A printed document manager manages printed documents and is separate from a Document Management System (DMS) that manages electronic soft copy documents also known as source documents. Documents in a DMS repository are registered in a postmark registry by a registration agent. When a document that is registered in the postmark registry is printed, a graphical symbol referred to as a “postmark” is generated and inserted into the print stream so the postmark is printed on the hard copy of the document. The printed document is logged in a printed document store along with metadata associated with the printed document. The postmark on the printed document can be used for one or more purposes, such as to determine whether the printed document can be shredded after use and to determine whether the printed document is current.

Systems and methods for managing digital identities. In some embodiments, a method is provided, comprising acts of: receiving a request to validate at least one statement about a user; identifying, from the request, a reference to a distributed ledger, the reference comprising an identifier for the distributed ledger and an identifier for a transaction recorded on the distributed ledger; identifying, based at least in part on the identifier for the distributed ledger, at least one node of a network of nodes managing the distributed ledger; and communicating with the at least one node to validate the at least one statement about the user.

A memo and photo authenticating system comprises a multiuser touch input device configured for input by a plurality of users. The memo and photo authenticating system comprises at least one camera communicatively coupled to the multiuser touch input device. The memo and photo authenticating system comprises at least one processor. The memo and photo authenticating system comprises a non-transitory tangible machine readable medium. The non-transitory tangible machine readable medium comprises instructions configured to cause the at least one processor to capture a freehand memo employing the multiuser touch input device, store the freehand memo in a data storage device, capture at least one image of at least one user employing the at least one camera, store the at least one image in the data storage device, and associate the freehand memo with the at least one image of the at least one user in the data storage device.

An image forming apparatus that executes a password-protected job includes a function for omitting an input of a job password, manages a user password for keyboard authentication in association with a user, manages a personal identification number for icon authentication in association with the user, accepts login to an account of the user based on the keyboard authentication, permits execution of a password-protected print job associated with the user based on a print instruction without inputting a job password, accepts login to the account of the user based on the icon authentication, and permits execution of a password-protected print job associated with the user based on a print instruction with an input of a job password.

An example image forming apparatus includes a user interface device, an image forming job operator, a processor, and a memory. The processor executes instructions to display a preview screen of a document through the user interface device, perform an embedding process of embedding user-specific information into a plurality of user-specific information input areas included in the document, display state information of the plurality of user-specific information input areas on the preview screen in synchronization with progress of the embedding process, and, when the embedding process is completed, perform an image forming job with respect to the document in which the user-specific information is embedded, through the image forming job operator.

An image processing device includes an input device and circuitry. The input device inputs data. The circuitry converts text information to be printed included in the data to generate converted information and outputs data for image formation including the converted information.

A function of a device is displayed as a first display on a client device, and local user authentication information is displayed as a second display according to the function of the device selected on the first display on the client device.

A watermark image may be generated that includes a first set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a first transparency value and a second set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a second transparency value, the second transparency level being different from the first transparency level. The encoded pixels may be distributed among a set of blank pixels such that each encoded pixel neighbors one or more blank pixels in the watermark image, and in particular at least two blank pixels in the watermark image. Herein, each blank pixel may be assigned the second transparency value. The watermark image may be overlaid and blended over a background source image to create an encoded source image. A decoder system may recover encoded information from the encoded source image.

There is provided systems and methods for generating a multi-layered watermark. The watermark incorporating one or more symbols for placement on a document. The method including: positioning a base layer of the watermark at one or more locations on the document; positioning the one or more symbols overtop of at least a portion of the base layer; and positioning a braid layer of the watermark overtop of the ID, the braid layer and the base layer are substantially aligned, the braid layer including a copy of the base layer incorporating a pattern. The pattern can include one or more of discolorations, holes, and sections of increased opacity.

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for image protection are provided. A first device includes a computer and a first camera. The first device identifies a picture that has a hallmark. The first device transmits a message requesting authorization to have a copy of the picture. The message contains data representative of the hallmark. The first device receives a response message. The first device determines whether the response message authorizes capture of a copy of the picture.