Printing system to output a document combining image data with data that identifies a source of the image and a printer
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMasafumi Wataya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a printing system in which unauthorized copying and reproduction are prevented by making it easy to identify the source which created or manipulated image data to be reproduced and outputted. In accordance with this printing system, image data is entered from a personal computer that generates the image data, attribute information concerning the personal computer and a printer for forming an image is acquired, identification information which specifies the personal computer and the printer is generated based upon the attribute information, this identification information is added to the image data, and an image is printed using the image data to which the identification information has been added.
Claims31
A printing system having a generating apparatus for generating image data and a forming apparatus for forming an image based upon the image data, said system comprising:
- input means for inputting the image data outputted from said generating apparatus;
- acquisition means for acquiring attribute information relating to said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus;
- identification-information generating means for generating identification information, which identifies said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus, based upon the attribute information;
- adding means for adding the image data to the identification information;
- and
- output means for outputting the image data, to which the identification information has been added by said adding means, to said forming apparatus,
- wherein said forming apparatus includes a printhead for discharging ink and for discharging processed liquid for enhancing water repellency of an image formed by the ink, and forms a pattern representing the identification information by using the processed liquid.
A printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing medium based upon image data that is inputted from a generating apparatus which generates the image data, said apparatus comprising:
- acquisition means for acquiring attribute information relating to said generating apparatus and said printing apparatus;
- identification-information generating means for generating identification information, which identifies said generating apparatus and said printing apparatus, based upon the attribute information;
- adding means for adding the image data to the identification information;
- and
- printing means for printing an image on the printing medium based upon the image data to which the identification information has been added by said adding means,
- wherein said printing means includes a printhead for discharging ink and for discharging processed liquid for enhancing water repellency of an image printed by the ink, and prints a pattern representing the identification information by using the processed liquid.
An apparatus identifying method for identifying a generating apparatus which generates image data and a forming apparatus which forms an image based upon the image data, said method comprising:
- an input step of inputting the image data outputted from said generating apparatus;
- an acquisition step of acquiring attribute information relating to said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus;
- an identification-information generating step of generating identification information, which identifies said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus, based upon the attribute information;
- an adding step of adding the image data to the identification information;
- an output step of outputting the image data, to which the identification information has been added at said adding step, to said forming apparatus;
- and
- a printing step of printing an image on a printing medium based upon the image data outputted from said output step,
- wherein said printing step prints a pattern representing the identification information using processed liquid for enhancing water repellency of an image printed by ink.
A computer program product, stored in a computer-readable storage medium, to be executed in a computer for identifying a generating apparatus which generates an image and a forming apparatus which forms an image based upon the image data, said product comprising:
- code for executing processing for inputting the image data outputted from said generating apparatus;
- code for executing processing for acquiring attribute information relating to said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus;
- code for executing processing for generating identification information, which identifies said generating apparatus and said forming apparatus, based upon the attribute information;
- code for executing processing for adding the image data to the identification information;
- code for executing processing for outputting the image data, to which the identification information has been added by said adding processing, to said forming apparatus;
- and
- code for executing processing for causing said forming apparatus to print an image on a printing medium based upon the image data to which the identification information has been added,
- wherein a pattern representing the identification information printed based on the code for executing processing for causing said forming apparatus to print is printed by using processed liquid for enhancing water repellency of an image printed by ink.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.