A forensic verification system extracts a print signature via a print signature extractor from an interior of a halftone contained in an image. The system utilizes a comparator to compare the print signature to a reference signature stored in a registry to determine differences between the print signature and the reference signature. The system utilizes a forensic analyzer to perform a forensic analysis on the signatures based on the comparison to authenticate the image.

This invention safeguards the integrity of a machine-printed paper document by entangling a characteristic signature derived from the document's paper grain structure with the identities of the printing device and the person or organization which issued the document. This protection is achieved using a certification phase performed by an augmented document printer and an authentication phase performed by an augmented document scanner. In the certification phase, the grain structure of a specific area of the original paper is imaged and processed to generate a unique signature for the paper. This signature is doubly encrypted using the private keys of the augmented printer and the certifier. These encryption steps entangle the signature of the paper with its source information in a way that thwarts counterfeiting attacks which either copy the document or falsely attribute its source to a specific printer and/or certifier.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides a system and method for providing a dynamically reconfigurable watermark, and the use of the watermark to encode a stochastically variable property of the carrier medium for self-authentication purposes.

A system includes an image processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus that provides a chat service, the image processing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image on a document, a memory, and a processor that executes a program stored in the memory to generate a file based on the read image, receive a password from a user, encrypt the generated file, using the received password, and transmit the encrypted file and the received password to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a memory, and a processor that executes a program stored in the memory to cause the information processing apparatus to receive, from the image processing apparatus, the encrypted file and the received password, execute processing for posting the received encrypted file to a channel specified by the user, and execute processing for posting the received password to the channel.

When an image forming apparatus receives a data from a FAX, the image forming apparatus posts, to a chat service, a message indicating that the data is received from the FAX. If an F-code is set for the data received from the FAX, the image forming apparatus posts, to the chat service, a message that requires inputting a password, and posts, to the chat service, a message indicating the content of the received data based on the password received via the chat service.

A cell phone is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from an external source. A processor is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. The processor also places the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to the receiving facility. An encryptor encrypts the augmented captured information with a symmetrical encryption algorithm to provide encrypted augmented captured information in the transmission with the subscriber information.

An image reading apparatus receives, from an information processing apparatus, a scanning request for push scanning for a designated destination, scans an original document and generates image data in response to the scanning request, and transmits, to the destination, a request including authentication information for accessing the destination and the image data, and if a response indicating that an error has occurred in authentication using the authentication information is received, the image reading apparatus saves image data for transmission based on reauthentication and provides a notification of the error to the information processing apparatus. The image reading apparatus transmits, to the destination, a request including authentication information for reauthentication and the saved image data if the authentication information for the reauthentication in response to the notification of the error is received from the information processing apparatus.

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.

An information processing apparatus includes a first reception unit, a first transmission unit, and a processing unit. The first reception unit receives a use request for use of specific data, which are necessary when using the apparatus itself, from a terminal device held by a user of the apparatus itself. The first transmission unit transmits positional information which indicates a position, in a data management apparatus that manages the specific data, at which the specific data which are available to the user are stored, to the terminal device in response to reception of the use request. The processing unit performs a process that uses at least part of the specific data in response to reception of an instruction for the process from the terminal device which references the specific data by connecting to the position which is indicated by the positional information in the data management apparatus.

A cell phone is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from an external source. A processor is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. The processor also places the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to the receiving facility. An encryptor encrypts the augmented captured information with a symmetrical encryption algorithm to provide encrypted augmented captured information in the transmission with the subscriber information.