Image processing apparatus and method

• US 7,058,198 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Miyashita, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Duy M.
• Application Number:
  US09/587,906
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 358/3.19, 358/3.28, 380/205, 380/216, 380207-210
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32256 in halftone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32267 combined with processing of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 in colour image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/323 for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 using a plurality of different authentication information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

Although a copying machine which has finally output a forged print can be specified by the forgery tracking function, a copying machine which has output an original used for copying or a scanner used to read the images of bills or securities cannot be specified. For this purpose, history information embedded in input image data is extracted. When the history information is extracted, information unique to the apparatus is added to the history information. When no history information is extracted, history information containing information unique to the apparatus is generated. The generated or updated history information is embedded in the image data.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit arranged to input image data; and

an embedding unit arranged to embed first information and second information in the image data as electronic watermark information, the second information representing whether the first information is the latest information,

wherein said embedding unit further embeds third information and fourth information, the fourth information representing whether the third information is the latest information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and third information specifies said apparatus.

3. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data; and

embedding first information and second information in the image data as electronic watermark information, the second information representing whether the first information is the latest information,

wherein the embedding step further embeds third information and fourth information, the fourth information representing whether the third information is the latest information.

4. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing, comprising the procedure codes of:

an inputting process procedure code for inputting image data; and

an embedding process procedure code for embedding first information and second information in the image data as electronic watermark information, the second information representing whether the first information is the latest information,

wherein said embedding process further embeds third information and fourth information, the fourth information representing whether the third information is the lates information.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit arranged to input image data having a plurality of color components; and

an embedding unit arranged to embed first information and second information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the image data as electronic watermark information, the second information representing that the first information is the latest information,

wherein the first information is information for specifying said apparatus, and the second information represents that later information is not contained in a color component different from that in which the first information has been embedded.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said embedding unit embeds the electronic watermark information as binary data in at least one of the plurality of color components.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said embedding unit embeds the electronic watermark information as binary data in at least one of the plurality of color components by switching the dither pattern used.

8. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data having a plurality of color components; and

embedding first information and second information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the image data as electronic watermark information, the second information representing that the first information is the latest information,

wherein the first information is information for specifying said apparatus, and the second information represents that later information is not contained in a color component different from that in which the first information has been embedded.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program code, for an image processing, comprising the procedure codes of:

an inputting process procedure code for inputting image data having a plurality of color components; and

an embedding process procedure code for embedding first information and second information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the image data as electronic watermark information, said second information representing that the first information is the latest information,

wherein the first information is information for specifying said apparatus, and the second information represents that later information is not contained in a color component different from that in which the first information has been embedded.