To make it possible to easily determine a printed material of an electronic document proved to be an authentic original document and a copied material thereof. In a case where a printed material is copied, embedded information is extracted from a scanned image obtained by scanning the target printed material. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that the copy-target printed material is an authentic document, the printed material is printed and output by adding information indicating being a copied material thereto.

In an electronic device that embeds information in content, copyright protection and prevention of falsification are achieved at the same time. The electronic device includes a content generation unit, a first embedding processing unit, and a second embedding processing unit. In this electronic device, the content generation unit generates content. Furthermore, in the electronic device, the first embedding processing unit embeds, in the content, first embedded information related to the content. The second embedding processing unit embeds second embedded information in the content.

Example implementations relate to multiple payload pantograph. Some examples may include a first pattern generation engine to generate a first pattern. The first pattern may be a data-bearing pattern encoding a first payload. Additionally, some examples may include a second pattern generation engine to generate a second pattern, the second pattern (by itself or in combination with the first pattern) may represent a second payload. The second payload may be camouflaged by a combination of the first pattern and the second pattern. Some examples may also include a pantograph generation engine to generate a multiple payload pantograph including the first pattern and the second pattern. The multiple payload pantograph may include the first pattern in one of the pantograph background or the pantograph foreground.

An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit configured to form an image; an image scanning unit configured to scan an image; and a control unit configured to perform control of the image forming unit and the image scanning unit, wherein the control unit controls the image scanning unit to scan an original, controls the image forming unit to form an additional image on the original after the scanning of the original is completed, and controls the image forming unit to form, after the formation of the additional image on the original is completed, an image in which the original is copied based on image information of the original scanned by the image scanning unit.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes programmed instructions that cause a computer to function as a wireless communication control unit, a device information acquisition unit, an information acquisition unit, and an information providing unit. The wireless communication control unit is configured to control a wireless communication unit so as to connect to an image forming device by wireless communication. The device information acquisition unit is configured to acquire unique device information from the image forming device through the wireless communication control unit. The information acquisition unit is configured to acquire, from a server device, predetermined information to be supplied to the image forming device specified by the acquired device information. The information providing unit is configured to provide the information acquired from the server device to the image forming device through the wireless communication control unit.

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.

An information processing apparatus includes a memory in which information on output devices corresponding to plural users participating in a group chat is stored; and a controller that, in a case where any one of the plural users gives a post indicative of an output command to output data on the group chat, performs control for outputting the data from output devices corresponding to one or more output destination users including a user who has not given the post indicative of the output command among the plural users in accordance with the information stored in the memory.

An object is to provide a copy function that guarantees intensity of embedded information. At the time of copying a printed material, embedded information is extracted from a scanned image obtained by scanning the target printed material. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that the copy-target printed material is an authentic document by the extracted embedded information, the embedded information extracted from the scanned image is reconfigured and printed and output.

An imaging device includes a distributed ledger. Image files are generated by the imaging device. Data for the image files are added to a partial chain hash. When a condition is met by the data with the partial chain hash, a new block is generated for the distributed ledger using the partial chain hash and data from a block header of a previous block. The distributed ledger is used within a printing system. A printing device accessing the distributed ledger can print the images of the image files.

To make it possible to easily determine a printed material of an electronic document proved to be an authentic original document and a copied material thereof. In a case where a printed material is copied, embedded information is extracted from a scanned image obtained by scanning the target printed material. Then, in a case where it is confirmed that the copy-target printed material is an authentic document, the printed material is printed and output by adding information indicating being a copied material thereto.