A reading apparatus includes a communication unit, a scanner, and a processor. The communication unit communicates with a wireless tag provided on paper. The scanner scans the paper. The processor acquires data from the wireless tag through the communication unit, acquires an image from the paper by using the scanner, and generates a file in which the data is embedded in the image as hidden characters.

According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sheet conveyance unit that is configured to transport a print medium along a conveyance path. An antenna is configured to emit radio waves towards a predetermined portion of the conveyance path. A controller is configured to control the antenna to emit the radio waves towards the predetermined portion with a polarization direction set according to a type of the print medium being transported by the sheet conveyance unit. The print medium may have, for example, one or more wireless tags thereon or therein.

To achieve an information output device in which information of a medium disposed on a stage surface can be surely and efficiently read out, and a stage effect and a security are high. In the information output device, media are disposed on a stage surface in a state where the media are opposite to the stage surface, the media where dot patterns are printed on medium surfaces on the basis of a predetermined rule, the dot patterns are read by imaging units disposed in a space below the stage and converted into code values or coordinate values indicating the dot patterns from photographed images obtained by the imaging units, and information corresponding to the code values or the coordinate values is outputted. Further, light transmitting reading holes are respectively provided at a plurality of medium disposing locations on the stage surface, and the imaging units are disposed in the space below the stage corresponding the respective reading holes such that the imaging units photograph the medium surfaces of the media disposed on the reading holes.

There are provided a data playback system, a data playback method, a data playback terminal, a printer, and a server which are capable of playing sound from a printout and viewing a favorable image. Image data of an image printed on an instant film and sound data associated with the image data are stored in a data storage server. In a case where a two-dimensional code printed with the image on the instant film is read by a data playback terminal, access information to the image data of the printed image and the sound data associated with the image data is obtained. The data playback terminal accesses the data storage server based on the obtained access information, and downloads and plays the image data of the printed image and the sound data.

A method of detecting fraudulent use of a printing device including a non-contact memory tag, including receiving a request to read the tag, receiving information from the tag, determining an installed configuration of the printing device from the information, comparing the installed configuration to a current configuration of the printing device, and in response to determining that the current configuration is not the same as the installed configuration, indicating that a violation exists.

An image processing device includes a printing unit printing an image on a sheet including first and second tags. The first and second tags have first and second antennas extending along first and second directions. The device further includes a tag reading unit including a third antenna and configured to transmit, towards the sheet from the third antenna, first radio waves polarized in the first direction and second radio waves polarized in the second direction in each of a first period during which the sheet is conveyed towards the third antenna and a second period during which the sheet is conveyed away from the third antenna, and determine an orientation of the sheet based on intensities of third radio waves polarized in the first direction and fourth radio waves polarized in the second direction, which have been received by the third antenna in each of the first and second periods.

An image reading device includes a processing unit configured to perform short-range radio communication to perform at least one of data reading operation from an information storage unit mounted on an object to be scanned and data writing operation to the information storage unit, a first antenna unit configured to perform the short-range radio communication with the information storage unit mounted on the object to be scanned using a first communication mode, and a second antenna unit configured to perform the short-range radio communication with the information storage unit mounted on the object to be scanned using a second communication mode. In the image reading device, the processing unit performs the short-range radio communication to perform at least one of the data reading operation from the information storage unit and the data writing operation to the information storage unit, using the first communication mode or the second communication mode.

An image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit configured to read an image formed on an object to be scanned, an image forming device configured to form an image on a printing object, a first processing unit configured to perform short-range radio communication to perform at least one of data reading operation from an information storage unit mounted on the object to be scanned and data writing operation to the information storage unit, and a second processing unit configured to perform short-range radio communication with the information storage unit mounted on the printing object to perform at least one of the data reading operation from the information storage unit and the data writing operation to the information storage unit. In the image forming apparatus, each one of the first processing unit and the second processing unit is configured to perform the short-range radio communication using a same antenna unit.

An image forming apparatus including a wireless tag communication device to write data to, and read data from, a wireless tag attached to a sheet. An image forming device in the apparatus is configured to form an image on the sheet. A controller in the apparatus is configured to determine whether a writing of data to a wireless tag was successful based on a notification from the wireless tag communication device and generate investigation support information if the writing was not successful and control the image forming device to form an investigation support image corresponding to the investigation support information if the writing was not successful.

A sheet conveyance device includes a roller by which a sheet having a wireless tag is conveyed along a path, a communication device configured to transmit a radio signal to the wireless tag and receive a response signal therefrom, and a processor configured to repeatedly perform a process of controlling the roller to convey a sheet along the path while controlling the communication device to transmit the radio signal to a wireless tag of the sheet using a transmission power that is different in each repeat, and acquire a strength of the response signal from the wireless tag, and specify a minimum strength of the response signal that has been acquired in the repeated process, the minimum strength being equal to or greater than a threshold, and set a transmission power that has been used when the minimum strength has been acquired as a reference strength of the radio signal.