Abstract: An apparatus is capable of processing luminance data and color-difference data of color image data. The apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate digital watermark image data based on the color-difference data of the color image data, and an output unit configured to output the luminance data and the digital watermark image data generated by the generation unit. Color image data can be generated based on the digital watermark image data and the luminance data output from the output unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a printed multi-tonal document with enhanced copy evident distortions security features and a method of printing such document. The document may include a multi-tonal background screen image area including a first set of halftone elements and a multi-tonal foreground hidden warning text and/or graphic screen image area including a second set of halftone elements, wherein the first set of halftone elements may be smaller in size than the second set of halftone elements. The multi-tonal foreground hidden warning text and/or graphic image area, when electronically copied, may appear different from the background of the copy of the document.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce influences of showthrough where a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is visualized after printing. In order to attain the above object, the apparatus of the present invention is provided with determination means for determining whether a setting for printing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image in which a character portion is rendered to a minor dot portion on both sides of a sheet is made and control means for controlling so that a warning screen is displayed where the determination means determines that the above setting has been made.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing device optimizing information to be embedded by merging pieces of information of respective pages into a single piece of information in N-up printing. The printing device generates the information to be embedded according to a result of analyzing print parameters in print data when performing embedding printing processing of the information to be embedded for the print data in a machine-recognizable manner. That is, in the printing device, a unit of generating information to be embedded acquires respective pieces of information of M pages (1?M?N), analyzes the acquired respective pieces of information to be embedded, and generates a single piece of information to be embedded merging the respective pieces of information to be embedded based on the analysis result of the respective pieces of information to be embedded, when N-up printing is designated.

Abstract: This invention discloses new methods and security devices for authenticating documents and valuable products which may be applied to any support, including transparent synthetic materials and traditional opaque materials such as paper. The invention relates to parallax moire shapes which occur in a compound layer consisting of the superposition of specially designed and possibly geometrically transformed s-random base layer and s-random revealing layer with a small gap between them. The base and revealing layers are formed respectively by base layer element shapes and revealing layer sampling elements positioned at s-random locations, where the base layer locations and the revealing layer locations are strongly correlated. When tilting the compound layer or changing the viewing angle, a parallax moire intensity profile of a chosen shape is seen moving in the superposition, thereby allowing the authentication of the document.

Abstract: A color printed image with compressed colors produced by printing an electronic color image is reconstructed into an electronic color image similar to an original color image by using digital watermark image data with a reduced data size. The digital watermark image data is produced using color difference data of the color image data including luminance data and the color difference data. The digital watermark image data either does not include luminance data or includes luminance data with a data size reduced at a very large ratio.

Abstract: A method and system for including a double layer security mark in digital document data defining an image of a document to be printed and in the printed document. A fluorescence mark region including a fluorescence mark is defined using first and second metameric colorant mixtures. Variation in colorant spatial coverage between the first and second metameric colorant mixtures results in colorant-free areas that define the fluorescence mark due to substrate fluorescence under UV illumination. The fluorescence mark region is modified to define a double layer fluorescence mark region including the fluorescence mark and also including at least one visible light object defined by a third colorant mixture. The third colorant mixture is added to the fluorescence mark region by masking the colorant-free areas of the fluorescence mark region to prevent writing of the third colorant mixture data to the colorant-free areas to avoid disturbing the colorant-free areas.

Abstract: A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for document processing, the process includes: receiving image data obtained by, with an image reading apparatus, reading a document of a predetermined format in which contents of an electronic document stored in a storage portion while being associated with identification information, the identification information, and an entry for additional information are arranged; extracting entered additional information from the entry area of the received image data; and correlating the extracted additional information with an electronic document associated with the identification information.

Abstract: The document identification method includes: a step of generating an image, a step of marking a plurality of documents to form the image on each document with unique variations on each document, the majority of the images formed on the documents presenting a physical anti-copy characteristic satisfying a predefined criterion such that the characteristic of the majority of the copies that can be produced based on these images do not satisfy the pre-defined criterion, a step of characterizing the variations to form a unique imprint of the mark formed, for each document and a step of memorizing the unique imprint.

Abstract: A document administration system includes a server connecting document storing apparatuses via a network. Each document storing apparatus includes a plurality of boxes, and a document storing portion for making the document storing apparatus store a document in one of the boxes. The server includes a storing destination deciding portion for deciding one of the document storing apparatuses and one of the boxes thereof for storing the document, based on one or more of information including information on the document corresponding to the storing request, information on the document storing apparatuses registered in a document storing registering portion, and information on the boxes obtained by a box information obtaining portion, and a controller for transmitting the document to the document storing apparatuses having the one of the boxes selected by the storing destination deciding portion and making the document storing portion store the document in the one of the boxes.

Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus, which make it possible to appropriately print each of a valid print object and an invalid print object. The apparatus includes: a printing section to conduct a printing operation based on the print data, so as to create the print product; and a control section to determine whether the digital signature is valid or invalid so as to control the printing operation, based on the determined result. When the plurality of print objects includes both a valid print object for which the digital signature is determined as valid and an invalid print object for which the digital signature is determined as invalid, the control section controls the printing operation, so as to enable the valid print object to be printed, based on the print data, while disable the invalid print object to be printed, based on the print data.

Abstract: An inter-office communication management system can include an inter-office communication item such as an inter-office mail envelope or routing slip. The inter-office communication item can be a transient document. An inter-office communication identifier placement module can affix an inter-office communication identifier to the first inter-office communication label. The inter-office communication label can be attached to the inter-office communication item. An inter-office communication tracking module can be used to track the inter-office communication item based on the inter-office communication identifier affixed to the inter-office communication label.

Abstract: A printing system includes a host terminal apparatus (e.g., personal computer) and an image forming apparatus (e.g., printer). The personal computer transmits print data to the printer. The printer is connected to the host terminal apparatus over a network, the printer being capable of embedding a watermark pattern into the print data received from the host terminal apparatus. The watermark pattern contains an item of information that identifies a user who actually picks up a printed output of said image forming apparatus. The watermark pattern contains information that identifies a user who activates printing of the print data. The printer includes a user identifying section that identifies a user who actually picks up the printed output.

Abstract: A copying apparatus detects a non glossy portion (K, M, C, or Y) and a glossy portion (T) of a document based on image data output from a reader unit. The copying apparatus forms an image of the detected non glossy portion (K, M, C, or Y) with a colored toner and an image of the detected glossy portion (T) with a transparent toner, on a sheet, based on the image data output from the reader unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods/systems to embed a watermark into a contone image. Specifically, the disclosed methods and systems spatially modulate a contone image substantially adjacent a watermark area according to a first polarization and spatially modulate the contone image substantially within the watermark area according to a second polarization. These spatially modulated images may then be subsequently processed, stored, communicated and/or rendered.

Abstract: A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. To verify the object, the digital watermark payload is extracted and compared with the data about the object. The combined digital watermark and content signature is also evaluated to authenticate the media signal on the media object.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a medium. The image forming apparatus includes a first image forming material including a color material that is decolored at or above a first temperature, and that develops color at or below a second temperature lower than the first temperature, a second image forming material including a color material that is not decolored under heat, a heater that heats the medium to the first temperature or higher after an image is formed on the medium, and a controller that performs control to print an image on the medium using the second image forming material, and to print tracking information on the medium using the first image forming material.

Abstract: A region of a latent image and that of a background image in a first dot image are converted into binary data so as to have different binary data, and a region of the latent image in the binary data is converted into dot data by expressing that region as dots. A second dot image is converted into outline data by removing dots of a region corresponding to the region of the latent image to form an outline region. The converted dot data and converted outline data are composited to generate a dot image including the outline data as a latent image and the dot data as a background image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (110), which is equipped with multiple image processing functions, processes an input image using an image processing function set at the time of image input. An image processing apparatus (100) registers setup information relating to processes of respective ones of the multiple image processing functions to be applied to an image of interest, encodes the setup information and generates an identification indicator. The image of interest and the identification indicator are formed on the same print medium and output. The image processing apparatus (110) reads the print medium, extracts the image of interest and the identification indicator, analyzes the identification indicator to thereby acquire the setup information, and uses the setup information to process the image of interest by the image processing function set in the image processing apparatus (110) when the print medium was read.

Abstract: The quality of an image read from a degraded image of an original document can be improved. Hence, a specific pixel of an image is selected, and additional information to be added to the image is generated from the position information and color information of the selected pixel. The image of an original document is read, position information and color information added to the original document are extracted, and the color information of a pixel corresponding to the position information is acquired from the read image. The color of the read image is corrected based on the extracted color information and the acquired color information.

Abstract: Protection of documents printed in paper is provided by processes for detection, immediately and clearly, of different types of falsification, adulteration, inclusion and omission. A network accessible system is capable of detecting several fraud aspects. A “Remote Expertise Center” or a remote service data center accessible from and to any location in which there is a connection to the network, such as through the Internet provides customized protection and automatic verification of document pages. Documents pages are generated by the Remote Expertise Center and transmitted to remote printers, bypassing user operational system, using a specific driver of each printer, avoiding any access to protected document before effective printing. Documents include multiple types of security features, such that in the event that any of them is surpassed, the document will remain protected by the other types of security protection.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains information that causes problems by printing specific information. By detecting information to be restricted in the printing data and restricting the image formation of the detected information, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can form the image in which the image of the information is not formed. Accordingly, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can print material by which specific information is not revealed without prohibiting printing, even where the printing data contains specific information.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for image processing are disclosed, each of which obtains a mark from image data, detects additional information in the mark, determines whether the mark is detected in the mark to generate a determination result, and controls processing performed by an image processing apparatus with respect to the image data based on the determination result.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus scans an original and generates image data of the original, sequentially transmits the image data while scanning the original, detects a predetermined particular image from the image data, and transmits a detection result of detecting the particular image. An image processing apparatus receives the image data and the detection result from the image reading apparatus, stores the image data in a storage unit, determines whether the detection result is received, and when it is determined that the detection result is received, restricts usage of the image data stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying lost individuals comprising the steps of (a) compiling a first individual data contact; (b) storing the first individual data contact sheet information into a computer mediated contact database; (c) compiling a first individual tag identifier; (d) storing the first individual tag identifier into the computer mediated contact database; (e) relating the first individual tag identifier with the individual data contact; and (f) processing the first individual tag identifier onto image transferable media. The invention further comprises a computer data base connected with an emergency dispatch system reuniting the lost individual with a designated caregiver.

Abstract: A test pattern containing plurality of patches recorded using small dot patterns and large dot patterns is printed. The dot sizes arranged in the patches are different between patches. Then the test patterns are read. The detection rate and average density of additional information embedded in each large dot pattern are obtained. A large dot pattern whose detection rate and average density fall within a reference range and are closest to ideal values is determined. The average density of each small dot pattern is obtained. A small dot pattern whose average density falls within a reference range and is closest to the average density of the determined large dot pattern is determined. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated using these dot patterns and combined with a print target image.

Abstract: A document alteration detection method compares a target image with an original image by comparing character shape features without actually recognizing the characters. Bounding boxes for the characters are generated for both images, each enclosing one or more connected groups of pixels of one character. The bounding boxes in the original and target images are matched into pairs. Addition and deletion of text is detected if a bounding box in one image does not have a matching one in the other image. Each pair of bounding boxes is processed to compare their shape features. The shape features include the Euler numbers of the characters, the aspect ratio of the bounding boxes, the pixel density of the bounding boxes, and the Hausdorff distance between the two characters. The two characters are determined to be the same or different based on the shape feature comparisons.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is supplied capable of, with respect to a manuscript in which watermark information 25 are buried, limiting an ease copy of manuscript whose watermark information can not be analyzed through stopping the copy of the manuscript according to the degradation state of the watermark information. In the image forming apparatus having copy function, a reading section to read manuscript on which watermark information are buried in an image; a judging section to judge the degradation state of the watermark information; and a controlling section to stop copy of the read manuscript when the watermark information is judged degrading are provided.

Abstract: A computer program product to implement a method for manufacturing a physical medium configured to store data. A layout design of visible information to be printed with visible ink in a book is generated, the visible information including an article. A layout design of invisible information to be printed with invisible ink in a book is generated, the invisible information including a Universal Resource Locator (URL) of an address of a web server at which additional information is located, the URL being encoded in a code within the invisible information, the additional information being associated with the article.

Abstract: A confidential document is generated by encoding distribution destination information specifying a destination to which the confidential document will be distributed.

Abstract: The transfer of a duplicate electronic document between image forming devices is done with an electronic document that is formed of only resolution-independent vector data and the like, and a normal printing of the duplicate electronic document or printing of different resolution is performed by developing the vector data. In high-quality printing of the duplicate electronic document, a Fill Map included in the original document the information indicating the location of an electronic document of copy source that is embedded in a metadata specifies is obtained, and this printing is made using the Fill Map.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for embedding information in a printed media. The method discloses using a print production system to apply a first set of physical structures for carrying a first data stream onto a media; and using the print production system to apply a second set of physical structures which both carries a second data stream onto the media and also performs at least one other print production function. The system discloses a printing mechanism for applying a first set of physical structures modulated by a first data stream onto a media, thereby creating a printed media; and a coating mechanism for applying a second set of physical structures modulated by a second data stream onto the printed media, thereby creating a coated printed media.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit which inputs a plurality of image object data, an acquisition unit which acquires resolution information and area information, a generation unit which generates image data based on the resolution information and stores the image data in a memory unit, an extraction unit which extracts overlap area information and resolution information of each of the image objects, and a composition unit which reads out, from the memory unit, pixel data corresponding to a pixel position of interest in accordance with the area information, if a plurality of pixel data existing at the pixel position of interest are located in the overlap area, converts one of the plurality of pixel data in accordance with higher resolution information extracted by the extraction unit, composites the converted pixel data with the other pixel data, and outputs the pixel data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, an area setting unit, and an adding unit. The obtaining unit obtains an adding method by which additional information is to be added to image data containing content information. The area setting unit sets an additional-information area to which the additional information is to be added based on the adding method and the content information. The adding unit adds the additional information to the additional-information area by the adding method.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a data reading unit that reads data from a storage device that can store pieces of data, the data reading unit being connectable to the storage device, an input panel that accepts an input a password used to decrypt encrypted data stored in the storage device, a password storing unit that stores the input password, a data decrypting unit that decrypts the encrypted data by using the stored password, a decrypted data storing unit that temporarily stores the decrypted data, and a re-decrypting unit that decrypts other encrypted data stored in the storage device by using the stored password.

Abstract: We provide techniques for uniquely linking security elements in identification documents. In one implementation we provide a digital watermark embedded on, and a smartcard chip embedded in, an identification document. The smart card chip includes a hash or a reduced-bit representation of the digital watermark, while the digital watermark includes a hash of information stored on the smartcard chip. In another implementation we cross-correlate encryption keys carried by various machine-readable features on an identification document. In still another implementation, we embed biometric information, which is stored in smartcard electronic circuitry, with a digital watermark. In one case the watermark is reversible, so that it can be removed to yield unmarked biometric information. In another case the watermark is fragile, to reveal whether the biometric information has been subjected to a transformation. In yet another implementation, we provide a jurisdictional indicator on an identification document.

Abstract: A system to print a security document and a control method thereof. The printing system simplifies a security procedure, and minimizes or prevents the security document from being illegally copied or copied without authorization. The printing system includes an input unit which receives an authenticator to copy the security document, and an output unit which determines whether the authenticator is equal to an authentication mark on the security document, and copies the security document in different ways according to the determined result.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a main body casing, a cover configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body casing, a sensing unit configured to sense an opening-closing operation of the cover, a forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to perform a detecting operation to detect a deviation of an image forming position of the image to be formed by the forming unit, an accepting unit configured to accept a print request, and a control unit configured to control the detecting unit to perform the detecting operation in response to the print request being accepted when the sensing unit senses an opening-closing operation of the cover after execution of a previous detecting operation, and thereafter to control the forming unit to form the image in the image forming position corrected to cancel the deviation detected in the detecting operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus configured to embed embedment information in image data includes an embedment information acquisition unit configured to acquire embedment information to be embedded in the image data, an information embedment manner determination unit configured to determine an information embedment manner to embed the embedment information according to one of the acquired embedment information and image data to be generated by embedding the acquired embedment information in the image data, and an information embedment unit configured to embed the acquired embedment information in image data according to the information embedment manner determined by the information embedment manner determination unit.

Abstract: A method for defining a gloss effect in a printed document includes printing a document region with first and second colorant combinations. The first colorant combination defines a first colorant stack height and said second colorant combination defines a second colorant stack height that differs from the first colorant stack height. As such, the document region has a first appearance when viewed straight-on and a second appearance when viewed at an angle. In one example, the first colorant combination is black (K) colorant that results in a one-level stack height and the second colorant combination is cyan, magenta, and yellow (CMY) colorants that result in a three-level stack height. In another example, the second colorant combination can be cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) colorants that define a four-level stack height.

Abstract: An image forming device is provided which embeds a decodable two-dimensional code when embedding (printing) a two-dimensional code in an original document. The image forming device represents additional information by associating virtual points with dots in one-to-one correspondence and arranges dots in positions deviated from virtual points associated with the dots. The image forming device includes a determining unit for determining intervals between the virtual points and virtual points adjacent to the virtual points and determining sizes of the dots, and an arranging unit for arranging dots having the determined sizes to respective virtual points having the determined intervals. The determining unit may determine dots to have sizes other than sizes proportional to the determined intervals.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image receiving unit, an extraction unit, a determination unit, an area conversion unit and an image concealing unit. The image receiving unit receives an image. The extraction unit extracts a portion having been additionally written in the image received by the image receiving unit. The determination unit determines an area to be concealed in the received image based on the additionally written portion extracted by the extraction unit. The area conversion unit converts the area determined by the determination unit. The image concealing unit conceals the area determined by the determination unit in the received image using an area obtained by the conversion of by the area conversion unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a print data receiving unit that receives print data designating black as a color material for printing a code information portion; a discriminating unit that discriminates as to whether or not black as a color material is in a usable state; a print data generation unit that generates, when the discriminating unit discriminates that the color material of black is not the usable state, the print data that changes a designation of the color material of black as to the code information portion of the print data received by the print data receiving portion into a designation of other color material enabling the code information to be read by a code information reading apparatus; and an image forming unit that forms an image by the print data thus changed by the print data generation unit.

Abstract: A device management system, a device, and a management apparatus are provided. The device management system includes a plurality of devices that are coupled to a network; and a management apparatus that is coupled to the network. The devices include a first device and a second device. The first device stores icon image data indicating the device and including specified information embedded therein as digital watermark information. The second device stores icon image data indicating the device but not including specified information. The management apparatus includes a response information receiving unit; a response detecting unit that detects whether the specified information is embedded as the digital watermark information in the icon image data; and a device specifying unit that specifies a device as a first device or a second device.

Abstract: A printing system which is capable of preventing print restriction information from affecting the embedding of copy restriction information, thereby being capable of positively performing copy restriction on printed documents. An information processing apparatus includes a print restriction information-receiving section that acquires print restriction information for restricting use of functions concerning printing processing, a copy restriction information-acquiring section that acquires copy restriction information for restricting copying of a document printed based on print data, and a copy restriction information and print restriction information-adding section that adds the copy restriction information and print restriction information to the print data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information printing method and a printing device, which assure a higher level of security when outputting printed matter. The present invention provides a printing device comprising a document storage means for storing electronic document data generated at a printing instruction issuing terminal operated by a printing instruction issuer and transmitted from the printing instruction issuing terminal, an ID setting means for setting a print retriever ID of a print retriever who is to execute processing for outputting the electronic document data stored at the document storage means onto paper, a watermark information superimposing means for superimposing the print retriever ID having been set at the ID setting means as watermark information onto the electronic document data and a printing means for outputting the electronic document data having the watermark information superimposed thereupon by the watermark information superimposing means onto paper.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic document printing system comprising an electronic document generator and a print controller, the electronic document generator comprising a superimposed-image information incorporating unit that incorporates, into the electronic document data, a superimposed image and mark information for invalidating the superimposed image, and the print controller comprising: a condition storage unit that stores a condition of electronic document data in which a superimposed image is to be invalidated when the electronic document data is printed, as a condition to be satisfied by mark information included in the electronic document data; a determination unit that determines whether or not mark information included in electronic document data satisfies the condition; and a controlling unit that instructs the printing device to invalidate the superimposed image in the electronic document data and print the document image when the determination unit determines that the condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A system for capturing an electronic message is disclosed. The system includes a printer, a sensing device and a computer system. The printer prints on a substrate user information visible to a user and coded tags invisible to the user. Each coded tag encodes an identity unique to the substrate and a location of the coded tag on the substrate. The user information defines a message area on the substrate. The sensing device senses the coded tags on the substrate when the sensing device is moved relative to the substrate. The computer system electronically captures a message composed with the sensing device via movement of the sensing device relative to the message area, the computer system using the identity of the substrate and a sequence of respective locations of coded tags sensed by the sensing device for determining the movement relative to the message area and the message.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an arrangement unit and a restriction unit. The arrangement unit puts images representing codes of an object code string in areas of an object image. The areas correspond to positions of the codes in the object code string. If a first code string and a second code string associated with the first code string are present in the object code string in a certain positional relationship and if satisfied is a condition regarding whether or not codes of the first code string are decodable by a decoder from an image obtained by putting the code images representing the codes of the first code string, which is present in the object code string, the restriction unit restricts the arrangement unit from putting images representing respective codes of the second code string, which is present in the object code string, in the object image.

Abstract: A blind wavelet-based watermarking method is provided to extract one or more embedded watermarks form one or more high subbands of a watermarked image generated by 1-level or 2 level wavelet transform. One or more least-mean-square (LMS) filters are trained to predict the data sets in the high subbands of an original image by converting a low subband of the watermarked image. Therefore, the one or more embedded watermarks could be extracted by comparing the predicted data sets in the high subbands with data sets in corresponding subbands of the watermarked image.