Image processing apparatus which adds apparatus identification data to images

• US 5,257,119 A
• Filed: 03/24/1992
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ohta, Eiji, Yamamoto, Mitsuhiro, Kitamura, Toshiyuki, Funada, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US07/856,996
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 358/440, 358/438, 358/434, 358/450, 355/201, 283/17, 283/901, 283/902, 382/34, 380/57
• US Class Current: 358/438
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/04 Preventing copies being made of an original
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0014 Transforming the printer input data into internal codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0082 Architecture adapted for a particular function
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0094 Colour printing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0084 Determining the necessity for prevention
• 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 1/00848 by detecting a particular original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00859 Issuing an alarm or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00867 with additional data, e.g. by adding a warning message details of embedding additional information in an image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0087 with hidden additional data, e.g. data invisible to the human eye
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00877 Recording information, e.g. details of the job
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/38 Circuits or arrangements for blanking or otherwise eliminating unwanted parts of pictures H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/62 Retouching, i.e. modification of isolated colours only or in isolated picture areas only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data

Abstract

An image processing apparatus previously stores information on particular kinds of image, determines the degree of similarity between an input full-color image signal and the information on particular kinds of image, controls conditions for addition of a particular pattern previously stored according to a result of the determination, and outputs an image by adding or not adding the particular pattern to the full-color image signal according to the addition conditions.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting image data;

processing means for processing the image data input by said input means and for outputting a reproduction data for reproducing the image represented by the image data;

addition means for adding information for identifying the apparatus, with which the image data is processed, to the image represented by the reproduction data,

wherein the information is added so as to be difficult to discriminate with human eyes, and wherein the information relates to the apparatus identification data given by a supplier who supplies the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said addition means includes a memory for storing the apparatus identification data, and wherein the memory is accessed in synchronism with image processing by said processing means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is repeatedly added to reproduction data corresponding to a single image.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting image data;

processing means for processing the image data input by said input means and for outputting a reproduction data for reproducing the image represented by the image data;

addition means for adding information for identifying the apparatus, with which the image data is processed, to the image represented by the reproduction data,

wherein the information is added so as to be difficult to discriminate with human eyes, and wherein the information relates to manufacturer'"'"'s serial number of the apparatus with which the image data is processed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said addition means includes a memory for storing the apparatus serial number and wherein the memory is accessed in synchronism with image processing by said processing means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information is repeatedly added to reproduction data corresponding to a single image.

8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.

9. An image processing method comprising:

an input step of inputting image data;

a processing step of processing the image data input in said input step and outputting a reproduction data for reproducing the image represented by the image data;

an addition step of adding information for identifying the apparatus, with which the image data is processed, to the image represented by the reproduction data,

wherein the information is added so as to be difficult to discriminate with human eyes, and wherein the information relates to the apparatus identification data given by a supplier who supplies the apparatus.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said addition step includes the step of accessing a memory which stores the apparatus identification data in synchronism with image processing in said processing step.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the information relates to manufacturer'"'"'s serial number of the apparatus with which the image data is processed.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein the information is repeatedly added to reproduction data corresponding to a single image.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.

14. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting a plurality of color component signals; and

processing means for processing the plurality of color component signals and for outputting a plurality of processed color signals,

wherein said processing means synthesizes information relating to the apparatus, with which the plurality of color component signals are processed, with at least one of the plurality of processed color signals, and wherein the information is synthesized so as to be difficult to discriminate with human eyes.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information is repeatedly added to reproduction data corresponding to a single image.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.

17. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting a plurality of color component signals; and

processing means for processing the plurality of color component signals and for outputting a plurality of frame-sequential color signals,

wherein said processing means synthesizes information relating to the apparatus, with which the plurality of color component signals are processed, with at least one of the plurality of frame-sequential color signals, and wherein the information relates to manufacturer'"'"'s serial number of the apparatus with which the image data is processed.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a memory for storing the apparatus serial number and wherein the memory is accessed in synchronism with signal processing by said processing means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information is repeatedly added to frame-sequential color signals corresponding to a single image.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.

21. An image processing method comprising:

an input step of inputting a plurality of color component signals; and

a processing step of processing the plurality of color component signals and outputting a plurality of processed color signals,

wherein said processing step includes the steps of synthesizing information relating to the apparatus, with which the plurality of color component signals are processed, with at least one of the plurality of processed color signals, and synthesizing the information so as to be difficult to discriminate the information with human eyes.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the information relates to manufacturer'"'"'s serial number of the apparatus with which the image data is processed.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the information is repeatedly added to processed color signals corresponding to a single image.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the information is added with yellow pattern.