Abstract: A method of controlling an apparatus which is capable of determining a dot disposition of a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is disclosed. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image has a latent image area in which a number of first dots and a number of second dots smaller than the first dots are disposed and a background area in which a number of the second dots are disposed. The first dots can be reproduced when copied. The method includes displaying information related to a disposition of the first dots and the second dots in the latent image area, setting a rate of the first dots that are disposed in the latent image area, or a rate of the second dots that are disposed in the latent image area, in accordance with a designation performed by a user, and determining the dot disposition in the latent image area in accordance with the setting of the rate.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with detection of a “fragile watermark” in a printed image to aid in a determination whether a document under examination is an original or a copy. The watermark may be applied by phase-space encoding data to be included in the watermark. The image may be examined on a block-by-block basis after scanning. Correlation of detected watermark strength with block brightness and/or with wave vectors used for encoding may be used to detect that the image is a copy.

Abstract: An image processing system includes: a document storage apparatus for storing document data therein; an image processing apparatus connected to the document storage apparatus via a network, for processing the document data in association with the document storage apparatus; a first authenticator for performing user authentication at the time of an access to the document storage apparatus; a second authenticator for performing user authentication at the time of an access to the image processing apparatus; and controller for controlling, based on an authentication result by at least one of the first authenticator and the second authenticator, an authenticating operation by the other authenticator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of restricting copying using, as a master copy, a copy of a produced work such as a book. An MFP is provided with a printing permission/prohibition judging section and an output paper sheet selection section. The printing permission/prohibition judging section judges whether or not restriction information for restricting image formation is contained in either (i) an information tag provided in a document, or (ii) image data acquired by an image scanning section. The output paper sheet selection section selects a regulatory-information-containing recording paper sheet (i.e.

Abstract: A method and system for multifaceted scanning, the method having the steps of receiving a data source; processing the data source for a plurality of scanning aspects, the processing step utilizing rules and policies for the plurality of scanning aspects to provide transformed, modified or adapted content; and outputting the transformed, modified or adapted content.

Abstract: A method of managing and recovering from the failure of cryptographic devices in a secure transaction processing system including a database, a plurality first cryptographic devices and a standby cryptographic device. Each of the first cryptographic devices periodically generates and sends to the database a total freshness counter record and generates and sends to another of the first cryptographic devices a digital signature and time stamp record. Upon failure of a first cryptographic device, the standby cryptographic device requests and receives the current total freshness counter record and digital signature and time stamp record for the failed first cryptographic device, and uses the digital signature and time stamp record to verify that the total freshness center record is most current. If so verified, the standby cryptographic device assumes the operation of the failed first cryptographic device.

Abstract: A provider server receives an order from a customer by way of a workstation for a customer selected configuration change of computing resources of an end user machine, the provider server having a predetermined time period and negotiates configuration change price for billing said customer for the purchase of said ordered customer selected configuration change, said negotiated configuration change price for billing said customer for the purchase of said ordered customer selected configuration change.

Abstract: An encryption device which is capable of preparing an encrypted document not easily deciphered by a third person. The encryption device encrypts information formed on a recording member on the basis of a predetermined encryption code. A surface of the recording member is irradiated with light. An image of the irradiated surface of the recording member irradiated with the light is taken. The encryption code is prepared on the basis of the taken image of the irradiated surface.

Abstract: A printing system and printer with an electronic signature capability, and a method thereof are provided. To print security documents using an electronic signature stored in a portable memory, the printing system of the invention includes a portable memory for storing an electronic signature. A memory interface connects detachably to the portable memory. A printer receives the electronic signature from the memory interface, composes the received electronic signature with print data, and executes a print operation. Accordingly, a stamping or signature process on numerous documents can be facilitated, and excessive stamping or signature execution can be prevented. Moreover, the electronic signature of the invention can be executed on various types of forms or documents.

Abstract: An image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention has a user authentication mode for granting only authorized users a setting change for an image forming apparatus. This image forming apparatus 200 includes a user authentication section 203 to perform authentication on receiving user information from a host computer 100. The image forming apparatus 200 also issues an authentication key for an authorized user and sends the key to the host computer 100. The host computer 100 sends a changed setting and the authentication key to the image forming apparatus 200, whereby making the setting change swiftly. This structure makes it possible to address a problem with related art systems that send user information every time a setting is changed and send a changed setting only when a user is deemed to have authority where authentication is redundant and time consuming.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of encoding a latent image. The method comprises providing a latent image to be encoded, the latent image having a plurality of latent image elements, each latent image element having a visual characteristic which takes one of a predetermined set of values, providing a secondary pattern having a plurality of secondary image elements, the secondary pattern being capable of decoding the latent image once the latent image has been encoded, relating the latent image elements to the secondary image elements, and forming a primary pattern comprising a plurality of primary image elements which correspond to the secondary image elements displaced in accordance with the value of the visual characteristic of the latent image elements to which said secondary image elements are related.

Abstract: The present technology relates to steganographically hiding messages in materials such as paper stock, plastic and film. The technology can also be used to encode auxiliary data in imagery, which may be separately marked (e.g., by altering values of digital image pixels), or may simply be formed on a marked material.

Abstract: A security printing method includes generating a security file having a plurality of metadata fields and an information field concatenated together in an initial sequence. A security file identification is generated from the plurality of metadata fields and the information field. The security file identification corresponds to the initial sequence and is a one-way function of the plurality of metadata fields and the information field. The method further includes selecting a custom scrambling technique based on the security file identification, and scrambling the initial sequence using the selected custom scrambling technique, thereby creating a scrambled sequence of the plurality of metadata field and the information field.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an information acquiring portion that acquires information on image process conditions for processing image data, a creating portion that creates additional image data, serving as a watermark image, with additional information to be embedded into the image data on the basis of the information on the image process conditions acquired, and a merging portion that merges the image data with the additional image data to create composite image data.

Abstract: When managing a job inputted via a network or a console according to a job management command issued likewise via the network or the console, peripheral equipment managed by a directory server connected via the network decrypts an access ticket included in the job, decrypts the access ticket included in the job management command, and manages the job according to the decrypted contents of the access ticket included in the job and the access ticket included in the job management command.

Abstract: A method of authorizing printing of a publication at a printer by a publisher in a network is provided, in which an alias identity of a user is created from both a sensing device identity and an application identity when the user interacts with a printed application tag associated with the publication using the sensing device, the publication is addressed to the user by the alias identity, the publication is signed using a private key of the publisher, the signed publication is sent to the printer, and it is confirmed that the signed publication may be printed at the printer by verifying the private key signature.

Abstract: A watermark embedding method for embedding a secret message sequence in a document. The techniques include obtaining layout information of the document, extracting a digest of the document by using a Hash function, calculating embedded positions where the secret message sequence is embedded in the document, and dispersedly hiding the secret message sequence in each of the calculated embedded positions by altering the layout of the document. Also provided is a watermark embedding apparatus, a corresponding watermark detecting method and apparatus, and a method and system for detecting document integrity. The integrity of documents in various forms can be detected, and secret information to be hidden can be embedded therein and extracted therefrom. The techniques described are not limited to the document either in soft copy or in hard copy and have good robustness.

Abstract: A print system which are capable of inhibiting simultaneous use of the encrypted print and the box storage to thereby increase the security of print data. A host computer has an encryption function of encrypting print data, and issues a print job for the print data encrypted by the encryption function. A print server receives the issued print job, and has a decryption function of decrypting the encrypted print data of the received print job. A printer has a storage function of storing the print data decrypted by the decryption function, and outputs the stored print data. At least one of the host computer and the print server inhibits simultaneous use of the encryption function and the storage function.

Abstract: According to a print controller of this embodiment, when a part of print data is specified to be encrypted, a client 102 determines functions supported by a printer 104. If the printer 104 is capable of handling partial encryption, the client 102 encrypts the specified portion, specifies the portion by PDL commands or XML tags, and sends the print data to the printer. The printer 104 decrypts it and then prints it out. Meanwhile, in the case of a printer 151 which does not support partially encrypted printing, printing is terminated, or the print data is sent to the printer 151 after replacing the portion specified to be encrypted with a different character string.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.

Abstract: An implementation is described herein facilitates certification of goods and/or identifications of the source of such goods. At least one implementation, described herein, embeds a watermark into a relatively small amount of data in a deterministic manner. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.

Abstract: A system for secure interaction with a secure document is provided. The secure document has coded tags which each encode data associated with the document identity and a location of that tag on the document. The system has memory for recording a correspondence between the document identity and information relating to the document, a receiver for receiving data from a sensing device used to interact with the document, and a processor for verifying the interaction with the document using the received data and the recorded correspondence. The received data is generated by the sensing device through sensing of the data encoded by the coded tags to identify the document identity and a position of the sensing device relative to the document.

Abstract: A universally known and accepted unique item that is independently identifiable and difficult to counterfeit is used as an authenticator item. The identity of this item is included in an authorization calculation which can only be accomplished by an authorizing authority. The authenticator can be a serial numbered item such as a currency bill or note. The document may be created anywhere in plain paper, electronic or other forms. Creation may be by any of an issuing authority, an agent, a bearer and even the buyer. The document's authenticity may be verified without communication back to the issuing authority. The invention allows cancellation to prevent negotiation of an electronic document regardless of how many copies are extant in computers or other form merely by defacing or destroying the associated authenticator.

Abstract: In a mailing system for franking a postage indicium serving as a proof of postage, postal data including the postage needs to be communicated through such an indicium. Illustratively, the postal data is categorized into (a) invariable postal data, e.g, a device ID identifying the mailing system, which is unaffected by a franking transaction, and (b) variable postal data, e.g., the postage, which may change from one franking transaction to another. To avoid latency of the franking operation, the invariable postal data is preset for initial printing of the postage indicium, and the variable postal data is determined and set for printing in real time. In printing the postage indicium, the invariable postal data and the variable postal data are presented in that order in one or more symbols.

Abstract: A system for registering a sensing device with a relay device is provided. The relay device allowing the sensing device to communicate with a computer system of the system. The computer system performs the registrating using a registration form having information relating to an interactive element coincident with tags mapped over the form. Each tag has coded data indicative of the interactive element and an identity associated with the form. The computer system receives indicating data indicative of the identity and the interactive element from a sensing device via the relay device which is generated by the sensing device sensing the coded data, determines the interactive element from the indicating data and causes registration of the sensing device with the relay device using the interactive element.

Abstract: In a job allocation control apparatus, whether or not a job has security setting is discriminated, if it is decided that the job has the security setting, this job is set to a scheduling target to a clean device, and if it is decided that the job does not have the security setting, this job is set to a scheduling target to a non-clean device. When a process of the job having the security setting as a scheduling target to the clean device cannot be executed, the job having the security setting is set to the scheduling target to the non-clean device. Whether or not the non-clean device satisfies a predetermined condition is discriminated. If the predetermined condition is satisfied, the job having the security setting is transmitted to the non-clean device.

Abstract: An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system.

Abstract: A system for authenticating an object is disclosed. The system includes an optical sensing device and a processor. The optical sensing device senses coded data provided on a surface associated with the object. The coded data is indicative of a position on the surface, an identity associated with the object, and a part of a signature. The signature is a digital signature of the identity. The processor determines, using the sensed coded data, a sensed identity and a sensed signature part, determines, using the position, a sensed signature part identity, determines, using the sensed identity, at least a determined signature, determines, using the determined signature and the sensed signature part identity, a determined signature part, compares the determined signature part to the sensed signature part, and authenticates the object using the result of the comparison.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus, as implemented by a software program on a computer system, for digitally producing counterfeit-deterring scrambled or encoded indicia images. This method and system are capable of combining a source image with a latent image so the scrambled latent image is visible only when viewed through a special decoder lens. The digital processing allows different latent images to be encoded according to different parameters. Additionally, latent images might be encoded into single component colors of an original visible image, at various angles from each other.

Abstract: A printing device capable of preventing a printing process from being performed in accordance with print information sent from a printer driver in version for which permission of use is not given. In a host computer, a print data generator adds signature data to print data, which is transferred to a printer, by employing a signature algorithm and signature-related data. In a printer, a print data analyzing/processing unit extracts the signature data having been added to the print data transferred from the host computer, and verifies the extracted signature by employing a signature verification algorithm and signature verification data.

Abstract: An XOR (exclusive or) encoded document is disclosed for establishing a joint secret between two parties. Encoded on the document are one or more areas of XOR messages. Each area containing an XOR message hides from view on each side of the XOR encoded document a different message on either side of a transparent base layer. To uncover a message in an area containing an XOR message on one side of the transparent base layer, the message on the other side of the XOR encoded document is scratched off and rendered illegible.

Abstract: A printing job containing printing data is transmitted to a specified image forming apparatus through a communications medium so that the printing data can be printed by the specified image forming apparatus. The printing data is encrypted in an encrypting method specified for printing the printing job, the information about the destination for the image forming apparatus is obtained, and the information about the destination obtained by the obtaining means is decrypted by the disclosed method, apparatus, and medium.

Abstract: A system is provided for verifying the validity status and/or authenticity information of a secure document. The secure document has user discernable information and a plurality of tags printed thereon. Each tag contains coded data encoding an identity of the document and a location of that tag on the document. The system has memory for recording a correspondence between the identity of the secure document and validity status and/or authenticity information relating to the secure document, a receiver for receiving data from a sensing device, and a processor for verifying the validity status and/or authenticity information of the secure document using the received data and the recorded correspondence. The data received from the sensing device identifies the document identity and a position of the sensing device relative to the document, and is generated by the sensing device sensing coded data contained in at least one tag.

Abstract: A system for generating secure documents includes a station for generating a plain document and a security image generator that generates a security image. The security image is then incorporated into the plain document. Each security image consists of a plurality of secure elements, each secure element being defined by two sets of parallel lines. Each secure element defines an alphanumeric character or other unique image that is visible under certain conditions, i.e., when inspected through a viewer. The technique can also be used to provide security images on a web page as a means of indicating that the web page is genuine.

Abstract: A method of authenticating an object by sensing coded data provided on or in a surface associated with the object. The coded data is indicative of an identity of the object and, at least part of a signature, the signature being a digital signature of at least part of the identity. The method includes using the sensed coded data to determine a sensed identity and a sensed signature part. The sensed identity is then used to determine at least a determined signature part, which is then compared to the sensed signature part, with the object being authenticated using the results of the comparison.

Abstract: Methods and systems for authenticating senders and recipients in a carrier system and providing receipt of specified content by a recipient are provided. A one-time recipient identification code is generated that can be entered into the delivery agent's portable terminal. Data is protected against eavesdropping by encryption and by splitting cipher text and an encryption key into two parts that are not accessible to any single party except at the moment of the mail unit delivery.

Abstract: A data obfuscation method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed in which at least selected text entities such as words or abbreviations in a document are obfuscated to prevent the disclosure of private information if the document is disclosed. A user establishes various configuration parameters for selected text entities desired to obfuscated. The document is processed and text entities matching the configuration parameters are tagged for obfuscation. The tagged entities are then substituted in the document with obfuscating text. The obfuscating text can be derived from a hash table. The hash table may be used to provide a reverse obfuscation method by which original data can be restored to an obfuscated document.

Abstract: A printer that prints encrypted information in a document can be the key authority for that document. A document containing encrypted information and a source reference can be printed by a printer associated with a key module. The key module contains the key for decrypting the information. A scanner scanning the document obtains the source reference and the encrypted information. The scanner can use the source reference to send a key request to the printer and the printer can respond with the appropriate key. A decryption module associated with the scanner can use the key to decrypt the information. The decrypted information can be incorporated into a second document that can be electronically stored or printed.

Abstract: An anti-tampering method for processing documents is disclosed. The method comprises, in regard to an encoding step, the steps of resolving (in a step 2303) in regard to an N-level image to be recorded, a pixel of the image into a major component having N possible values, selecting (in the step 2303) a pattern element depending upon the major component and the position of the pixel in the image, and recording the selected pattern element (in a step 2308) onto a transfer medium. In regard to a corresponding decoding step the method comprises extracting (in a step 2405) from the recorded document, a retrieved pattern element for said pixel, determining a pattern element (in a step 2407) depending upon a major component extracted from the retrieved pattern element and the position of the pixel on the recorded document, and comparing (in a step 2409) the retrieved pattern element and the said determined pattern element.

Abstract: In order to maintain high security of a job that requires a high security level even after a print interrupt factor has been removed, and to achieve both the effect of maintaining high security of a job that requires a high security level even after the print process is interrupted, and the effect of improving the productivity of jobs other than a job of this type, when a print apparatus which can process a plurality of print jobs including a print job of a first type and that of a second type restarts a print operation of a print job, which is interrupted in the print apparatus, and when the print job is a print of the first type, the print apparatus is controlled to execute an authentication process, and then allowed to restart the print operation of the print job.

Abstract: This invention safeguards the integrity of a machine-printed paper document by entangling a characteristic signature derived from the document's paper grain structure with the identities of the printing device and the person or organization which issued the document. This protection is achieved using a certification phase performed by an augmented document printer and an authentication phase performed by an augmented document scanner. In the certification phase, the grain structure of a specific area of the original paper is imaged and processed to generate a unique signature for the paper. This signature is doubly encrypted using the private keys of the augmented printer and the certifier. These encryption steps entangle the signature of the paper with its source information in a way that thwarts counterfeiting attacks which either copy the document or falsely attribute its source to a specific printer and/or certifier.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a target item with a security code is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a first content of security information to be coded, determining a second content of security information to be coded, printing a plurality of color tiles on a target item where the plurality of color tiles define the first content of security information, and printing one or more micro-markings on one or more of the color tiles located on the target item. The one or more micro-markings define the second content of security information.

Abstract: An information output system for tampering detection 100, including: a digital image acquiring unit 15 for acquiring a digital image including target information for tampering detection as an image; an encrypting unit 11 for converting the digital image based on an encryption key to generate an encrypted image; and an output unit 18 for outputting the encrypted image generated by the encrypting unit 11 so that the encrypted image is recorded on a paper medium on which the image of the target information is to be recorded or on which the image of the target information is recorded.

Abstract: A method for secure printing is presented. A document management system (DMS) is provided within a server computer for storing, displaying and printing a plurality of documents. At least a portion of the documents require authentication information for displaying and printing. A web-based capture protection system is provided that prevents proprietary content displayed on a display device from being screen-captured. The web-based capture protection system is combined with the DMS to augment the DMS with capture protection of displayed documents, including intercepting retrieval requests from a client computer to display documents from the DMS.

Abstract: In a method and system for printing of sensitive data, encrypted sensitive data to be printed is transferred to a printing device having a printing unit. This sensitive data to be printed is decrypted to create decrypted sensitive data. The decrypted sensitive data is converted into control signals for activation of the printing unit. The decrypted sensitive data is stored in a non-volatile memory such that the decrypted sensitive data are distributed in a plurality of memory segments of the non-volatile memory where a relationship of the memory segments is stored as relationship data independently of the stored decrypted sensitive data. The decrypted sensitive data is printed with the printing unit on a recording medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for securely printing a print job on a networked printer. An application program running on a networked computer instructs the printer to generate and exchange cryptographic keys. The application program then encrypts the print job using the keys, and then communicates the encrypted print job to the printer. The printer decrypts the received print job and prints the document.

Abstract: A multifunction machine and a personal authentication method are provided in which information is exchanged between the multifunction machine and a memory card by the RF-ID method. The multifunction machine reads identification information of a user from the memory card through a wireless wave without contact. The read identification information is send to a server to inquire whether the user is registered. A personal information table is obtained from the server, when the user is authenticated. The personal information table includes a customized menu and a training menu. The training menu includes setting information when the customized menu was selected in the immediately previous operation. The obtained customized menu and setting information of the training menu are displayed on a panel of the multifunction machine.

Abstract: A system and methods provides secure end-to-end printing in networked computing environments, such as a corporate office environment employing a number of shared printers. The described system and methods are applicable in various scenarios to provide an enhanced solution for secure printing.