Image processing apparatus and method, and storage medium storing program codes realizing such method

• US 6,744,905 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Horiike, Norikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Timothy M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choobin, Barry
• Application Number:
  US09/275,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 345/712, 386/94, 358/1.1, 358/3.28, 358/500, 713/176, 713/168, 380/54, 380/51, 380/287
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks

Abstract

An image processing apparatus has an input unit for inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image a generating unit for generating first intermediate language data representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data by analyzing the drawing data input from the input unit and a producing unit for producing final print image data in accordance with the first and second intermediate language data, wherein the first intermediate language data representing the watermark is regenerated in accordance with contents of the second intermediate language data. A watermark added to an image can be reliably prevented from being lost by an image editing process.

Claims

1. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

producing a watermark;

inputting a drawing command;

analyzing the drawing command;

discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.

2. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating step includes discriminating an area to be painted out in accordance with the drawing command.

3. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating step includes discriminating as to whether the drawing command is a command of painting out a whole page.

4. An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of producing an image represented by the drawing command.

5. An image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of printing the image represented by the drawing command, with the watermark added.

6. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the watermark includes information of a source of the image represented by the drawing command.

7. An image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the source of the image represents a copyright of the image.

8. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the watermark is a mark hard to visualize with human eyes.

9. An image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the watermark is a mark easy to visualize with human eyes.

10. An image processing apparatus comprising:

means for producing a watermark;

means for inputting a drawing command;

means for analyzing the drawing command;

means for discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

means for reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.

11. A computer readable storage medium storing program codes, the program codes comprising:

a code for producing a watermark;

a code for inputting a drawing command;

a code for analyzing the drawing command;

a code for discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

a code for reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.

12. An image processing apparatus comprising:

inputting means for inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image;

generating means for generating first intermediate language data representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data by analyzing the drawing data input from said inputting means; and

producing means for producing final print image data on the basis of the first and second intermediate language data,

wherein said generating means regenerates the first intermediate language data representing the watermark, on the basis of contents of the second intermediate language data produced by said producing means.

13. An image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality set of drawing data input by said inputting means is drawing data generated when an image editing application generates the one frame image by editing a predetermined image.

14. An image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the final print image data is image data of a bit map format.

15. An image processing method comprising:

an input step, of inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image;

a generating step, of generating first intermediate language data representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data by analyzing the drawing data input in said inputting step; and

a producing step, of producing final print image data on the basis of the first and second intermediate language data,

wherein said generating step includes regenerating the first intermediate language data representing the watermark, on the basis of contents of the second intermediate language data produced in said producing step.

16. A computer readable storage medium storing an image processing program, the program comprising:

an input step, of inputting a plurality set of drawing data representing one frame image;

a generating step, of generating first intermediate language data representing a watermark to be added to the one frame image and generating second intermediate language data by analyzing the drawing data input in said inputting step; and

a producing step, of producing final print image data on the basis of the first and second intermediate language data,

wherein said generating step includes regenerating the first intermediate language data representing the watermark, on the basis of contents of the second intermediate language data produced in said producing step.

17. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

producing a watermark;

receiving a plurality of drawing commands;

analyzing the drawing commands;

discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.

18. An image processing method according to claim 17, wherein said discriminating step includes discriminating an area to be painted out in accordance with the drawing command.

19. An image processing method according to claim 17, wherein said discriminating step includes discriminating as to whether the drawing command is a command of painting out a whole page.

20. An image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of producing an image represented by the drawing command.

21. An image processing method according to claim 17, further comprising a step of printing the image represented by the drawing command, with the watermark added.

22. An image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the watermark includes information of a source of the image represented by the drawing command.

23. An image processing method according to claim 22, wherein the source of the image represents a copyright of the image.

24. An image processing method according to claim 17, wherein the watermark is a mark hard to visualize with human eyes.

25. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein the watermark is a mark easy to visualize with human eyes.

26. A computer readable storage medium storing program codes, the program codes comprising:

a code for producing a watermark;

a code for receiving a plurality of drawing commands;

a code for analyzing the drawing command;

a code for discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

a code for reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.

27. An image processing apparatus comprising:

means for producing a watermark;

means for receiving a plurality of drawing commands;

means for analyzing the drawing commands;

means for discriminating whether or not the drawing command indicates an image edit process of painting out, in accordance with the drawing command; and

means for reproducing again the watermark when it is discriminated that the drawing command indicates the image edit process of painting out.