Code image processing method and code image processing apparatus

• US 7,920,737 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Noda, Tsugio, Yamaguchi, Nobuyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Samir A
• Assistant Examiner(s): RASHIDIAN, MOHAMMAD M
• Application Number:
  US11/783,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382112-113, 382/135, 382/137, 382/139, 382175-176, 382180-183, 382/191, 382232-239, 382243-248, 382/254, 382/280, 382/289, 382/296, 382/298, 713/176, 258/401, 258/403, 258/448, 235/454, 23546201-46209, 235/462.1, 235/462.11
• US Class Current: 382/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of automatically determining and recognizing a code included in image data, and, more particularly, to a method capable of determining not only a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code but also a steganographic code with certainty.

A code image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a block extracting step of extracting a rectangular block unit area from image data; a block feature value calculating step of calculating the feature value of a code included in the rectangular block unit area; a block determining step of determining the type of the code included in the rectangular block unit area on the basis of the feature value of the code; and a code processing selecting step of selecting processing to be performed on the basis of the determined code type. According to the image processing method, it can be accurately determined whether a rectangular block unit area includes a steganographic code by using a steganographic feature value to determine the type of a code included in the rectangular block unit area.

Claims

1. An image data processing apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit for controlling a process of determining a type of code included in image data comprising a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of pixels, the process comprising;

detecting a maximum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being higher than that of another area in said blocks, and a minimum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being lower than that of another area in said blocks;

repeating said detecting of maximum and minimum positions in other blocks; and

determining a type of code included in said image data based upon whether the detected maximum and minimum positions are regularly arranged.

2. The image data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said process further comprises, determining a type of code included in said image data on the basis of difference of an average density of pixel value between adjacent maximum or minimum positions.

3. The image data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein an area positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.

4. The image data processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pixel positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.

13. The image data apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit determines that the type of code included in said image data is a steganographic code.

5. A determining method of a type of code included in image data comprising a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of pixels, the method comprising:

detecting using a computer maximum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being higher than that of another area in said blocks, and a minimum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being lower than that of another area in said blocks;

repeating said detecting of maximum and minimum positions in other blocks; and

determining a type of code included in said image data based upon whether the detected maximum and minimum positions are regularly arranged.

6. The determining method of a type of code of claim 5, wherein the determining determines a type of code included in said image data on the basis of difference of an average density of pixel value between adjacent maximum or minimum portions.

7. The determining method of a type of code of claim 5, wherein an area positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.

8. The determining method of a type of code of claim 5, wherein a pixel positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.

9. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer program for determining method of a type of code included in image data comprising a plurality of blocks, each block comprising a plurality of pixels, by controlling a image data processing apparatus according to a process comprising:

detecting maximum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being higher than that of another area in said blocks, and a minimum position where a degree of pixel value of a predetermined area in one of said blocks being lower than that of another area in said blocks;

repeating said detecting of maximum and minimum positions in other blocks; and

determining a type of code included in said image data based upon whether the detected maximum and minimum positions are regularly arranged.

10. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein said process further comprises, determining a type of code included in said image data on the basis of difference of an average density of pixel value between adjacent maximum or minimum positions.

11. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein an area positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.

12. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein a pixel positioned at a center of each block is selected as a predetermined area.