INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20190007667A1
• Filed: 06/20/2018
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Hiroyuki, Uratani, Mitsuru, Ishida, Yuki, Omagari, Yuki, Suzuki, Tomohiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,447,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4052 by error diffusion, i.e. transferring the binarising error to neighbouring dot decisions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6022 Generating a fourth subtractive colour signal, e.g. under colour removal, black masking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6077 Colour balance, e.g. colour cast correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/88 for colour balance, e.g. white-balance circuits or colour temperature control

Abstract

An image capturing unit captures an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information. An adjustment unit adjusts a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing unit on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image. A processing unit processes image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit to read the additional information in the image captured by the image capturing unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing unit configured to capture an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information;

an adjustment unit configured to adjust a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing unit on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image; and

a processing unit configured to process image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit to read the additional information in the image captured by the image capturing unit.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the adjustment value is a predetermined default value for the embedded image.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the adjustment value varies depending on a modulation condition of the color component in the embedded image.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the adjustment unit has an auto white balance adjustment function that automatically adjusts the white balance according to a capturing environment of the image capturing unit, and

the adjustment unit does not use the auto white balance adjustment function in a case where the white balance of the embedded image is adjusted.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the adjustment unit has an auto white balance adjustment function that automatically adjusts the white balance according to a capturing environment of the image capturing unit, and

the adjustment unit sets an allowable adjustment range of the white balance of the embedded image on the basis of the adjustment value and adjusts the white balance of the embedded image in the allowable adjustment range using the auto white balance adjustment function.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the white balance of the embedded image on the basis of a plurality of adjustment values that are selectable.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the adjustment unit selects the adjustment value on the basis of at least one of a version of an application for generating the image data in which at least the color component has been modulated according to the additional information and an analysis result of characteristics of the embedded image.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the adjustment unit determines the version of the application on the basis of information which has been printed in a printed matter together with the embedded image.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the image capturing unit includes a light source that illuminates the embedded image, and

the adjustment unit adjusts the white balance of the embedded image on the basis of an adjustment value corresponding to a color temperature of the light source.

11. An information processing system comprising:

the information processing apparatus according to claim 1; and

a forming apparatus that makes a printed matter in which the embedded image has been printed.

12. The information processing system according to claim 11,

wherein the forming apparatus includes:

a generation unit configured to generate image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to the additional information; and

a printing unit configured to print the embedded image on the basis of the image data generated by the generation unit.

10. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an image capturing unit configured to capture an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information;

a light source configured to illuminate the image captured by the image capturing unit;

an adjustment unit configured to adjust a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing unit, the adjustment unit having an auto white balance adjustment function that automatically adjusts a white balance according to a capturing environment of the image capturing unit; and

a processing unit configured to process image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit to read the additional information in the image captured by the image capturing unit,

wherein the adjustment unit adjusts a white balance of the embedded image captured by the image capturing unit on the basis of an adjustment value corresponding to a color temperature of the light source, without using the auto white balance adjustment function.

13. An information processing method comprising:

a step of capturing an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information;

a step of adjusting a white balance of the image captured by the capturing step on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image; and

a step of processing image data of the image captured by the capturing step whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjusting step, and reading the additional information in the image captured by the capturing step.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program which causes a computer to execute an information processing method, the information processing method comprising:

a step of capturing an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information;

a step of adjusting a white balance of the image captured by the capturing step on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image; and

a step of processing image data of the image captured by the capturing step whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjusting step, and reading the additional information in the image captured by the capturing step.