Image processing apparatus and method

• US 7,200,245 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• 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:
  US11/219,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 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;

an extracting unit arranged to extract first information embedded in the input image data; and

an embedding unit arranged to embed the first information extracted by said extracting unit, second information specifying the apparatus, and third information in the input image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information indicates the latest information embedded in the image data.

2. An image processing method of an image processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data;

extracting first information embedded in the input image data; and

embedding the first information extracted in the extraction step, second information specifying the apparatus, and third information in the input image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information indicates the latest information embedded in the image data.

3. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising computer program code for controlling image processing in an image processing apparatus, the program comprising codes for the steps of:

inputting image data;

extracting first information embedded in the input image data; and

embedding the first information extracted in the extracting step, second information specifying the apparatus, and third information in the input image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information indicates the latest information embedded in the image data.

4. An image processing apparatus comprising:

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

an extracting unit arranged to extract first information embedded in the input image data; and

an embedding unit arranged to embed the first information extracted by said extracting unit, second information specifying the apparatus, and third information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information indicates the color component, which is embedded the latest information, in the image data.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said embedding unit embeds the electronic watermark information as binary data in at least one of the plurality of color components.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, 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.

7. An image processing method of an image processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data having a plurality of color components;

extracting first information embedded in the input image data; and

embedding the first information extracted in the extracting step, second information specifying the apparatus, and third information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the input image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information indicates the color component, in which is embedded the latest information, in the image data.

8. A computer program product, stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising computer program code for an image processing method of an image processing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

inputting image data having a plurality of color components;

extracting first information embedded in the input image data; and

embedding the first information extracted in the extracting step, second information specifying the apparatus, and the third information in at least one of the plurality of color components in the input image data as electronic watermark information, wherein the third information represents the color component, which is embedded the latest information, in image data.