Polestar Patented DocuLock System Enables Secure Original Document Printing
Press release from the issuing company
September 2, 2003 -- This invention relates to the problem of verification that a document is indeed the one intended. The need develops particularly as we print more and more documents on desktop printers. The need comes to the forefront in the final steps of managing documents that are digitally secure until the local recipient decides to print the document.
Presently, when instructed to print the secure document, the recipient’s computer will do so and do so as many times as instructed. In addition to the unauthorized number of apparently real documents, the present system leaves open the possibility of changes made before the printer is activated and therefore invalid documents appearing real.
The invention is a system of computer components with a new secure printer. The secure printer is also equipped with a digital “watermarking” capability that will mark ordinary paper in a unique onetime only way that can be forensically proven as to the one original document intended.
Computers are used to originate or process nearly every document in use. The computer file has been developed to the stage that security features can keep the information “safe” from the origination to storage and to delivery in the digital format. Newly developed input controls and certification techniques such as fingerprint entry pads to a PC etc., can assure the next user of the true identity of the originator. The information may be trusted in the digital format. If so, the process is complete.
However, many documents are printed for action or for record keeping or for reading later. These printouts of the document are more and more likely to be in some remote location and at the present time, can occur at or from any local printing device.
The object of this invention is a printer that can be addressed, linked to the document source certification, and then print one and only one securely marked “original”. The printer might be arranged to only print if the file is from a selected source, only if the file has not been opened, print only one document, and print with a security mark that can be forensically validated as the true and unblemished copy.
To accomplish the goal: The printer must be accessible only by the approved party. The same entry system (such as a fingerprint keypad) as is used for the originator to design or type the document is also applied to the printing device
The printer must be able to distinguish the certification details of the digital file and be activated (the special features activated) by the acceptable code/signal.
The printer must be able to print a mark that can be verifiably unique.
The watermark printer integrated into the primary printer so that the unique mark is placed on the page as the message is printed. The mark can be covert and overt or both. It will effectively “water mark” that paper as it is printed to provide the same anti-counterfeiting advantage of watermarks and other features usually marked at a paper production factory.
The mark must be unique to this digital file and to this page of paper. It must be printed in such a way that it cannot be copied and has a unique (unique to that individual page) number or code.
The paper may have some other features built in before the printing to avoid tampering later.