Method and apparatus for reading and replacing control and/or identification data in a print image to support document tracking, flow control, and security

摘要

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of decomposing and modifying a bitmap image before it is rendered by an output device. Segments of a print image are determined by an aptly programmed processor. In a bitmap driver process, dimensions and location of an area on each print image is processed so as to form objects that can be deleted, modified, or replaced. The process allows for the addition of objects such as tracking or security and the processing of objects to interpret the data found, remove it, and possibly replace it with data based on what was read. These modified objects are embedded in the output bitmap image without increasing its size by reusing dimensions and location of selected areas of the print image.

主权项

1. A method to manage at least one RIPped image having control and/or identification information during job workflow before printing comprising:
receiving at least one RIPped image that can be reproduced by a printing engine, wherein the at least one RIPped image comprises an image and data indicating at least one of location, shape, and orientation of objects or components; displaying a print server interface with individual panes showing active, paused, and completed print jobs, wherein the pane showing the active print jobs comprises the received at least one RIPped image; determining if a user through a keyboard or user interface, or by receiving an indication from the print server interface has selected a RIPped image for modification; displaying a modification processing user interface with menus to facilitate user changes to the selected RIPped image; sensing the user changes to the control and/or identification information in the selected RIPped image; performing modification processing based on the user changes to the selected RIPped image by: decomposing with a segmenter the selected RIPped image into individual pages that are then segmented into the components or the objects to extract information contained therein; processing coded symbology and then erasing the processed coded symbology; processing modification of the control and/or identification information in the selected RIPped image and then for each page of the selected RIPped image extracting the control and/or identification information from the selected RIPped image to alter the segments or objects based on the sensed user changes; forming an output bitmap image after modification of the selected RIPped image; wherein the modification comprises adding a security feature, adding tracking information, and voiding an active print job.