Copy restrictive system using microdots to restrict copying of color-reversal documents
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising:
- means for embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document;
detecting means for detecting the presence of one or more of the microdots in said color-reversal document; and
controlling means responsive to said detecting means for restricting a copy machine from copying the color-reversal document when a microdot is detected.
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Abstract
A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document having one or more microdots embedded in the color-reversal document. The system of detecting the presence of one or more of the embedded microdots and controllably disabling a copy machine to prevent it from copying the color-reversal document when at least one microdot is detected.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising:
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means for embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; detecting means for detecting the presence of one or more of the microdots in said color-reversal document; and controlling means responsive to said detecting means for restricting a copy machine from copying the color-reversal document when a microdot is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for restricting the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding at least one minus-yellow microdot into a color-reversal document to be copy restricted; b) detecting the presence of said at least one minus-yellow microdot in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) restricting the copy action when the at least one minus-yellow microdot is detected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document when a copy action is attempted; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
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25. A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding a plurality of microdots into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining at least one metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of at least one metric to a predetermined value or range of values to determine the presence of microdots; and e) authorizing the copying based on the determined presence or absence of microdots.
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26. A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) determining the closeness of color-reversal document pixel values to predetermined microdot values; d) determining the presence or the absence of at least one microdot on the color-reversal document based on the measures of closeness from step c); and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
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27. A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding at least one microdot into a color-reversal document; b) scanning the color-reversal document to obtain document pixel values; c) defining a threshold and a range metric that indicates the presence of microdots in the color-reversal document; d) comparing the value of the threshold metric to a predetermined threshold value and simultaneously comparing the value of the range metric to a predetermined range of values; and e) authorizing the copying based on the presence or the absence of the at least one microdot.
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28. A method for controllably enabling the copying of a color-reversal document comprising the steps of:
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a) embedding one or more microdots into a color-reversal document; b) detecting the presence of one or more microdots in the color-reversal document based on one or more characteristics of color, color shift, optical density, size, shape, profile, orientation, geometrical arrangement, or spacing; and c) enabling or disabling the copying of the color-reversal document based on the detected presence of one or more microdots.
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Specification