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.

An information processing apparatus includes a unit that receives, on a group chat, an execution command to execute specific processing that requires entry of secret information from a first user belonging to the group chat including two or more users; an acquisition unit that acquires the secret information from a second user belonging to the group chat without letting a third user belonging to the group chat and different from the second user know the secret information; and a controller that performs control so that the specific processing based on the execution command is executed by using the secret information.

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.

Methods, systems, and storage media for issuing and verifying a secondary cryptographic photo ID are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: capture, using a scanning component of a printing device, a primary digital image of a primary photo ID; recognize, using a processing component of the printing device, alphanumeric information in the captured primary digital image; encrypt, using the processing component of the printing device, the recognized alphanumeric information; generate, using the processing component of the printing device, a digital watermark comprising the encrypted recognized alphanumeric information; recognize, using the processing component of the printing device, a photograph in the primary digital image; generate, using the processing component of the printing device, a secondary digital image comprising the recognized photograph and the generated digital watermark; and print, using a printing component of the printing device, a secondary photo ID comprising the secondary digital image.

A mobile device includes a scan privacy tool to allow edits and changes to a document image to remove or hide private information within a document. The scan privacy tool is enabled for jobs on a multi-functional printing (MFP) device and launches when a print job is run. The document is sent from a device or retrieved from memory storage. The document image displayed on a display and edit interface of the scan privacy tool. Changes are made to the document image using tools available through the scan privacy tool. The changes are applied to the document image. The modified image is saved and transmitted to an engine in the MFP device to complete the print job.

An image processing device includes a light source, an image reader, and circuitry. The light source is configured to irradiate an object at least with invisible light. The image reader is configured to read first information and second information. The first information is included in the object and indicating a first characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The second information is included in the object and indicating a second characteristic in response to the object being irradiated with the invisible light. The circuitry is configured to selectively output the first information read by the image reader.

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.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document printed by an electrophotographic method, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; a determination unit configured to determine whether a high color density region of which density is higher than a predetermined value is present in the printed document; and a decision unit configured to decide which of the first image data and the second image data to set as image data to be used to extract the embedded information, according to the determination made by the determination unit.

Provided is an image processing apparatus for extracting embedded information from a printed document printed by an electrophotographic method, including: a first obtaining unit configured to obtain first image data by reading the printed document while applying light to the printed document; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain second image data by reading the printed document without applying light to the printed document; a determination unit configured to determine whether a high color density region of which density is higher than a predetermined value is present in the printed document; and a decision unit configured to decide which of the first image data and the second image data to set as image data to be used to extract the embedded information, according to the determination made by the determination unit.

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.