Copying machine with encryption function
AssigneePumpkin House Incorporated
InventorHideki Imai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Information is read from a medium such as paper in which information is written. The read information is enciphered. When encryption processing is performed, an encryption key is used. As the encryption key, an encryption key generated for each encryption is used, or an encryption key already generated is used again. The enciphered information is written into another medium such as paper. When decryption processing is performed, information is read from the medium in which the enciphered information is written. The read information is deciphered using as a decryption key the same key as the encryption key used when the encryption processing is performed. The deciphered information is written into another medium such as paper.
Claims29
A copying machine with an encryption function, which optically reads information from a first medium on which information is printed or described or written, and prints or describes or writes the read information on the surface of a second medium, or stores the read information in a third medium in which information is electrically, magnetically or optically stored, or which reads information from a fourth medium in which information is electrically, magnetically or optically stored and prints or describes or writes the read information on the surface of a fifth medium, comprising:
- information reading means for reading the information from said first or fourth medium;
- encryption key generating means capable of generating an encryption key for enciphering the information read by said information reading means every time encryption processing is performed;
- output command issuing means for issuing a command to output information related to the encryption key generated by said encryption key generating means;
- outputting means for outputting the information related to the encryption key generated by said encryption key generating means in response to the output command issued by said output command issuing means;
- enciphering means for enciphering the information read by said information reading means using the encryption key generated by said encryption key generating means;
- and
- information writing means for printing or describing or writing the information enciphered by said enciphering means on said second or fifth medium or storing the enciphered information in said third medium.
A cryptographic apparatus comprising:
- reading means for reading information and a first code indicating limits to be enciphered from a first medium .which is provided with the information and the first code;
- enciphering means for enciphering information, the limits of which are indicated by the first code, of the information read by said reading means using a given encryption key;
- and
- writing means for writing or printing on a second medium at least information enciphered by said enciphering means together with a second code indicating limits of the enciphered information.
A cryptographic method comprising the steps of:
- reading information and a first code indicating limits to be enciphered from a first medium which is provided with the information and the first code;
- enciphering information, the limits of which are indicated by the first code, of the information read from said first medium using a given encryption key;
- and
- writing or printing on a second medium at least the enciphered information together with a second code indicating limits of the enciphered information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.