Image processing apparatus and method therefor

• US 20060114484A1
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kitora, Masakazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink

Abstract

When a document image printed by freely editing and processing image data is to be copied, the user may want to copy the edited/processed image or copy an original image before editing and processing. To meet this demand, a document image is input, and pointer information for specifying the storage location of an original image, and image process information representing whether the input image is attained by editing and processing the original image are extracted from the input image. Priority data information representing which of the input image and original image is used is obtained. When no pointer information is extracted, when the image process information represents that the original image has not been edited or processed, or when the priority data information represents the use of the input image, the input image data is converted into vector data. When the pointer information is extracted, the image process information represents that the original image has been edited and processed, and the priority data information represents the use of the original image, the original image is input on the basis of the pointer information, and an image is formed on the basis of the vector data or original image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a first input section, arranged to input image data;

an extractor, arranged to extract, from the image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data and image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data;

an obtainer, arranged to obtain selection information representing which of the image data and the original data is used;

a converter, arranged to convert the image data into vector data when no pointer information is extracted, when the image process information represents that no process has been done, or when the selection information represents use of the image data;

a second input section, arranged to input the original data on the basis of the pointer information when the pointer information is extracted, the image process information represents that the process has been done, and the selection information represents use of the original data; and

an image processor, arranged to form an image on the basis of the vector data or the original data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pointer information and the image process information are added as a two-dimensional symbology or a digital watermark to the image data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first input section includes an image reading device which reads a document image, or an interface which receives image data from the image reading device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, arranged to store image data; and

a network interface,

wherein said second input section receives the original data from said memory or from an external device via said network interface.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setter, arranged to set the selection information.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setter, arranged to prompt a user to set the selection information and set the selection information in accordance with an instruction from the user when the pointer information is extracted and the image process information represents that the process has been done.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a segmentation section, arranged to select a block from the image data input from said first input section,

wherein said extractor, said converter, and said second input section execute the process for each block.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image process includes a process of enlarging or reducing each block, and/or moving each block, and changing a layout of the image.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image process includes a process of changing a character size and/or a font type of the block having a text attribute.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image process includes a process of converting a color image into a monochrome image.

11. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

inputting image data;

extracting, from the image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

extracting image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data;

obtaining selection information representing which of the image data and the original data is used;

converting the image data into vector data when no pointer information is extracted, when the image process information represents that no process has been done, or when the selection information represents use of the image data;

inputting the original data on the basis of the pointer information when the pointer information is extracted, the image process information represents that the process has been done, and the selection information represents use of the original data; and

forming an image on the basis of the vector data or the original data.

12. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

extracting, from input image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

obtaining image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data; and

prompting a user to select which of the image data and the original data is used when the pointer information is extracted and the image process information represents that the image process has been done.

13. A computer program for an image processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data;

extracting, from the image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

extracting image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data;

obtaining selection information representing which of the image data and the original data is used;

converting the image data into vector data when no pointer information is extracted, when the image process information represents that no process has been done, or when the selection information represents use of the image data;

inputting the original data on the basis of the pointer information when the pointer information is extracted, the image process information represents that the process has been done, and the selection information represents use of the original data; and

forming an image on the basis of the vector data or the original data.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium comprising program code for executing an image processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data;

extracting, from the image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

extracting image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data;

obtaining selection information representing which of the image data and the original data is used;

converting the image data into vector data when no pointer information is extracted, when the image process information represents that no process has been done, or when the selection information represents use of the image data;

inputting the original data on the basis of the pointer information when the pointer information is extracted, the image process information represents that the process has been done, and the selection information represents use of the original data; and

forming an image on the basis of the vector data or the original data.

15. A computer program for an image processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

extracting, from input image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

obtaining image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data; and

prompting a user to select which of the image data and the original data is used when the pointer information is extracted and the image process information represents that the image process has been done.

16. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium comprising program code for executing an image processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

extracting, from input image data, pointer information for specifying a storage location of original data of the image data;

obtaining image process information representing whether the image data is attained as a result of an image process on the original data; and

prompting a user to select which of the image data and the original data is used when the pointer information is extracted and the image process information represents that the image process has been done.