Patent ID: 8139264
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An overwriting method for overwriting image data of an image stored in a non-volatile storage apparatus of an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: receiving the image data; storing the image data on a hard disk drive; generating a set of random numbers, wherein a length of each of the set of random numbers is based on a sensitivity of the image data; receiving, from a user, an indication of a category of image to be overwritten; identifying a category of the image data; determining, by an image overwrite application, that the category of the image data matches the category of image to be overwritten; overwriting, in response to the determination, the image data with a set of patterns from the set of random numbers; and verifying that the image cannot be recovered by attempting to read the overwritten image data from the hard disk drive.