Method and a device for the protected transmission of data

• US 5,245,655 A
• Filed: 09/14/1990
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omnisec AG
• Original Assignee: Omnisec AG
• Inventors: Buhn, Willi, Naf, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US07/583,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 380/3, 380/4, 380/9, 380/18, 380/49, 380/50, 380/51, 380/55
• US Class Current: 380/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/448 Rendering the image unintelligible, e.g. scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A ciphering device (1) encodes the original data and converts it into signals for an output device (5) that creates a document (6, 10) out of them. This document is fed into a sending device (12) that scans the data (7) line by line and converts the result into signals that are transmitted to a receiving device (13) via a transmission link (14). The receiving device (13) produces a copy (15) of the document (6, 10) out of the transmitted signals, which is fed into a reading device (17). This device converts the data into signals for a deciphering device (18) which decodes the data and converts it into signals for an output device (20). From them, the output device (20) restores the original data and makes it available for further processing.

The transmitting device (12), the receiving device (13) and the transmission link (14) form a telecopying system. The encoding of data (7) is done by using a code that is insensitive to transmission errors of the telecopying system and, in particular, to distortions in the line feed direction. The code is preferentially binary with logical values contrasting in brightness and/or color, for instance it is a bar code with bars (9) parallel to the line feed, and it can be read be a reading device (17).

The parts of the system in a transmitting-end device or a receiving-end device are preferentially integrated.

Claims

1. A Method for the protected transmission of data with a telecopying system comprising a sending device (12), a receiving device (13), and a transmission link (14) in between, comprising the steps of:

inputting original intelligible data into a ciphering device (1) that encodes it into resulting encoded data, which is concerted into corresponding first electric signals (a),

feeding the first electrical signals (a) into an output device (5) that creates a document (6,

     10) having thereon legible encoded data (7) in a code that is essentially insensitive in regard to transmission errors of a telecopying system,

feeding the document (6,

     10) to a sending device (12) which scans the legible encoded data (7) on the document to produce second electrical signals (b) representative of said legible encoded data,

transmitting the second electrical signals (b) from the sending device (12) via a transmission link (14),

feeding the second electrical signal (b) to a receiving device (13) that creates a copy (15) of the document (6,

     10) from the received second signals (b), on which is produced the legible encoded data (7) in the code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of the telecopying system,

feeding the copy (15) to a reading device (17) which reads the legible encoded data (7) on the copy and converts it into corresponding third electrical signals (c),

feeding the third electrical signals (c) to a deciphering device (18) that decodes it to produce resulting decoded data, which is converted into corresponding fourth electrical signals (d), and

feeding the fourth electrical signals (d) to an output device (20) which converts the fourth signals (d) into a true copy of the original intelligible data for further processing.

2. A method according to claim 1 characterized in that the used code is essentially insensitive to the distortions that occur in the direction of the line feed in telecopying systems with a line-by-line scan in combination with the line feed (8).

3. A method according to claim 2 characterized in that the code is a binary code whose logical values can be distinguished by means of a contrast in brightness and/or color between written-on and blank sections of the document.

4. A method according to claim 3 characterized in that the code is a bar code with bars (9) being parallel to the line feed direction (8).

5. A method according to claim 4 characterized in that the legible data on the copy (15) is read by a bar code reading device (17).

6. A transmitting-end device for performing the method of claim 1, having

a ciphering device (1) into which the original data is input in order to encode it and convert the resulting encoded data into the corresponding first electric signals (a), and

an output device (5) into which the first signals (a) are fed in order to create a document (6, 1) out of them on which the data (7) is legible,

characterized in that the ciphering device (1) and the output device (5) are integrated in the transmitting-end device and that the later is destined and designed to write the legible data (7) on the document (6, 10) in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system.

7. A transmitting-end device according to claim 6 characterized in that the code being essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system is a bar code.

8. A transmitting-end device according to claim 7 characterized in that the code being essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system is a bar code.

9. A receiving-end device for performing the method of claim 1, having

a reading device (17) to which the copy is fed in order to read the legible data on the copy and convert it into third electric signals (c),

a deciphering device (18) into which the third signals are fed in order to decode the encoded data they represent and convert the resulting decoded data into fourth electric signals (d), and

an output device (20) into which the fourth signal (d) are fed in order to restore from them the original data and make them available for further processing in the form of intelligible data,

characterized in that the reading device (17), the ciphering device (18) and the output device (20) are integrated in the receiving-end device and that the latter is destined and designed to read and encode the legible data (7) on the copy (15) written in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system.

10. A method for the protected transmission of data with a telecopying system comprising a facsimile sending device (12), a facsimile receiving device (13), and a transmission link (14) in between, comprising the steps of:

inputting original intelligible data into a computerized ciphering device (1) that encodes it into resulting encoded data, which is converted into corresponding first electric signals (a);

receiving the first electrical signals (a) into an output printer device (5) that feeds a document (6,

     10) in a line feed direction (22) and prints legible bar code data (7) there in a bar code format with vertical bars (9) being substantially parallel to the line feed direction to minimize transmission errors by the telecopying system,

scanning the document (6,

     10) with a facsimile sending device (12) that reads the bar code data (7), which is converted into corresponding second electrical signal (b);

transmitting the second electrical signals (b) from the facsimile sending device (12) via a transmission link (14);

receiving the second electrical signals (b) with a receiving facsimile device (13) that produces a telecopy (15) of the document (6,

     10) by printing the legible bar code data (7) in a bar code format with bars (9) being substantially parallel to the line feed direction to minimize transmission errors by the telecopying system;

reading the copy (15) with a bar code read device (17) that converts the legible bar code data (7) on the telecopy (15) into corresponding third electrical signals (c);

decoding the third electrical signals (c) with a computerized deciphering device (18) that produces binary decoded data, which is converted into corresponding fourth electrical signals (d); and

converting the fourth signals (d) with an output device (20) into a true copy of the original intelligible data for further processing.

11. Apparatus for the protected transmission of data with a telecopying system comprising a second device (12), a receiving device (13), and a transmission link (14) in between, comprising:

a ciphering device (1) for receiving original intelligible data and encoding it into resulting encoded data, which is converted into corresponding first electric signals (a);

a first output device (5) for receiving the first electrical signals (a) and creating a document (6,

     10) having thereon legible encoded data (7) in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of the telecopying system;

a sending device (12) for receiving the document (6,

     10) and scanning the legible encoded data (7) on the document (6,

     10) to produce second electrical signals (b) representative of said legible encoded data (7);

a transmission link (14) for transmitting the second electrical signals (b) from the sending device (12);

a receiving device (13) for receiving the second electrical signals (b) and creating a copy (15) of the document (6,

     10) therefrom, by producing the legible encoded data (7) in the code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of the telecopying system;

a reading device (17) for receive the copy (15), reading the legible encoded data (7) on the copy, and converting it into corresponding third electrical signal (c);

a deciphering device (18) for receiving the third electrical signals (c) and decoding it to produce resulting decoded data, which is concerted into corresponding fourth electrical signals (d); and

a second output device (20) for receiving the fourth electrical signal (d) and converting it into a true copy of the original intelligible data for further processing.

12. Apparatus for the protected transmission of data with a telecopying system comprising a second device (12), a receiving device (13), and a transmission link (14) in between, comprising:

a ciphering device (1) for receiving original intelligible data end including it into resulting encoded data, which is converted into corresponding first electrical signals (a);

an output device (5) for receiving the first electrical signals (a) and creating a document (6,

     10) having thereon legible encoded data (7) in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system;

a sending device (12) for receiving the document (6,

     10) and scanning the legible encoded data (7) on the document (6,

     10) to produce resulting scanned data, which is converted into corresponding second electrical signals (b);

a transmission link (14) for transmitting the second electrical signals (b) from the sending device (12);

a receiving device (13) for receiving the second electrical signals (b) and creating a copy (15) of the document (6,

     10) therefrom, by producing the legible encoded data (7) in the code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system;

a reading device (17) for receiving the copy (15), reading the legible encoded data (7) on the copy, and converts it into corresponding third electrical signals (c);

a deciphering device (18) for receiving the third electrical signals (c) and decoding it to produce resulting decoded data, which is converted into corresponding fourth electrical signals (d);

an output deice (20) for receiving the fourth electrical signals (d) and converting it into a true copy of the original intelligible data for further processing;

the ciphering device (1) and the output device (5) are integrated in a transmitting-end device that prints the legible data (7) on the document (6,

     10) in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system; and

the reading device (17), the deciphering device (18) and the output device (20) are integrated in a receiving-end device that reads and encodes the legible data (7) on the copy (15) written in a code that is essentially insensitive to transmission errors of a telecopying system.

13. Apparatus for the protected transmission of data with a telecopying system comprising a facsimile sending device (12), a facsimile receiving device (13), and a transmission link (14) in between, comprising

a computerized ciphering device (1) for receiving original intelligible data and encoding it into encoded data, which is converted into corresponding first electric signals (a);

an output printer device (5) for receiving the first electrical signals (a), which feeds a document (6,

     10) in a line feed direction (22) and prints legible bar code data (7) thereon in a bar code format with vertical bars (9) being substantially parallel to the feed direction to eliminate distortion which causes transmission errors by a telecopying system;

a facsimile sending device (12) for scanning the document (6,

     10) to read the bar code data (7), which is converted into corresponding second electrical signals (b);

a transmission link (14) for transmitting the second electrical signals (b) from the facsimile send device (12);

a receiving facsimile device (13) for receiving the second electrical signals (b), which prints a telecopy (15) of the document (6,

     10) also having the legible bar code data (7) in the form of a bar code with bars (9) being substantially parallel to a line feed direction to eliminate distortion which causes transmission errors by a telecopying system;

a bar code reading device (17) for reading the copy (15) and converting the legible bar code data (7) on the telecopy (15) into corresponding third electrical signals (c);

a computerized deciphering device (18) for decoding the third electrical signals (c) to reduce resulting decoded data, which is converted into corresponding fourth electrical signals (d); and

an output device (20) for converting the fourth signal (d) into a true copy of the original intelligible data for further processing.