Image processing apparatus and method

Abstract

It is required to protect the copyrights and the like of partial images which form respective parts of an image obtained by reading an image, exchanged using a print as a medium, by an image scanner or the like. Input image data is divided into a plurality of image regions having different features, digital watermarks, which are embedded in the detected image regions by embedding methods corresponding to the features of the image regions, are extracted, and the availability of the input image is checked on the basis of the extracted digital watermarks.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 an input section, arranged to input digital image information;    a detector, arranged to recognize a predetermined image region included in the input image information;    a generator, arranged to generate authentication information required to control a process for the image region; and    an embedding section, arranged to embed the authentication information in the image region.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said generator and said embedding section generate and embed the authentication information for each predetermined image region.  
     
     
         3 . A computer program product storing a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: 
 inputting digital image information;    recognizing a predetermined image region included in the input image information;    generating authentication information required to control a process for the image region; and    embedding the authentication information in the image region.    
     
     
         4 . An image processing method comprising the steps of: 
 inputting digital image information;    receiving information that designates a predetermined region contained in the input image information;    compressing image information in the designated region;    converting the compressed image information into code data which is to replace the image information in the designated region; and    replacing the image information in the designated region by the code data.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of determining a type of image information in the designated region, adaptively selecting a compression method on the basis of the determined type, and appending information indicating the selected compression method to the code data.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising the step of receiving input of authentication information required to reconstruct image information before compression from the code data, and appending the input authentication information to the code data.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of generating the code data includes a step of determining a type of image information in the designated region, and adaptively executing binarization or resolution conversion on the basis of the determined type, so as to reduce a data size of the code data to be generated to a value not more than a predetermined value.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the code data is image data in a bitmap format.  
     
     
         9 . An image processing method comprising the steps of: 
 inputting digital image information;    detecting a hidden image region included in the input image information;    extracting code data from the detected image region;    reconstructing an image by expanding the extracted code data; and    synthesizing the reconstructed image with the detected image region.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: 
 extracting authentication information from the code data;    receiving input of authentication information; and    executing expansion when the extracted authentication information matches the input authentication information.    
     
     
         11 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 an input section, arranged to input digital image information;    a reception section, arranged to receive information that designates a predetermined region contained in the input image information;    a compressor, arranged to compress image information in the designated region;    a converter, arranged to convert the compressed image information into code data which is to replace the image information in the designated region; and    a replacement section, arranged to replace the image information in the designated region by the code data.    
     
     
         12 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 an input section, arranged to input digital image information;    a detector, arranged to detect a hidden image region included in the input image information;    an extractor, arranged to extract code data from the detected image region;    an expander, arranged to reconstruct an image by expanding the extracted code data; and    a synthesizer, arranged to synthesize the reconstructed image with the detected image region.    
     
     
         13 . A computer program product storing a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: 
 inputting digital image information;    receiving information that designates a predetermined region contained in the input image information;    compressing image information in the designated region;    converting the compressed image information into code data which is to replace the image information in the designated region; and    replacing the image information in the designated region by the code data.    
     
     
         14 . A computer program product storing a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: 
 inputting digital image information;    detecting a hidden image region included in the input image information;    extracting code data from the detected image region;    reconstructing an image by expanding the extracted code data; and    synthesizing the reconstructed image with the detected image region.    
     
     
         15 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 a detector, arranged to divide an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    an embedding section, arranged to embed digital watermarks in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image regions; and    an integrator, arranged to integrate the image regions embedded with the digital watermarks into one image.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising an output section, arranged to output data which makes an image output device form an image on the basis of the integrated image.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the image region includes a multi-valued image region and binary image region, and said detector divides the image region into the multi-valued image region and binary image region.  
     
     
         18 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 a detector, arranged to divide an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    an extractor, arranged to extract digital watermarks embedded in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image region; and    a determiner, arranged to determine availability of the input image on the basis of the extracted digital watermarks.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein said determiner determines availability of an image process for each of the detected image regions.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a controller arranged to control an image input device used to acquire an image from a print.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the image region includes a multi-valued image region and binary image region, and said detector divides the image region into the multi-valued image region and binary image region.  
     
     
         22 . An image processing method comprising the steps of: 
 dividing an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    embedding digital watermarks in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image regions; and    integrating the image regions embedded with the digital watermarks into one image.    
     
     
         23 . An image processing method comprising the steps of: 
 dividing an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    extracting digital watermarks embedded in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image region; and    determining availability of the input image on the basis of the extracted digital watermarks.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the determining step includes a step of determining availability of an image process for each of the detected image regions.  
     
     
         25 . A computer program product storing a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: 
 dividing an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    embedding digital watermarks in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image regions; and    integrating the image regions embedded with the digital watermarks into one image.    
     
     
         26 . A computer program product storing a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing method, the product comprising process procedure codes for: 
 dividing an input image into a plurality of image regions having different features;    extracting digital watermarks embedded in the respective detected image regions by embedding methods according to the features of the image region; and    determining availability of the input image on the basis of the extracted digital watermarks.    
     
     
         27 . An image processing method comprising the steps of: 
 inputting digital image information;    recognizing a predetermined image region included in the input image information;    generating authentication information required to control a process for the image region; and    embedding the authentication information in the image region;    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the authentication information is generated and embedded for each predetermined image region.  
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the embedding step includes a step of embedding the authentication information as a digital watermark.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , further comprising the steps of: 
 extracting information embedded in the predetermined image region; and    controlling the process for the image region on the basis of authentication information contained in the extracted information.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the process for the image region includes at least one of a charge, display, print, copy, and send processes.