An image reading apparatus includes: a hardware processor that acquires scan data obtained by reading from printed matter outputted by an image forming apparatus; an acquisitor that acquires print data used for image formation of the printed matter from the image forming apparatus; a first determiner that compares the scan data and the print data and detects whether or not the scan data and the print data match; a second determiner that determines whether or not a predetermined reference image is included in the scan data when a determination result by the first determiner is negative; and a first discarder that causes the scan data to be discarded when a determination result by the second determiner is positive.

A copy method used in a cloud server and a peripheral apparatus connected to the cloud server through a network includes steps of: scanning a document by the peripheral apparatus to obtain old image data containing an old information block; transmitting the old information block to the cloud server through the network; generating a new information block based on the old image data by the cloud server, wherein the cloud server generates the new information block being different from the old information block and containing new copy information according to old copy information; transmitting the new information block from the cloud server to the peripheral apparatus; and printing out new image data, containing the new copy information and a portion of the old image data, on a medium by the peripheral apparatus.

A first pattern and the second pattern in an original include relatively lighter markings within a relatively darker background. The first pattern differs from the second pattern by including non-printing patches between the relatively lighter markings. When the original is exposed to ultraviolet light, the underlying print media fluoresces in response to the ultraviolet light at the non-printing patches, revealing hidden security printing features. When a scanned image is printed on a second sheet of print media to produce a copy of the original, the copy lacks distinct markings at locations where the relatively lighter markings and the non-printing patches appear in the original because the spacing interval of the relatively lighter markings and the non-printing patches is below the minimum resolution of the scanner. Thus, when the copy is exposed to ultraviolet light, the copy does not fluoresce the ultraviolet light where the non-printing patches appear in the original.

An information processing apparatus includes a setting unit, a detector and a controller. The setting unit sets setting information associating a registered image obtained by reading an image with control information indicating whether input image data is to be stored or not. The detector detects the registered image from the input image data. The controller controls whether or not the input image data including the registered image is stored in a storage based on the setting information.

A reading device includes a light source, an imaging element, a controller, a correcting unit, and a notifying unit. The light source is configured to irradiate an object with light. The imaging element is configured to receive and read the light from the object. The controller is configured to control a second reading operation of reading the object with an invisible image. The correcting unit is configured to perform correction with respect to the invisible image. The notifying unit is configured to notify an outside of at least the invisible image corrected.

An image forming apparatus has an image reading portion generating document image data, a job execution portion executing a job based on the document image data, a control portion controlling the job execution portion, and a storage portion storing a registered signature image. The control portion determines the degree of match between a document signature image present in the document image data and the registered signature image. The control portion permits execution of the job when the degree of match is equal to or higher than a first threshold value and inhibits execution of the job when the degree of match is lower than the first threshold value.

A copy method used in a copy system or a copy apparatus connected to a cloud server includes steps of: scanning a document to obtain old image data containing an old information block; generating new image data containing a new information block according to the old image data; printing the new image data on a medium; and comparing different generations of original image data, one of which is contained in the old image data, in the cloud server to judge whether improper modifications are present on the original image data or not, and notifying an information office to perform an inspection when the improper modifications are present.

A determination device selects a determination area included in a captured image acquired by an imaging data acquisition device, extracts a determination image of a preset target color from the selected determination area, binarizes gradation data of the target color in pixel regions constituting the extracted determination image by using a binarization threshold suitable for each determination area to acquire binarized reference binary data of the determination image, converts the gradation data of the target color in the pixel regions constituting the extracted determination image with respect to a dark portion of the determination image to acquire converted gradation data, binarizes the acquired converted gradation data by using the binarization threshold to acquire comparison binary data, and acquires, based on comparing the reference binary data with the comparison binary data, a determination value for determining a printing method used to produce a printed surface of a printed product.

A method of detecting a digital stamp pattern involves operating a scanning device to create a page image scanned from a document page, inputting the page image into a one-shot trained neural network, the one-shot trained neural network configured to recognize a copy-guard digital stamp pattern using one-shot learning, analyzing the page image using the one-shot trained neural network to detect the copy-guard digital stamp pattern, and on condition the copy-guard digital stamp pattern is detected, issuing an electronic alert.

An embedding component is described which embeds information in a scanned document. The embedding component includes a document acquisition component, which acquires a scanned document from an associated scanning device. An information acquisition component acquires variable information associated with the scanned document. An encoding component generates a machine-readable representation of the variable information. A pattern insertion component uses the machine-readable representation to insert at least one machine readable pattern in the scanned document, to generate a modified document. An output component outputs the modified document to an associated output device, such that when the modified document is rendered on print media, the machine-readable pattern is not noticeable to the unaided eye of a person. A processor implements the document acquisition component, information acquisition component, encoding component, pattern insertion component, and output component.