Image processing with anti-forgery function

• US 5,481,377 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Eiji, Takaragi, Yoichi, Kitamura, Toshiyuki, Funada, Masahiro, Udagawa, Yutaka, Ohta, Ken-ich
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/266,270
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 358/501, 358/530, 358/401, 358/468, 358/448, 355/201, 377/28, 382/17, 382/7, 340/687
• US Class Current: 358/501
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/04 Preventing copies being made of an original
• 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 1/00848 by detecting a particular original
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00867 with additional data, e.g. by adding a warning message details of embedding additional information in an image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0087 with hidden additional data, e.g. data invisible to the human eye
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00872 by image quality reduction, e.g. distortion or blacking out
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00877 Recording information, e.g. details of the job
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0088 Detecting or preventing tampering attacks on the reproduction system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

An image processing apparatus having a function for detecting a specific original decides the degree of similarity between the image represented by input image signals and the image of a specific original which is not to be allowed to be copied, e.g., currency. The image processing apparatus determines the content of the image processing in accordance with the result of the decision, and processes the input image signals on the basis of the determined content.

Claims

1. An image discriminating apparatus which is independently arranged from an image processing apparatus for processing input image information and outputting the processed information, for discriminating a predetermined image by using image data corresponding to the input image information, and generating a discrimination signal, said image discriminating apparatus comprising:

connecting means for connecting the image discriminating apparatus to the image processing apparatus; and

discriminating means for discriminating whether or not an image represented by the image data is the predetermined image, and generating the discrimination signal,

wherein said connecting means comprises an electrical signal line through which the image data is input from the image processing apparatus, and the discrimination signal is output to the image processing apparatus.

2. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising judging means for judging whether or not the image discriminating apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus by using information output from the image discriminating apparatus through said connecting means.

3. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data includes a plurality of color components.

4. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means discriminates the predetermined image, based on a color distribution of the input image.

5. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes judging means for judging whether or not the image discriminating apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus.

6. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes reading means for reading an original, and generating the image data.

7. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes color correcting means for correcting a color of the image data.

8. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes image forming means for forming an image on a medium.

9. An image discriminating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said image forming means is a bubble jet printer.