Image forming apparatus, method, and system for encrypting or decrypting portion of image

• US 8,526,063 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Printing Korea Co., Ltd. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Hae-Kee, Lee, Ho-Keun
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A
• Application Number:
  US12/805,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20110058225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 358/3.28, 358/1.14, 358/526, 358/470, 382/100, 380/55, 235/487, 235/494, 283/73, 283/113, 283/114, 283/902, 713/189, 399/366
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32272 Encryption or ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/902 Anti-photocopy

Abstract

An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus includes a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image, a conversion unit to convert the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format, an encryption unit to encrypt the data in the predetermined format and to generate an encryption pattern from the encrypted data, and an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image.

Claims

1. An image processing method of an image forming apparatus, the image processing method comprising:

receiving a scanned image as an input image;

detecting whether or not the input image includes a specific pattern;

if it is detected that the input image includes a specific pattern, encrypting the detected specific pattern in a predetermined format, and generating an encryption pattern;

detecting and decrypting the encryption pattern, and generating a decryption pattern; and

outputting one of an image including the encryption pattern and an image including the decryption pattern.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific pattern comprises at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, and figures.

3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the specific pattern is received from at least one of a user interface (UI) screen provided on a portion of the image forming apparatus, an external apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus, and a host apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus.

4. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined format comprises at least one of a one dimensional bar code, a two dimensional bar code, and a form of mapping the specific pattern with at least one color.

5. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the generating generates the decryption pattern upon a user authentication.

6. An image processing method of an image forming apparatus, the image processing method comprising:

receiving an image including an encryption pattern as an input image;

detecting whether or not the input image includes an encryption pattern;

if it is detected that the input image includes an encryption pattern, decrypting the encryption pattern, and generating a decryption pattern; and

outputting an image including the decryption pattern.

7. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an input unit to receive a scanned image as an input image;

a detection unit to detect whether or not the input image includes a specific pattern;

an encryption unit to encrypt a detected specific pattern in a predetermined format, and generate an encryption pattern if it is detected that the input image includes the specific pattern;

a decryption unit to detect and decrypt the encryption pattern, and to generate a decryption pattern; and

an output unit to output one of an image including the encryption pattern and an image including the decryption pattern.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the specific pattern comprises at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, and figures.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the specific pattern is received from at least one of a user interface (UI) screen provided on a portion of the image forming apparatus, an external apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus, and a host apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined format comprises at least one of a one dimensional bar code, a two dimensional bar code, and a form of mapping the specific pattern with at least one color.

11. An image forming system comprising a host apparatus comprising a display unit and an image forming apparatus being connected to the host apparatus, the image forming system comprising:

the image forming apparatus to scan a printing medium bearing an image and to transfer the scanned image to the host apparatus; and

if it is detected that the transferred image includes a specific pattern, the host apparatus to generate an encryption pattern in which the detected specific pattern is encrypted in a predetermined format, to generate a decryption pattern in which the encryption pattern is decrypted, and to output one of an image including the encryption pattern and an image including the decryption pattern on the display unit.

12. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the specific pattern comprises at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, and figures.

13. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the specific pattern is received from at least one of a user interface (UI) screen provided on a portion of the image forming apparatus, an external apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus, and a host apparatus being connected to the image forming apparatus.

14. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined format comprises at least one of a one dimensional bar code, a two dimensional bar code, and a form of mapping the specific pattern with at least one color.

15. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein if a preset event occurs, the image forming apparatus outputs an image including the encryption pattern on a printing medium.

16. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein if a preset event occurs, the image forming apparatus outputs an image including the decryption pattern on a printing medium.

17. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the host apparatus encrypts the detected specific pattern in a hyperlink format.

18. The image forming system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a web server to be connected to the host apparatus over network, and to store information regarding the detected specific pattern,

wherein the host apparatus decrypts an encryption pattern which has been encrypted in the hyperlink format using the information provided by the web server, and displays the decrypted pattern on the display unit.

19. A method of forming an image in an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image;

converting the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format;

encrypting the data in the predetermined format and generating an encryption pattern from the encrypted data; and

outputting an output image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image.

20. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein the specific pattern comprises at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, and figures.

21. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined format comprises at least one of a one dimensional bar code, a two dimensional bar code, and a form of mapping a pattern using at least one color.

22. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein the specific pattern is only converted into the encrypted format when it is detected that the input image includes the specific pattern.

23. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein when it is detected that the input image does not include the specific pattern, the image is output without change.

24. The image processing method according to claim 19, wherein the image forming apparatus outputs the output image.

25. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes a specific pattern as a portion of the image;

a conversion unit to convert the specific pattern into data in a predetermined format;

an encryption unit to encrypt the data in the predetermined format and to generate an encryption pattern from the encrypted data; and

an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the encryption pattern rather than the specific pattern in the output image.

26. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the specific pattern comprises at least one of numbers, letters, symbols, and figures.

27. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the predetermined format comprises at least one of a one dimensional bar code, a two dimensional bar code, and a form of mapping a pattern using at least one color.

28. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the specific pattern is only converted into the encrypted format when it is detected that the input image includes the specific pattern.

29. The image forming apparatus according to claim 25, wherein when the pattern detecting unit detects that the input image does not include the specific pattern, the output unit outputs the input image without change.

30. An image processing method of an image forming apparatus, the image processing method comprising:

detecting whether an input image includes an encryption pattern as a portion of the input image;

decrypting the encryption pattern and generating a decryption pattern from the decrypted encryption pattern, when it is detected that the input image includes the encryption pattern; and

outputting, using the image forming apparatus, an output image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the decryption pattern rather than the encryption pattern in the output image.

31. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a pattern detection unit to detect whether an input image includes an encryption pattern as a portion of the input image;

a decryption unit to decrypt the encryption pattern and to generate a decryption pattern from the decrypted encryption pattern, when it is detected that the input image includes the encryption pattern; and

an output unit to output an image that is similar to the input image except for the portion of the image, which includes the decryption pattern rather than the encryption pattern in the output image.