The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 09, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1999
Yoichi Shimazawa, Nara, JP;
Syoichiro Yoshiura, Tenri, JP;
Yoichi Shimazawa, Nara, JP;
Syoichiro Yoshiura, Tenri, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
The present invention is directed to the provision of an image forming apparatus capable of effectively preventing the formation of images related to illegal conducts by making provisions so that, even in situations where images can be formed based on image data outputted from any arbitrary image output apparatus, the image output apparatus which outputted the image data can be identified without fail. When image data is inputted from a portable image output apparatus, first it is checked whether identification information has been inputted together with the image data, then an image of an identification pattern is created, and image formation is performed based on image data obtained by attaching the image data of the identification pattern to the input image data. On the other hand, when image data is inputted from a fixed image output apparatus, first it is checked whether identification pattern data is included in a designated position in the image data, and then image formation is performed based on the input image data. The image thus formed by the digital copying machine contains the image of the identification pattern by which the image supply device that outputted the source image data is identified.