IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20080309970A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00843 based on recognising a copy prohibited original, e.g. a banknote pattern authentication and markers therefor, forgery detection G06V20/95; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40; testing paper currency or similar valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00864 Modifying the reproduction, e.g. outputting a modified copy of a scanned original details of composing or otherwise geometrically modifying originals H04N1/387
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image processing apparatus capable of outputting image data by a plurality of output methods includes storing image data, managing output restriction information corresponding to a predetermined region of the stored image data, executing output restriction processing of the image data corresponding to the predetermined region based on the output restriction information of one of the plurality of output methods, selecting one of the plurality of output methods when the image data is output, and outputting the image data on which the output restriction processing is executed by the selected output method.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus configured to output image data via a plurality of methods comprising:

a storage unit configured to store the image data;

a management unit configured to manage output restriction information corresponding to a predetermined region of the image data;

a processing unit configured to execute output restriction processing of the image data corresponding to the predetermined region based on the output restriction information of one of the plurality of output methods;

a selection unit configured to select one of the plurality of output methods when the image data is output; and

a control unit configured to output the image data, on which the processing unit executes the output restriction processing, by the output method selected in the selection unit.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of output methods includes at least display, printing, and transmission.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit outputs the image data to a display apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus when the selection unit selects display as the output method of the image data.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit outputs the image data to a printing apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus when the selection unit selects printing as the output method of the image data.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output restriction information is information that indicates restriction of printing of an image corresponding to the predetermined region, and

wherein the processing unit executes output restriction processing of the image data to restrict printing of the image corresponding to the predetermined region when the selection unit selects printing as the output method of the image data.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the output restriction information is information that indicates restriction of transmission of an image corresponding to the predetermined region, and

wherein the processing unit executes output restriction processing of the image data to restrict transmission of the image corresponding to the predetermined region when the selection unit selects transmission as the output method of the image data.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output restriction processing removes the image data corresponding to the predetermined region.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a division unit configured to divide the image data into a plurality of regions, wherein the management unit manages the output restriction information in response to dividing the image data.

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

a recognition unit configured to recognize an object contained in the image data, wherein the management unit manages the output restriction information in response to the object recognized by the recognition unit.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit configured to display a preview of the image data, wherein the management unit manages the output restriction information in response to a region designated by a user on a screen displayed by the display unit.

11. A method for an image processing apparatus configured to output image data by a plurality of output methods, the method comprising:

storing image data;

managing output restriction information corresponding to a predetermined region of stored image data;

executing output restriction processing of the image data corresponding to the predetermined region based on the output restriction information of one of the plurality of output methods;

selecting one of the plurality of output methods when the image data is output; and

outputting the image data, on which the output restriction processing is executed, by a selected output method.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program causing a computer to execute the method of claim 11.