Common access card security and document security enhancement

A computer-implemented method for authenticating a device's user, the method comprising:

• the device reading, from a card, information that indicates one or more characteristics that are associated with the user;
• the device locating a mapping between (a) the one or more characteristics and (b) a set of privileges;
• the device determining, based on the set of privileges, whether the user is allowed to cause the device to perform an operation that the user seeks to cause the device to perform;
• and
• if the user is allowed to cause the device to perform the operation, then the device performing the operation;
• and
• if the user is not allowed to cause the device to perform the operation, then the device refraining from performing the operation;
• wherein the one or more characteristics are shared by one or more users other than the user.

A computer-implemented method for document replication, the method comprising:

• a device reading, from a card, information that indicates one or more characteristics that are associated with a user that bears the card;
• and
• the device generating a replica of a document in response to the user causing the device to generate the replica;
• wherein, in generating the replica of the document, the device adds, to the replica, information that is based on the one or more characteristics;
• wherein the one or more characteristics are not indicated in the document.

A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• reading, from a card, information that indicates one or more characteristics that are associated with a user that bears the card;
• and
• generating a replica of a document in response to the user causing a device that comprises the one or more processors to generate the replica;
• wherein, in generating the replica of the document, the device adds, to the replica, information that is based on the one or more characteristics;
• wherein the one or more characteristics are not indicated in the document.

A computer-implemented method for authenticating a device's user, the method comprising:

• the device reading information from a card that stores information about the user;
• the device determining, based on the information, whether the user is authorized to use the device;
• if the user is authorized to use the device, then the device allowing the user to use one or more functions of the device;
• and
• if the user is not authorized to use the device, then the device preventing the user from using one or more functions of the device;
• wherein the device is at least one of:
• (a) a printer, (b) a photocopier, (c) a scanner, (d) a fax machine, and (e) a multi-function peripheral.