Abstract: The printing device includes a reading unit, a printing unit, an operation mode setting unit, a personal information determining unit that determines the kind of the personal information, such as an address, a personal name, or a telephone number, from image data read by the reading unit when the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to be a reading mode, a printing data setting unit, a concealing-pattern-data generating unit that generates concealing pattern data, and a printing control unit that activates the printing unit to perform printing on the printed object based on the concealing pattern data generated by the concealing-pattern-data generating unit when the operation mode setting unit sets the operation mode to be a printing mode.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.

Abstract: A method of creating a structural document may include determining a shape of a structural document, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, identifying one or more security features associated with the structural document and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a user computing device. A shape of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape, a plurality of dimensions of the graphical representation may be representative of the determined plurality of dimensions, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items and at least a portion of the identified security features. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to print-related devices.

Abstract: A method of creating a structural document may include determining, by a host computing device in a cloud system, a shape of a structural document, determining, by the host computing device, a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a user computing device. A shape of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape, a plurality of dimensions of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined plurality of dimensions, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to one or more print-related devices.

Abstract: A method of creating a structural document may include receiving, by a host computing device in a cloud system, content information pertaining to one or more contents of a structural document that may be configured to encase the contents, determining a shape of a structural document based at least in part on the received content information, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document based at least in part on the received content information, receiving content item information associated with one or more content items, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at the user computing device. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to one or more print-related devices.

Abstract: In a case where the digital watermarking onto the document is implemented once at the time of printing and printed so as to update the printing contents of the document, the contents of the newly printed digital watermark does not match with that of existing digital watermark already printed. The contents of the digital watermark are also updated so to make them in conformity with the printing contents updated. The contents of the digital watermark and the position thereof are read by the scanning operation. In a case where the original digital watermark can be overwritten at the time of on-print processing, the overwriting operation is performed, while, in a case where cannot be overwritten, the printing operation is perform onto the new paper sheet.

Abstract: A method may include determining a shape of a structural document, determining a plurality of dimensions of the structural document, receiving information associated with one or more content items, receiving contact information to include on the structural document, receiving an indication of a location on the structural document where the contact information is to be displayed, and causing a graphical representation of the structural document to be displayed at a computing device. A shape and dimensions of the graphical representation may correspond to the determined shape and dimensions, the contact information may be displayed on the graphical representation at the location, and the graphical representation may include at least a portion of the received content items. The method may include receiving an indication that a user is finished creating the structural document, generating a print document including an encoded data mark, and providing the print document to print-related devices.

Abstract: The method of automatically authenticating a document having a label-forming portion comprises the following steps: a) printing an authentic label having optically-variable elements; b) photographing the authentic label to create a first reference image; c) calculating and storing a reference digital fingerprint of the label; d) photographing a label for verification successively in first lighting conditions and in second lighting conditions that are essentially different from the first lighting conditions in order to create first and second verification images, by using a camera having a communications unit, a memory unit, and a calculation unit; e) verifying the optically-variable nature of said elements from the first and second verification images and calculating a verification digital fingerprint for the label that is to be verified; and f) comparing the verification digital fingerprint with the corresponding reference digital fingerprint, calculating the distance between these two digital fingerprint

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs a density adjustment process for generating an image containing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image for warning against the use of copy products. To help users to easily adjust the density of a latent image portion and a background portion in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, the image processing apparatus determines a density relationship of the latent image portion and the background portion by performing a plurality of adjustment operations, in combination, different in the amount of adjustment relating to the range of variable density in at least one of the latent image portion and the background portion, and sets, based on the density relationship, the density data of each of the latent image portion and the background portion in the data of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for watermarking of digital images are presented. In one aspect, a method of embedding information in a digital image includes transforming the digital image to a set of coefficient blocks having coefficients in a frequency domain, embedding a watermark-indicator in one or more of the coefficient blocks, and embedding a watermark in one or more watermark blocks that have a predetermined number of coefficient blocks. The embedded watermark is substantially invisible in the output watermarked digital image. Another aspect is a method of extracting a watermark from a digital image that includes transforming a digital image to a coefficient matrix, determining if the digital image is watermarked based on a predetermined watermark-indicator, and retrieving a watermark from a projected watermark block of a projected watermark block distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of printing an image encoded with an IR watermark on a substrate. According to an exemplary method, an effective gamut is used to render the image, wherein the effective gamut is formed by the intersection of a first and second gamut associated with producing a constant IR response.

Abstract: Haptic or tactile features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied at varying positions on a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. A plurality of raised image areas are specified for a group of substrates and raised marks are printed in only one raised image area for each substrate in a manner that is evenly distributed between the raised image areas for the group of substrates. The substrates will present a relatively uniform stack avoiding localized large pile heights when the substrates are stacked. A clear marking material is used to print the raised marks so as not to obscure underlying data printed on the substrate. The clear marking material may include a monomer that may become cross-linked in an exposure process to resist deinking of the substrate. The clear marking material may be mixed with a phosphorescing or fluorescing material as an additional security measure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to solve dissatisfaction of the user who can not take out the source data in a case where a code image in the original can not be decoded. In order to accomplish the above object, the invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising code image detection unit that determines whether or not an code image is included in the original image data, code image decoding unit that decodes the code image to extract source data if it is determined that the code image is included by the code image detection unit, and synthesizing unit that encodes information obtained by decoding a partial area of the code image and overlaying encoded information on the area where the code image is included, if the code image decoding unit is successful in decoding only the partial area of the code image.

Abstract: A password generating system includes a scanner, a coordinate obtaining unit, a writing information obtaining unit, a track obtaining unit, a dividing unit, a converter, and an output unit. The scanner includes a stylus part performing writing on a print medium with a code indicating coordinates in a password setting region. The scanner scans the code. The coordinate obtaining unit obtains the coordinates from the code. The writing information obtaining unit obtains writing information specifying the order of writing. The track obtaining unit obtains the track of writing based on the obtained coordinates and writing information. The dividing unit divides obtained tracks into units convertible to symbols. The converter converts the track in each unit into a symbol. The output unit obtains a symbol string by arranging obtained symbols in an order based on the order of writing, and outputs the symbol string as a password.

Abstract: An image display device is provided with a storage for storing an image, a display for displaying a preview of the image, a security setting receiving unit for receiving setting as to whether or not the preview of the image is to be displayed with security, an image processing unit for applying an image quality degradation process to the image for which the security setting receiving unit received the setting for displaying the preview of the image with security, and a preview display controlling unit for causing the image having the image quality degradation process applied by the image processing unit to be displayed at the time of the preview display of the image for which the setting for the security display was received.

Abstract: A framework is provided for reducing the number of locations modified when hiding data, such as a digital watermark, in binary data. The framework complements data hiding techniques, such as digital watermarking techniques. After determining potential embedding locations according to an underlying technique, a data structure is created with values associated with those locations. A parity calculation is performed on the values in the data structure. The calculated parity is compared with hidden data to determine locations for modifications. Manipulations are then performed to reduce the total number of modifications needed to represent the hidden data. Modifications are made to the binary data according to the underlying technique. During decoding of the hidden data, the same locations can be determined, the same data structure can be created with the modified values, and a parity calculation is then performed to decode the hidden data.

Abstract: A history management apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores history information of image processing which contains set-membership information containing pieces of document identification information of an input document and an output document, and an image of at least one of the input document and the output document as history information; and a notification unit that, when history information in which a surveillance target element is contained in an image of an input document or an image of an output document is detected from the storage unit, notifies a notified party of such as the detected history information. When the surveillance target element is not contained in both of the images in the history information, and it is identified that at least one of ancestral documents of the input document has the surveillance target element, the notification unit notifies the notified party of the history information.

Abstract: A dot pattern including a block defined as a rectangular area of a square or a rectangle of a medium face, such as printed matter. A straight line in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction configuring a frame of the block each are defined as a standard grid line. Virtual reference grid points are provided at predetermined intervals on the reference grid line. Reference grid point dots are placed on respective virtual reference grid points. Straight lines that connect the virtual reference grid points to each other and are parallel to the reference grid lines are defined as grid lines. A point of intersection of grid lines is defined as a virtual grid point. A dot pattern is generated by arranging one or a plurality of information dots, each of which has a distance and a direction around the virtual grid point.

Abstract: A process for securing a document including a step of printing a distribution of dots on said document, said printing, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, causing an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots and prior to said print step, a step generating said distribution of dots so that at least half the dots of said distribution are not laterally juxtaposed to four other dots of said dot distribution, and at least one dimension of at least one part of the dots of said distribution of dots is of the same order of magnitude as the average for the absolute value of said unpredictable variation. In embodiments, during the step generating the dot distribution, more than half the dots do not touch any other dot of said distribution.

Abstract: An image adjusting method is adapted to an image adjusting circuit. The image adjusting method includes following steps. An image signal is received and up-sampled to generate a first up-sampled image signal and a second up-sampled image signal. The first up-sampled image signal includes interpolated pixels and original pixels. Values of the interpolated pixels and the original pixels are detected, and a weight value is outputted according to the detection result. Whether the values of the interpolated pixels are adjusted or not is determined based on the detection result. According to the weight value, the second up-sampled image signal and the adjusted first up-sampled image signal are mixed to output a mixed image signal. An image adjusting circuit is also provided.

Abstract: An image watermarking method includes a color transform on RGB image data to derive CMYK image data that define a constant K image. Variable infrared (IR) mark data defining an IR mark are received and a sparse two-dimensional pattern of black pixels is defined that corresponds to the variable IR data, e.g., using Gold codes or pseudorandom binary sequences. A watermarked black separation K? is defined by embedding the sparse two-dimensional pattern into the constant K black separation K? while maintaining local average levels. A watermarked image includes the watermarked black separation K? in combination with the CMY separations of the constant K image. A decoding process includes using an IR microscope fitted with IR LEDs and an IR pass filter to capture an IR image, which is subjected to exposure correction, thresholding, and dilation operations to extract the two-dimensional pattern for subsequent correlation processing.

Abstract: An edge refinement system includes a computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program having computer readable code for identifying carrier cells among shadow cells and highlight cells of a segmented image, computer readable code for determining if a predetermined edge condition is met by each of the identified carrier cells, and computer readable code for re-classifying the carrier cell as a non-carrier cell when the predetermined edge condition is met. The edge refinement system further includes memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory and to the computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A method for authenticating an object, comprising determining a physical dispersion pattern of a set of elements, determining a physical characteristic of the set of elements which is distinct from a physical characteristic producible by a transfer printing technology, determining a digital code associated with the object defining the physical dispersion pattern, and authenticating the object by verifying a correspondence of the digital code with the physical dispersion pattern, and verifying the physical characteristic.

Abstract: This ground tint image generating routine sets an arrangement area where a plurality of character strings are arranged, sets an arrangement start line of a character string at least within the arrangement area (S100), arranges a plurality of character strings from a start position of the arrangement start line in a predetermined direction in a predetermined order, arranges the character string from a start position of the arrangement start line of a next line (S170 to S210) when a character string to be arranged next is outside of the arrangement area, and generates a ground tint image (background image) in an area including the arrangement start line by using a plurality of character strings arranged within the arrangement area (S220).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which makes it possible to prevent a third party from outputting secret information as an image without leaving any evidence. A printer section of the image processing apparatus receives first image data and attribute data. The printer section forms an image corresponding to the first image data on a sheet, and then forms an image of information of the attribute data on the sheet in a manner superimposed on the image. A controller of the image processing apparatus generates second image data from the attribute data, and performs control such that the first image data and the second image data are recorded as history information on a job processed by the image processing apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing method for inspecting an image includes creating synthetic image information in which information is synthesized with main image information in a visible state which the human eyes perceive in an invisible state which is hard to perceive with the human eyes, printing the synthetic image information onto a medium, acquiring an image printed on the medium as an inspection image information, extracting information embedded in the main image information from the inspection image acquired, and determining a fault in the image printed on the medium based on an extraction result of information.

Abstract: A gradation pattern on the basis of the second data for the security of predetermined image data and the details data showing the detail information of a specific image of the image data is provided to a two-dimensional code on the basis of the first data for the security of the image data so that the data for the security of the image data is efficiently added to the image data in a limited space.

Abstract: Provided is a device that prevents unauthorized copying of a document to which copy inhibition information is added.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a print product and a transmission unit configured to transmit image data of the print product to an external apparatus. The apparatus further includes an inhibition unit configured to inhibit the transmission of the image data based on inhibition information included in the image data. If the image data includes trace information to be used to trace a printer user of the print product in addition to the inhibition information, a control unit acquires the trace information and causes a display unit to perform a display based on the trace information without causing the output unit to transmit the image data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, receiving and processing data transmitted from an image processing apparatus, includes a determination unit, first requesting unit, first analysis unit, second requesting unit, second analysis unit, and image forming unit. The determination unit determines whether or not the data are receivable. The first requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit first data where the determination unit determines that the data are not receivable. The first analysis unit analyzes the first data received from the image processing apparatus. The second requesting unit requests the image processing apparatus to transmit second data serving as image information corresponding to the first data based on an analysis result provided by the first analysis unit. The second analysis unit analyzes the second data received from the image processing apparatus. The image forming unit forms an image based on an analysis result provided by the second analysis unit.

Abstract: Haptic security features, which are generally not visually perceptible or reproducible, are applied on a surface of a substrate according to a predetermined scheme. The haptic security features are complemented by visual features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features, and/or otherwise to features of an underlying image that is already printed on the substrate. One or more colored ink layers that includes characters or other features that bear a relationship to the haptic security features is embedded into the haptic security features on the surface of the substrate to form a composite security feature that has visual information as well as haptic response. Haptic security features are based on redundantly encoding features that are pre-printed on the substrate in a preliminary step of forming a visual image on the substrate by overprinting portions of the underlying pre-printed image related to the haptic security features.

Abstract: A method for enhancing security printing of a layout template is disclosed. The method includes receiving the layout template, and acknowledging one or more constraints for the layout template. At least one unconstrained layout element of the layout template is varied, thereby generating a varied layout template. The varied layout template is printed and scanned. The method further includes determining a number of bits that can be encoded in the varied layout template, where the number of bits depends on the varying of the at least one unconstrained layout element.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit that acquires image data, an additional-data generating unit that generates additional data, a first-code-image generating unit that generates first-code image data, a first-superimposed-image producing unit that combines the first-code image data with the image data, thereby producing first-superimposed image data, a detecting-data generating unit that generates data for use in detecting modification made to the first-superimposed image data, a second-code-image generating unit that generates second-code image data, and a second-superimposed-image producing unit that produces second-superimposed image data by clipping a portion of the second-code image data, the portion corresponding to an image area of the first-superimposed image data where the first-code image data is provided, and combining the first-superimposed image data with the second-code image data from which the portion has been clipped.

Abstract: A method is described for generating patterns representing a halftone image, said method comprising the generation of a first set of patterns consisting of lines and curves dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image using an intaglio rendering technique. The method comprises the generation of a second set of patterns consisting of microstructures separate from the lines and curves of the first set of patterns, said microstructures being dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image. According to a first aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of stochastic microstructures that can be likened to a grain. According to a second aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of repetitive microstructures reproducing information that can be recognized by an observer, which repetitive microstructures comprise microletters and/or microsymbols.

Abstract: A printer driver for holding the setting of various parameters for a printer and effecting conversion of print data from an application, the printer driver includes: a specific character string detecting unit which detects from the print data a specific character string designated by a user; a code converting unit which converts the specific character string detected by the specific character string detecting unit to a code; and a code imparting unit which imparts the code converted by the code converting unit to the print data.

Abstract: A method for providing digital watermarking for text or images that uses spectral edge marking materials (320) printed on a print media (200) to embed hidden data (220). The spectral edge markers (320) have an absorption spectrum at the edge of the human visible spectrum, either at the UV edge or IR edge, which provides an optical density that is generally imperceptible to humans, but which can be detected by an image capture device (250). The crosstalk of visible optical absorption provided by these materials is largely masked by the presence of visible colorant(s) (340), with only small color differences between areas with and without the spectral edge markers (320). The image capture device (250) has a visible spectral response that extends into a spectral region just outside the visible spectrum where the spectral edge marker absorption occurs, and can be operated to detect the hidden data.

Abstract: A print media (200) comprises paper or other substrate, on which image content, whether text or images are printed with accompanying hidden data (220). The image content is printed with one or more normal printing process visible colorants (340), while the hidden data (220) is printed with spectral edge markers (320). The spectral edge marker materials (320) have a substantial spectral absorption just outside the human visible spectrum, and only slight visible absorption, which is masked by the visible colorants (340). Although the hidden data is nominally visually imperceptible, an image capture device (250) having a visible spectral response that extends into a spectral region just outside the visible spectrum where the spectral edge marker absorption occurs, can then detect the hidden data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for document printing management and control and source tracking. A printing management service program runs at a server end. A printing monitoring service program runs at a client end. The printing management service program saves client end information, monitors and manages a client end computer, sets a printing management policy, and delivers operation instructions to the client end. The printing monitoring service program collects the client end information, sends the client end information to the server end, and executes the operation instruction.

Abstract: The present invention enables creating authenticable continuous tone color multi-ink multi-halftone images offering means of verifying their authenticity. The invention relies on color halftones, color separation into different ink surface coverages for different halftoning methods, mapping of an input gamut into a gamut defined by a set of inks, calculating the optimal boundary between region halftones created with different halftoning methods, and color multi-halftone image generation. The basic authentication is performed by examining the color multi-halftone image under a reference illumination and verifying that the message incorporated within the color multi-halftone is hidden and revealed under a different illumination. Authentication can further be performed by observing the color multi-halftone image both in reflection and transmission modes and verifying that in one of these modes the message is hidden and that in the other mode the message is revealed.

Abstract: Even when an image output is prohibited, an image forming device, an image forming method and a program are provided that can track an evidence of attempt to perform the image output. Output prohibition information and tracking information for tracking a user are acquired from an image of a scan document. The image output of the scan document is prohibited according to the acquired output prohibition information, and the acquired tracking information is stored as a log.

Abstract: A variety of systems and embodiments are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method including: maintaining a database including a plurality of records stored therein; obtaining first information derived from image or video data, the first information being derived remotely relative to performance of said method, the first information comprising a reduced-bit representation of the image or video data itself; determining whether the first information has been previously received with reference to at least the plurality of records stored in the database; and disregarding a request or action associated with the first information if the first information has been previously received. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus obtains area information indicating target areas to be subjected to image processing from a plurality of image processing servers and judges whether or not their target areas are overlapping each other. The image forming apparatus examines the priority levels set in advance for the image processing servers if their target areas are overlapping each other, then repeats to instruct an image processing server with a lower priority level than another image processing server to adjust the position of its target area until it is judged that the target areas are not overlapping each other. And the image forming apparatus transmits information of the target areas confirmed to be not overlapping each other to the image processing servers, so that the image processing servers can successfully perform image processing on their own target areas according to the information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit, a dividing unit, and an output controller. The receiving unit receives an output instruction for a report. The dividing unit divides, when the output instruction for the report is received, report items to be output into a main-report item to be output as characters on a recording sheet and a sub-report item to be output as a digital watermark on the recording sheet in such a manner that the report items to be output are formed within a predetermined number of recording sheets or a predetermined number of pages. The output controller causes an output mechanism to output the main-report item as characters on the recording sheet and output the sub-report item as a digital watermark on the recording sheet, based on a division result by the dividing unit.

Abstract: A method of printing a modified product code includes providing a printer and a substrate. An initial product code is determined. The initial product code includes a plurality of unmodified characters. A modified product code is determined. The modified product code includes at least one modified character that is different from a corresponding one of the plurality of unmodified characters of the initial product code. The modified character is a function at least in part by of initial product code. The printer is controlled to print the modified product code on the substrate.

Abstract: When original image data obtained by reading an original document is to be joined with watermark data associated with a watermark for copy control which appears as a result of making a copy, whether the original document includes a chromatic color or not is determined on the basis of the original image data. When the original document includes a chromatic color, the original image data is joined with chromatic watermark data. When the original document includes an achromatic color, the original image data is joined with achromatic watermark data.

Abstract: A void pantograph and a method for generating the same are disclosed herein. The void pantograph includes a foreground portion based on a region of an image that is defined using a predetermined filter, and a background portion based on another region of the image that is defined using the predetermined filter.

Abstract: The document securization method includes: a step of printing a distribution of dots on the document, the printing, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, causing an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots and prior to the print step, a step of generating the distribution of dots so that dots of the distribution have at least one geometric characteristic that varies among dots, the geometric amplitude of the generated variation having the order of magnitude of the unpredictable variation. Preferably during the generation step, in the dot distribution: at least half the dots of the distribution are not laterally juxtaposed to four other dots of the dot distribution, and at least one dimension of at least one part of the dots of the dot distribution is of the same order of magnitude as the average for the absolute value of the unpredictable variation.

Abstract: Proposed is the use of a document widget for representing a property of a document. The document widget comprises: a human-readable portion for interpretation by a user; and a machine-readable portion representing the document property. By comprising information about a property of a document, a document widget may be processed in accordance with an optical recognition process so as to identify the document widget and enable extraction of the document property.

Abstract: A specific color detecting section 1 includes: a comparing section 7 for comparing, with reference thresholds, color densities of color image data of plural colors in input image data, so as to judge whether or not the input image data include color image data of a specific color of an image pattern; and a threshold setting section 51 for setting calculated thresholds or theoretical thresholds as the reference thresholds, wherein the threshold setting section 51 a calculated threshold as a reference threshold if the calculated threshold is within an allowable range of the theoretical threshold, and the threshold setting section sets a theoretical threshold as a reference threshold if the calculated threshold is out of the allowable range of the theoretical threshold, the threshold setting section being configured to calculate out the calculated thresholds for the reference thresholds from reference image data obtained by reading out a reference chart having plural colors in predetermined color densities, and

Abstract: The image forming apparatus reads an original conveyed in the image forming apparatus, analyzes a feature value of information about an original image on the read original, generates an image to overwrite the original image with, using image data having the feature value obtained based on an analysis result, sets a predetermined area on the original image, and overwrites the predetermined area on the original image with the generated image.