Patent ID: 7639807

Claim:
A system for encryption of image data in a network environment comprising: a scanner operable to scan a tangible document to generate electronic document data corresponding to an image thereof; means for receiving a template comprised of document output settings corresponding to desired document output properties, encryption format, and network storage destination for the electronic document data; means for receiving the electronic document data from the scanner into a local non-volatile data storage; means for receiving, from an associated user, username data and password data associated with the received electronic data; means for converting received electronic data in accordance with received document output settings to a compressed electronic document encoded in a selected, standardized electronic document format; encryption means, via a controller of an associated image generating device, for encrypting the compressed electronic document in accordance with the password data to form an encrypted electronic document which is decryptable in accordance with the username data and the password data; means for deleting the electronic document data from the local non-volatile storage after encryption thereof; means for storing the encrypted electronic document in the local non-volatile storage; means for communicating the encrypted electronic document to a selected network device via a data communications link via an associated data network; and means for deleting the encrypted electronic document from the local non-volatile storage after communication to the selected network device.