Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOCUMENT CONTAINING SECURITY IMAGES
[0001 ] This application is a continuation in part of PCT Application
US03/32159
filed on October 9, 2003 which claims the benefit of each of the following
U.S. provisional
applications: filed October 10, 2002; 60/417,750; 60/417,751; 60/417,752;
60/417,753;
60/417,754; 60/417,755; 60/417,756; 60/417,757; 60/417,758. This application
claims the
benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/443,288 filed January 29, 2003,
U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/443,289 filed January 29, 2003, and U.S.
Provisional
Application (unknown) filed January (unknown). Each of the above applications
are herein
incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to document protection methods and
products,
and more particularly to methods and products for printing and obtaining
original documents
that can be readily differentiated from copies made of those documents. The
document
protection method and product also allow detection of an original document by
a document
reader.
[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Many methods and products have been developed, for example, to deter
counterfeiting of valuable documents or financial instruments such as
currency, so that
unauthorized copies attempted to be made from those documents can be readily
distinguished
from the originals. Most of these methods and product involve preparing an
original
document by printing or lithography on high quality media such as silk, rice
paper, and high
contact rag paper. The printing of original documents may be done either in
black-and-white
(B&W) or in color, and if in color, either in spot color, colored backgrounds
and/or
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multicolor printing. In the case of color, the tendency has been in the
direction of using
multiple colors for original documents for aesthetic value, for ease of
recognition, and
originally for protection from copying by conventional means. The common
printing
processes of valuable originals, whether in B&W or in color, are intaglio and
gravure, among
others. These and the other processes mentioned in this application are very
well known in
the art and will not be discussed in great detail.
[0006] Most of the useful examples in the prior art to deter counterfeiting
and the like
are intended to ensure that copies are produced either with a clear moue
pattern or with a
"latent image" indicia which is invisible or nearly invisible to the naked eye
on the original
document. The term "latent image" is used here not in the photographic sense
of an unseen
image to be developed after processing by chemical reaction, but to indicate
indicia that are
printed on originals so as to be nearly invisible to the naked eye.
[0007] These and other developments in the prior art for purposes of providing
document protection are disclosed in the patent literature, as for example, in
U.S. Pat. No.
5,018,767 issued May 28, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,853 issued Mar. 16, 1993;
and U.S. Pat.
No. 3,675,948 issued Jul. 11, 1972; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,967 issued Mar.
13, 1979, all to
Ralph C. Wicker; in U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,720 issued Oct. 14, 1980 and U.S. Pat.
No.
4,310,180 issued Jan. 12, 1982 both to William H. Mowry, et al, as well as
U.S. Pat. No.
5,149,140 issued Sep. 22, 1992 to Mowry et al; and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,567
issued Jan. 30,
1996 to John R. Volpe. All of these patents disclose various means for
providing methods
and products to enable copies of documents to be distinguished from the
originals, as for
example, by a "large dot-small dot pattern", a "close line-spaced pattern",
and images or
indicia which are screen printed at minutely varied spaces and/or angles on
the originals and
are intended to produce a highly visible moue pattern effect on the
unauthorized copies. In
this specification, the words "print", "printed" and "printing" are used to
refer to the making
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of an original document regardless of the techniques used, and the words
"copy" and
"copying" to refer to making copies from an original.
[0008] It is well known, however, that copier and computer scanner-printer
technology has become even more sophisticated since the development of the
prior art in
document protection. The goal of copier technology if not already achieved has
been,
especially in desktop publishing and the like, to obtain copies as good as an
original. "What
you see is what you get" in color documents has become very achievable in
copier and
duplicator equipment including scanning input devices, and even desk-top
computers have
become sufficiently sophisticated in color reproduction, including color
matching of copies to
color standards such as the PANTONE® Color Matching System.
[0009] Many if not all of the document protection methods and products were
developed before this very significant improvement in copier and computer
reproduction
technology, and have been found not be as effective in the newer color
reproduction
technology especially on color copiers with a "photo" setting that
intentionally copies a
document in an "unsharp" focus so as to give the effect of a continuous tone
image, the effect
of which is to defeat the precise line variation between the copier scanner
and the security
pattern on the document original. Developed at the time of limited copier and
printer
advancements, these prior art techniques for document protection may not work
as reliably
against the many forms of copier/duplicator and computer scanner/output
equipment now or
soon to be available.
[0010] Thus it has become imperative for purposes of document security and
safety
that further improvements in the area of document protection be found,
especially where
there is a need to prevent copying or duplicating of valuable originals
without readily
distinguishing the copies from the originals.
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[0011 ] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the invention to overcome the above problems and
provide
enhanced security for documents.
[0013] A document carrying an image may comprise a background portion printed
at
a first line frequency and at a first color; a first image portion printed at
a second line
frequency and a second color; and a second image portion printed at the second
line
frequency and a third color, wherein a combined image the first image portion
and the second
image portion appear to substantially the same color as the first color. In
the document, the
first image portion may include printed lines, dots or spots, and the second
image portion
includes printed lines dots or spots placed between adjacent printed lines dot
or spots of the
first image portion. In the document, the first image portion may be printed
at a density
between 5 percent and 95 percent of the combined image of the first and second
image
portions. When the document is reproduced by a copying or scanning device, a
solid tonal
color may be reproduced in the area of the first image portion and the second
image portion
in substantially the same color at the first color, thereby not reproducing
the first image
portion and the second image portion.
[0014] A document carrying an image may comprises: a background portion having
printed lines dots or spots at a first angle and at a first color; an image
portion having printed
lines dots or spots at substantially the same color as the first color and at
a different angle
than the first angle, wherein when the document is reproduced by a copying or
scanning
device, a solid tonal color may be reproduced in the area of the image portion
in substantially
the same color at the first color, thereby not reproducing the first image
portion. In the
document, at least one of the background portion and the image portion may be
printed at a
line frequency greater than about 175 lines per inch.
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[0015] A document carrying an image may comprise: a background portion having
printed lines dots or spots at a first angle and at a first line frequency; an
image portion have
printed lines dots or spots at a second angle and at a second line frequency,
wherein the first
line frequency is at least two time greater than the second line frequency. In
the document,
the first line frequency may be greater than about 175 lines per inch. In the
document, an
image formed by the image portion may be substantially hidden, and when the
document is
reproduced by a copying or scanning device, the image formed by the image
portion is not
substantially hidden in the reproduced document.
[0016] An apparatus for authenticating a document as an original document may
comprise: a magnification unit capable of magnifying images contained on the
document; a
scanning unit capable of scanning images magnified by the magnification unit,
and creating
an electronic format of the images contained on the document; a microprocessor
which
receives the electronic format and determines if the document contains
predetermined
security images which are not reproduced when the a reproduction of the
document is made
by a copying or scanning device, wherein the microprocessor determines the
document not to
be an original document if predetermined security images are not detected. In
the apparatus,
the microprocessor may compare a layout of the document to a layout of the
original
document, and the microprocessor may determine the document to be an original
document if
the layout of the document corresponds to the layout of an original document.
The apparatus
may further comprise a display which displays a message indicative of whether
the document
has been determined to be an original document.
[0017] A method of authenticating a document as an original document may
comprise the steps of: reviewing the document for the presence of
predetermined security
images which are not reproduced when a reproduction of the document is made by
a copying
or scanning device; and determining the document not to be an original if the
predetermined
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security images are not present in the document. The method may further
comprise the steps
of comparing a layout of the document to a layout of the original document,
and determining
the document to be an original document if the layout of the document
corresponds to the
layout of an original document. The method may further comprise the step of
displaying a
message indicative of whether the document has been determined to be an
original document.
[0018] A computer readable medium may carry instructions to cause a computer
to
perform a method of authenticating a document as an original document
comprising the steps
of: reviewing the document for the presence of predetermined security images
which are not
reproduced when a reproduction of the document is made by a copying or
scanning device;
and determining the document not to be an original if the predetermined
security images are
not present in the document. In the computer readable medium, the method may
further
comprise the steps of comparing a layout of the document to a layout of the
original
document, and determining the document to be an original document if the
layout of the
document corresponds to the layout of an original document. In the computer
readable, the
method may further comprise the step of displaying a message indicative of
whether the
document has been determined to be an original document.
[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of
the
specification, together with the description serve to explain the principles
of the invention. In
the drawings:
[0021 ] Figure 1 illustrates a document having a latent security image;
[0022] Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of a document having a latent
security
image which is hidden to the human eye;
[0023] Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of a document with a latent
image;
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[0024] Figure 4 illustrates a document which contains a dedicated security
image;
[0025] Figure 5 illustrates a document which contains a latent image in the
form of a
bar code;
[0026] Figure 6 illustrates a document 50 which contains an image 52 which
contains
distortion or moue inducing patterns;
[0027] Figures 7A and 7B illustrates an exemplary safety medium which
prohibits
reproduction of the information contained on the medium;
[0028] Figures 8A and SB illustrates documents containing a plurality of
security
images;
[0029] Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary reading device for detecting security
images
in a document;
[0030] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary method of authenticating a document
to be
an original using the exemplary reading device of Figure 9;
[0031 ] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary bar code reader capable of
detecting a bar
code as a latent image;
[0032] Figure 12 illustrates a document which contains an exemplary conductive
image;
[0033] Figure 13 illustrates a an exemplary verification device for verifying
a
document with a conductive image.
[0034] Figure 14 illustrates an exemplary apparatus for detecting illegal
publishing of
documents; and
[0035] Figure 15 illustrate an exemplary method for detecting illegal
publishing of
documents.
[0036] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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[0037] Figure 1 illustrates a document 1 having a latent security image 2
which is
generally hidden to the human eye. In figure l, a background area 3 is
preferably printed at a
high line frequency. An image 2 is printed with a first color 4 at a
predetermined density and
printed with a second color 5 also at a predetermined density. The result is
that image 2
appears as a third color to the human eye. Preferably, background area 3 is
printed in the
third color or a color similar to the third color, causing image 2 to be
obscure to the eye.
[0038] The image 2 may be formed by printing the first color 4, such as by
printing
lines 6 having a first color at predetermined pitch and thickness. Then the
second color 5
may be printed such as by printing lines 7 having a second color between lines
5 at a
predetermined pitch and thickness, such as by using a negative image of image
2. Those of
skill in the art will appreciate that lines 6 and 7 may be printed in a single
print operation as
well, such as by using a laser printer or the like. Also, although only two
colors are discussed
for purposes of illustration, those of skill in the art will appreciate that
more than two colors
may be used, including six or more colors.
[0039] Preferably, the density of lines 6 and 7 are controlled by controlling
the pitch
(distance between lines) , thickness of the lines 6 and 7, or by controlling
the density of the
medium, such as ink, used to print lines 6 and 7. The density of lines 6 and 7
may range from
5% to 95% depending on the colors selected for lines 6 and 7, the density of
the medium, the
thickness of the lines, and the desired appearance of image 2. In an exemplary
embodiment ,
a density of 50% for each of lines 6 and 7 may be used, with a red color for
line 6 and a green
color for line 7. Also in an exemplary embodiment, lines 6 and 7 may be
printed at a
different angle than used to print background 3.
[0040] Image 2 may be detected using a reading device which magnifies the
image to
reveal the two colors, or selectively screens one of the two colors. When
document 1 is
copied or scanned by conventional copying or scanning devices, such as a color
photocopier,
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image 2 is substantially not reproduced in the copy. Particularly, the copy of
document 1,
even if in the same color tone as the original document 1, will contain
background area 3
across the entire document, and will not contain image 2. The presence or
absence of image
2 may be used to determine if a document is an original or a copy,
respectively.
[0041 ] Figure 2 illustrates a document 10 having a latent security image 14
which
appears hidden to the human eye. As illustrated in figure 2, document 10
preferably has a
background area 11 which contains lines 12 of a high frequency, such as about
175 lines per
inch or more. Lines 12 preferably have a color. Image 14 preferably contains
lines at about
the same frequency but at a different angle from lines 12. Lines 12 and or 15
may be lines,
dots or spots.
[0042] In an exemplary implementation of the concepts of Figure 2, lines 12
may be
printed in blue at an angle of 30 degrees with a frequency of 280 lines per
inch, and lines 14
may be printed at 45 degrees in blue and also with a frequency of 280 lines
per inch.
[0043] Image 14 may be detected using a reading device which magnifies the
image
to reveal lines 15 or selectively screens lines 12 to reveal lines 15. When
document 10 is
copied or scanned by conventional copying or scanning devices, such as a color
photocopier,
image 14 is substantially not reproduced in the copy. Particularly, the copy
of document 10,
even if in the same color tone as the original document 10, will contain
background area 11
across the entire document, and will not contain image 14. The presence or
absence of image
14 may be used to determine if a document is an original or a copy,
respectively.
[0044] Figure 3 illustrates a document 20 with a latent image 22. Document 20
contains a background area 21 which is preferably printed at a first
frequency, such as 175
lines per inch or greater, and at a predetermined angle. Image 22 is
preferably printed at
lower frequency than the frequency of background area 21. Preferably, the
frequency of lines
24 in area 21 is greater than two times the screen frequency of lines 23 in
image 22. More
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preferably, the line frequency in area 21 is at least three times greater than
the line frequency
of lines 23 in image 22. The angle of the lines 22 is preferably at a
different angle than the
angle of lines 24 by at least 5 degrees. The width of lines 24 and 23 may be
selected to
provide a continuous aesthetically pleasing appearance of the document. Both
lines 24 and
23 preferably have the same color.
[0045] In an exemplary implementation of a security document using the
principles
illustrated in Figure 3, lines 24 in background area 21 may have a frequency
of at least 175
lines per inch and preferably of 300 lines per inch, and a line width of
0.0025 inches at a 4S
degree angle, and lines 23 in image 14 may have a frequency between 100-133
lines per inch
and preferably a frequency of 95 lines per inch at a 30 degree angle.
[0046] Figure 4 illustrates a document 30 which contains a dedicated security
image
33 having a plurality of high and low frequency portions. As illustrated in
figure 4, document
30 preferably has a background area 31. Image 33 preferably contains first
segments 34
which contains lines 35 which range from a high frequency to a low frequency
and second
segments 36 which contain lines 37 which range from a low frequency to a high
frequency.
Although two segments are shown for each of the first and second segments 34
and 36,
respectively, any number of segments may be used, including one segment for
either segment
34 and 36. The line frequency in each of segments 34 and 36 may change
continuously in a
linear or non-linear manner or stepwise from one terminal end of each of
segments 34 and 36
to the opposite terminal end, respectively. Each of lines 35 and 37 may be
printed in black or
in any color.
[0047] If image 33 is reproduced by conventional copying or scanning devices,
the
reproduced image will preferably show significant distortions, such as moue
patterns.
[0048] Figure 5 illustrates a document 40 which contains a latent image 43 in
the
form of a bar code. As illustrated in Figure 5, document 40 contains a
background area 41
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which contain lines 42 at a predetermined frequency and predetermined angle.
Image 43
preferably contains a plurality of bars 44 which may form a bar code which may
contain
information readable by a bar code reader. Bars 44 preferably contain lines 45
at a
predetermined frequency, which may be the same frequency as lines 42. Lines 45
may
preferably be printed at a different angle than lines 42 as discussed in the
construction of
Figure 3, or lines 45 and 42 may be printed in similar colors as discussed in
the construction
of Figure 2 and Figure 1. Any suitable technique for providing a latent bar
code image that
may not be reproduced may be used. In an exemplary construction in accordance
with the
concepts of Figure 5, lines 42 and 45 may each be printed at the same
frequency, which is a
frequency between 150 to 400 lines per inch.
[0049] Image 43 may be detected using a reading device which magnifies the
image
to reveal lines 45 or selectively screens lines 42 to reveal lines 45. A bar
code reader may
then detect the bar code and read information from the bar code. The
information provided
by the bar code may include document identifying information or other security
information.
[0050] When document 40 is copied or scanned by conventional copying or
scanning
devices, such as a color photocopier, image 43 is substantially not reproduced
in the copy.
Particularly, the copy of document 40, even if in the same color tone as the
original document
40, will contain background area 41 across the entire document, and will not
contain image
43. The presence or absence of image 43 may be used to determine if a document
is an
original or a copy, respectively.
[0051 ] Figure 6 illustrates a document 50 which contains an image 52 which
contains
distortion or moue inducing patterns. As illustrated in Figure 6, document 50
contains a
background portion 51. Image 52 preferably contains a background portion 53
containing
lines 57 at a predetermined frequency and multiple portions 54, 55 and 56
which have various
line frequencies which may be higher than or lower than the predetermined
frequency of lines
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57. For example, the line frequencies in portions 54, 55 and 56 may be printed
in one or
more high frequencies, such as greater than about 175 lines per inch while,
background
portion 53 may be printed at a low frequency, such as about 100-135 lines per
inch.
Alternatively, the mufti-frequency portions may range from a high frequency in
an area to a
low frequency in an area next to a high frequency area.
[0052] Figures 7A and 7B illustrate an image printed on a medium that
substantially
stops reproduction of information contained on the medium. As illustrated in
Figure 7A,
medium 701, such as paper, contains printed images 702 and 703 that preferably
interfere
with scanners, facsimile machines and laser copiers. A first set of printed
images,
represented by printed image 702 may be printed in a dark color such as black
in negative
form. Then a second set of printed images, represented by printed image 703
preferably is a
contact positive of the first printed image 702 and may be printed in
reflective ink, such as
silver ink. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 7B, one of the colors may
be printed over all
of medium 705 as a solid image 706. Then the second color in a negative form
or a positive
form image, depending on the form of the first image, respectively, may be
printed on top of
image 706. In both Figures 7A and 7B, reproduction of medium 702 and 705,
respectively,
will result in a black copy, making the information on medium 702 and 705,
respectively,
unreadable.
[0053] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any number of the
security images
described in Figures 1-7B may be presented separately or in combination on a
single
document. Figure 8A illustrates a document 100 containing a plurality of
security images 1,
10, 20, 30, 40, and 52, which are discussed in connection with Figures 1-7.
Figure 8B
illustrates an identification card 200 containing a plurality of security
images 1, 10, 20, 30,
40, and 52, which are discussed in connection with Figures 1-7.
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[0054] Art work may be protected by applying a security image to a part of the
work
to enable an original work to be distinguished from a copy.
[0055] Figure 9 illustrate an exemplary construction of a reading device which
may
be used to detect security images in document 100 or card 200. As illustrated
in Figure 9,
document 1001 containing security image 1007 may be magnified by magnifying
unit 1002
which provides a magnified image to scanning unit 1003. Security image 1007
may formed
in accordance with one or more of the techniques illustrated in Figures 1-5.
Magnifying unit
1002 may be any conventional magnification device as known to those of skill
in the art and
may be integrally formed with scanning unit 1003 or may be independent of
scanning unit
1003. Magnification unit 1002 may enable an optical and/or a digitally
enhanced
magnification as known to those of skill in the art. A preferred magnification
device is
capable of providing a magnification of less than 100% of the document image
up to 1000%
of the document image.
[0056] The scanning unit 1003 may be any conventional type of scanning unit,
including scanning units capable of providing a digital image of a photograph
or of providing
an electronic word processor document from a text scan. Scanning unit 1003 may
be of the
type suitable for use with photographic and text scanners, photocopiers,
facsimiles. Scanning
unit 1003 preferably generates a scanned representation of a scan of document
1001 and
security image 1007, such as a digital representation, and provides this
information to a
microprocessor 1004. Scanning unit 1003 may contain one or more storage
devices (not
shown), such as a RAM, floppy disk drive, writeable CD drive, or the like,
which may be
used to store the scanned representation prior to being sent to the
microprocessor.
[0057] Microprocessor 1004 processes the scanned representation of document
1001
and particularly of security image 1007. Preferably, microprocessor contains
verification
software that compares the scanned representation of the document against a
representation
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of the original document previously stored in a memory associated with
microprocessor
1004. Alternatively, microprocessor 1004 may retrieve the representation of
the original
document from a remote location, such as through a website or a secure
communication link.
Microprocessor 1005 may provide results of the comparison to a display 1005.
[005$] Microprocessor 1004 may also instruct an access device to provide
access to a
user when a valid document or ID card is detected. Those of skill in the art
will appreciate
that an access device may include access to a room or building through a
security door and
access to information contained on a data base through a secure access port or
a firewall, or
may simply include access to complete a financial transaction. Preferably,
access is denied
when microprocessor 1004 determines that scanned document 1004 is not an
original
document.
[0059] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary method of detecting valid original
documents using the reading device depicted in Figure 9. As illustrated in
Figure 10, the
scanned representation of document 1001 and a representation of a
corresponding original
document are retrieved by the microprocessor in step S1. As illustrated in
step S2, the
microprocessor 1004 reviews the scanned representation of document 1001 to
determine if
predetermined security images are present in the scanned document, the
predetermined
security images are preferably images which are latent security images which
are not
expected to be reproduced in a copy of the document, such as images
constructed in
accordance with the principles of Figure 3. If the predetermined security
images are not
present in document 1001, NO in step S2, then microprocessor 1004 determines
that scanned
document 1001 is not an original document, and may instruct display 1005 to
display
"COPY" or "INVALID" or the like instructions.
[0060] If the predetermined security images are present in document 1001,
microprocessor 1004 may indicate that the document is an original document, or
as an
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increased security measure, microprocessor 1004 may analyze the layout of the
scanned
document 1001, as illustrated in step S3. The analysis of the layout may
include analysis of
the location of printed images, both visible images and latent images,
analysis of the color,
including black and white areas, andlor analysis of the frequency, pitch
and/or angles of lines
of an image. The layout of scanned document 1001 is compared to the expected
layout of an
original document, as illustrated in step S4. If the layout of scanned
document 1001 does not
match the expected layout of an original, NO in step S4, then the
microprocessor 1004
determines that scanned document 1001 is not an original document, and may
instruct display
1005 to display "COPY" or "INVALID" or the like instructions. If the layout
does match the
expected layout, YES in step S4, microprocessor 1004 determines that scanned
document
1001 is an original or valid document and may instruct display 1005 to display
"ORIGINAL"
or "VALID", or the like instructions.
[0061 ] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary device for reading a bar code image
formed
on a document. As illustrated in Figure 11, document 2001 preferably contains
a bar code
image 2007 which is hidden to the human eye. Magnifying unit 1002 preferably
magnifies
bar code image 2007 and provides the magnified image to bar code reader 2003.
Bar code
reader 2003 is preferably a conventional bar code reader capable of reading a
plurality of
substantially parallel lines and detecting at least one of the pitch,
frequency and thickness of
the plurality of the substantially parallel lines. Bar code reader 2003
provides the detected
information to a microprocessor 2004, which uses the detected information to
determine the
content of recorded information in the bar code image 2007. The recorded
information may
preferably include information of the authenticity and identity of document
2007, such as the
name of a person using an identification card as document 2001.
[0062] Microprocessor may authenticate document 2001 carrying bar code 2007 in
the same manner as illustrated in Figure 10, in which case bar code 2007, and
the
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corresponding information recorded by bar code 2007, would preferably be one
of the
detected security images in step S2. For example, as an increased security
measure, bar code
2007 may be used with other security images and with the layout of document
2007 to
determine if document 2007 is an original or valid document. In this manner, a
counterfeit
document or a copied document in which bar code 2007 may have been
successfully
reproduced would result in the denial of access.
[0063] The architecture illustrated in each of Figures 9 and 11, may be
entirely
contained in a single device or multiple devices, and the functions associated
with the
architecture in Figures 9 and 11 may be performed by programmable software.
Moreover,
the operations illustrated in Figure 10 may be performed by programmable
software on an
internal or external memory (not shown) associated with microprocessor 1004 or
2004,
respectively, such as a ROM or a RAM or any other memory. The software that
performs the
operations illustrated in Figure 10 may be embodied in the form of data in a
computer
readable medium. A computer readable medium within the scope of this
disclosure includes
any medium, physical or metaphysical, which is capable of carrying information
in a form
which can be read by an appropriately configured computer or mobile
communication device
and associated peripheral devices of the computer or station, including, but
not limited to: an
optical readable/writeable -disc, a magnetic disk, a readable/writeable card,
a magnetic tape,
an electrical transmission signal for wireline or wireless transmission or
optical transmission
of data using electrical and/or electromagnetic signals. The data associated
with the
programmable software may be in the form of packetized digital data.
[0064] Figure 12 illustrates an exemplary conductive image 1200 on document
100,
also containing a plurality of security images l, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 52,
which are discussed in
connection with Figures 1-7. Exemplary conductive image 1200 preferably
contains at least
two contact areas 1201 which are connected by a conductive trace 1202. In a
preferred
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construction, contact areas 1201 and conductive trace 1202 may be hidden or
obscured from
view by being elements of an image and/or being imbedded. The conductive image
1200
may be used to verify the validity of the document. Those of skill in the art
will appreciate
that contact areas 1201 and conductive trace 1202 may be made of any suitable
conductive
medium, such as metallic pads or strips, conductive ink, or suitable
conductive materials.
[0065] Figure 13 illustrates an exemplary reading device 1300 which may be
used to
with conductive image 1200 to verify the document. The reading device may
preferably be
in the shape of a pen. Exemplary reading device 1300 preferably contains a
controller 1301
which provides a voltage across wires 1303 to cause a current to flow through
probes 1304
when they are applied to a valid document 100 having a conductive trace 1200.
When probes
are placed on contact areas 1201, one probe on each area, the current provided
preferably
flows through one of probes 1304, one of contact areas 1201, conductive trace
1202 to the
other probe through the other contact area and back to controller 1301 through
wire 1303, i. e.
completing an electrical circuit. An indicator light 1302 is preferably
provided which lights
up when the current is passed through the conductive trace 1202 from one probe
1304 to the
other, denoting a valid document. Those of skill in the art will appreciate
that indicator light
1302 may consist of one or more single color LEDs, or LEDs of multiple colors,
which light
up when a sufficient amount of current or voltage is received. For example,
when an
activation switch (not shown) is pressed on reading device 1300, indicator
light 1302 may
light up green if the circuit has been completed (a valid document is
detected), or may light
up red, or not at all, if the circuit has not been completed (the document is
not valid).
[0066] Those of skill in the art will also appreciate that indicator light
1302 may be
replaced with an indicator display, such as a conventional voltmeter, which
may display
various attributes based on the received current, such as the amplitude of the
current or
voltage or the measured resistance of the conductive trace, and any of these
values may be
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used to determine if a document is valid.
[0067] Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an exemplary embodiment for detecting and
inhibiting illegal desk top publishing of documents. As illustrated in Figure
14 a document
1401 being scanned by scanning unit 1403 may contain a security image 1407.
Security
image may preferably be an image made in accordance with the principles
discussed in
connection with Figures 1-9 of this application. Microprocessor 1404
preferably contains a
list of prohibited images in memory 1412, such as U.S. currency (e.g. a U.S.
$100 bill), and
preferably stores a plurality of attributes of the prohibited images, such as
at least one of a
predetermined hidden or non-hidden security image, the layout of the
prohibited image or
selected portions of the prohibited image, hidden or non-hidden artwork or bar
codes on the
prohibited image, the line characteristics such as line density, line style
(e.g. lines, dots,
spots) line patterns, and line color of a predetermined part or all of the
prohibited image.
[0068] Microprocessor may receive images through the Internet from a web based
server 1420 or from any other internal or external source, such as a hard
drive, a CD, DVD or
floppy disk drives, a memory card/stick or wireline and/or wireless
communications, as
illustrated in step S 151 in Figure 1 S. A received image is evaluated to
determine if it
contains a predetermined security image which designates the image a
prohibited image, as
illustrated in step 5152. If the image does not contain a predetermined
security image, NO in
step S 152, then the document is evaluated by detecting for the presence of
one or more
predetermined attributes which are preferably uniquely associated with a
prohibited
document as discussed above, as illustrated in step 5153. If the image is not
determined to be
a prohibited image to reproduce, microprocessor 1404 provides instruction to
printer 1414 to
print the image.
[0069] When a prohibited image is detected, YES in steps S 152 and 5154,
microprocessor 1404 preferably inhibits printer 1414 from reproducing the
document and
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stores illegal activity documentation information documenting the attempted
illegal activity
into a log on memory 1412. The illegal activity documentation is preferably
held in memory
1412 so that law enforcement authorities may open up the database and review
the illegal
activity. The stored illegal activity documentation information may include an
identification
of the document attempted to be reproduced, such as an image of the document,
identification
of the source of the image of the document (e.g. from a web server, scanner,
etc.), user
identification such as the computer identification and user address, and date
and time of
attempted illegal activity. The illegal activity documentation may also
include the path of the
illegal document from emails and the Internet, such as web addresses, and the
length of time
the user spent on particular websites, the screen name and what servers the
document came
from. Servers that host the websites would preferably contain a similarly
programmed
microprocessor, such as having the same program or as having a specially
designated guard
chip. If the user is logged on the Internet, microprocessor 1404 may also
initiate a silent
communication with law enforcement authorities by using communication software
or device
1410 to connect to the authority's server 1421 without the user's knowledge or
initiation and
send the illegal activity documentation information. If the user is not logged
onto the
Internet, microprocessor 1404 will preferably cause the communication to be
sent upon the
next or later logon operations. Microprocessor 1404 may also cause a computer
in which it
resides (not shown) to be shut down, and/or to also shut down an email system
if the
document was received from another computer when an illegal operation is
detected.
[0070] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing
from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments
are therefore to
be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope
of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description and all
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changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims
are therefore
intended to be embraced therein.
