Patent US5987127A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5987127A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image forming apparatus and copy management system
Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1997-07-15
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2017-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Additional data useful for the management of copies of a document for an image forming apparatus is embedded in a hard copy of the document. The additional data is embedded in an inherent image of a document as pixels arranged in a prescribed format, and, preferably, the size of the pixels is such as to not be easily recognized with the naked eye. The image data for embedding the additional data can be obtained by reading a document, or by receiving data sent from a computer or read from a floppy disk. Additional data embedded in a hard copy can be extracted from the image data on the hard copy, and the production of a copy according to the image data can be controlled according to the extracted additional data. For example, if the additional data means that the source of the hard copy is a secret document, copying thereof is allowed only for a legitimate user. Additional data generated for each copy is compiled and is used to manage copies of various sources systematically.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshikazu Ikenoue
- 👤 Hideo Kumashiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; H04N1/00854; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00859; H04N1/00864; H04N1/00867; H04N1/0087; H04N1/00875; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051; G06T2201/0064; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image with the same appearance as the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image with the same appearance as the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outputting device prints the image data on a sheet of paper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second reading device for reading the additional data embedded by said embedding device; an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from the additional data read by said second reading device; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted by said extracting device; wherein said embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second reading device for reading additional data embedded in a document; an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from the additional data read by said second reading device; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted by said extracting device; wherein said embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second reading device for reading additional data embedded in a document; an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from the additional data read by said second reading device; and a summing device for adding a number of copies made of the document to the additional data extracted by said extracting device and forming new additional data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from additional data read by the first reading device from a document; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted from the document by said extracting device, wherein the embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a generating device for generating image data from a source, the image data including additional data embedded therein; an extracting device for extracting the additional data from the image data; and a managing device coupled to the extracting device for managing information related to copies of the source based on the additional data extracted from the image data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a generating device for generating image data from a source, the image data including additional data embedded therein; an extracting device for extracting the additional data from the image data; and a managing device coupled to the extracting device for managing information related to copies of the source based on the additional data extracted from the image data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a summing device for determining a total number of copies of image data of a specified source based upon the additional data managed by said managing device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: an analyzing device for determining a distribution path of image data from a specified source based upon the additional data managed by said managing device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a generating device for generating image data; an extracting device for extracting additional data from the image data generated by said generating device; a processing device for processing the image data generated by said generating device; an embedding device for embedding the additional data extracted by said extracting device into the image data processed by said processing device; and an outputting device for outputting image data with the additional data embedded by said embedding device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a generating device for generating image data; an extracting device for extracting additional data from the image data generated by said generating device; a processing device for processing the image data generated by said generating device; an embedding device for embedding the additional data extracted by said extracting device into the image data processed by said processing device; and an outputting device for outputting image data with the additional data embedded by said embedding device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer, wherein the input additional data is independent of the image data of the first document.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
120 words
An image forming apparatus comprising: a first reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer, wherein the input additional data is independent of the image data of the first document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from additional data read by the first reading device from the second document; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted from the second document by said extracting device, wherein the embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a second reading device for reading additional data embedded in a document; an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from the additional data read by said second reading device; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted by said extracting device; wherein said embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the generating device includes a summing device for adding a number of copies made of the document to the additional data extracted by said extracting device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image from a document having a transmission device, the apparatus comprising: a reading device for reading an image of a document and producing image data representative of the image; a receiving device for receiving a transmission of additional data from the document; an embedding device for embedding received additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image forming apparatus for forming an image from a document having a transmission device, the apparatus comprising: a reading device for reading an image of a document and producing image data representative of the image; a receiving device for receiving a transmission of additional data from the document; an embedding device for embedding received additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; and an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a second reading device for reading additional data embedded in a document; an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from the additional data read by said second reading device; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted by said extracting device; wherein said embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
A copy management system, comprising: a reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer; and a management device for managing input additional data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
112 words
A copy management system, comprising: a reading device for reading an image of a first document and producing image data representative of the image; an inputting device for inputting additional data; an embedding device for embedding input additional data into a portion of the image data of the first document read by said first reading device; an outputting device for outputting a second document having an image similar in appearance to the image of the first document, where the image of the second document includes the additional data embedded by said embedding device and the additional data is indiscernible to a human observer; and a management device for managing input additional data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: an extracting device for extracting specified additional data from additional data read by the reading device from a document; and a generating device for generating new additional data with a relationship to the additional data extracted from the document by said extracting device, wherein the management device manages additional data extracted from the document, and wherein the embedding device embeds the new additional data into image data for a third document.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the management device manages new additional data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |