Print Controller Preserves Security Patterns During Image Scaling

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information leakage countermeasures for printed documents with embedded security information, such as copy restrictions and tracking, are ineffective when advanced image processing modes are applied, leading to potential security breaches.

Innovation Solution

A print controller and method that determine the original and post-scaling dimensions of security information patterns, allowing printing while ensuring the security information remains intact, and issuing termination instructions if advanced modes would destroy the security information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If advanced image processing modes (enlargement, reduction, area specification, moving) are applied to printed documents, then user convenience and processing flexibility are improved, but the embedded security information (watermarks, barcodes, tracking data) is destroyed or rendered unreadable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage processing flexibilityVSAvoidsecurity information integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of security information patterns (watermarks, barcodes, tracking data) in the image data before applying any image processing. The controller identifies the presence, position, and dimensions of these security patterns upfront, allowing subsequent processing to be constrained or adjusted to preserve them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the image processing functions and the security information. It mediates by detecting security patterns first, then using this information to control whether advanced processing modes are permitted, modified, or executed with specific constraints to maintain security integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If copy restricting information and tracking information are embedded in printed documents, then security and monitoring capabilities are improved, but the ability to perform advanced image processing is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity information integrityVSAvoidimage processing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of security information patterns (watermarks, barcodes, tracking data) in the image data before applying any image processing. The controller identifies the presence, position, and dimensions of these security patterns upfront, allowing subsequent processing to be constrained or adjusted to preserve them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the image processing functions and the security information. It mediates by detecting security patterns first, then using this information to control whether advanced processing modes are permitted, modified, or executed with specific constraints to maintain security integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If conventional IT mechanisms (access privileges, firewall monitoring) are used to protect confidential information, then digital information security is improved, but paper-based information leakage cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedigital information securityVSAvoidpaper-based information leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer by embedding detectable security patterns (watermarks, barcodes, tracking data) directly into the printed document itself. This physical intermediary carries security information that can be detected and verified, bridging the gap between digital security mechanisms and physical document protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical/physical security measures (restricting paper movement) with an information-based approach. By embedding detectable patterns and using detection mechanisms, the system substitutes physical restraint with information verification to prevent and detect information leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9485376B2Print control apparatus, print control method, and program therefor

Publication Date: 2016.11.01 CANON KK

AI summary

Conventionally, during a copy operation, certain advanced mode settings make the extraction of additional security information impossible. In order to solve this problem, the print control apparatus includes: determining unit for determining an interval between a pattern element and a pattern element adjacent to the pattern element from the received image data; and control unit for performing a control so as to scale the image at a magnification specified by a user and have the scaled image printed by a printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit falls within a predetermined range, and configured to terminate or interrupt the printing of the image by the printing apparatus when the product of the magnification specified by the user and the interval determined by the determining unit does not fall within the predetermined range.