Creation of image file

• US 7,350,086 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Yasumasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise; Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH DIEU T
• Application Number:
  US10/467,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.2, 348/211.3, 348/231.6, 380/285, 380/30, 380/200, 380/201, 380/210, 380/211, 380/217, 713/193
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/603 controlled by characteristics of the picture signal generator or the picture reproducer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6086 by scene illuminant, i.e. conditions at the time of picture capture, e.g. flash, optical filter used, evening, cloud, daylight, artificial lighting, white point measurement, colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

The technique of the present invention ensures generation of an image file, in which image data and additional data are included, with the confidentiality of specific data kept.

An image output system outputs the image data, which is generated in a digital still camera DSC 12, with a color printer 20. The DSC 12 encrypts image processing control data, which is preset by the manufacturer, and generates the image file, in which the image data and the encrypted image processing control data are included. The color printer 20 decodes the image processing control data included in the image file, performs image processing based on the image processing control data, and thereby outputs an image.

Claims

1. An image file generation apparatus for generating an image file, in which image data and additional data of the image data are associated with one another, comprising:

a data input module that inputs the image data and the additional data;

an encryption module that encrypts part of the additional data but does not encrypt the image data;

an image file generation module that generates the image file, in which the image data and the additional data are associated with one another, with part of the additional data being encrypted and the image data not being encrypted, and

a recording medium that stores the image file generated by the image file generation module,

wherein the additional data includes at least one of image processing control data and shooting condition data, the image processing control data being used for image processing on the image data, the shooting condition data being indicative of a shooting condition of the image data,

the image processing control data includes at least one of parameters regarding contrast, brightness, color balance, saturation, sharpness, gamma value, and target color space,

the shooting condition data includes at least one of shutter speed, exposure, and aperture,

the encryption module encrypts at least part of the image processing control data and the shooting condition data, and

the image file generation module generates an image file including the image data and at least one of the encrypted part of the image processing control data and the encrypted part of the shooting condition data.

2. An image file generation apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the encryption module encrypts data using a public key that is specified by an image processing device that performs specific image processing on the image data.

3. An image file generation apparatus in accordance with either claim 1 or 2,

wherein the additional data includes output control data that controls output of the image on an image output device.