Imaging apparatus

• US 7,681,049 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wakao, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kimyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zee; Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/606,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 726 26- 30, 713/187, 713/194, 380/287
• US Class Current: 713/194
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes an image data generating unit, an authentication data generating unit, a receiving unit and an authentication unit. The image data generating unit generates first image data. The authentication data generating unit generates first authentication data from the first image data. The receiving unit receives second image data and second authentication data from an external device, wherein both the second image data and the second authentication data are generated by a second imaging apparatus, and the second authentication data is generated from the second image data. The authentication unit has (a) a first authentication mode where the authentication unit authenticates, using the first authentication data, whether the first image data has been altered, and (b) a second authentication mode where the authentication unit authenticates, using the second authentication data, whether the second image data has been altered.

Claims

1. A first imaging apparatus comprising:

an image data generating unit which generates first image data;

an authentication data generating unit which generates first authentication data from the first image data;

a receiving unit which receives second image data and second authentication data from an external device, wherein both the second image data and the second authentication data are generated by a second imaging apparatus, the second imaging apparatus is different from the first imaging apparatus, and the second authentication data is generated from the second image data;

an authentication unit which has (a) a first authentication mode where said authentication unit authenticates, using the first authentication data, whether the first image data has been altered, and (b) a second authentication mode where said authentication unit authenticates, using the second authentication data, whether the second image data has been altered; and

a display unit which (a) displays information indicating that the first image data was generated by the first imaging apparatus, if said authentication unit authenticates whether the first image data has been altered and (b) displays information indicating that the second image data was not generated by the first imaging apparatus, if said authentication unit authenticates whether the second image data has been altered.

2. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication data generating unit generates the first authentication data using data unique to the first imaging apparatus.

3. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication data generating unit generates the first authentication data using secret data held by the first imaging apparatus.

4. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication data generating unit generates the first authentication data using a hash function.

5. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication data generating unit generates the first authentication data using a common key cipher.

6. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication unit authenticates, using data unique to the second imaging apparatus, whether the second image data generated by the second imaging apparatus has been altered.

7. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication unit authenticates, using secret data held by the first imaging apparatus, whether the second image data generated by the second imaging apparatus has been altered.

8. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication unit authenticates, using a hash function, whether the second image data generated by the second imaging apparatus has been altered.

9. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said authentication unit authenticates, using a common key cipher, whether the second image data generated by the second imaging apparatus has been altered.

10. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging apparatus is one of a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a scanner.

11. The first imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage interface unit which stores the first image data with the first authentication data in a removable storage medium, and stores the second image data with the second authentication data in the removable storage medium.