Patent ID: 7021534

Claim:
A system for providing secure document distribution, the system comprising: an application configured to: allow an author to create a document; allow the author to secure the document using an access code, wherein the access code is needed to gain access to the document; generate an image, the image having information embedded therein, the embedded information including the access code encoded in an encrypted format; and forward a message to a recipient, wherein the message includes the document and the image; a terminal configured to allow the recipient to open the message; and a portable device configured to: allow the recipient to capture the image; store predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information is usable to decrypt the access code embedded in the image; capture input information from the recipient, the input information to be used to ensure that the recipient is authorized to use the portable device; and generate an output based on the information embedded in the image and the predetermined information, the output including the access code; wherein the terminal is further configured to receive the output generated by the portable device and evaluate the output to determine if the recipient is allowed to access the document.