Apparatus and method for image processing and print system for preventing forgery

• US 6,980,308 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Hirotomo, Masaki, Kenji, Kawakami, Chiho
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, King Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Divine, Lucas
• Application Number:
  US09/880,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.14, 382/135, 382/137, 382/181, 399/366, 399/367, 399/373, 399/388
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1238 Secure printing, e.g. user identification, user rights for device usage, unallowed content, blanking portions or fields of a page, releasing held jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/20 Testing patterns thereon G07D7/004, G07D7/005 take precedence
• 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 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus

Abstract

In an image processor in a print system, an output device processes input data and outputs the processed data, while a detector detects whether data of a specified pattern is included in the input data or in the processed data, in parallel to the data processing by the output device. A stop controller makes the output device stop to output the processed data at an irregular timing after the detector detects the specified pattern. The printer prints an image on a sheet of paper, based on the data outputted by the output device. Thus when the specified pattern in an image is detected, the printing is stopped but the stop position becomes irregular.

Claims

1. A print system including an image processor and a printer which prints data received from said image processor;

wherein said image processor comprises;

an output device which processes input data and outputs the processed data;

a detector which detects whether data of a specified pattern is included in the input data, in parallel to the data processing by said output device; and

a stop controller which makes said output device stop to output the processed data at an irregular timing after said detector detects the specified pattern;

wherein said printer prints an image on a sheet of paper, based on the data outputted by said output device; and

a timing generator which generates a random timing, wherein said stop controller makes said output device stop to output the processed data at the timing generated by said timing generator after said detector detects the specified pattern.

2. The print system according to claim 1, said image processor further comprising a transmitter which transmits a reset signal for clearing data stored in a buffer in the printer when the specified pattern is detected by said detector.

3. An image processor comprising:

an output device which processes input data and outputs the processed data;

a detector which detects whether data of a specified pattern is included in the input data, in parallel to the data processing by said output device; and

a stop controller which makes said output device stop to output the processed data at an irregular timing after said detector detects the specified pattern; and

a timing generator which generates a random timing, wherein said stop controller makes said output device stop to output the processed data at the timing generated by said timing generator after said detector detects the specified pattern.

4. The image processor according to claim 3, further comprising:

a memory device which stores the input data or the processed data.

5. The image processor according to claim 3, wherein said output device outputs the processed data to a printer which prints an image on a sheet of paper.

6. The image processor according to claim 5, further comprising a transmitter which transmits a reset signal to clear data stored in a buffer in the printer when the specified pattern is detected by said detector.

7. A computer readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program comprising the steps of:

processing input data and outputs the processed data; and

detecting whether a specified pattern is included in the input data, in parallel to the data processing of the input data;

wherein the output of the processed data is stopped at an irregular timing when the specified pattern is detected; and

the step of generating a random timing, wherein the processed data is stopped to be outputted at the random timing after said detector detects the specified pattern.

8. The storage medium according to claim 7, wherein in said processing step the processed data is outputted to a printer.

9. A method of image processing comprising the steps of:

processing input data and outputting the processed data;

generating a random timing; and

detecting whether a specified pattern is included in the input data or, in parallel to the data processing of the input data;

wherein the output of the processed data is stopped at the generated timing after the specified pattern is detected.

10. An image processor comprising:

an output device which processes input data and outputs the processed data;

a detector which detects whether data of a specified pattern is included in the input data, in parallel to the data processing by said output device; and

in parallel to the data processing by said output device; and

a stop controller which makes said output device stop to output the processed data at an irregular timing after said detector detects the specified pattern; and

a transmitter which transmits a command signal to the printer for feeding a sheet of paper reversely on which an image is formed based on the processed data when the specified pattern is detected by said detector;

wherein said output device outputs the processed data to a printer which prints an image on a sheet of paper.

11. A print system including an image processor and a printer which prints data received from said image processor;

wherein said image processor comprises;

an output device which processes input data and outputs the processed data;

a detector which detects whether data of a specified pattern is included in the input data, in parallel to the data processing by said output device; and

a stop controller which makes said output device stop to output the processed data at an irregular timing after said detector detects the specified pattern;

wherein said printer prints an image on a sheet of paper, based on the data outputted by said output device; and

a transmitter which transmits a command signal to the printer for feeding a sheet of paper reversely on which an image is formed based on the processed data when the specified pattern is detected by said detector, said printer further comprising a feeder which feeds a sheet of paper reversely in the middle of printing in response to the command signal received from said transmitter.

12. The print system according to claim 11, wherein said printer prints on the sheet which has been fed reversely with a specified color different from that of a document image after feeding the sheet of paper reversely.