Media-independent document security method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing media-independent security for a document is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes inputting image data corresponding to an interpretable image displayable by a display device in an interpretable format to be readily interpretable by a user; inputting security data corresponding to security information; creating, in a first medium, a document including a substantive portion; and a security portion inseparable from the substantive portion. The method further includes transferring the document into a second medium; decoding symbols into binary security data representing the security information; and outputting the binary security data in a format retrievable to be interpretable as the security information.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for media-independent security for a document, the method comprising: 
 inputting image data corresponding to an interpretable image displayable by a display device in an interpretable format to be readily interpretable by a user;    inputting security data corresponding to security information;    creating, in a first medium, a document comprising: 
 a substantive portion; and  
 a security portion inseparable from the substantive portion;  
   transferring the document into a second medium;    decoding symbols into binary security data representing the security information; and    outputting the binary security data in a format retrievable to be interpretable as the security information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein decoding further comprises: 
 transforming the symbols into a bit map;  
 capturing a target pattern;  
 synchronizing reading;  
 orienting in accordance with a direction indicated by the target pattern; and  
 reading the symbols.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the target pattern is comprised of a selected number of the symbols arranged in a pre-designated pattern.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein inputting comprises: 
 scanning a hardcopy of the document into a scanning device;  
 creating a bit map of the document; and  
 storing the bit map in a memory device.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the security image is comprised of binary symbols copied in a pattern.  
     
     
         6 . A memory device effective to store a media-independent security code and an associated document processable by a document processor, the memory device comprising: 
 a first block storing an executable, loadable to run on a computer as a document processor application;    a second block storing substantive data corresponding to information in a document presentable in a format interpretable directly by a user;    a third block storing security data independent but inseparable from the substantive data; and    a fourth block storing a security executable, loadable to process the security data and to include the security data in the document independently of the medium in which the document is represented.    
     
     
         7 . The memory device of  claim 6  wherein the security executable comprises instructions operable to program a computer to provide output data effective to produce a security image in the document in a security format rendering the security image uninterpretable by a viewer interpreting the document.  
     
     
         8 . The memory device of  claim 6  further comprising a rendering buffer storing output data comprising the substantive data and security data combined in a buffer format to be transmitted to an output device.  
     
     
         9 . The memory device of  claim 8  wherein the buffer format is effective to output to the output device the output data in a transfer format effective to control the output device to output in the document a substantive image corresponding to the substantive data and directly interpretable by a viewer visually inspecting the document, and to output a security image corresponding to the security data and uninterpretable by the viewer.  
     
     
         10 . The memory device of  claim 8  wherein the rendering buffer stores background data combined with the security data and effective to include the security data in a background image output by the output device in the document.  
     
     
         11 . The memory device of  claim 8  wherein the rendering buffer stores watermark data combined with the security data and effective to include the security data in a watermark image.  
     
     
         12 . The memory device of  claim 6  further comprising a pattern block comprising pattern encoding data for encoding the security data in a security image to be output in the document by an output device.  
     
     
         13 . The memory device of  claim 12  wherein the pattern block further comprises palette data corresponding to the pattern encoding data, and effective to present to a user for selection by a user, a plurality of encoding patterns corresponding the encoding data.  
     
     
         14 . The memory device of  claim 6  wherein the memory device is comprised of a plurality of storage devices adapted to receive data.  
     
     
         15 . The memory device of  claim 6  further comprising security code data corresponding to security codes obscured in a pattern unrecognizable to a user, synchronizing data to synchronize a reader to recognize the pattern, symbol interpretation data to enable the processor to read the pattern to produce a binary code, decoding data to enable the processor to decode the binary code into characters recognizable by a user.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the target pattern is comprised of a number of elements arranged in a pre-designated pattern.