Konica Minolta Laboratory U.s.a., Inc.

Konica Minolta Systems Laboratory, Inc.

Vivek Pathak

Hiroshi Tomita

Paul Cattrone

Disclosed is a method for determining optimum color gradation levels used by a color gradation barcode in a system including a rendering device for rendering the barcode and a detector for detecting the barcode. The method includes: (a) obtaining input color gradation data; (b) rendering, by using the rendering device, a test pattern based on the input color gradation data, the test pattern comprising at least one color gradation pattern; (c) detecting, by using the detector, the rendered test pattern to generate detected color gradation data; (d) based on the detected color gradation data and the input color gradation data, determining a plurality of optimum color gradation levels to be used for a color gradation barcode; and (e) storing the plurality of optimum color gradation levels.

Color barcode with enhanced capacity and readability for a closed loop system

A method of authenticating a document, typically a printed document, is disclosed. The method comprises: (a) processing a first area of a source document according to a first authentication level to generate first authentication data; (b) processing a second area of the source document according to a second authentication level to generate second authentication data, the second authentication level being different from the first authentication level; (c) generating barcode data representing at least the first and second authentication data; and (d) carrying out at least one of: (d1) embedding the barcode data to the source document to generate a processed document; and (d2) printing the barcode data on a recording medium.

Method and apparatus for authenticating printed documents

Disclosed is a method for determining optimum noise filter setting to be used by a scanner in a system including a printer and a detector forming a closed loop system. A test image including a plurality of horizontal lines, vertical lines, slanted lines and dots are printed using the printer and scanned back using the scanner. The scanned test image data is compared to the input test image data representing the test image, and based on such comparison, the optimum noise filter setting for the printer/scanner pair is determined and stored for future use. This method is particularly useful for printing barcodes having high data capacity.

Optimum noise filter setting for a scanner in a closed loop system

A method is described in which metadata regarding a document is encoded as 2d barcode printed on the same recording medium as the document, where the metadata includes an access history of the document and other information. When a printed document including such barcode is copied, the copy includes new barcode containing updated metadata that replaces the original barcode, where the updated metadata includes a record of the current copying or scanning action. When a printed document including such barcode is scanned, the metadata contained in the barcode is extracted and stored. Also described is a document management system including a server connected to one or more clients, scanners, printers, and a storage device for storing documents and metadata. The server includes a digital stamp engine that generates barcode data representing metadata, and supports a variety of workflows including print, barcode generation, scan, copy, barcode update, etc.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Vivek Pathak