Patent ID: 7881467

Claim:
A scanning apparatus, comprising: an image capture device to generate image data by reading information of a paper; an apparatus signature generation part configured to generate an electronic signature of the apparatus for the image data by using a secret key unique to the apparatus and stored in the apparatus; a user signature generation part configured to generate an electronic signature of a user for the image data by using an IC card secret key unique to the user of the apparatus; a signature relating part configured to embed the electronic signature of the apparatus to the image data and the electronic signature of the user to the image data in a header data; a transmitter which transmits the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, the electronic signature of the user, a public key certificate of the machine, and a public key certificate of the user to a file server; a number generation part configured to generate a sequential number based on the generation of the image data; and a time stamp obtaining part configured to obtain a time stamp for the image data, the electronic signature of the apparatus, or the image data and the electronic signature of the apparatus via a network, the time stamp being an electronic signature generated by encrypting using a secret key of a time stamp service, wherein the apparatus signature generation part generates the electronic signature of the apparatus based on information where the sequential number is added to the image data.