Image forming apparatus and electronizing method for information mentioned in paper

• US 7,881,467 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kanai, Yoichi, Yachida, Masuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiferaw; Eleni A
• Application Number:
  US11/184,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 380/246, 380/287, 380/277, 380/243, 713/176, 713/155, 713/156, 713/157, 713/158, 713/161, 713/185, 726 28- 30, 358/1.14, 358/1.15, 358/474, 705/67
• US Class Current: 380/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

An image forming apparatus configured to generate image data by reading information in a paper, includes a machine signature generation part configured to generate a first electronic signature for the image data by using a secret key peculiar to the image forming apparatus, and an operator signature generation part configured to generate a second electronic signature for the image data by using a secret key peculiar to an operator of the image forming apparatus.

Claims

1. A scanning apparatus, comprising:

an image capture device to generate image data by reading information of a paper;

an apparatus signature generation part configured to generate an electronic signature of the apparatus for the image data by using a secret key unique to the apparatus and stored in the apparatus;

a user signature generation part configured to generate an electronic signature of a user for the image data by using an IC card secret key unique to the user of the apparatus;

a signature relating part configured to embed the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data and the electronic signature of the user to the image data in a header data;

a transmitter which transmits the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, the electronic signature of the user, a public key certificate of the machine, and a public key certificate of the user to a file server;

a number generation part configured to generate a sequential number based on the generation of the image data; and

a time stamp obtaining part configured to obtain a time stamp for the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, or the image data and the electronic signature of the apparatus via a network, the time stamp being an electronic signature generated by encrypting using a secret key of a time stamp service,

wherein the apparatus signature generation part generates the electronic signature of the apparatus based on information where the sequential number is added to the image data.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the secret key unique to the user is recorded in the IC card of the user;

and

the user signature generation part generates the electronic signature to the IC card.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a displaying part configured to display the image data;

wherein the user signature generation part generates the electronic signature of the user in a case where the generation of the electronic signature of the user for the image data displayed by the displaying part is permitted.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the apparatus signature generation part generates the electronic signature of the apparatus based on information where the sequential number and the information unique to the apparatus are added to the image data.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a time stamp obtaining part configured to obtain a single time stamp for the electronic signatures of the apparatus and of the user generated at a designated time.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the signature relating part relates the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data, and relates the electronic signature of the user to the image data by embedding the electronic signature of the apparatus and the electronic signature of the user into a head area.

7. A scanning apparatus, comprising:

an image capture device to generate image data by reading information of a paper;

means for generating an electronic signature of the apparatus for the image data by using a secret key unique to the apparatus and stored in the apparatus; and

means for generating an electronic signature of a user for the image data by using an IC card a secret key unique to the user of the apparatus;

means for embedding the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data and the electronic signature of the user to the image data in a header data;

means for transmitting the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, the electronic signature of the user, a public key certificate of the machine, and a public key certificate of the user to a file server;

means for generating a sequential number based on the generation of the image data; and

means for obtaining a time stamp for the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, or the image data and the electronic signature of the apparatus via a network, the time stamp being an electronic signature generated by encrypting using a secret key of a time stamp service

wherein the means for generating the electronic signature of the apparatus generates the electronic signature of the apparatus based on information where the sequential number is added to the image data.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the secret key unique to the user is recorded in the IC card of the user;

and

the means for generating the electronic signature of the user generates the electronic signature of the user to the IC card.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

means for displaying the image data;

wherein the means for generating the electronic signature of the user generates the electronic signature of the user in a case where the generation of the electronic signature of the user for the image data displayed by the means for displaying is permitted.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7,

wherein the means for generating the electronic signature of the apparatus generates the electronic signature of the apparatus based on information where the sequential number and the information unique to the apparatus are added to the image data.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

means for obtaining a single time stamp for all of the electronic signatures of the apparatus and the user which is generated at a same time.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

the means for embedding relates the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data, and relates the electronic signature of the user to the image data by embedding the electronic signature of the apparatus and the electronic signature of the user into a head area.

13. A method for use with a scanning apparatus, comprising:

a) generating image data by reading the information on the paper using an image reading device of the apparatus;

b) generating an electronic signature of the apparatus for the image data generated in the step a), using a secret key unique to the apparatus and stored in the apparatus;

c) generating an electronic signature of a user for the image data generated in the step a), using an IC card secret key unique to the user of the apparatus;

d) embedding the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data and the electronic signature of the user to the image data in a header data;

(e) transmitting the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, the electronic signature of the user, a public key certificate of the machine, and a public key certificate of the user to a file server;

f) generating a sequential number based on the generation of the image data;

wherein the electronic signature of the apparatus is generated in the step b) based on information where the sequential number is added to the image data and

g) obtaining a time stamp for the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, or the image data and the electronic signature of the apparatus via a network, the time stamp being an electronic signature generated by encrypting using a secret key of a time stamp service.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the secret key of the user is recorded in the IC card of the user; and

the electronic signature of the user generated in the step c) is written to the IC card.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

h) displaying the image data generated in the step a);

wherein, in the step c), the electronic signature of the user is generated in a case where the generation of the electronic signature of the user to the image data displayed in the step h) is permitted.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the electronic signature of the apparatus is generated in the step b) based on information where the sequential number and the information unique to the apparatus are added to the image data.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

h) obtaining a single time stamp for the electronic signatures of the apparatus and the user which is generated at a designated time.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

the embedding relates the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data, and relates the electronic signature of the user to the image data by embedding the electronic signature of the apparatus and the electronic signature of the user into a head area.