Printing medium, image forming apparatus, and printing method

• US 20050007631A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Oki Data Corporation (OKI Electric Industry Company Limited)
• Inventors: Fujinuma, Yasutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,649,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.160
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144

Abstract

A printing medium has means for storing electronic data. The means includes an input-output unit, a first memory, a second memory, a comparison unit, and an access controller. The second memory stores data for confirming the validity of the information printed on the printing medium. The first memory stores data for controlling access to the second memory. In particular, write access to the second memory is denied unless the accessing party also submits comparison data that compare correctly with the data stored in the first memory. This protocol prevents the facile creation of counterfeit copies.

Claims

1. A printing medium that can also store electronic data, comprising:

an input-output unit for external input and output of data, the input data including comparison data and the output data including a comparison result;

a first memory for storing authentication data, at least part of the authentication data being prestored in the first memory;

a comparison unit for generating the comparison result by comparing the authentication data stored in the first memory with the comparison data input by the input-output unit;

a second memory for storing validation data corresponding to an image printed on a surface of the printing medium; and

an access controller for controlling write access to the second memory according to the comparison result generated by the comparison unit.

2. The printing medium of claim 1, wherein the access controller permits said write access to the second memory if the comparison result generated by the comparison unit indicates that the comparison data match the authentication data, and denies said write access to the second memory if the comparison result indicates that the comparison data differ from the authentication data.

3. The printing medium of claim 1, wherein the access controller also controls read access to the second memory according to the comparison result generated by the comparison unit.

4. A method of printing on the printing medium of claim 1, comprising:

receiving printing data and said comparison data;

generating, from the printing data, both image data to be printed and said validation data;

sending the comparison data to the printing medium to be compared with the authentication data by the comparison unit in the printing medium;

receiving the comparison result from the printing medium and deciding from the comparison result whether data can be written in the printing medium;

printing the image data on the printing medium and sending the validation data to the printing medium to be written in the second memory by the access controller, if the comparison result indicates that data can be written in the printing medium; and

refraining from printing the image data on the printing medium and refraining from sending the validation data to the printing medium if the comparison result indicates that data cannot be written in the printing medium.

5. An image forming apparatus for printing on the printing medium of claim 1, comprising:

an operation unit for input of the comparison data by an operator;

a communication unit for transmitting the input comparison data to the printing medium and receiving the comparison result from the printing medium; and

a controller for receiving printing data and generating therefrom both image data to be printed and said validation data, and deciding from the comparison result whether data can be written in the printing medium;

wherein,

if the controller decides that data can be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus prints the image data on the printing medium and the communication unit sends the validation data to the printing medium; and

if the controller decides that data cannot be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus does not print the image data on the printing medium and the communication unit does not send the validation data to the printing medium.

6. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when data cannot be written in the printing medium, the operation unit displays a corresponding indication.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein, when data cannot be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus notifies an external device.

8. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the controller also decides, from the comparison result, whether data can be read from the printing medium;

if data cannot be read from the printing medium, the operation unit displays a corresponding indication; and

if data can be read from the printing medium, the communication unit receives the validation data from the printing medium and the operation unit displays the received validation data.

9. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the controller also decides, from the comparison result, whether data can be read from the printing medium;

if data cannot be read from the printing medium, the controller notifies an external device accordingly; and

if data can be read from the printing medium, the communication unit receives the validation data from the printing medium and the controller sends the received validation data to the external device.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication unit communicates with the printing medium when the printing medium has been transported to a predetermined location in the image forming apparatus.

11. The printing medium of claim 1, further comprising an additional access controller for controlling writing of additional data in the first memory according to the comparison result generated by the comparison unit, the authentication data stored in the first memory including both the authentication data prestored in the first memory and the additional data.

12. A method of printing on the printing medium of claim 11, comprising:

receiving printing data and said comparison data;

generating, from the printing data, image data to be printed, additional data to be added to the authentication data, and said validation data;

sending the comparison data to the printing medium to be compared with the authentication data by the comparison unit in the printing medium;

receiving the comparison result from the printing medium and deciding from the comparison result whether data can be written in the printing medium;

printing the image data on the printing medium, sending the validation data to the printing medium to be written in the second memory by the access controller, and sending the additional data to the printing medium to be written in the first memory by the additional access controller, if the comparison result indicates that data can be written in the printing medium; and

refraining from printing the image data on the printing medium and refraining from sending the validation data and the additional data to the printing medium if the comparison result indicates that data cannot be written in the printing medium.

13. An image forming apparatus for printing on the printing medium of claim 11, comprising:

an operation unit for input of the comparison data by an operator;

a communication unit for sending the input comparison data to the printing medium and receiving the comparison result from the printing medium; and

a controller for receiving printing data and generating therefrom image data to be printed, the additional data to be added to the authentication data, and said validation data, and deciding from the comparison result whether data can be written in the printing medium;

wherein,

if the controller decides that data can be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus prints the image data on the printing medium and the communication unit sends the additional data and the validation data to the printing medium; and

if the controller decides that data cannot be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus does not print the image data on the printing medium and the communication unit does not send the additional data and the validation data to the printing medium.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein, when data cannot be written in the printing medium, the operation unit displays a corresponding indication.

15. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein, when data cannot be written in the printing medium, the image forming apparatus notifies an external device.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the controller also decides, from the comparison result, whether data can be read from the printing medium;

if data cannot be read from the printing medium, the operation unit displays a corresponding indication; and

if data can be read from the printing medium, the communication unit receives the validation data from the printing medium and the operation unit displays the received validation data.

17. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the controller also decides, from the comparison result, whether data can be read from the printing medium;

if data cannot be read from the printing medium, the controller notifies an external device accordingly; and

if data can be read from the printing medium, the communication unit receives the validation data from the printing medium and the controller sends the received validation data to the external device.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication unit communicates with the printing medium when the printing medium has been transported to a predetermined location in the image forming apparatus.

19. The printing medium of claim 1, wherein the input-output unit, the first memory, the comparison unit, the second memory, and the access controller are disposed in an integrated circuit chip in the printing medium.