Printing system configurable using a document key

A printing system configurable using an associated document key having an associated initial image thereon, said printing system comprising:

• an image scanning system for scanning an image on a sheet of media and outputting image data corresponding to said scanned image;
• a printing engine operative to mark an image on a sheet of media;
• a memory storing image validity data and a configuration setting;
• and,
• a controller in communication with said image scanning system, said printing engine and said memory, said controller adapted to receive image data from said image scanning system corresponding to the associated initial image on the associated document key, said controller operative to compare said image data corresponding to the associated initial image with said validity data to validate the associated initial image, and upon validating said image data said controller operative to perform at least one of:
• a) providing access to said configuration setting stored within said memory;
• and,
• b) changing said configuration setting stored within said memory.

A printing system configurable using an associated document key having an associated initial image thereon, said printing system comprising:

• a sheet media source operative to dispense associated sheets of media;
• a sheet media outlet operative to output associated sheets of media having associated markings thereon;
• a sheet media transport pathway operatively connected between said sheet media source and said sheet media outlet;
• a marking engine operatively associated with said sheet media transport pathway and adapted to generate associated markings on the associated sheets of media;
• an image scanning system operative to scan markings on associated sheets of media;
• a memory storing image validity data, overlay image data and overlay verification data;
• and,
• a controller in communication at least said marking engine, said image scanning system and said memory, said controller operative to:
• determine a validity of the associated document key using at least said image validity data;
• initiate marking of a first overlay image on the associated document key over at least a portion of the associated initial image with said first overlay image based at least in part on said overlay image data;
• and,
• verify marking of said first overlay image on the associated document key using at least said overlay verification data.

A printing system configurable using an associated document key having an associated initial image thereon, said printing system comprising:

• a printing engine operative to mark an image on a sheet of media;
• an image scanning system operative to scan an image on a sheet of media and operative to output image data corresponding to said scanned image;
• and,
• a control system in communication with said printing engine and said image scanning system, said control system operative to:
• determine a validity of the associated initial image of the associated document key based on a first quantity of image data from said image scanning system corresponding to the associated document key;
• initiate marking of a first overlay image on the associated document key over at least a portion of the associated initial image using said printing engine;
• and,
• verify marking of said first overlay image on the associated document key based on a second quantity of image data from said image scanning system corresponding to the associated document key with said first overlay image disposed over at least a portion of the associated initial image.