Information processing apparatus setting additional information added to image data, and control method thereof, and computer readable storage medium

• US 8,229,157 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Brian P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ansari, Tahmina
• Application Number:
  US11/923,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20080118100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,735 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• 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 5/85 on discs 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 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An apparatus that inputs image data, adds additional information to the image data, and outputs the image data. The apparatus also acquires position information indicating a geographical position of the information processing apparatus, sets an on state in which position information acquisition processing is executed and sets an off state in which position information acquisition processing is not executed, and determines whether position information can be acquired by the acquisition means. The apparatus includes a setting device for 1) when the off state is set for position information acquisition processing, setting information to that effect as the additional information, 2) when it is determined that the position information cannot be acquired, setting information to that effect as the additional information, and 3) when position information acquisition processing is on and position information can be acquired, setting the acquired position information as the additional information.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising:

input means for inputting image data;

acquisition means for acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of said information processing apparatus;

setting means for setting an on state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition means is executed and for setting an off state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition means is not executed;

determination means for determining whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition means;

additional information setting means for

1) when said setting means sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition means to the off state, setting first information indicating that the position information acquisition processing by the acquisition means is in the off state as the additional information,

2) when said determination means determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting means sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition means to the on state, and said determination means determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition means as the additional information, and

addition means for adding the additional information set by said additional information setting means to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising signing means for executing signing processing to the image data to which the additional information is added by said addition means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

first time acquisition means for acquiring a first time at which said input means inputs the image data; and

measurement means for measuring a time period elapsed from the first time,

wherein said additional information setting means sets the additional information to be added to the image data input by said input means in accordance with the setting by said setting means, the determination result of said determination means, and a measurement result by said measurement means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising second time acquisition means for acquiring a second time at which said acquisition means acquires the position information,

wherein when said determination means determines that the position information can be acquired, said measurement means calculates a difference between the first time and the second time, and outputs the calculated value as a measurement result.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising second time acquisition means for acquiring a second time after the determination processing by said determination means,

wherein when said determination means determines that the position information cannot be acquired, said measurement means calculates a difference between the first time and the second time, and outputs the calculated value as a measurement result.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said determination means determines that the position information cannot be acquired, said acquisition means repetitively executes reception of the position information.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

first time acquisition means for acquiring a first time at which said input means inputs the image data; and

second time acquisition means for acquiring a second time at which said acquisition means acquires the position information,

wherein said additional information setting means sets, as the additional information, the position information acquired by said acquisition means, and time information according to the first time and the second time.

8. An information processing apparatus for verifying reliability of the position information in an information processing apparatus according to claim 7, comprising:

input means for inputting the image data added with the additional information;

determination means for determining whether or not signature data is added to the image data;

verification means for executing verification processing of the signature data;

calculation means for calculating a difference between the first time and the second time using time information included in the additional information;

reliability determination means for determining reliability of the position information in accordance with a determination result of said determination means, a verification result of said verification means, and a calculation result of said calculation means; and

display means for displaying a determination result of said reliability determination means.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said addition means adds either the first information or the second information to the image data if the position information is not added to the image data by the addition means.

9. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus, which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising:

an input step of inputting image data;

an acquisition step of acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of the information processing apparatus;

a setting step of setting an on state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step is executed and setting an off state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step is not executed;

a determination step of determining whether or not position information can be acquired in the acquisition step;

an additional information setting step of

1) when said setting step sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step to the off state, setting first information indicating that the position information acquisition processing by the acquisition step is in the off state as the additional information,

2) when said determination step determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting step sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step to the on state, and said determination step determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition step as the additional information, and

an addition step of adding the additional information set in the additional information setting step to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said addition step adds either the first information or the second information to the image data if the position information is not added to the image data in the addition step.

10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing a program for making a computer execute control of an information processing apparatus, which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, said program making the computer execute:

an input step of inputting image data;

an acquisition step of acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of the information processing apparatus;

a setting step of setting an on state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step is executed and setting an off state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step is not executed;

a determination step of determining whether or not position information can be acquired in the acquisition step;

an additional information setting step of

1) when said setting step sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step to the off state, setting first information indicating that the position information acquisition processing by the acquisition step is in the off state as the additional information,

2) when said determination step determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting step sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition step to the on state, and said determination step determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition step as the additional information, and

an addition step of adding the additional information set in the additional information setting step to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

13. The medium according to claim 10, wherein said addition step adds either the first information or the second information to the image data if the position information is not added to the image data in the addition step.

14. An information processing apparatus which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising:

input means for inputting image data;

acquisition means for acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of said information processing apparatus;

setting means for setting a state of said apparatus in which the position information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and a state of said apparatus in which the position information is not be added to the input image data as the additional information;

determination means for determining whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition means;

additional information setting means for

1) when said setting means sets the state of said apparatus in which the position information is not set be added to the input image data as the additional information, setting first information indicating that the position information is not added as the additional information,

2) when said determination means determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting means sets the state of said apparatus in which the positional information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and said determination means determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition means as the additional information, and

addition means for adding the additional information set by said additional information setting means to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising signing means for executing signing processing to the image data to which the additional information is added by said addition means.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said addition means adds either the first information or the second information to the image data if the position information is not added to the image data by the addition means.

17. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising the steps of:

inputting the image data;

acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of the information processing apparatus;

setting a state of the apparatus in which the position information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and a state of the apparatus in which the position information is not be added to the input image data as the additional information;

determining whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition step;

setting additional information by

1) when said setting step sets the state of the apparatus in which the position information is not set be added to the input image data as the additional information, setting first information indicating that the position information is not added as the additional information,

2) when the determining step determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting step sets the state of the apparatus in which the positional information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and said determining step determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition step as the additional information, and

adding the additional information set by said additional information setting step to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of executing signing processing to the image data to which the additional information is added by said addition step.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein said addition step adds either the first information or the second information to the image data if the position information is not added to the image data by the addition step.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for instructing a computer to perform an information processing method for an information processing apparatus that inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising the steps of:

inputting the image data;

acquiring position information indicating a geographical position of the information processing apparatus;

setting a state of the apparatus in which the position information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and a state of the apparatus in which the position information is not be added to the input image data as the additional information;

determining whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition step;

setting additional information by

1) when said setting step sets the state of the apparatus in which the position information is not set be added to the input image data as the additional information, setting first information indicating that the position information is not added as the additional information,

2) when the determining step determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting step sets the state of the apparatus in which the positional information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and said determining step determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition step as the additional information, and

adding the additional information set by said additional information setting step to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

21. An information processing apparatus which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising:

an input unit configured to input image data;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information indicating a geographical position of said information processing apparatus;

a setting unit configured to set a state of said apparatus in which the position information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and a state of said apparatus in which the position information is not be added to the input image data as the additional information;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition unit;

an additional information setting unit configured to

1) when said setting unit sets the state of said apparatus in which the position information is not set be added to the input image data as the additional information, set first information indicating that the position information is not added as the additional information,

2) when said determination unit determines that the position information cannot be acquired, set second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting unit sets the state of said apparatus in which the positional information is to be added to the input image data as the additional information and said determination unit determines that the position information can be acquired, set the position information acquired by said acquisition unit as the additional information, and

an addition unit configured to add the additional information set by said additional information setting unit to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.

22. An information processing apparatus which inputs image data, adds additional information to the input image data, and outputs the image data, comprising:

an input unit configured to input image data;

an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information indicating a geographical position of said information processing apparatus;

a setting unit configured to set an on state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition unit is executed and for setting an off state in which position information acquisition processing by said acquisition unit is not executed;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not position information can be acquired by said acquisition unit;

an additional information setting unit configured to

1) when said setting unit sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition unit to the off state, setting first information indicating that the position information acquisition processing by the acquisition unit is in the off state as the additional information,

2) when said determination unit determines that the position information cannot be acquired, setting second information indicating that the position information cannot be acquired as the additional information, and

3) when said setting unit sets the state of the position information acquisition processing by said acquisition unit to the on state, and said determination unit determines that the position information can be acquired, setting the position information acquired by said acquisition unit as the additional information, and

an addition unit configured to add the additional information set by said additional information setting unit to the image data,

wherein the first information and the second information are distinguishable from each other.