Patent ID: 7649641
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of printing on a printing medium, the medium including a printable area in which image data is to be printed and a memory area in which authentication data has been previously stored, the method comprising: receiving printing data from an external apparatus and comparison data from a user; generating, from the printing data, both the image data to be printed and validation data that validates the genuineness of the image data after printing; sending the comparison data to the printing medium to be compared in the printing medium with the authentication data to generate a comparison result; receiving the comparison result from the printing medium and deciding from the comparison result whether the validation data can be written in the printing medium; printing the image data in the printable area and sending the validation data to the printing medium to be written to the memory area if the comparison result indicates that the validation data can be written in the printing medium; and refraining from printing the image data and refraining from sending the validation data to the printing medium if the comparison result indicates that the validation data cannot be written in the printing medium.