Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage

• US 6,580,806 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sato, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Hussein
• Application Number:
  US09/442,990
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 380/277
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain

Abstract

An image processing apparatus which can conveniently perform editing processing of image information based on template information and storage and output of the processing result is provided. In the apparatus, the image information used for template information storage is determined based on reference relation information which represents reference relation between the template information and the image information, and the determined image information is stored into an external storage unit together with the template information.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

image editing means for editing predetermined template information and input image information which includes watermark information; and

reference relation storage means for storing reference relation information which represents reference relation between the template information and the image information in the editing processing by said image editing means,

wherein, in the editing by said image editing means, plural images are composited together so that watermarks of the images to be composited are prevented from overlapping.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

image input means for inputting the image information;

image information storage means for storing the image information input by said image input means;

template information storage means for storing the template information;

image output means for outputting the image information subjected to the editing processing by said image editing means; and

storage means for storing the image information subjected to the editing processing by said image editing means, together with the template information used for said image information.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising rendering means for compositing said plural images subjected to the editing processing based on the template information by said image editing means, to form one image information.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising rendering control means for performing control of said rendering means on the basis of the template information.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising image composite information storage means for storing at least either of position information and composite method information concerning each image information being the target of the image compositing by said rendering means.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

electronic watermark image information storage means for storing predetermined electronic watermark image information;

electronic watermark image information addition means for adding the electronic watermark image information to the image information subjected to the editing processing by said image editing means; and

electronic watermark image information elimination means for eliminating the electronic watermark image information from the image information to which the electronic watermark image information has been added.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising electronic watermark image information compositing means for compositing electronic watermark image information of said plural images.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

circumrectangle information obtaining means for obtaining circumrectangle information of the electronic watermark image information; and

judgment means for judging overlap of the plural circumrectangle information.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for performing communication of the image information with another apparatus through a network.

10. An image processing method comprising:

an image editing step of editing predetermined template information on the basis of input image information which includes watermark information; and

a reference relation storage step of storing reference relation information which represents reference relation between the template information and the image information in said image editing step,

wherein, in said editing step, plural images are composited together so that watermarks of the images to be composited are prevented from overlapping.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the reference relation information includes information for discriminating the image information used for the template information.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the reference relation information includes information for discriminating whether or not editing of the image information to the template information is possible.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the reference relation information is included in the template information.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising a rendering step of compositing plural images subjected to the editing processing based on the template information in said image editing step to form one image information.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising a rendering control step of performing processing operation control of said rendering step on the basis of the template information.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising an image composite information storage step of storing at least either of position information and composite method information concerning the image information at a time when said plural images are composited.

17. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

an electronic watermark image information storage step of storing predetermined electronic watermark image information;

an electronic watermark image information addition step of adding the electronic watermark image information to the image information subjected to the editing processing; and

an electronic watermark image information elimination step of eliminating the electronic watermark image information from the image information to which the electronic watermark image information has been added.

18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising an electronic watermark image information compositing step of compositing electronic watermark image information of said plural images.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

a circumrectangle information obtaining step of obtaining circumrectangle information of the electronic watermark image information; and

a judgment step of judging overlap of the plural circumrectangle information.

20. A method according to claim 10, further comprising a communication step of performing communication of the image information with another apparatus through a network.

21. A storage medium which stores therein a program to realize, when a computer reads and executes said program, an image processing method comprising:

an editing step of editing predetermined template information on the basis of input image information which includes a watermark; and

a reference relation storage step of storing reference relation information which is determined in said editing step and represents reference relation between the template information and the image information,

wherein, in said editing step, plural images are composited together so that watermarks of the images to be composited are prevented from overlapping.

22. An image processing apparatus comprising:

input means for inputting plural image information each of which includes an electronic watermark;

compositing means for compositing plural images respectively represented by the plural image information; and

control means for performing, when said compositing means composites the plural images, control such that, in a case where the electronic watermarks of the plural image information input by said input means overlap, each electronic watermark can be recognized.

23. An image processing method comprising:

an input step of inputting plural image information each of which includes an electronic watermark;

a compositing step of compositing plural images respectively represented by the plural image information; and

a control step of performing, when the plural images are composited in said compositing step, control such that, in a case where the electronic watermarks of the plural image information input in said input step overlap, each electronic watermark can be recognized.