Image processing apparatus, image processing method and a computer program product

• US 20010026629A1
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oki, Mitsuo
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00859 Issuing an alarm or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images

Abstract

An image processing apparatus which includes input device for inputting an image to printed, determining device for determining whether the input image includes predetermined information, output device for outputting a printed image of the input image using either a first type of processing or a second type of processing, wherein if the determining device determines the input image includes the predetermined information, the output device uses the first type of processing which outputs an irregular image of the input image and if the determining device determines the input image does not include the predetermined information, the output device uses the second type of processing which outputs an image of the input image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

judging means for judging an information which is attached or add to an image;

generating means for generating an information in correspondence with the image by performing an irregularity process; and

storing means for storing the judged information together with the generated information.

2. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said judged information is attached or added to the image as digital water mark which is visible information or invisible.

3. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, wherein said judged information is an information about copyright of the image or an information indicating the image is one of valuable securities.

4. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, further comprising;

checking means for checking whether an printing image is attached or added to said information in accordance with comparing the result of performing irregularity process for the printing image with the stored information;

controlling means for controlling printing the printing image in respond to the checking result.

5. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 4

wherein said judging means doesn'"'"'t judge the printing image and said controlling means stops printing and informs the printing image is attached or added to said information if the printing image has already been judged to be a specific image by the judging means on the basis of the checking result.

6. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 5

wherein said controlling means informs an information of rightful claimant.

7. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 4

, wherein said judging means judges an information which is attached or add to an image and said storing mean for storing the judged information together with the generated information if the printing image hasn'"'"'t been judged by the judging means on the basis of the checking result.

8. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 7

, said controlling means stops printing and informs the printing image is a specific image if the printing image is judged to be the specific image by judging the attached or added information.

9. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 4

, said judging by said judging means performs software process by using a program.

10. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 4

, said irregularity process converts said image to the predetermined length code.

11. An image processing method comprising:

judging step for judging an information which is attached or add to an image;

generating step for generating an information in correspondence with the image by performing an irregularity process; and

storing step for storing the judged information together with the generated information.

12. An image processing method according to

claim 11

, wherein said judging information is attached or added the image as digital water mark which is visible information or invisible.

13. An image processing method according to

claim 11

, wherein said judging information is an information about copyright of the image or an information indicating the image is one of valuable securities.

14. An image processing method according to

claim 11

, further comprising;

checking step for checking whether an printing image is attached or added said information in accordance with comparing the result of performing irregularity process for the printing image with the stored information;

controlling step for controlling printing the printing image in respond to the checking result.

15. An image processing method according to

claim 14

, wherein said judging step doesn'"'"'t judge the printing image and said controlling step stops printing and informs the printing image is attached or added to said information if the printing image has already been judged to be a specific image by the judging step on the basis of the checking result.

16. An image processing method according to

claim 15

, wherein said controlling step informs information of rightful claimant.

17. An image processing method according to

claim 14

, wherein said judging step judges an information which is attached or added an image and said storing step for storing the judged information together with the generated information if the printing image hasn'"'"'t been judged by the judging step on the basis of the checking result.

18. An image processing method according to

claim 14

, said controlling step stops printing and informs the printing image is a specific image if the printing image is judged to be an attached or added said information.

19. An image processing method according to

claim 14

, said judging by said judging step performs software process by using a program.

20. An image processing method according to

claim 14

, said irregularity process converts said image to the predetermined length code.

21. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having computer program codes, for executing image processing, said product including:

judging process procedure codes for judging an information which is attached or add to an image;

generating process procedure codes for generating an information in correspondence with the image by performing an irregularity process; and

storing process procedure codes for storing the judged information together with the generated information.

22. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting an image to printed;

determining means for determining whether the input image includes predetermined information;

output means for outputting a printed image of the input image using either a first type of processing or a second type of processing;

wherein if the determining means determines the input image includes the predetermined information, the output means uses the first type of processing which outputs an irregular image of the input image and if the determining means determines the input image does not include the predetermined information, the output means uses the second type of processing which outputs an image of the input image.

23. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 22

further comprising;

storage means for storing the predetermined information.

24. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 22

, wherein the predetermined information is copyright information.

25. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 23

, wherein the storage means stores information related to an image and copyright information.

26. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 22

, wherein the predetermined information is included in the image as digital water mark.

27. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 22

, wherein the determining means determines the input image includes the predetermined information by detecting a digital water mark when the input image is inputted at the first time.

28. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 25

, wherein in case the determining means determines the input image includes the predetermined information, the storage means stores ID information related to the input image and copyright information for subsequent processing.

29. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 28

, wherein the determining means determines the input image includes the predetermined information by checking said ID information when the input image is input a second time.

30. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 23

, wherein the storage means stores information related to an image and copyright owner information for a subsequent processing.

31. An image processing apparatus according to

claim 23

, wherein the storage means stores information relating to the number of prints that may be made of the image or information relating to the number of print permitted as well as a reasonable cost for each print (royalty) and information of the copyright owner for a subsequent processing.