Patent ID: 7747863
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus, which is connected to a signature server via a computer network and which transmits output image data to a destination device, comprising: a calculator, arranged to calculate a hash value of input image data; a transmitter, arranged to transmit the hash value of the input image data to the signature server through the computer network; a receiver, arranged to receive from the signature server, via the computer network, electronic signature data which is generated by the signature server using the hash value of the input image data; a decoder, arranged to decode the electronic signature data received by said image processing apparatus from the signature server to obtain a hash value of the electronic signature data; a comparator, arranged to compare the hash value of the electronic signature data received from the signature server with the hash value of the input image data; and a generator, arranged to, if the comparison result of said comparator indicates that the hash value of the electronic signature data is identical to the hash value of the input image data, generate output image data with an electronic signature in which the electronic signature data is added to the input image data, and if the comparison result indicates that the hash value of the electronic signature data is not identical to the hash value of the input image data, generate no output image data with an electronic signature, wherein, when said generator generates output image data with an electronic signature, said transmitter transmits the output image data with an electronic signature to the destination device via the computer network.