Method, program, and apparatus for detecting a copy-prohibited document and prohibiting a reproduction of the detected copy prohibited document

An image processing method performed by an image processing apparatus capable of performing at least one of a function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation, the image processing method comprising:

• storing information specifying a basic dot pattern including a plurality of dots in a memory;
• reading an original image having image data embedded with a composite pattern, wherein the composite pattern is generated by 1) providing two basic patterns including a first basic pattern, and a second basic pattern generated by turning the first basic pattern by a specific degree of angle;
• and 2) combining the first basic pattern and the second basic pattern such that at least one of the plurality of dots included in the first basic pattern is exactly superimposed on at least one of the plurality of dots included in the second basic pattern;
• extracting a dot pattern that is identical to the basic dot pattern specified by the information stored in the memory from the composite pattern embedded in the original image as a detected dot pattern;
• determining whether the original image is an anti-copy document based on the detected dot pattern to generate a determination result;
• and
• controlling the at least one function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation according to the determination result indicating whether the original image is an anti-copy document.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for carrying out an image processing method, when executed on an image processing apparatus capable of performing at least one of a function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation, the method comprising:

• storing information specifying a basic dot pattern including a plurality of dots in a memory;
• reading an original image having image data embedded with a composite pattern, wherein the composite pattern is generated by 1) providing two basic patterns including a first basic pattern, and a second basic pattern generated by turning the first basic pattern by a specific degree of angle;
• and 2) combining the first basic pattern and the second basic pattern such that at least one of the plurality of dots included in the first basic pattern is exactly superimposed on at least one of the plurality of dots included in the second basic pattern;
• extracting a dot pattern that is identical to the basic dot pattern specified by the information stored in the memory from the composite pattern embedded in the original image as a detected dot pattern;
• determining whether the original image is an anti-copy document based on the detected dot pattern to generate a determination result;
• and
• controlling the at least one function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation according to the determination result indicating whether the original image is an anti-copy document.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program product for carrying out an image processing method, when executed on an image processing apparatus capable of performing at least one of a function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation, the image processing method comprising:

• storing information specifying a basic dot pattern including a plurality of dots in a memory;
• reading an original image having image data embedded with a composite pattern, wherein the composite pattern is generated by 1) providing two basic patterns including a first basic pattern, and a second basic pattern generated by turning the first basic pattern by a specific degree of angle;
• and 2) combining the first basic pattern and the second basic pattern such that at least one of the plurality of dots included in the first basic pattern is exactly superimposed on at least one of the plurality of dots included in the second basic pattern;
• extracting a dot pattern that is identical to the basic dot pattern specified by the information stored in the memory from the composite pattern embedded in the original image as a detected dot pattern;
• determining whether the original image is an anti-copy document based on the detected dot pattern to generate a determination result;
• and
• controlling the at least one function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation according to the determination result indicating whether the original image is an anti-copy document.