Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer product

• US 20060072782A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohkawa, Satoshi, Abe, Yasushi, Miyamoto, Masayoshi, Ebata, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0092 Payload characteristic determination in a watermarking scheme, e.g. number of bits to be embedded
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• 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 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 Processing of the additional information

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit to extract watermark data from image data of an image; a generating unit to generate a watermark image based on the watermark data; and a superimposing unit to superimpose the watermark image on the image.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an extracting unit to extract watermark data from image data of an image;

a generating unit to generate a watermark image based on the watermark data; and

a superimposing unit to superimpose the watermark image on the image.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a modifying unit to modify the watermark data, wherein the generating unit generates the watermark image based on modified watermark data.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modifying unit includes a deleting unit configured to delete data from the watermark data.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modifying unit includes an adding unit to add data to the watermark data.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a management-information generating unit to generate management information for managing the image data, wherein the data includes the management information.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modifying unit includes a changing unit to change data in the watermark data.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the generating unit is operable to generate identification information for identifying the watermark data and generate the watermark image including the identification information.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the watermark image includes a background-pattern image.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the watermark image is visually recognizable.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving unit to receive the image data through digital communications.

11. A method of processing an image, comprising:

extracting watermark data from image data of an image;

generating a watermark image based on the watermark data; and

superimposing the watermark image on the image.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising modifying the watermark data, wherein generating the watermark image includes generating the watermark image based on modified watermark data.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the modifying the watermark data includes deleting data from the watermark data.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the modifying the watermark data includes adding data to the watermark data.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising generating management information for managing the image data, wherein the data includes the management information.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the modifying the watermark data includes changing data in the watermark data.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the generating the watermark image includes generating identification information for identifying the watermark data, and generating the watermark image including the identification information.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the watermark image includes a background-pattern image.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the watermark image is visually recognizable.

20. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving the image data through digital communications.

21. A computer-readable recording medium stores a computer program, which when executed by computer, causes the computer to process an image by:

extracting watermark data from image data of an image;

generating a watermark image based on the watermark data; and

superimposing the watermark image on the image.