Abstract:
A method and apparatus for restricting a copying operation of an original document comprising obtaining copy information added to an original document, copying the original document based on the copy information, and updating the copy information added to the original document based on the copying of the original document.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method for use in copying an original document, a program, and a storage medium.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A conventional printing apparatus is capable of printing electronic information of electronic publications on a paper sheet. In this type of printing apparatus, in order to prevent electronic information from being unlimitedly printed, a technology for limiting the number of times of printing by adding, to the electronic information, information indicating an allowable number of times of printing is known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-184184).  
         [0005]     Meanwhile, a technology has been disclosed in which a radio frequency (RF) tag, which contains digital data, is embedded in a sheet of printing paper (see, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0170973 A1 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-337426)). According to this technology, a program and an instruction manual for the program can be distributed at the same time by printing the instruction manual on a sheet of printing paper in which an RF tag storing the program is embedded.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention includes a method of restricting a copying operation for an original document.  
         [0007]     The present invention also includes a method of updating copying information added to an original document and restricting a copying operation based on the updated copying information.  
         [0008]     In one aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an image on an original document, an obtaining unit configured to obtain copy information added to the original document, a printing unit configured to print the image read by the reading unit in accordance with the copy information obtained by the obtaining unit, and an updating unit configured to update the copy information added to the original document in accordance with printing performed by the printing unit.  
         [0009]     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a radio frequency (RF) tag control unit as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the RF tag.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an RF tag-attached printing sheet in which the RF tag is embedded.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for a copy allowance information attachment processing performed by a CPU of the printing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a copy processing performed by the CPU of the printing apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating an example of steps to be taken in a modification of the embodiment of the copying processing shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an example of steps to be taken in another modification of the embodiment of the copying processing shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an example of steps to be taken in a modification of the embodiment of the copy allowance information attachment processing shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example of an input screen for inputting the number of copies to make displayed in step S 605  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed in step S 616  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed in step S 607  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an example of a warning message displayed in step S 701  of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an example of a transfer copy number input screen displayed in step S 801  of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy allowance information input screen displayed in step S 902  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the relative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]     In  FIG. 1 , the printing apparatus  100  is a multi-function printing apparatus equipped with a copying function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile communication function.  
         [0029]     The printing apparatus  100  includes a controller unit  101  that controls the printing apparatus  100 . In addition, the printing apparatus  100  includes an operation unit  106 , a display unit  107 , a line control unit  108 , a scanner  109 , a printer  110 , an external storage medium  111 , a LAN control unit  112 , and an RF tag control unit  200 . Each of these units is connected to the controller unit  101 .  
         [0030]     The controller unit  101  includes a CPU  102 , a ROM  103 , a RAM  104 , and a timer  105 . Various kinds of programs that the CPU  102  executes and data and the like that the programs require are stored in the ROM  103 . In addition, some programs and data can be stored in the external storage medium  111  and can also be read into the RAM  104  and executed.  
         [0031]     The operation unit  106  and the display unit  107  are configured by an operation unit panel  1000  shown in  FIG. 10 . The operation unit panel  1000  includes a numeric keypad  1001  for inputting information indicating the number of copies to make, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel  1002  for displaying, among other things, information indicating the number of copies to make, as well as various messages relating to processing performance status. The LCD panel  1002  may also include features such as a touch panel, and functions as part of the operation unit  106  when a corresponding key is selected.  
         [0032]     The line control unit  108  allows a user to make a telephone call, and sends and receives a facsimile from another facsimile apparatus  4 . In addition, the line control unit  108  includes a data encoding/decoding device that encodes image data read by the scanner  109  into a data format suitable for facsimile transmission, and decodes the data received through the facsimile, a modem, and a network control unit (NCU), and the like.  
         [0033]     The scanner  109 , in performing a copying operation and a facsimile transmission, reads image data from an original document. The printer  110  implements a copying function by printing image data received from the facsimile apparatus  4  via the line control unit  108  and printing data received from a computer  2  via the LAN control unit  112 .  
         [0034]     The external storage medium  111  stores programs that the CPU  102  executes and image data read by the scanner  109 . The LAN control unit  112  communicates with other facsimile apparatuses and the computer  2  via a network  1 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the RF tag control unit  200  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]     In  FIG. 2 , the RF tag control unit  200  includes a controller unit  201 , a sending/receiving unit  202 , and an antenna  203 .  
         [0037]     The controller unit  201  controls the RF tag control unit  200 . The sending/receiving unit  202  sends and receives information through wireless communication with an RF tag  300 , which is described below, via the antenna unit  203 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the RF tag  300  controlled by the RF tag control unit  200  shown  FIG. 2 . Note that an RF tag is also known as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or an integrated circuit (IC) tag.  
         [0039]     In  FIG. 3 , the RF tag  300  includes a memory  301 , a sending/receiving unit  302 , and an antenna  303 . The sending/receiving unit  302  sends and receives information by wireless communication with the RF tag control unit  200  via the antenna unit  303 . The memory  301  stores copy allowance information  410  shown in  FIG. 4 , which is described below. The RF tag  300  is, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , embedded in an RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  in which the RF tag  300  shown in  FIG. 3  is embedded.  
         [0041]     In  FIG. 4 , copy allowance information  410  is stored in the memory  301  of the RF tag  300 . The copy allowance information  410  includes a total number of allowable copies  411  of an original document printed on the RF-tag attached printing paper sheet  400  in which the RF tag  300  is embedded. In addition, the copy allowance information  410  includes a number of copies made  412  that indicates the number of printed copies of the original document, and a copy inhibit flag  413  that indicates whether copying the original document is allowed. The copy inhibit flag  413  is off when copying is allowed, and on when copying is inhibited.  
         [0042]     The printing apparatus  100  can write the copy allowance information  410  into the RF tag  300  embedded in the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  by using the RF tag control unit  200 . Thus, the copy allowance information  410  may be added to the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400 .  
         [0043]     In addition, the printing apparatus  100  can read the copy allowance information  410  added to the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  by using the RF tag control unit  200 . Thus, copying may be allowed or inhibited based on the read copy allowance information  410 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for a copy allowance information attaching processing performed by the CPU  102  of the printing apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]     In this processing, when the printing apparatus  100  receives print data from the computer  2  via the network  1  and performs printing based on the received print data, the copy allowance information  410  is added to a printed product.  
         [0046]     In  FIG. 5 , the printing apparatus  100  first receives print data from the computer  2  via the network  1  and the LAN control unit  112  (step S 501 ). Then, a determination is made whether the copy allowance information  410  is included in the received print data (step S 502 ).  
         [0047]     If it is determined in step S 502  that the copy allowance information  410  is included in the received print data, the printing apparatus  100  selects the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 503 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100  writes the copy allowance information  410  included in the print data received in step S 501  into the RF tag  300  embedded in the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  by using the RF tag control unit  200  (step S 504 ). Next, the printing apparatus  100  prints the print data received in step S 501  on the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  by using the printer  110  (step S 506 ). Then, the processing ends.  
         [0048]     If it is determined in step S 502  that the copy allowance information  410  is not included in the received print data, the printing apparatus  100  selects an ordinary paper sheet as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 505 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100  prints the print data received in step S 501  on the ordinary paper sheet by using the printer  110  (step S 506 ). Then, the processing ends.  
         [0049]     According to the processing illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the RF tag control unit  200  writes the copy allowance information  410  included in the print data received in step S 501  into the RF tag  300  embedded in the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 504 ). Then, the printer  110  prints the print data received in step S 501  on the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 506 ). Thus, the copy allowance information  410  is added to a printed product.  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a copying processing performed by the CPU  102  of the printing apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0051]     In this processing, an original document having the copy allowance information  410  added thereto is copied.  
         [0052]     In  FIG. 6 , the printing apparatus  100  scans an original document by using the scanner  109  and reads image data from the original document (step S 601 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100  determines whether the scanned original document includes an embedded RF tag  300  (step S 602 ). If it is determined that the RF tag  300  is embedded in the scanned original document, the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , reads the copy allowance information  410  from the RF tag  300  embedded in the original document (step S 603 ).  
         [0053]     Then, the printing apparatus  100  extracts the copy inhibit flag  413  from the read copy allowance information  410 , and determines whether copying of the scanned original document is inhibited based on the copy inhibit flag  413  (step S 604 ). If it is determined that copying of the scanned original document is not inhibited, the printing apparatus  100  obtains the number of copies to make inputted by the user via the operation unit  106  (step S 605 ). A user inputs the number of copies to make via an input screen  1003 .  
         [0054]     In  FIG. 10 , an LCD panel  1002  displays the input screen  1003  for inputting the number of copies, including the total number of allowable copies, the number of copies made, the number of remaining allowable copies, and the number of copies to make. The total number of allowable copies and the number of copies made are displayed based on the total number of allowable copies  411  and the number of copies made  412  read in step S 603 . The number of remaining allowable copies is the remaining number of copies obtained by subtracting the number of copies made from the total number of allowable copies. A user using the numeric keypad  1001  inputs the number of copies.  
         [0055]     Referring back to  FIG. 6 , the printing apparatus  100  then determines whether the input number of copies to make exceeds the number of remaining allowable copies (step S 606 ). If it is determined that the input number of copies to make does not exceed the number of remaining allowable copies, the printing apparatus  100  selects the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 608 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , sets the copy inhibit flag  413  of the RF tag  300  embedded in the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  to be on and writes the copy allowance information  410  into the RF tag  300  (step S 609 ). In addition, the printing apparatus  100  prints the image data read from the original document on the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  by using the printer  110  (step S 610 ).  
         [0056]     Then, the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , updates the number of copies made  412  of the RF tag  300  of the original document (step S 611 ), and determines whether the number of copies made  412  of the RF tag  300  of the original document has reached the total number of allowable copies  411  (step S 612 ). If the number of copies made  412  has not yet reached the total number of allowable copies  411 , processing ends. On the other hand, if the number of copies made  412  has reached the total number of allowable copies  411 , the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , sets the copy inhibit flag  413  of the RF tag  300  of the original document to be on (step S 613 ). Then, the processing ends.  
         [0057]     If it is determined in step S 602  that the RF tag  300  is not embedded in the scanned original document, the printing apparatus  100  selects an ordinary paper sheet as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 614 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100 , using the printer  110 , prints the image data read from the original document on the ordinary paper sheet (step S 615 ).  
         [0058]     If it is determined in step S 604  that copying of the scanned original document is inhibited, the printing apparatus  100  displays a warning message  1101  shown in  FIG. 11  on the LCD panel  1002  (step S 616 ). Then, the processing ends. In  FIG. 11 , the warning message  1101  is displayed on the LCD panel  1002  to notify the user that copying of the scanned original document is inhibited. When the user selects a “Confirm” key, the warning message  1101  is no longer displayed.  
         [0059]     If it is determined in step S 606  that the input number of copies to make exceeds the number of remaining allowable copies, the printing apparatus  100  displays a warning message  1201  shown in  FIG. 12  on the LCD panel  1002  (step S 607 ), and processing returns to step S 605 . In  FIG. 12 , the LCD panel  1002  displays the warning message  1201  to notify the user that the input number of copies to make exceeds the number of remaining allowable copies. When the user selects a “Confirm” key, the warning message  1201  is no longer displayed.  
         [0060]     Note that in  FIG. 6 , an ordinary paper sheet is used for printing when the RF tag  300  is not included and embedded in the scanned original document. If the RF tag  300  is not included and embedded in the scanned original document, copying of that original document may be inhibited, and only an original document having an embedded RF tag  300  may be copied.  
         [0061]     In addition, in  FIG. 6 , the copy inhibit flag  413  of the RF tag  300  is set “on” when the number of copies made  412  has reached the total number of allowable copies  411 . However, the copy allowance information  410  may include a period of allowance of copying, and the copy inhibit flag  413  may be set “on” when the period of allowance of coping has elapsed at the time of copying processing. In addition, the processing in  FIG. 6  may be performed as the processing of the period of allowance of copying.  
         [0062]     According to the processing illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it is determined, based on the copy inhibit flag  413  read from the RF tag  300  embedded in the original document, whether copying of the scanned original document is inhibited. Thus, copying of a printed product can be restricted.  
         [0063]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating processing performed in a modification of the embodiment of the copying processing shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0064]     The processing shown in  FIG. 7  differs from the processing in  FIG. 6  only in the point that the processing of steps S 701  through S 704  is performed instead of the processing of step S 616 .  
         [0065]     In the processing shown in  FIG. 7 , when copying of a color original document is inhibited, monochromatic copying is performed instead.  
         [0066]     In  FIG. 7 , the printing apparatus  100  determines whether copying of the scanned original document is inhibited based on the copy inhibit flag  413  (step S 604 ). If copying of the scanned original document is inhibited, the printing apparatus  100  displays a warning message  1301  shown in  FIG. 13  on the LCD panel  1002  (step S 701 ). In  FIG. 13 , the warning message  1301  notifies the user that color copy is inhibited and prompts the user to issue an instruction for performing monochromatic copy or for canceling the copying operation. The instruction for performing monochromatic copy or canceling the copying operation is inputted by the user selecting a “Yes” key or “No” key.  
         [0067]     Returning to  FIG. 7 , the printing apparatus  100  obtains an instruction for performing monochromatic copy or canceling the copying operation input by the user (step S 702 ), and determines whether the copying operation has been canceled based on the obtained instruction (step S 703 ). If the copying operation is canceled, processing ends. If it is determined in step S 703  that the copying operation is not canceled, the printing apparatus  100  converts color image data read in step S 601  into monochromatic image data (step S 704 ), and processing proceeds to step S 605 . The rest of the processing of  FIG. 7  is similar to that in  FIG. 6 , and thus an explanation thereof is omitted herein.  
         [0068]     According to the processing illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when copying of the scanned original document is inhibited, a message indicating that color copying thereof is inhibited is provided to the user. In addition, the warning message  1301  for prompting the instruction for performing monochromatic copying or canceling the copying operation is displayed on the LCD panel  1002 . Accordingly, copying of a printed product can be restricted while maintaining convenience for the user.  
         [0069]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure performed in another modification of the embodiment of the copying processing shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0070]     The processing illustrated in  FIG. 8  differs from the processing illustrated in  FIG. 6  only in the point that the processing of steps S 801  through S 805  is performed instead of the processing of steps S 605  through S 609 .  
         [0071]     In the processing shown in  FIG. 8 , the copy allowance information of the original document is transferred to a paper sheet used for printing.  
         [0072]     In  FIG. 8 , the printing apparatus  100  determines whether copying of the scanned original document is inhibited based on the copy inhibit flag  413  (step S 604 ). If copying of the scanned original document is not inhibited, the printing apparatus  100  obtains the number of transfer copies input by the user via the operation unit  106  (step S 801 ). The number of transfer copies is input via a transfer copy number input screen  1401  shown in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0073]     In  FIG. 14 , the LCD panel  1002  displays the transfer copy number input screen  1401 , including the total number of allowable copies, the number of copies made, the number of remaining allowable copies, and the number of transfer copies. The total number of allowable copies and the number of copies made are displayed based on the total number of allowable copies  411  and the number of copies made  412  read in step S 603 . The number of remaining allowable copies is the remaining number of copies obtained by subtracting the number of copies made from the total number of allowable copies. The number of transfer copies is input by the user via the numeric keypad  1001 .  
         [0074]     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , the printing apparatus  100  determines whether the input number of transfer copies exceeds the number of remaining allowable copies (step S 802 ). If it is determined that the input number of transfer copies does not exceed the number of remaining allowable copies, the printing apparatus  100  selects the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 804 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , sets the total number of allowable copies to be the number of transfer copies and writes the copy allowance information  410  into the RF tag  300  embedded in the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 805 ). In addition, the printing apparatus  100 , using the printer  110 , prints the image data read from the original document on the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 610 ). The rest of the processing of  FIG. 8  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 6 , and an explanation thereof is omitted herein.  
         [0075]     If, it is determined in step S 802  that the input number of transfer copies exceeds the number of remaining allowable copies, the printing apparatus  100  displays a warning message  1201  shown in  FIG. 12  on the LCD panel  1002  (step S 803 ), and processing returns to step S 801 .  
         [0076]     According to the processing illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the copy allowance information  410  is written into the RF tag  300  while setting the number of transfer copies to the total number of allowable copies  411 . Thus, copying of a printed product can be restricted, and the copy allowance information can be added to a printed product.  
         [0077]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating an example of a procedure performed in a modification of the copy allowance information attachment processing shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0078]     In this processing, when image data is read from an original document using the scanner  109  and the read image data is printed, the copy allowance information  410  is added to a printed product.  
         [0079]     In  FIG. 9 , the printing apparatus  100 , using the scanner  109 , scans an original document and reads image data from the original document (step S 901 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100  obtains the copy allowance information  410  to be added to a printed product, which is input by the user via the operation unit  106  (step S 902 ). The copy allowance information  410  is input through a copy allowance information input screen  1501  shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0080]     In  FIG. 15 , the LCD panel  1002  displays the copy allowance information input screen  1501 , including the total number of allowable copies and the copy inhibit flag. The user via the numeric keypad  1001  inputs the total number of allowable copies. On/off of the copy inhibit flag is input by the user selecting an “On” key or “Off” key in the field of the copy inhibit flag.  
         [0081]     Referring back to  FIG. 9 , the printing apparatus  100  selects the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  as a paper sheet to be used for printing (step S 903 ). Then, the printing apparatus  100 , using the RF tag control unit  200 , writes the copy allowance information  410  obtained in step S 902  into the RF tag  300  of the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 904 ). In addition, the printing apparatus  100 , using the printer  110 , prints the image data read from the original document on the RF tag-attached printing paper sheet  400  (step S 905 ). Then, the processing ends.  
         [0082]     According to the processing illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the copy allowance information  410  input by the user in printing the read image is written into the RF tag  300 . Thus, the copy allowance information may be added to a printed product.  
         [0083]     As described above, copy allowance information is obtained from a printed product, and whether copying of the printed product is inhibited is determined based on the obtained copy allowance information. Accordingly, copying of the printed product can be restricted.  
         [0084]     The present invention can also be achieved by providing a system or an apparatus with a storage medium storing program code of software implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments and by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium with a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.  
         [0085]     In this case, the program code itself, which is read from the storage medium, implements the functions of the embodiments mentioned above, and accordingly, the storage medium storing the program code configures the present invention.  
         [0086]     The storage medium for supplying such program code includes, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a DVD-RW, a DVD+RW, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, etc. Alternatively, the program code can be downloaded via a network.  
         [0087]     In addition, the functions according to the embodiments described above can be implemented not only by executing the program code read by the computer, but also implemented by the processing in which an OS (operating system) or the like carries out a part of or the whole of the actual processing on the basis of the instruction given by the program code.  
         [0088]     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expanding board inserted in the computer or a function expanding unit connected to the computer, a CPU and the like provided in the function expanding board or the function expanding unit can carry out a part of or the whole of the processing to implement the functions of the embodiments described above.  
         [0089]     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.  
         [0090]     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-163190 filed Jun. 2, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.