Image processing apparatus and method for describing recorded attribute information using tags, and program for implementing the method

• US 7,436,440 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2003
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tagawa, Yojiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam; Hung H
• Application Number:
  US10/658,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.2, 348/231.9, 707 1- 10, 725/105
• US Class Current: 348/231.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• 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

An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program for implementing the image processing method have a capability of recording/playing back a digital image, and the capability can be extended without a significant increase in load imposed on software. On the basis of camera information and picture-taking information, a XML generator produces a XML file to be written in a maker note area. The XML file is input to a maker note generator to produce maker note data including maker note IFD tags. The maker note is input together with the picture-taking information and the camera information to an Exif IFD generator to produce Exif IFD data. Finally, the Exif IFD data and compressed image data are input to an Exif generator to produce a Exif file. In this manner, the Exif file including the maker note area in which image attribute information is described in the XML language is produced.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a recording apparatus comprising;

a first input unit that inputs camera information and picture taking information;

a first generator that generates a file from the camera information and picture taking information received from the first input unit;

a recording device configured to store the file generated by the first generator;

an encryption device configured to encrypt the stored camera and picture taking information;

a maker note generator that generates encrypted maker note data including maker note tags of the encrypted camera and picture taking information;

a second input unit that inputs the camera information and the picture taking information;

a second generator that generates image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input from the second input unit and the encrypted maker note data generated by the maker note generator;

a third input unit that inputs a compressed image data;

a third generator that generates an image file from the compressed image data received from the third input unit and the image attribute data received from the second generator that generates the image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input from the second input unit and the encrypted maker note data generated by the maker note generator; and

a storing device configured to store the image file generated by the third generator; and

a playback device comprising;

a separation device configured to separate image data and the image attribute data included in the stored image file;

a first extraction device configured to extract the encrypted maker note data from the separated image attribute data;

a decryption device configured to decrypt the extracted, encrypted maker note data;

a style-sheet input device configured to input style sheet data;

a second extraction device configured to receive the input style sheet data and the decrypted maker note data and to extract display data from the decrypted maker note data to produce display data from the decrypted maker note data in accordance with a layout rule specified in the style sheet data; and

a display device configured to display the display data.

2. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

a recording operation comprising the steps of;

inputting camera information and picture taking information in a first instance;

generating a file from the camera information and picture taking information received inputted in said inputting step;

storing the file generated in said generating step;

encrypting the stored camera information and picture taking information;

generating encrypted maker note data including maker note tags of the encrypted camera and picture taking information;

inputting the camera information and the picture taking information in a second instance;

generating image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input in said second-instance inputting step and the encrypted maker note data generated by said maker note generating step;

inputting compressed image data;

generating an image file from the compressed image data input by the compressed-data inputting step and the image attribute data generated in the attribute-date generating step that generates the image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input in said second-instance inputting step and the encrypted maker note data generated by the maker note generating step; and

storing the image file generated in the image-file generating step; and

a playback operation comprising the steps of;

separating image data and the image attribute data included in the stored image file;

extracting the encrypted maker note data from the separated image attribute data;

decrypting the extracted, encrypted maker note data;

inputting style sheet data;

extracting display data from the decrypted maker note data to produce display data from the decrypted maker note data in accordance with a layout rule specified in the inputted style sheet data; and

displaying the display data.

3. A program, stored in a computer-readable storage medium, for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of:

a recording operation comprising the steps of;

inputting camera information and picture taking information in a first instance;

generating a file from the camera information and picture taking information received inputted in said inputting step;

storing the file generated in said generating step;

encrypting the stored camera information and picture taking information;

generating encrypted maker note data including maker note tags of the encrypted camera and picture taking information;

inputting the camera information and the picture taking information in a second instance;

generating image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input in said second-instance inputting step and the encrypted maker note data generated by said maker note generating step;

inputting compressed image data;

generating an image file from the compressed image data input by the compressed-data inputting step and the image attribute data generated in the attribute-date generating step that generates the image attribute data from the camera and picture taking information input in said second-instance inputting step and the encrypted maker note data generated by the maker note generating step; and

storing the image file generated in the image-file generating step; and

a playback operation comprising the steps of;

separating image data and the image attribute data included in the stored image file;

extracting the encrypted maker note data from the separated image attribute data;

decrypting the extracted, encrypted maker note data;

inputting style sheet data;

extracting display data from the decrypted maker note data to produce display data from the decrypted maker note data in accordance with a layout rule specified in the inputted style sheet data; and

displaying the display data.