US 6,954,532 B1 · Selective encryption of mixed raster content layers

Abstract

What is disclosed is an image path for work flow or printing in which a scanner or image editor produces a raster image. The raster image is segmented into a background plus a plurality of objects represented as foreground, mask pairs (henceforth the background or a foreground, mask pair will be referred to as a field). Each field possesses a potentially different security level. Each security level corresponds to a public encryption key used to encrypt each layer with its corresponding security level. A publicly known file storage and transmission format that supports mixed raster content is used to store or transmit the raster image. Upon retrieval or reception, a viewer enters in a private key into a user interface. The private key can only decrypt that content to which the viewer is authorized.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for selective encryption of mixed raster content layers in an image path for work flow or printing comprising the steps of:

obtaining a raster image segmented into layers, including at least one of a background, a foreground, and a mask, wherein each of said layers possesses a different security level;
corresponding each of said different security levels to an encryption key used to encrypt each of said layers with a corresponding security level;
transmitting said raster image in mixed raster content format;
retrieving said transmitted raster image;
and
selectively decrypting said layers using the corresponding encryption key such that the content contained therein can only be viewed by an authorized viewer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Selective encryption of mixed raster content layers

Life of this patent

Selective encryption of mixed raster content layers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9