Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing system

Abstract

An image processing apparatus comprises a storage configured to store an original image, a processor configured to change a tone of a reduced image of the original image, a display configured to display a tone-changed reduced image, a connection determination unit configured to determine whether the image processing apparatus is connected to a network, a transmitter configured to transmit the original image to the server via the network together with data indicating a tone when the image processing apparatus is connected to the network, a controller configured to cause the processor to change the tone of the original image when the image processing apparatus is not connected to the network, and a receiver configured to receive the original image whose tone is changed by the server when the image processing apparatus is connected to the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image processing apparatus connectable to a server, the apparatus comprising:
 a first storage configured to store an original image;   a second storage configured to store data indicating tones;   a selector configured to select a data item indicating a tone from the data stored in the second storage;   a processor configured to change a tone of a reduced image of the original image stored in the first storage based on the selected data item indicating the tone in order to output a tone-changed reduced image;   a display configured to display the tone-changed reduced image output from the processor;   a connection determination unit configured to determine whether the image processing apparatus is connected to the network;   a transmitter configured to transmit the original image stored in the first storage to the server via the network together with the selected data item indicating the tone when the connection determination unit determines that the image processing apparatus is connected to the network;   a conversion controller configured to cause the processor to change the tone of the original image based on the selected data item indicating the tone when the connection determination unit determines that the image processing apparatus is not connected to the network; and   a receiver configured to receive the original image whose tone is changed by the server while the image processing apparatus is connected to the network.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor changes values of pixels constituting the original image according to predetermined parameters associated with the selected data item indicating the tone. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the data indicating tones comprises data indicating a painting tone and the processor changes the tone of the original image to a painting tone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an image sensor;   a face recognition unit configured to perform face recognition for an image captured by the image sensor; and   a first transmission controller configured to determine whether to transmit the original image to the server via the network in accordance with a face recognition result by the face recognition unit.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secret setting unit configured to make a secret setting to the original image; and   a second transmission controller configured to determine whether to transmit the original image to the server via the network in accordance with a setting result by the secret setting unit.   
     
     
         6 . An image processing method for an image processing apparatus connectable to a server, the method comprising:
 causing the image processing apparatus to change a tone of a reduced image of the original image; and   transmitting an original image to the server over a network to cause the server to change a tone of the original image.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 causing the server to issue a print instruction of a tone-changed original image.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the tone is changed based on data indicating tones, and   the tone is changed by changing values of pixels constituting the original image based on parameters associated with the data indicting the tones in the server and by changing values of pixels constituting the reduced image based on parameters associated with the data indicting the tones in the image processing apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting the parameters and the data indicating the tones from the image processing apparatus to the server.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 transmitting the data indicating the tones from the image processing apparatus to the server, wherein   the parameter comprises a first parameter associated with the data indicating the tone and stored in the image processing apparatus and a second parameter stored in the server, and   the first parameter is different from the second parameter.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the tone of the image is changed to a painting tone. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the original image whose tone is changed by the server is transmitted to the image processing apparatus via the network. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 capturing a user's face to perform face recognition; and   determining whether to transmit the original image to the server via the network in accordance with a face recognition result.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 making a secret setting to the original image; wherein   the original image is not transmitted to the server via the network when the secret setting is made to the original image.   
     
     
         15 . An image processing system comprising a terminal, and a server connectable to the terminal, wherein
 the terminal comprises:   a first storage configured to store an original image;   a first processor configured to change a tone of a reduced image of the original image stored in the first storage based on data items indicating tones in order to output a tone-changed reduced image;   a display configured to display the tone converted reduced image output from the first processor;   a connection determination unit configured to determine whether the terminal is connected to a network; and   a transmitter configured to transmit the original image to the server via the network when the connection determination unit determines that the terminal is connected to the network, and   the server comprises:   a second storage configured to store the original image transmitted from the terminal; and   a second processor configured to change the tone of the original image stored in the second storage based on the data items indicating tones.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the terminal further comprises:   an image sensor; and   a face recognition unit configured to perform face recognition for an image captured by the image sensor, and   the transmitter determines whether to transmit the original image to the server via the network in accordance with a face recognition result by the face recognition unit.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the terminal further comprises:   a secret setting unit configured to make a secret setting to the original image, and   the transmitter determines whether to transmit the original image to the server via the network in accordance with a setting result by the secret setting unit.   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the server is configured to reduce the original image transmitted from the terminal, and to cause the terminal to display a reduced image over the network. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the server is configured to cause the terminal to display a tone-changed original image obtained by the second processor. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the server comprises an instruction module configured to issue a print instruction of a tone-changed original image obtained by the second processor.