Secure Trace Data Extraction in Image Reading Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preventing confidential information leakage from printed documents, such as embedding inhibition and trace information, are inadequate when the documents are handled carelessly, as they require image data transmission for analysis, which may compromise security.
Innovation Solution
A reading apparatus and method that acquires and displays trace information from printed documents without transmitting image data, using a combination of inhibition and trace information embedded in the documents, allowing secure analysis without exposing sensitive data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If image data is transmitted to an external apparatus for trace information analysis, then trace information can be acquired and displayed, but confidential information in the image data may leak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary trace information from the image data through optical character recognition (OCR) technology, rather than transmitting the entire image data. The reading apparatus reads the printed document, extracts trace information (such as print date, time, and user identification) embedded in the document, and displays it locally without transmitting sensitive image data to external apparatuses, thus preventing confidential information leakage while achieving trace information acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step using OCR technology between the image data and trace information analysis. Instead of directly transmitting image data, the system uses OCR to recognize and extract trace information as intermediate text data, which is then analyzed and displayed. This intermediary process eliminates the need to transmit confidential image data while still obtaining the required trace information.
2Ease of operation
If a simpler method is used to acquire trace information, then security is improved by avoiding image data transmission, but the ability to analyze trace information may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of image data transmission and external analysis with an optical recognition system (OCR). Instead of transmitting image data to external apparatuses for analysis, the system uses optical character recognition technology to directly read and extract trace information from the printed document on the reading apparatus itself. This substitution maintains trace information analysis capability while simplifying the process and improving security.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read a print product and a transmission unit configured to transmit image data of the print product to an external apparatus. The apparatus further includes an inhibition unit configured to inhibit the transmission of the image data based on inhibition information included in the image data. If the image data includes trace information to be used to trace a printer user of the print product in addition to the inhibition information, a control unit acquires the trace information and causes a display unit to perform a display based on the trace information without causing the output unit to transmit the image data.