Patent ID: 8009305

Claim:
An image processing apparatus capable of performing at least one of a function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation, the image processing apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store information specifying a basic dot pattern including a plurality of dots; an image reading mechanism configured to read an original image having image data embedded with a composite pattern, wherein the composite pattern is generated by: 1) providing two basic patterns including a first basic pattern, and a second basic pattern generated by turning the first basic pattern by a specific degree of angle; and 2) combining the first basic pattern and the second basic pattern such that at least one of the plurality of dots included in the first basic pattern is exactly superimposed on at least one of the plurality of dots included in the second basic pattern; a dot pattern detecting mechanism configured to extract a dot pattern that is identical to the basic dot pattern specified by the information stored in the memory from the composite pattern embedded in the original image as a detected dot pattern; a dot pattern determining mechanism configured to determine whether the original image is an anti-copy document based on the detected dot pattern to generate a determination result; and an output regulating mechanism configured to control the at least one function of copying, faxing, file transfer e-mailing, image-data network transmission, and image data accumulation according to the determination result indicating whether the original image is an anti-copy document.