An information processing system includes image capturing devices, an information processing apparatus, and processing circuitry. The image capturing devices are disposed to capture images of a management area. The information processing apparatus recognizes a code image corresponding to an object to be managed in the management area, from a captured image captured by the image capturing devices, and manages a location of the object. The processing circuitry sets address identification information associated with position information in the management area to a region of the captured image; based on recognition of the code image in the region, manages the position information associated with the address identification information set for the region, as a location of the object corresponding to the code image; and commonly sets one piece of the address identification information associated with the position information, for regions of different captured images captured by the image capturing devices.

A printing system includes a first printing unit that performs printing using a material that exhibits structural color, based on first data, a second printing unit that performs printing using a material that includes pigment, based on second data, and a control apparatus that outputs the first data and the second data; he first data causes the first printing unit to print the first personal information items of a first information group in respective regions, and an item of identification information linked to the first information group; and the second data causes the second printing unit to print the second personal information items of a second information group linked to the item of identification information on the corresponding respective regions on which the first personal information items corresponding to the respective second personal information items have been printed.

In an example method, a first dot pattern of shadow dots and second dot pattern of highlight dots is generated. The first dot pattern and second dot pattern include information to be encoded across the image. The first dot pattern and the second dot pattern are mapped to a corresponding subset of the greyscale source pixels, the greyscale source pixels corresponding to an image to be printed. A value of a greyscale pixel in the subset of the greyscale source pixels is modified based on a predetermined threshold pixel value. The value of the greyscale pixel is set to a highlight dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold pixel value is exceeded or set to a shadow dot value in response to detecting that the predetermined threshold value is not exceeded. The image including the subset of pixels with modified values is printed.

An image forming apparatus has an input portion that receives original image data, a control portion that generates output image data based on the original image data, a printing portion that performs printing based on the output image data, and a storage portion. The storage portion stores associated color information that defines colors associated with a plurality of prescribed processes respectively. When generating the output image data, the control portion, if the original image data includes a marked region, performs, out of the plurality of processes, the process associated with the color of the marked region.

An electronic document managing apparatus for managing an electronic document includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains the electronic document and manages an approval state of the obtained electronic document. In response to receiving an instruction to output the electronic document, the hardware processor refers to the approval state. The hardware processor permits the output of an approved electronic document only when all of a predesignated approver has approved the electronic document, the approved electronic document being the electronic document bearing a seal image of all of the approver. The hardware processor does not permit the output of the electronic document bearing any of the seal image when any of the approver has not approved the electronic document yet.

An information processing apparatus includes a processor configured to store a storage range identifier for identification of a range of a location at which image data is stored in a data storing apparatus, and an identifier common to an identifier that is retained by the data storing apparatus, transmit read image data and the identifier to the data storing apparatus, generate a storage position identifier for identification of a position at which the read image data is stored, the storage position identifier being generated by using the storage range identifier and a character string that is generated by an algorithm common to an algorithm in the data storing apparatus, and transmit the generated storage position identifier to a terminal that uses the image data stored at the position that is identified by using the storage position identifier.

A method for providing watermark to subscribers is provided. The method comprises observing a request for a first content from a subscriber, determining if the subscriber can receive a watermark, generating a second content comprising the watermark if the subscriber can receive a watermark, causing the subscriber to fetch the first content, and causing the subscriber to fetch the second content comprising the watermark overlaying the first content.

A method for producing security elements in an image which are not visible to the human eye and which cannot be copied, in particular for checking the authenticity of images. The image is imaged by means of a halftone, the halftone consisting of individual image dots arranged adjacent to each other. This is characterized in that at least one field having a random geometric shape or freeform is defined in the image/the halftone. By means of manipulation of image dots in the field and/or by means of manipulation of the entire field, an encrypted information that cannot be copied is stored for comparison with at least one database and the serial number is displayed by means of contours formed in the halftone.

A method for checking the authenticity of products, by checking an image (A) of a product. The proof of authenticity is not visible to the human eye and cannot be copied. This is characterized in that a code stored in a halftone image by manipulation of dots and/or a manipulated field bounded in the halftone image can be read by means of an optical device and compared with a retrievable value in at least one database. In at least one field (F1 to F5) a part of a serial number is determined which describes the structure of the serial number and a hash function used for transmitting the serial number to the database, and this is also characterized in that the serial number is subsequently assembled and encrypted with the corresponding hash function.

In an example method, a set of source pixels corresponding to an image to be printed and a dot pattern of pixels including information to be encoded across the image are received. The dot pattern of pixels is mapped to a corresponding subset of the source pixels. A value of a clipping channel color in the subset of the source pixels is modified based on an original value of the clipping channel color for each pixel in the subset. The clipping channel color is used to detect the dot pattern of pixels. The image including the subset of pixels with modified clipping channel colors is printed.