Data handling and archiving system

• US 4,786,940 A
• Filed: 10/16/1987
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Daniele, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US07/108,890
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 355/3 R, 355/14 R, 355/14 C, 355/6, 355/8
• US Class Current: 347/129
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04045 for exposing image information provided otherwise than by directly projecting the original image onto the photoconductive recording material, e.g. digital copiers G03G15/041, G03G15/043 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/507 being interleaved with the original or directly written on he original, e.g. using a control sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A system for enhancing the use of digitized documents as information transmitting and storage objects in connection with an electronic printer having an image input scanner for scanning documents and converting the image content to image signals. In one embodiment, a bar-coded document has an encoded image representing a secret message, and the printer is equipped with a recognition circuit that uses the bar code to distinguish the encoded document from other non-coded documents to be printed and readies a decoder which upon proper authentication, automatically decodes the encoded image signals output by the array so that the printer provides a print with the decoded message.

In a second embodiment, the digitized image comprises an auxiliary software program to be loaded into the printer memory, with a selector circuit for loading the software signals output by the array into the printer memory, with a selector circuit for loading the software signals output by the array into the printer memory.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inexpensively archiving information comprising:

(a) a permanent data archiving member comprising a copy substrate material; and

(b) a visible machine only readable image on said copy substrate material, said image consisting of a dot pattern forming a digitized image, said image being a digital representaiton of the data being archived.

2. Data archiving means according to claim 1 in which said copy substrate material comprises a sheet of paper.