Image processing method for use in printer driver

Abstract

An image processing method for use in a printer driver includes steps of receiving an instruction for a printing process, judging whether an image corresponding to a developed image signal represents a specified image according to the printing process, and outputting a result obtained in the judging step so as to use the result processing of the image signal. A forgery preventing module in an operating system outputs an instruction to a display driver for executing a predetermined display according to the result obtained in the judging step.

1 . An image processing method for use in a scanner driver, comprising the steps of: 
 outputting a scanning command to a scanner;    judging whether an image corresponding an image signal obtained from the scanner in response to the command represents a specified image; and    outputting a result obtained in said judging step so as to use the result in a processing of the image signal.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said outputting step outputs to an operation system executing the process on the image signal according to the result obtained in said judging step.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step executes judgement using template matching.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a process of obtaining the image signal from the scanner is executed by a scanner module, and the process of judging whether the image corresponding to the image signal represents the specified image is executed by a forgery preventing module.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step executes judgement on the image corresponding to the image signal and plural specified images.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step executes judgement with an image signal obtained by spatial thinning of the image signal.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step executes judgement executed with an image signal obtained by reducing the number of bits of the image signal.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step terminates judgement when there is obtained a high judgment rate indicating that the image corresponding to the image signal obtained from the scanner represents the specified image.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step executes judgement with an image signal obtained by spatial thinning of the image signal, and, if the result obtained in said judging step indicates a high probability of a specified image, said judging step executes judgement with the image signal without thinning.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said judgment with the unthinned image signal is executed by using only the image signal in an area containing an object of judgment within the thinned image signal.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said judging step execute second judgement when a high judgement rate is obtained in a first judgment in two kinds of judgements provided for a same specific image.  
   
   
       12 . A computer readable memory medium which stored codes for executing the method according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       13 . An operating system for obtaining a result of judgment indicating whether an image corresponding to an image signal obtained by scanning represents a specified image; and 
 executing a process according to the obtained result of judgment.    
   
   
       14 . An operating system according to  claim 13 , wherein said judgment is executed in a scanner driver.  
   
   
       15 . An operating system according to  claim 14 , wherein information indicating whether said judgment has been executed is obtained from said scanner driver.  
   
   
       16 . An operating system according to  claim 13 , wherein said process is a working on said image signal.  
   
   
       17 . An operating system according to  claim 13 , wherein said process is a process of ending an application functioning on said operating sytem.  
   
   
       18 . An image processing method for use in an input device comprising steps of: 
 outputting an image signal generating command to an input device;    judging whether an image corresponding to the image signal obtained from said input device in response to said command represents a specified image; and    outputting a result obtained in said judging step for use for a process of said image signal.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said input device is a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a film scanner, a compact disk, a minidisk or a DVD.  
   
   
       20 . A computer readable memory medium which stored codes for executing the process according to  claim 18 .  
   
   
       21 - 34 . (canceled)  
   
   
       35 . An operating system for: 
 obtaining a result of a judgment whether an image corresponding to an image signal obtained according to a print instruction represents a specific image;    outputting a signal for executing a process according said obtained result of judgment.    
   
   
       36 . An operating system according to  claim 35 , wherein said judgment is executed in a printer driver.  
   
   
       37 . An operating system according to  claim 35 , wherein said process is a process for terminating the printing of the image corresponding to said image signal.  
   
   
       38 . An operating system according to  claim 35 , wherein said process is a process for displaying that said image is a specified image.  
   
   
       39 . An image processing method for use in a driver comprising the steps of: 
 outputting an image signal generating command to an input device;    judging whether an image corresponding to the image signal obtained from said input device in response to said command represents a specified image; and    outputting a signal for causing a display unit to display a result obtained in said judging step.    
   
   
       40 . An image processing method for use in a driver according to  claim 39 , wherein said input device is a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a scanner, a compact disk, a mini disk, or a DVD.  
   
   
       41 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A scanner adapted for outputting an image signal to the scanner driver according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       46 . (canceled)  
   
   
       47 . A printer driver comprising: 
 a rasterizer adapted to generate an image rasterized according to an instruction of a print process; and    a judgment module adapted to judge whether or not the rasterized image generated by said rasterizer represents a specific image for which printing is prohibited,    wherein said printer driver is downloaded through a network.    
   
   
       48 . A printer driver comprising: 
 a rasterizer adapted to generate an image rasterized according to an instruction of a print process; and    a judgment module adapted to judge whether or not the rasterized image generated by said rasterizer represents a specific image for which printing is prohibited,    wherein said printer driver is included in an operating system.    
   
   
       49 . A printer driver comprising: 
 rasterizing means for generating an image rasterized according to an instruction of a print process; and    judgment means for judging whether or not the rasterized image generated by said rasterizing means represents a specific image for which printing is prohibited,    wherein said printer driver is downloaded through a network.    
   
   
       50 . A printer driver comprising: 
 rasterizing means for generating an image rasterized according to an instruction of a print process; and    judgment means for judging whether or not the rasterized image generated by said rasterizing means represents a specific image for which printing is prohibited,    wherein said printer driver is included in an operating system.