Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for implementing the method

• US 20050073594A1
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tagawa, Yojiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,436,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for implementing the image processing method have a capability of recording/playing back a digital image, and the capability can be extended without a significant increase in load imposed on software. On the basis of camera information and picture-taking information, a XML generator produces a XML file to be written in a maker note area. The XML file is input to a maker note generator to produce maker note data including maker note IFD tags. The maker note is input together with the picture-taking information and the camera information to an Exif IFD generator to produce Exif IFD data. Finally, the Exif IFD data and compressed image data are input to an Exif generator to produce a Exif file. In this manner, the Exif file including the maker note area in which image attribute information is described in the XML language is produced.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising

recording means for storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

description means for describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language; and

writing means for writing the attribute information described by the description means into an arbitrary attribute area.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

separation means for separating image data and attribute information stored in the image file;

and

extraction means for extracting original attribute information by analyzing the attribute information described using the defined tag and separated by the separation means.

9. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

style sheet storage means for storing one or more style sheets for defining a display form in which the extracted attribute information and an image corresponding to the attribute information are displayed;

style sheet selection means for selecting an arbitrary style sheet from the style sheets stored in the style sheet storage means; and

output means for outputting an image and attribute information in accordance with a style sheet selected by the style sheet selection means.

10. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the image and the attribute information output by the output means.

3. An image processing apparatus comprising

recording means for storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

description means for describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encryption means for encrypting part or all of the attribute information described by the description means; and

writing means for writing the attribute information encrypted by the encryption means into an arbitrary attribute area.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

separation means for separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file;

decryption means for decrypting the encrypted part of the attribute information separated by the separation means; and

extraction means for extracting original attribute information by analyzing the attribute information described using the defined tag and decrypted by the decryption means.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising

recording means for storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

description means for describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

compression means for compressing part or all of the attribute information described by the description means; and

writing means for writing the attribute information compressed by the compression means into an arbitrary attribute area.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising

separation means for separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file;

decompression means for decompressing the compressed part of the attribute information separated by the separation means; and

extraction means for extracting original attribute information by analyzing the attribute information described using the defined tag and decompressed by the decompression means.

7. An image processing apparatus comprising

recording means for storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

description means for describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encryption-and-compression means for encrypting and compressing part or all of the attribute information described by the description means; and

writing means for writing the attribute information encrypted and compressed by the encryption-and-compression means into an arbitrary attribute area.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising

separation means for separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file;

decompression-and-decryption means for decompressing and decrypting the encrypted and compressed part of the attribute information separated by the separation means; and

extraction means for extracting original attribute information by analyzing the attribute information described using the defined tag and decompressed and decrypted by the decompression-and-decryption means.

11. An image processing method comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language; and

writing the attribute information described in the description step into an arbitrary attribute area.

12. An image processing method comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encrypting part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information encrypted in the encryption step into an arbitrary attribute area.

13. An image processing method comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

compressing part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information compressed in the compression step into an arbitrary attribute area.

14. An image processing method comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encrypting and compressing part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information encrypted and compressed in the encryption-and-compression step into an arbitrary attribute area.

15. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language; and

writing the attribute information described in the description step into an arbitrary attribute area.

16. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encrypting part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information encrypted in the encryption step into an arbitrary attribute area.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

compressing part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information compressed in the compression step into an arbitrary attribute area.

18. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of

storing an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

describing the attribute information using a tag defined by a tag-definable markup language;

encrypting and compressing part or all of the attribute information described in the description step; and

writing the attribute information encrypted and compressed in the encryption-and-compression step into an arbitrary attribute area.

19. An image processing apparatus comprising

reading means for reading, from a storage medium, an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

separation means for separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file; and

extraction means for extracting attribute information by analyzing the attribute information separated by the separation means in accordance a predetermined display style.

20. An image processing method comprising the steps of

reading, from a storage medium, an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file; and

extracting attribute information by analyzing the attribute information separated in the separation step in accordance a predetermined display style.

21. A program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of

reading, from a storage medium, an image file including an image area for storing image data and also including an attribute area for storing attribute information;

separating image data and attribute information included in the stored image file; and

extracting attribute information by analyzing the attribute information separated in the separation step in accordance a predetermined display style.