Image processing apparatus performs masking processing to prevent leakage of an image generated by printing process, image processing system, non-transitory computer readable medium storing image processing program, and image processing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12461697-B2
Application number	US-202217891094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2022
Priority date	Mar 22, 2022
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: in a case of printing data to be printed, perform masking processing on a predetermined concealed portion according to a predetermined access policy; and perform a process of embedding and outputting inquiry information for inquiring about the concealed portion in the data to which the masking processing has been performed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:
a processor configured to: in a case of printing data to be printed, perform masking processing on a predetermined concealed portion of the data to be printed according to a predetermined access policy; and perform a process of embedding and outputting inquiry information for inquiring about the concealed portion in the data to be printed to which the masking processing has been performed, wherein the inquiry information includes data identification information for identifying the data and access policy identification information for identifying the access policy, and wherein the processor is configured to: acquire the inquiry information from a reading result of a printed matter on which the inquiry information is printed, acquire a current access policy by using the access policy identification information, restore and display the concealed portion of the data corresponding to the data identification information according to the current access policy, and make the concealed portion undisplayable without restoring the concealed portion in a case where a masking result of current data and the reading result of the printed matter do not match.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the inquiry information is a two-dimensional code in which the data identification information and the access policy identification information are recorded.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured to restore and display the concealed portion in a case where the current access policy and the access policy identification information of the inquiry information match.

4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the processor is configured to perform the masking processing on the concealed portion and display the masked concealed portion according to the current access policy in a case where the current access policy and the access policy identification information of the inquiry information do not match.

5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured to perform the masking processing on the concealed portion and display the masked concealed portion according to the current access policy in a case where the current access policy and the access policy identification information of the inquiry information do not match.

6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured to restore and display the concealed portion in a case where the current access policy and the access policy identification information of the inquiry information match, the access policy identification information of the inquiry information exists, a current access policy identification information and the access policy identification information of the inquiry information match, and a masking result of current data and the reading result of the printed matter match.

7 . An image processing system comprising:
the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ; and a server that manages the access policy and the concealed portion.

8 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing an image processing program causing a computer to execute a process comprising:
performing, in a case of printing data to be printed, masking processing on a predetermined concealed portion of the data to be printed according to a predetermined access policy; and embedding and outputting inquiry information for inquiring about the concealed portion in the data to be printed to which the masking processing has been performed, wherein the inquiry information includes data identification information for identifying the data and access policy identification information for identifying the access policy, and wherein the process further comprises: acquiring the inquiry information from a reading result of a printed matter on which the inquiry information is printed, acquiring a current access policy by using the access policy identification information, restoring and displaying the concealed portion of the data corresponding to the data identification information according to the current access policy, and making the concealed portion undisplayable without restoring the concealed portion in a case where a masking result of current data and the reading result of the printed matter do not match.

9 . An image processing method comprising:
performing, in a case of printing data to be printed, masking processing on a predetermined concealed portion of the data to be printed according to a predetermined access policy; and embedding and outputting inquiry information for inquiring about the concealed portion in the data to be printed to which the masking processing has been performed, wherein the inquiry information includes data identification information for identifying the data and access policy identification information for identifying the access policy, and wherein the image processing method further comprises: acquiring the inquiry information from a reading result of a printed matter on which the inquiry information is printed, acquiring a current access policy by using the access policy identification information, restoring and displaying the concealed portion of the data corresponding to the data identification information according to the current access policy, and making the concealed portion undisplayable without restoring the concealed portion in a case where a masking result of current data and the reading result of the printed matter do not match.

Assignees

• Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp

Inventors

• Abe Masaki

Classifications

• G06K15/107

  Mask selection · CPC title

• H04L2209/605

  Copy protection · CPC title

• H04N1/4453

  Covering, i.e. concealing from above, or folding · CPC title

• G06F3/1222

  Increasing security of the print job · CPC title

• G06F3/1285

  Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server · CPC title