Methods and systems for securing confidential content of a document while printing and/or generating a copy of the document

A method for protecting confidential content of a user while generating one or more copies of a printed document, the method comprising:

• receiving the printed document comprising an infrared (IR) mark that further comprises one or more coordinates of a confidential area comprising confidential content in the printed document;
• scanning the printed document;
• while scanning the printed document, identifying the IR mark;
• identifying and retrieving the one or more coordinates of the confidential area as stored in the IR mark;
• and
• based on the one or more coordinates of the confidential area, masking the confidential content in the confidential area using, while generating the one or more copies of the printed document, thereby securing the confidential content of the user.

A method for protecting confidential content of a document while reproducing the document, the method comprising;

• receiving a print request from a user to print the document;
• providing a user interface to the user comprising a secure option, wherein the secure option further comprises a partial secure option to secure partial content of the document;
• based on the selection of the partial secure option, receiving a selection of a confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document;
• based on the selection of the confidential area in the document, calculating one or more coordinates of the confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document;
• embedding an infrared (IR) mark in the document while printing the document;
• embedding the one or more coordinates of the confidential area in the IR mark, while embedding the IR mark in the document;
• outputting a printed document comprising the IR mark comprising the one or more coordinates of the confidential area for later use and/or access, upon completion of printing the document;
• receiving a request for reproducing the printed document comprising the IR mark that further comprises the one or more coordinates of the confidential area;
• based on the one or more coordinates of the confidential area in the IR mark, identifying the confidential area comprising the confidential content;
• and
• while reproducing one or more copies of the printed document, masking the confidential area comprising the confidential content while remaining content is output as-is.

A system for allowing a user to secure confidential content of a document while printing the document, the system comprising:

• a print driver for:
• receiving a print request from the user to print the document;
• providing a user interface to the user comprising a secure option, wherein the secure option further comprises a partial secure option to secure partial content of the document;
• based on the selection of the partial secure option, receiving a selection of a confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document;
• based on the selection of the confidential area in the document, calculating one or more coordinates of the confidential area in the document;
• and
• sending at least the document and the one or more coordinates of the confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document for further processing;
• and
• a multi-function device communicatively coupled to the print driver for:
• receiving at least the document and the one or more coordinates of the confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document for printing;
• embedding an infrared (IR) mark in the document while printing;
• embedding the one or more coordinates of the confidential area comprising the confidential content in the IR mark, while embedding the IR mark in the document;
• and
• outputting a printed document comprising the IR mark that comprises the one or more coordinates of the confidential area, upon completion of printing the document.

A multi-function device for protecting confidential content of a user while generating one or more copies of a document, the multi-function device comprising:

• a scanning platform for receiving a printed version of the document comprising an IR mark that further comprises one or more coordinates of a confidential area comprising the confidential content in the printed document;
• a scanner for scanning the printed document;
• and
• a controller for:
• while scanning the printed document, identifying the IR mark;
• identifying and retrieving the one or more coordinates of the confidential area, stored in the IR mark;
• based on the one or more coordinates of the confidential area, masking the confidential content in the confidential area, while generating the one or more copies of the printed document, thereby securing the confidential content of the user.

A device for protecting confidential content of a document while reproducing the document, the device is for:

• receiving the document for printing from a user;
• before printing, providing a user interface to the user having a secure option, wherein the secure option further comprises a partial secure option to secure partial content of the document;
• based on the selection of the partial secure option, receiving a selection a confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document;
• based on the selection of the confidential area in the document, calculating one or more coordinates of the confidential area comprising the confidential content in the document;
• embedding an infrared (IR) mark in the document while printing the document;
• embedding the one or more coordinates of the confidential area in the IR mark, while embedding the IR mark in the document;
• outputting a printed document comprising the IR mark comprising the one or more coordinates of the confidential area, upon completion of printing the document for later use and/or access;
• receiving a request for reproducing the printed document comprising the IR mark that further comprises the one or more coordinates of the confidential area;
• based on the one or more coordinates in the IR mark, identifying the confidential area comprising the confidential content;
• and
• while reproducing one or more copies of the printed document, masking the confidential area comprising the confidential content while remaining content is output as-is.