, it is possible to weaken the intent to copy a confidential document easily. It is possible to prevent the easy copying of the document and reduce the possibility that the copied document is intentionally leaked to the outside.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a copy management process according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document on which a document ID indicating a confidential document is printed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a document ID printed on a document.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a document copied by the copy management method of the present invention, showing an example in which copy management information is printed on a copied document.

[Explanation of symbols]

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/44 7232-5C 9287-5L G06F 15/62 410 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A copy management method for managing copying of confidential documents and the like in a copying machine, wherein an image is digitally read in the copying machine, and a non-volatile memory is provided inside the copying machine, which is operated during copying operation. Requesting the password or the identification number (ID number) of the person who is doing this, and the identification number of the person who will distribute this document. When this is satisfied, this copier starts reading the document, and the copier copies the document. A copy management method, characterized in that the ID number is read from an existing specific pattern and the combination of the password, the document ID number and the distributor's ID number stored in the memory is searched. 2. The copying management method according to claim 1, wherein the copying machine sends a signal when both the distributor ID number and the document ID number are already stored in the memory as a result of the search. , A copy management method characterized by limiting the copying function and notifying the operator of the fact. 3. A copying management method according to claim 1, wherein the copying machine prints both the image of the document to be copied and the information of the operator of the copying machine and the distribution target person (copying management information). Copy management method. 4. The copy management method according to claim 3, wherein the copy management information to be printed together with the image of the document to be copied is printed so as to overlap the image of the target document, or the copy management information is provided a plurality of times. A copy management method characterized by printing in a document.