Image processing apparatus with forgery prevention system

Claim 2

An image processing apparatus comprising: (a) input means for inputting image data, the image data comprising at least one of first image data and second image data; (b) memory means for storing reference data in accordance with the first image data input by said input means; (c) determination means for determining if an original represented by the second image data input by said input means has a predetermined visual pattern on the basis of the reference data stored in said memory means; (d) mode setting means for setting a first mode in which the first image data is stored in said memory means as the reference data for the determination by said determination means and a second mode in which the determination by said determination means is performed by using the second image data input by said input means and the reference data stored in said memory means; (e) discrimination means for discriminating whether an operator is permitted to set the first mode by said mode setting means in order to limit a person who can make said memory means store the first image data as the reference data; and (f) control means for controlling the mode setting by said mode setting means in accordance with the discrimination result by said discrimination means.

Claim 3

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (f) area appointing means for appointing an area of an original image represented by said first image data input by said input means; wherein said memory means stores appointed image data of the area appointed by said area appointing means.

Claim 4

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (g) conversion means for converting the input image data inputted by said input means into pattern data; wherein said memory means stores the pattern data converted by said conversion means.

Claim 5

An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pattern comprises binary data.

Claim 6

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means comprises comparison means for making a comparison between the second image data input by said input means and the reference data stored in said memory means.

Claim 7

An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said control means controls to stop image forming processing in accordance with an output from said determination means.

Claim 8

An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising control means for changing image forming processing in accordance with an output from said determination means.

Claim 9

An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the change in the image forming processing comprises solely a black color output.

Claim 10

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises an image reading apparatus including a CCD sensor.

Claim 11

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: (h) change means for changing the reference data stored in said memory means.

Claim 12

An image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said change means comprises permitting means for permitting a specific person to rewrite the reference data.

Claim 13

An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said permitting means permits the writing in accordance with an identification card.

Claim 14

An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said permitting means permits the rewriting in accordance with an code input.

Claim 15

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus comprises electronic photography processing.

Claim 16

An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a random access memory (RAM).

Claim 17

An image processing apparatus for inhibiting accurate reproduction of an input image when the input image is determined to be an original having a predetermined visual pattern, comprising: (a) memory means for storing first reference data for inhibiting the accurate reproduction, the first reference data being related to a first kind of original; (b) selectively operable writing means for writing second reference data into said memory means, the second reference data being related to a second kind of original different from the first kind of original; (c) discrimination means for discriminating whether an operator is permitted to selectively operate said writing means in order to limit a person who can make said memory means store the first reference data; and (d) control means for controlling the writing means in accordance with the discrimination result by said discrimination means.

Claim 18

An image processing apparatus for inhibiting accurate reproduction of an input image when the input image is determined to be an original having a predetermined visual pattern, comprising: (a) memory means for storing first reference data for inhibiting the accurate reproduction, the first reference data being related to a first kind of original; (b) selectively operable writing means for writing second reference data into said memory means, the second reference data being related to a second kind of original different from the first kind of original; (c) discrimination means for discriminating whether an operator is permitted to selectively operate said writing means in order to limit a person who can make said memory means store the first reference data; and (d) control means for controlling the writing means in accordance with the discrimination result by said discrimination means.

Claim 19

An image processing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising: (c) input means for inputting image data, wherein the second reference data written by said writing means is inputted by said input means.

Claim 20

An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising mode setting means for setting a mode in which writing is performed by said writing means.

Claim 21

An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: (d) conversion means for converting the image data inputted by said input means into pattern data; wherein said memory means stores the pattern data converted by said conversion means.

Claim 22

An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: (e) comparison means for comparing the image data input by said input means at the time of a predetermined image forming operation and the reference data stored in said memory means.

Claim 23

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said apparatus controls to stop the image forming processing in accordance with an output from said comparison means.

Claim 24

An image processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said apparatus changes image forming processing in accordance with an output from said comparison means.

Claim 25

An image processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said change in said image forming processing is to employ a sole black color output.

Claim 26

An image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said mode setting means comprises permitting means for permitting a specific person to rewrite the reference data.

Claim 27

An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said mode setting means sets the mode on the basis of an ID card.

Claim 28

An image processing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said mode setting means sets the mode on the basis of a code input.

Claim 29

An image processing apparatus comprising: (a) input means for inputting image data, the image data comprising at least one of first image data and second image data; (b) memory means for storing reference data in accordance with the first image data input by said input means; (c) process means for processing the second image data and generating reproduction data for image forming; (d) determination means for determining if an original represented by the second image data input by said input means has a predetermined pattern on the basis of the reference data stored in said memory means; (e) first control means for controlling a condition of said image processing apparatus in accordance with the determination of said determination means; (f) mode setting means for setting a first mode in which the first image data is stored in said memory means as the reference data for the determination by said determination means and a second mode in which the determination by said determination means is performed by using the second-image data input by said input means and the reference data stored in said memory means; (g) discrimination means for discriminating whether an operator is permitted to set the first mode by said mode setting means in order to limit a person who can make said memory means store the first image data as the reference data; and (h) second control means for controlling the mode setting by said mode setting means in accordance with the discrimination results by said discriminating means.

Claim 30

An image processing apparatus comprising: (a) input means for inputting image data, the image data comprising at least one of first image data and second image data; (b) memory means for storing reference data in accordance with the first image data input by said input means; (c) process means for processing the second image data and generating reproduction data for image forming; (d) determination means for determining if an original represented by the second image data input by said input means has a predetermined pattern on the basis of the reference data stored in said memory means; (e) first control means for controlling a condition of said image processing apparatus in accordance with the determination of said determination means; (f) mode setting means for setting a first mode in which the first image data is stored in said memory means as the reference data for the determination by said determination means and a second mode in which the determination by said determination means is performed by using the second-image data input by said input means and the reference data stored in said memory means; (g) discrimination means for discriminating whether an operator is permitted to set the first mode by said mode setting means in order to limit a person who can make said memory means store the first image data as the reference data; and (h) second control means for controlling the mode setting by said mode setting means in accordance with the discrimination results by said discriminating means.

Claim 31

An image processing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: (g) area appointing means for appointing an area for the input image data input by said input means; wherein said memory means stores appointed image data of the area appointed by said area appointing means.

Claim 32

An image processing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: (h) conversion means for converting the input image data input by said input means into pattern data; wherein said memory means stores the pattern data converted by said conversion means.

Claim 33

An image processing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the pattern data comprises binary data.

Claim 34

An image processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said determination means comprises comparison means for making a comparison between the second image data input by said input means at the time of a predetermined image forming operation and the reference data stored in the memory means.

Claim 35

An image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said first control means controls to stop the image forming processing in accordance with an output from said determination means.

Claim 36

An image processing apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said first control means changes image forming processing in accordance with an output from said determination means.

Claim 37

An image processing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said change in said image forming processing is to employ a sole black color output.

Claim 38

An image processing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said mode setting means comprises permitting means for permitting a specific person can rewrite the reference data.

Claim 39

An image processing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said permission of change is conducted by using an ID card.

Claim 40

An image processing apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said permission of change is conducted by using code input.

Claim 43

A method according to claim 38, wherein the reference data is input by image reading means.

Claim 44

A method according to claim 38, wherein the reference data comprises predetermined pattern data.

Claim 45

A method according to claim 38, wherein the condition for changing the reference data is set by an operation panel.

Claim 46

A method according to claim 38, wherein the reference data is input by image reading means and then stored into a memory.

Claim 47

A method according to claim 38, wherein the reference data comprises a predetermined pattern data.

Claim 50

A method according to claim 44, wherein the reference data is input by image reading means.

Claim 51

A method according to claim 44, wherein the reference data comprises predetermined visual pattern data.

Claim 52

A method according to claim 44, wherein the condition for changing the reference data is set by an operation panel.

Claim 53

An image processing apparatus for inhibiting accurate output of an input image when the input image is determined to be an original having a predetermined visual pattern, comprising: (a) input means for inputting image data representing the original; (b) area appointing means for appointing an area of the original; and (c) memory means for storing reference data for inhibiting the accurate output in accordance with the input image data within the area appointed by said area appointing means.

Claim 54

An image processing apparatus for inhibiting accurate output of an input image when the input image is determined to be an original having a predetermined visual pattern, comprising: (a) input means for inputting image data representing the original; (b) area appointing means for appointing an area of the original; and (c) memory means for storing reference data for inhibiting the accurate output in accordance with the input image data within the area appointed by said area appointing means.

Claim 55

An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising mode setting means for setting a mode in which storing of the reference data is performed.

Claim 56

An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising: (d) conversion means for converting the image data input by said input means into pattern data, wherein said memory means stores the pattern data converted by said conversion means.

Claim 57

An apparatus according to claim 48, further comprising: (e) comparison means for comparing the image data input by said input means at the time of a predetermined image forming operation and the reference data stored in said memory means.

Claim 58

An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said apparatus controls to stop the image forming processing in accordance with an output from said comparison means.

Claim 59

An apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said apparatus changes image forming processing in accordance with an output from said comparison means.

Claim 60

An apparatus according to claim 49, wherein said mode setting means comprises permitting means for permitting a specific person to rewrite the reference data.

Claim 61

An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said mode setting means sets the mode on the basis of an ID card.

Claim 62

An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said mode setting means sets the mode on the basis of a code input.