System and Method for Printing Documents Containing Dynamically Generated Security Features

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for printing secure documents incorporating hidden security features. In one system, a printer firmware module embeds a security feature in printer instructions to print a secure document. In another system, a software module on a computing device embeds a security feature in printer instructions to print a secure document. In another system, a software module on a computing device provides data to a printer firmware module to embed a security feature in printer instructions to print a secure document. In another system, a print server pre-processor module embeds a security feature in printer instructions to print a secure document. In another system, a security appliance security module generates security features in the form of security instructions that are embedded into a secure document to be printed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for dynamically generating at least one security feature for securing information within a document, the system comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and   program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a processor to:
 receive a printing instruction including data corresponding to content of an electronic document; 
 generate a security feature; 
 modify the printing instruction to add data indicative of the generated security feature; and 
 initiate a process to print a secure physical document based on the modified printing instruction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is a component of or takes the form of a printing device that is configured to print the secure physical document. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is a component of or takes the form of a computing device that is configured to send the modified printing instruction to a printing device to print the secure physical document. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is a component of or takes the form of a combined computing and printing device that is configured to modify the printing instruction and print the secure physical document. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a processor to generate the security feature based on the printing instruction. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that are executable by a processor to:
 create a tagged file format from the printing instruction;   identify, based on the tagged file format, parameter data corresponding to the security feature to be generated, and   wherein the security feature is generated based at least in part on the parameter data.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the parameter data is received via a user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein at least some of the parameter data is based on one or more tags included in the tagged file format that specify a color of at least a portion of the electronic document.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process to print a secure physical document based on the modified printing instruction comprises a process to generate a raster image based on the modified printing instruction, wherein the raster image visually combines the security feature with the content of the electronic document. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a raster-image module, wherein the raster-image module comprises program instructions that are executable by a processor to carry out the printing process to print the secure physical document. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the security feature includes data configured to cause the secured physical document to include, when printed, an image having a foreground a background, at least one of which includes a line screen pattern, wherein the foreground and the background of the image are configured such that a scanned reproduction of an original printed version of the secured physical document is reproduced in an altered form relative to the original printed version. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein security feature is further configured such that the foreground of the image comprises a latent image that is embedded within a visually integrated setting of the secured physical document, and wherein the latent image is substantially indistinguishable from the background with the naked eye in the original printed version. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a network module, wherein the network module comprises program instructions that are executable by a processor to receive a print instruction. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the network module further comprises program instructions that are executable by a processor to communicate the modified print instruction to a network device. 
     
     
         15 . A method for printing a document with an embedded security feature, the method comprising:
 receiving a printing instruction including data corresponding to content of an electronic document;   generating a security feature;   modifying the printing instruction to add data indicative of the generated security feature; and   initiating a process to print a secure physical document based on the modified printing instruction.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising determining parameter data for the printing instruction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the security feature is generated based on the parameter data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter data is based on metadata of the electronic document. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving parameter data associated with the printing instruction via a user interface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the security feature is not readily apparent on the secure physical printed document. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the generating the security feature is performed by one of a print driver, a server, or a printing device. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising generating a raster image based on the modified printing instruction, wherein the raster image visually combines the security feature with the content of the electronic document.