Image producing device with security to prevent disclosure of sensitive documents
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information in an image producing device, said apparatus comprising:
- means for determining access rights of a first operator, said access rights indicating an access level of said first operator;
sensing means for sensing whether output from a previous job is present in said image producing device;
means for preventing operation of said image producing device in response to signals from said sensing means and said access level of said first operator; and
means for inhibiting clearing of said output from a previous job from said image producing device if said access level is less than a predetermined level.
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Abstract
An image producing device such as a copier or a printer includes sensors for determining the presence of output from a previous job in the paper path or a finishing device. A particular operator'"'"'s access rights are determined through a login process. Depending on the operator'"'"'s access level, i.e., authority to view sensitive documents, the image producing device enables a purge of the existing sensitive documents or electronic images or prevents operation until an authorized operator initiates a purge.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information in an image producing device, said apparatus comprising:
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means for determining access rights of a first operator, said access rights indicating an access level of said first operator; sensing means for sensing whether output from a previous job is present in said image producing device; means for preventing operation of said image producing device in response to signals from said sensing means and said access level of said first operator; and means for inhibiting clearing of said output from a previous job from said image producing device if said access level is less than a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive documents in an image producing device having a paper path, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining access rights of a first operator, said access rights indicating an access level of said first operator; sensing whether output from a previous job is present in said paper path; preventing operation of said image producing device if output is present in said paper path and if said access level is less than a predetermined level; and inhibiting clearing of said output from a previous job from said paper path if said access level is less than said predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information in an image producing device, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining access rights of an operator, said access rights indicating an access level of said operator; sensing whether electronic image output from a previous job is present in said image producing device; preventing operation of said image producing device if electronic image output is present in said image producing device; and inhibiting clearing of said output from a previous job from said image producing device if said access level is less than a predetermined level.
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22. An apparatus for preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information in an image producing device having a plurality of output bins, said apparatus comprising:
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means for determining identification information of said operator; means for determining access rights of said operator; means for directing said output of said image producing device to a specific one of said plurality of output bins based on said identification information of said operator; sensing means for sensing whether output from a previous job is present in said image producing device; means for preventing operation of said image producing device in response to signals from said sensing means and said operator access rights; and means for automatically purging said output from a previous job in said image producing device in response to said signals from said sensing means and said operator access rights, wherein said means for automatically purging comprises means for directing said output to an additional output bin separate from said plurality of output bins.
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23. A method of preventing unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information in an image producing device having a plurality of output bins, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining identification information of said operator; determining access rights of said operator; directing said output of said image producing device to a specific one of said plurality of output bins based on said identification information of said operator; sensing whether output from a previous job is present in said image producing device; preventing operation of said imaging producing device in response to signals from said sensing means and said operator access rights; and automatically purging said output from a previous job in said image producing device in response to said signals from said sensing means and said operator access rights, wherein said means for automatically purging comprises means for directing said output to an additional output bin separate from said plurality of output bins.
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Specification