Patent Application
20110242574
Photocopying technology is widely used in business, government, and education. Photocopying allows paper duplication of hardcopy documents, and represents a simple method for transferring information. Many modern day photocopiers utilize the electrophotographic process.
Photocopiers provide users with a wide array of settings for modifying and/or transmitting the content of the hardcopy document being copied. For example, photocopiers allow duplication in color, duplication in black and white, scaling of content, single-sided printing, duplex printing, emailing, and so forth. The user of a photocopier has complete control over how to modify the content of the original hardcopy document in the duplicate according to these settings.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for restricting duplication of a hardcopy document. The method comprises: displaying, in response to a request to print a document from a user application, a graphical user interface (GUI); receiving, in response to displaying the GUI, a plurality of print settings and a plurality of copy restrictions selected from the GUI by a user; generating a copy code by encoding the plurality of copy restrictions; generating a print job for the document based on the copy code and the plurality of print settings; and sending the print job to a print queue to generate the hardcopy document, wherein the hardcopy document comprises a machine-readable version of the copy code, and wherein the copy code restricts duplication of the hardcopy document by a copier after the copier identifies the machine-readable version of the copy code on the hardcopy document.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a computer readable storage medium storing instructions for restricting duplication of a hardcopy document. The instructions comprise functionality to: display, in response to a request to print a document from a user application, a graphical user interface (GUI); receive, in response to displaying the GUI, a plurality of print settings and a plurality of copy restrictions selected from the GUI by a user; generate a copy code by encoding the plurality of copy restrictions; generate a print job for the document based on the copy code and the plurality of print settings; and send the print job to a print queue to generate the hardcopy document, wherein the hardcopy document comprises a machine-readable version of the copy code, and wherein the copy code restricts duplication of the hardcopy document by a copier after the copier identifies the machine-readable version of the copy code on the hardcopy document.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for restricting duplication of a hardcopy document. The method comprises: scanning, by a copier, the hardcopy document comprising a machine-readable version of a copy code; decoding a plurality of copy restrictions from the copy code, wherein the plurality of copy restrictions are selected by a user prior to generation of the hardcopy document; disabling a plurality of features of the copier based on the plurality of copy restrictions; and generating a duplication of the hardcopy document after disabling the plurality of features.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a system for restricting duplication of a hardcopy document. The system comprises: a copy code generator configured with functionality to generate a copy code by encoding a plurality of copy restrictions, wherein the plurality of copy restrictions are selected by a user before generation of the hardcopy document; a page description language (PDL) generator operatively connected to the copy code generator and configured with functionality to generate a print job for a document and based on the copy code; and a printer operatively connected to the PDL generator and configured with functionality to generate the hardcopy document comprising a machine-readable version of the copy code, wherein the copy code restricts duplication of the hardcopy document by a copier after the copier identifies the machine-readable version of the copy code on the hardcopy document.
Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the various figures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
In general, embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for restricting duplication of a hardcopy document. Specifically, in one or more embodiments of the invention, the system and method provide for a set of copy restrictions associated with a hardcopy document that restrict how duplication of the hardcopy document may occur. Further, in one or more embodiments of the invention, a machine-readable copy code based on the copy restrictions may be imprinted on the hardcopy document to enforce the restrictions when duplicating the hardcopy document via scanning and copying.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, user application (102) allows creation and editing of a document. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that user application (102) may create various documents and document types (i.e. text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, images) on a host computer. Documents created and/or edited in user application (102) may be referred to as softcopies in electronic form (as opposed to printed hardcopies). User application (102) includes functionality to initiate the printing process for a document based on print settings, as well as to associate copy restrictions with a document via copy settings. The print settings and copy settings may be selected by a user of user application (102). The term ‘copy settings’ may also be referred to as ‘copy options’ or ‘copy restrictions’. The print settings and copy settings may be invoked through the graphical user interface (GUI) of user application (102) and/or a print driver of printer (108), when a user prints a document. When the copy options are invoked in the GUI, a copy options dialogue box may display a list of possible copy restrictions that a user may select to restrict future duplication of the document.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, copy code generator (104) translates the list of user selected copy options into a copy code. The copy code may be generated in various forms, including but not limited to a barcode, a data glyph, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, plaintext, or other machine-readable representations of the copy code. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a data glyph is a method for encoding data by use of repeating glyph elements. For example, each glyph element of a data glyph may be made up of a 45 degree diagonal line measuring down to 0.001 of an inch. Each glyph element may represent a binary 0 or 1, depending on its slope (i.e. left or right). Sets of glyphs may be used to encode data in an inconspicuous element on the document. Glyph elements may make up a larger data glyph in the shape of a graphic design element (e.g. a picture, symbol, stylized character).
In one or more embodiments of the invention, PDL generator (106) packages the copy code for the printer (e.g., printer (108)). Accordingly, the PDL generator (106) may correspond to a printer driver. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that PDL is an acronym that stands for ‘page descriptor language’. Examples of PDLs include printer command language (PCL) by Hewlett Packard Company located in Palo Alto, Calif.; PostScript (PS) by Adobe Systems Inc. located in San Jose, Calif.; and XML Paper Specification (XPS) by Microsoft Inc. located in Redmond, Wash. If the print job is a PCL job or PS job, then PDL generator (106) generates various print objects and commands based on the document, as well as at least one print object representing the copy code value encoded in a form of a barcode, data glyph, an RFID chip, plaintext, or other appropriate data representation. The print object of the encoded copy code value can be added in the print job in either form of a text object, an image object or a graphics object. Once PDL generator (106) packages the encoded copy code as a print object, a print job for the document and including the PDL command is sent to the printer of the host computer. Alternatively, in the case of raster printing, the PDL Generator (106) may rasterize the copy code as a barcode, plaintext, data glyph, etc. and send the rasterized image data to the printer for printing.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, printer (108) receives the print job sent by PDL generator (106), and prints the document specified by the print job. Printer (108) may also print a barcode or data glyph including the copy code based on the PDL command. In one or more embodiments of the invention, printer (108) may store the copy code in an RFID chip. The RFID chip may be a label on the printed document and/or the RFID chip may be embedded within the printed document. Printer (108) may also be associated with a print queue that stores incoming print jobs for processing by printer (108). Printer (108) may also include functionalities required to read an encoded copy code, such as an RFID reader.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the management engine (110) provides a link between the user application (102), copy code generator (104), PDL generator (106), printer (108), management engine (110), and copier (112). The management engine (110) may be configured to convert data or commands/messages from one format to another format in order to render the components (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112) compatible with each other. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the management engine (110) includes a GUI (not shown) for viewing one or more of the inputs and outputs of the components (102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112).
In one or more embodiments of the invention, copier (112) scans and copies hardcopies of documents in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. Copier (112) may include subcomponents including scanner (114), decoder (115), and printer (116). Scanner (114) performs the scanning of a hardcopy document (i.e. reading and translation of the data in the document to digital form). If the copy code of the document is in an RFID format, then copier (112) will also include an RFID reader. Decoder (115) performs the decoding of the scanned image of the document, as well as the decoding of the copy code of the document. Therefore, after decoding, the copy restrictions encoded in the copy code will be enforced. After decoding, printer (116) performs the actual printing of the hardcopy document, enforcing the copy restrictions encoded in the document. Printer (116) may include an image buffer to hold the image of the document to be printed. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that printer (108) and copier (112) may include similar functionality, may also be referred to as a ‘multi-function device’ or ‘multi-function scanner’. The dotted line of
In one or more embodiments of the invention, insertion of a copy code into a hardcopy document ensures that the intent of a user that generated the document is followed when duplication is performed. For example, if a legal document is in duplex format (i.e. two-sided), the creator of the legal document may wish to require that any duplicates of the original document are also two-sided, in order to avoid loss of information during the copy process (i.e. if a single-sided copy was performed). Also, if the creator of a document wishes to save color ink or toner, a black and white only requirement may be placed on duplicates. Scaling may also be restricted as some print quality sensitive documents including images lose their image resolution when a copied version has been enlarged (i.e. rescaled). Furthermore, tagging information including barcodes and data glyphs may become unreadable when enlarged. Another example of when restriction of duplication may be useful is when a single sided document includes chapter separators, which may inadvertently be copied to the back side of a page in a two-sided duplicate. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many other scenarios when enforcement of copy restrictions may be useful.
In STEP 205, one or more print settings and copy restrictions are received in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. These settings may be received through the GUI of a user application or a printer driver, in response to a request to print a document in the user application. The print settings and copy restrictions may also be selected by a user of the user application. The print settings may specify how the document is to be printed (e.g. printer name, pages to print, number of copies, scaling, pages per sheet, paper size, other paper options, and the like). The copy restrictions (also known as ‘copy options’ or ‘copy settings’) may specify restrictions to be enforced when duplicating the document in the future (e.g. black and white only, color only, no scaling, single-sided only, duplex only). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there exist various other printer options and copy restrictions not described.
In STEP 210, copy code is generated based on selected copy restrictions in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The copy code may be generated by a copy code generator. The copy code may be generated in various formats. For example, the copy code may be calculated by identifying a numerical value corresponding to each of the selected copy restrictions, and subsequently summing the numerical values.
In STEP 215, a print job is generated for a document based on the print settings and copy restrictions in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The print job may be generated by a PDL generator, and may be sent to a print queue of the printer receiving the print job. The print job may include information about the document to be printed as well as the copy code associated with the document. For more details about the print job, please refer to the description of the PDL generator.
In STEP 220, a hardcopy document having a machine-readable version of the copy code is generated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The machine-readable version of the copy code may be a barcode including the copy code, a data glyph including the copy code, a plaintext version of the copy code, and/or an RFID chip storing the copy code. The hardcopy document may be generated by a printer that has the ability to physically encode the copy settings in the hardcopy document. For example, if the copy code is stored in an RFID chip, then the printer generating the hardcopy document may have functionality to write the copy code to the RFID chip.
In STEP 305, a hardcopy document having a machine-readable version of a copy code is scanned in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The hardcopy document may be scanned by a scanner, or other multi-function device. The machine-readable version of the copy code may be a barcode including the copy code, a data glyph including the copy code, a plaintext version of the copy code, and/or an RFID chip storing the copy code. Accordingly, the scanner may include an RFID chip reader or interrogator.
In STEP 310, one or more copy restrictions are decoded from the copy code in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The copy restrictions may be selected by a user prior to the generation of the hardcopy document. The copy restrictions may be encoded in various formats. For example, the copy code may include a set of digits, where each digit corresponds to a specific copy restriction (e.g. a binary code). The copy code may also be extracted (i.e. decoded) using various mechanisms. For example, in the scenario where the copy code is recorded in plaintext on the hardcopy document, the copy code may be extracted from the hardcopy document using optical character recognition (OCR).
In STEP 315, one or more features of a copier are disabled based on the copy restrictions in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the copier may be part of the scanner. The features disabled based on the copy restrictions may include color copying, black and white (e.g. grayscale) coping, scaling, single-sided printing, duplex (i.e. two-sided) printing, and the like. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that any copier used in this process will be required to possess functionality for decoding and implementing copy restrictions.
In STEP 320, a duplicate of the hardcopy document is generated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The duplicate may be generated by the copier portion of the scanner, and will adhere to the feature restrictions imposed by the copy restrictions. For example, if the features disabled by the copy code include color and scaling, then the duplicate of the hardcopy document will not be printed in color (even if the original hardcopy document was in color), and will not be scaled differently than the original hardcopy document. The duplicate of the hardcopy document will also contain the copy code of the original hardcopy document, for enforcement of copy restrictions in the event that further scanning and copying of the document occur in the future.
Initially, a softcopy document is generated (see 405). The softcopy document may be generated by a word processor. Once the user issues a request to print the softcopy document, a printer driver GUI is displayed. The printer driver GUI includes a variety of print settings (e.g., number of copies, page selection, etc.) for selection by the user. In addition, the printer driver GUI may also include a variety of copy options (also known as ‘copy restrictions’ or ‘copy settings’) for restricting future duplication of the document. Similar to the print settings, the copy options are available for selection by the user. The print settings and the copy options may be displayed simultaneously within the GUI. Alternatively, the user may need to select a GUI widget (e.g., button, tab, radio button, etc.) in order to view and/or select the copy options. The copy options may include black and white (B&W) only, color only, no scaling, single-sided, duplex, and so forth. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there will be many other copy options available for selection by the user.
Then, copy options are selected (see 410). The copy options may be selected by the user of the word processor via the GUI. In
Finally, a hardcopy version of the document is printed in color (see 415). The hardcopy version of the document may be printed by the user of the word processor using a printer. The printer may be, for example, printer (108), or a printer with similar functionality. The hardcopy version generated by the printer will be essentially identical to the softcopy document, except that the hardcopy version will include the copy code in machine-readable form. For example, in
Initially, there exists a hardcopy version of a document (see 505). The hardcopy document is a color document, and includes copy settings (and hence copy code) in a machine-readable format in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. In
Subsequently, the hardcopy document is scanned in a photocopier (see 510). During the scanning process, copy code is extracted from the hardcopy document and decoded. As discussed above, the copy code corresponds to one or more restrictions placed on future duplications of the hardcopy document. Accordingly, once the restrictions are identified (i.e., decoded) from the copy code, any feature of the photocopier restricted by the copy code is disabled. For example, the “B&W only” restriction disables the color copy feature of the photocopier. Similarly, the “no scaling” restriction disables the enlargement and reduction features of the photocopier. Therefore, any copy (i.e. duplicate) that the photocopier generates of the hardcopy document will be in black and white only, and will not have any scaling.
Finally, the hardcopy document is duplicated (i.e. copied) by the scanner/copier (see 515). The duplicate of the hardcopy document is itself a hardcopy document, in black and white, and without scaling in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. Beyond the black and white and scaling restrictions, the hardcopy document duplicate is identical to the original hardcopy document. The duplicate includes the machine-readable version of the copy code at the same location as the original hardcopy document. This way, future copying of the duplicate will also enforce the copy restrictions encoded in the copy code.
Embodiments of the invention may be implemented on virtually any type of computer regardless of the platform being used. For example, as shown in
Further, in one or more embodiments of the invention, one or more elements of the aforementioned computer system (600) may be located at a remote location and connected to the other elements over a network. Further, embodiments of the invention may be implemented on a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, where each portion of the invention (e.g. user application, copy code generator, PDL generator, printer, management engine, copier, etc.) may be located on a different node within the distributed system. In one embodiment of the invention, the node corresponds to a computer system. Alternatively, the node may correspond to a processor with associated physical memory. The node may alternatively correspond to a processor or micro-core of a processor with shared memory and/or resources. Further, software instructions in the form of computer readable program code to perform embodiments of the invention may be stored, temporarily or permanently, on a tangible computer readable storage medium, such as a compact disc (CD), a diskette, a tape, memory, or any other tangible computer readable storage device.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
