Image data processing apparatus and method for embedding additional information into image data, data processing apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus

• US 20010030761A1
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Ideyama, Hiriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/324 Selecting a particular authentication information from amongst a plurality of different authentication information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

An image data processing apparatus that selects, as an output destination of image data, either a printer or a personal computer in accordance with an instruction from an operator. When the printer is selected as the output destination, a first pattern composed of high-density dots that is less influenced by noise during an image forming process is embedded as the additional information into the image data. When the personal computer is selected as the output destination, a second pattern composed of low-density dots is embedded as the additional information into the image data. The image data containing the additional information is output to the selected output destination.

Claims

1. An image data processing apparatus comprising:

an output destination selection unit which selects, as an output destination of image data, either a first reproduction apparatus or a second reproduction apparatus in accordance with an instruction from an operator, the first reproduction apparatus and the second reproduction apparatus reproducing the image data on different types of mediums;

an embedding condition determining unit which determines an embedding condition in which additional information is embedded into the image data, in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding unit which embeds the additional information into the image data in the determined embedding condition; and

an image data output unit which outputs the image data containing the additional information to the selected output destination.

2. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein

the embedding condition is density of dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

3. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein

the embedding condition is intervals between dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

4. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 1

, wherein

the embedding condition is a color of dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

5. An image data processing method comprising:

an output destination selection step in which either a first reproduction apparatus or a second reproduction apparatus is selected as an output destination of image data, in accordance with an instruction from an operator, the first reproduction apparatus and the second reproduction apparatus reproducing the image data on different types of mediums;

an embedding condition determining step in which an embedding condition in which additional information is embedded into the image data is determined in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding step in which the additional information is embedded into the image data in the determined embedding condition; and

an image data output step in which the image data containing the additional information is output to the selected output destination.

6. The image data processing method of

claim 5

, wherein

the embedding condition is density of dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

7. The image data processing method of

claim 5

, wherein

the embedding condition is intervals between dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

8. The image data processing method of

claim 5

, wherein

the embedding condition is a color of dots constituting a pattern to be embedded as the additional information.

9. An image data processing apparatus comprising:

an output destination selection unit which selects an output destination of image data;

an additional information generating unit which generates a different piece of additional information in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding unit which embeds the generated piece of additional information into the image data; and

an image data output unit which outputs the image data containing the generated piece of additional information to the selected output destination.

10. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 9

, wherein

the additional information generating unit includes:

an additional information storage unit which prestores a plurality of pieces of additional information; and

an additional information reading unit which reads one among the plurality of pieces of additional information from the additional information storage unit, in accordance with the selected output destination.

11. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 9

, wherein

each piece of additional information is represented by a pattern composed of a plurality of pattern dots.

12. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein

the additional information generating unit includes:

an additional information storage unit which prestores a plurality of patterns; and

an additional information reading unit which reads one among the plurality patterns from the additional information storage unit, in accordance with the selected output destination.

13. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein

the additional information generating unit generates a pattern that is different in density of the pattern dots, in accordance with the selected output destination.

14. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein

the additional information generating unit generates a pattern that is different in interval between the pattern dots, in accordance with the selected output destination.

15. The image data processing apparatus of

claim 11

, wherein

the additional information generating unit generates a pattern that is different in color of the pattern dots, in accordance with the selected output destination.

16. An image data processing method comprising:

an output destination selection step in which an output destination of image data is selected;

an additional information generating step in which a different piece of additional information is generated in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding step in which the generated piece of additional information is embedded into the image data; and

an image data output step in which the image data containing the generated piece of additional information is output to the selected output destination.

17. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image reader unit which reads an image from a source document and generates a piece of image data;

a print unit which forms an image on a sheet of paper in accordance with the piece of image data received from an image data output unit;

a communication control unit which outputs the piece of image data received from the image data output unit to an external apparatus;

an output destination selection unit which selects, as an output destination of the piece of image data generated by the image reader unit, either the print unit or the communication control unit;

an additional information generating unit which generates a different piece of additional information in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding unit which embeds the generated piece of additional information into the piece of image data generated by the image reader unit; and

the image data output unit which outputs the piece of image data containing the piece of additional information to the selected output destination.

18. A data processing apparatus comprising:

an output destination selection unit which selects an output destination of data;

an additional information generating unit which generates a different piece of additional information in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding unit which embeds the generated piece of additional information into the data; and

a data output unit which outputs the data containing the piece of additional information to the selected output destination.

19. A data processing method comprising:

an output destination selection step in which an output destination of data is selected;

an additional information generating step in which a different piece of additional information is generated in accordance with the selected output destination;

an additional information embedding step in which the generated piece of additional information is embedded into the data; and

a data output step in which the data containing the piece of additional information is output to the selected output destination.