Copying system for preventing copying of copy-prohibited images

• US 5,390,003 A
• Filed: 11/30/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakatani, Keiji, Ataka, Miho, Yamaguchi, Ikunori
• Primary Examiner(s): MOSES, RICHARD L
• Application Number:
  US08/159,478
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 355/201, 355/206, 355/207, 355/203, 355/204, 355/133, 430/10, 283/902, 283/72, 356/71, 382/7
• US Class Current: 399/366
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5087 for receiving image data
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/046 by discriminating a special original, e.g. a bank note
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00843 based on recognising a copy prohibited original, e.g. a banknote pattern authentication and markers therefor, forgery detection G06V20/95; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40; testing paper currency or similar valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00851 externally to or remotely from the reproduction apparatus, e.g. using a connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00859 Issuing an alarm or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00864 Modifying the reproduction, e.g. outputting a modified copy of a scanned original details of composing or otherwise geometrically modifying originals H04N1/387

Abstract

An image forming system, for preventing forgery of paper money, a check, securities or the like, having a plurality of copying apparatuses, and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with them through a communication line. The copying apparatus includes a reader which reads an image as of the paper money, etc. and which outputs image data corresponding to the image; a printer for printing the image read by the reader on paper; a first transmitter for transmitting the image data to the controller through the communication line; and a prohibiting device for prohibiting an operation of the printer. A signal, which prohibits copying, is transmitted from the controller to the copying apparatus. The controller includes a deciding device for deciding whether or not the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied; and a second transmitter for transmitting the signal which prohibits copying to the copying apparatus through the communication line, if the deciding device decides that the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

Claims

1. A copying apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line; and

transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the called party by actuating the calling means, when it is decided by the deciding means that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

2. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting means transmits data for specifying the copying apparatus to the called party together with a result of decision made by the deciding means.

3. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deciding means and the recording means operate simultaneously.

4. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising data storing means for storing data corresponding to the image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data from the reading means with the data stored in the data storing means.

5. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising data storing means for storing data used to call the desired called party, and updating means for updating the data stored in the storing means.

6. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising data storing means for storing data used to call each of the desired called party arranged in an order of priority, wherein the called party is called one by one according to the order of priority when the called party in the highest priority cannot be called.

7. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deciding means decide whether or not the image read by the reading means is an image of a bill.

8. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising control means for controlling the recording means so as to record a predetermined image on the image corresponding to the image data read by the reading means, when the image read thereby is decided by the deciding means as the image which is prohibited from being copied.

9. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said calling means is also for deterring users from copying prohibited images.

10. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined called party includes one of a police station or a security company.

11. A copying apparatus connected with a controller through a communication line comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

data storing means for storing data corresponding to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means; and

transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the controller through the communication line, when the image read by the reading means is decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the deciding means.

12. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

state-memorizing means for collecting and storing data with respect to a state of the copying apparatus, and

transmission controlling means for controlling a timing of transmitting the data with respect to the state of the copying apparatus to the controller,

wherein the transmitting means transmits the data stored in the state-memorizing means to the controller through the communication line, based on the timing controlled by the transmission controlling means.

13. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

number-of-paper memorizing means for counting and memorizing the number of paper used by the recording means, and

transmission controlling means for controlling a timing of transmitting data of the number of paper to the controller,

wherein the transmitting means transmits the data of the number of paper stored in the number-of-paper memorizing means to the controller through the communication line, based on the timing controlled by the transmission controlled means.

14. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the transmitting means transmits data for specifying the copying apparatus to the controller together with a result of decision made by the deciding means.

15. A copying apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the deciding means decide whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to an image of a bill.

16. A copying apparatus connected with a controller through a communication line comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

data storing means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of different types of images, each of which is prohibited from being copied;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means; and

transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means together with data for specifying a type of the image to the controller through the communication line, when the image read by the reading means is decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the deciding means.

17. A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

information storing means for storing information upon deciding whether or not the data read by the reading means corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the information stored in the information storing means; and

information updating means for updating the information stored in the information storing means, according to a signal transmitted from the controller through the communication line.

18. A controlling system claimed in claim 17, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting a result of decision made by the deciding means to the controller, when the image read by the reading means is decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the deciding means.

19. A controlling system claimed in claim 17, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means is an image of a bill.

20. A controlling system claimed in claim 17, wherein the information storing means stores data of an image which is prohibited from being copied, and the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the information storing means with the image data outputted from the reading means.

21. A controlling system claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

state-memorizing means for storing data with respect to a state of the copying apparatus, and

transmission controlling means for controlling a timing of transmitting the data with respect to the state of the copying apparatus per type of data to the controller,

wherein the transmitting means transmits the data stored in the state-memorizing means to the controller through the communication line, based on the timing controlled by the transmission controlling means.

22. A controlling system claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

number-of-paper memorizing means for counting and memorizing the number of paper used by the recording means, and

transmission controlling means for controlling a timing of transmitting data of the number of paper to the controller,

wherein the transmitting means transmits the data of the number of paper stored in the number-of-paper memorizing means to the controller through the communication line, based on the timing controlled by the transmission controlling means.

23. A controlling system claimed in claim 20, in which the controller comprises:

data storing means for storing data corresponding to the image which is prohibited from being copied, and

transmitting means for transmitting the data stored in the data storing means to the copying apparatus if the data stored therein is changed.

24. A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read,

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper,

first transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the controller through the communication line, and

prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of the recording means in response to a signal, which prohibits copying, transmitted from the controller,

whereas the controller comprises;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied, and

second transmitting means for transmitting the signal which prohibits copying to the copying apparatus through the communication line, if the deciding means decides that the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

25. A controlling system as claimed in claim 24, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

data storing means for storing data corresponding to an outline characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied, and

preliminary deciding means for deciding a possibility of whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means, wherein the first transmitting means transmits the image data to the controller only if the preliminary deciding means decides the possibility that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

26. A controlling system as claimed in claim 24, in which the controller comprises display means for displaying an image corresponding to the image data outputted from the copying apparatus, when the deciding means decides that the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

27. A controlling system as claimed in claim 24, in which the controller comprises data storing means for storing data corresponding to a detail characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image data transmitted from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means.

28. A controlling system as claimed in claim 24, in which the controller comprises data storing means for storing data corresponding to different types of the images each of which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image data transmitted from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means.

29. A controlling system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means is an image of a bill.

30. A controlling system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the data stored in the data storing means can be rewritten according to an instruction transmitted from the controller.

31. A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read,

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper,

first data storing means for storing data corresponding to an outline characteristic of an image which is prohibited from being copied,

preliminary deciding means for deciding-a possibility of whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data outputted from the reading means with the data stored in the first data storing means,

first transmitting means for transmitting the image data read by the reading means to the controller through the communication line if the preliminary deciding means decides the possibility that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, and

prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of the recording means in response to a signal, for prohibiting copying, outputted from the controller,

whereas the controller comprises;

second data storing means for storing data corresponding to a detail characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied,

main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the second data storing means with the image data outputted from the copying apparatus, and

second transmitting means for transmitting the signal for prohibiting copying to the copying apparatus through the communication line, when the main deciding means decides that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

32. A controlling system as claimed in claim 31, the image which is prohibited from being copied is an image of a bill.

33. An apparatus, for reading an image, connected with a controller through a communication line, comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied; and

transmitting means for transmitting a result of decision made by the deciding means to the controller, when the deciding means decides that the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied.

34. A copying apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the recording means and the deciding means operate simultaneously;

slowing means for slowing an operation of the recording means while the deciding means is operating;

calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line; and

transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the called party by actuating the calling means when it is decided by the deciding means that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

35. A copying apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;

recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line;

transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the called party by actuating the calling means, when it is decided by the deciding means that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied; and

data storing means for storing data corresponding to the image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data from the reading means with the data stored in the data storing means, the data storing means further including;

first storing means for storing data corresponding to an outline characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied; and

second storing means for storing data corresponding to a detail charateristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied;

the deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied further including;

preliminary deciding means for deciding whether or not there is a possibility that the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the first storing means with the image data read by the reading means; and

main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the preliminary deciding means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the second storing means with the image read by the reading means.

36. A copying apparatus comprising:

an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to the image read;

a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line; and

a transmitter which transmits a result of the decision made by said deciding means to the called party by actuating said calling means, when it is decided by said deciding means that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

37. A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of said copying apparatuses, connected with said copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which said copying apparatuses comprise:

an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to said image read;

a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

an information memory which stores information upon deciding whether or not the data read by said image reader corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;

deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the information stored in said information memory; and

information updating means for updating the information stored in said information memory, according to a signal transmitted from the controller through the communication line.

38. A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of said copying apparatuses, connected with said copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which said copying apparatuses comprise:

an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to the image read;

a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;

a first memory which stores data corresponding to an outline characteristic of an image which is prohibited from being copied;

preliminary deciding means for deciding a possibility of whether or not the image read by the image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data outputted from said image reader with the data stored in said first memory,

a first transmitter which transmits the image data read by said image reader to said controller through the communication line if the preliminary deciding means decides the possibility that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, and

prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of said printer in response to a signal, for prohibiting copying, outputted from said controller,

said controller comprising;

a second memory which stores data corresponding to a detail characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied,

main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in said second memory with the image data outputted from said copying apparatus, and

a second transmitter which transmits the signal for prohibiting copying to said copying apparatus through the communication line, when said main deciding means decides that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.