Cryptography – Video cryptography – Copy protection or prevention
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-06
2001-02-20
Buczinski, Stephen C. (Department: 3662)
Cryptography
Video cryptography
Copy protection or prevention
C380S243000, C399S366000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192127
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing system and a color image processing apparatus for processing image signals by encrypting the signals.
2. Related Arts
Recently, as the performance of color copying machines has been improved, crimes of forging documents, such as paper monies or securities, by using these copying machines illegally have increased in number.
To prevent such crimes, a system has been studied in which data of image patterns representing documents, such as paper monies and securities, are registered in a copying machine itself beforehand, and an image identifying circuit identifies these registered data, thereby forcibly inhibiting illegal copying in accordance with the identification result. However, since the number of registrable image patterns is limited in a forgery preventing circuit of this type, it is impossible to register all available documents, such as paper monies and securities.
In addition, in the case of a color copying machine separable into a reader unit and a printer unit, even when a document consistent with a registered image pattern is to be copied, the circuit of the above sort cannot function if the original reader unit is replaced with another reader unit.
Also, connecting an unsuitable apparatus to the copying machine, even though it is not an illegal use as described above, lowers the signal level due to impedance mismatch between the two apparatuses, resulting in an adverse influence, such as an increase in noise of an image signal. This may interfere with the operation of the color copying machine main body and consequently introduce disadvantages to users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus or system capable of solving the above conventional problems.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus or system capable of preventing, with an inexpensive arrangement, illegal uses which may be caused by connecting an image processing apparatus with an inadequate interface in performing transmission/reception of image signals between the image processing apparatuses, thereby eliminating adverse influences on the main image processing apparatus to introduce no disadvantages to users.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an encrypting method suitable for multivalued image data.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus for constituting the above image processing system.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an interface or image processing system with a novel function.
In order to achieve the above objects, a preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses an image processing system in which an image processing apparatus on the transmission side comprises encrypting means for encrypting image signals, and an image processing apparatus on the reception side comprises decrypting means for decrypting encrypted signals, thereby performing encrypting for signals being transmitted.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
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Kurita Mitsuru
Nagashima Nao
Suzuki Yasumichi
Buczinski Stephen C.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
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