Copying system for preventing copying of copy-prohibited images

A copying apparatus connected with a controller through a communication line comprising:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• data storing means for storing data corresponding to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the controller through the communication line, when the image read by the reading means is decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the deciding means.

A copying apparatus connected with a controller through a communication line comprising:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• data storing means for storing data corresponding to a plurality of different types of images, each of which is prohibited from being copied;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the data stored in the data storing means;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means together with data for specifying a type of the image to the controller through the communication line, when the image read by the reading means is decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the deciding means.

A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• information storing means for storing information upon deciding whether or not the data read by the reading means corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the information stored in the information storing means;
• and
• information updating means for updating the information stored in the information storing means, according to a signal transmitted from the controller through the communication line.

A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read,
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper,
• first transmitting means for transmitting the image data to the controller through the communication line, and
• prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of the recording means in response to a signal, which prohibits copying, transmitted from the controller,
• whereas the controller comprises:
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied, and
• second transmitting means for transmitting the signal which prohibits copying to the copying apparatus through the communication line, if the deciding means decides that the data received from the copying apparatus corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of the copying apparatuses, connected with the copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which the copying apparatus comprises:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read,
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper,
• first data storing means for storing data corresponding to an outline characteristic of an image which is prohibited from being copied,
• preliminary deciding means for deciding-a possibility of whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data outputted from the reading means with the data stored in the first data storing means,
• first transmitting means for transmitting the image data read by the reading means to the controller through the communication line if the preliminary deciding means decides the possibility that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, and
• prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of the recording means in response to a signal, for prohibiting copying, outputted from the controller,
• whereas the controller comprises:
• second data storing means for storing data corresponding to a detail characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied,
• main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the second data storing means with the image data outputted from the copying apparatus, and
• second transmitting means for transmitting the signal for prohibiting copying to the copying apparatus through the communication line, when the main deciding means decides that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

An apparatus, for reading an image, connected with a controller through a communication line, comprising:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the reading means corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting a result of decision made by the deciding means to the controller, when the deciding means decides that the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied.

A copying apparatus comprising:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the recording means and the deciding means operate simultaneously;
• slowing means for slowing an operation of the recording means while the deciding means is operating;
• calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the called party by actuating the calling means when it is decided by the deciding means that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

A copying apparatus comprising:

• reading means for reading an image of an original document and outputting image data corresponding to the image read;
• recording means for recording the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line;
• transmitting means for transmitting a result of the decision made by the deciding means to the called party by actuating the calling means, when it is decided by the deciding means that the image read by the reading means corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied;
• and
• data storing means for storing data corresponding to the image which is prohibited from being copied, wherein the deciding means decides whether or not the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data from the reading means with the data stored in the data storing means, the data storing means further including:
• first storing means for storing data corresponding to an outline characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied;
• and
• second storing means for storing data corresponding to a detail charateristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied;
• the deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied further including:
• preliminary deciding means for deciding whether or not there is a possibility that the image read by the reading means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the first storing means with the image data read by the reading means;
• and
• main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image decided as the image which is prohibited from being copied by the preliminary deciding means is the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in the second storing means with the image read by the reading means.

A copying apparatus comprising:

• an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to the image read;
• a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• calling means for calling a predetermined called party via a communication line;
• and
• a transmitter which transmits a result of the decision made by said deciding means to the called party by actuating said calling means, when it is decided by said deciding means that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.

A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of said copying apparatuses, connected with said copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which said copying apparatuses comprise:

• an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to said image read;
• a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• an information memory which stores information upon deciding whether or not the data read by said image reader corresponds to an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, based on the information stored in said information memory;
• and
• information updating means for updating the information stored in said information memory, according to a signal transmitted from the controller through the communication line.

A controlling system having a plurality of copying apparatuses and a controller, for controlling each of said copying apparatuses, connected with said copying apparatuses through a communication line, in which said copying apparatuses comprise:

• an image reader which reads an image of an original document and which outputs image data corresponding to the image read;
• a printer which prints the image corresponding to the image data on paper;
• a first memory which stores data corresponding to an outline characteristic of an image which is prohibited from being copied;
• preliminary deciding means for deciding a possibility of whether or not the image read by the image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the image data outputted from said image reader with the data stored in said first memory,
• a first transmitter which transmits the image data read by said image reader to said controller through the communication line if the preliminary deciding means decides the possibility that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied, and
• prohibiting means for prohibiting an operation of said printer in response to a signal, for prohibiting copying, outputted from said controller,
• said controller comprising:
• a second memory which stores data corresponding to a detail characteristic of the image which is prohibited from being copied,
• main deciding means for deciding whether or not the image read by the image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied by comparing the data stored in said second memory with the image data outputted from said copying apparatus, and
• a second transmitter which transmits the signal for prohibiting copying to said copying apparatus through the communication line, when said main deciding means decides that the image read by said image reader corresponds to the image which is prohibited from being copied.