Patent ID: 7570398

Claim:
A device comprising: a scanning mechanism configured to scan an original, physical document and generate scan data that reflects the original, physical document; and a security mechanism configured to control physical access to the original, physical document that is scanned; wherein the security mechanism includes: a secure input bin for securely storing the original, physical document prior to and during scanning by the scanning mechanism; a security function for securely maintaining the original, physical document during scanning by the scanning mechanism; and a secure output bin for securely storing the original, physical document after being scanned by the scanning mechanism, wherein the scanning mechanism is further configured to: determine an identity of a user who requested scanning of the original, physical document; determine, based upon the identity of the user, whether the security mechanism is to be used; and if, based upon the identity of the user, the security mechanism is to be used, then causing the device to enter a secure scanning mode where the security mechanism is used by default to scan documents.