Image processing apparatus and method for combining image files and applying selected security processing

• US 7,961,358 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mikami, Fumio
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; Scott A
• Application Number:
  US12/557,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.9, 358/3.28, 358/1.14, 358/1.18, 358/450, 358/468, 283/113, 283/902, 399/366, 382/100, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 726/26, 726/32
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/043 by using an original which is not reproducible or only reproducible with a different appearence, e.g. originals with a photochromic layer or a colour background
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00299 Confidential, e.g. secret documents
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00932 Security copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00883 Auto-copy-preventive originals, i.e. originals that are designed not to allow faithful reproduction

Abstract

Two or more designated images are combined (S1254), and the type of security process to be performed for the combined image is input (S1253). The security process is performed for the combined image by using the information associated with the input type of security process (S1255).

Claims

1. A combination processing apparatus for combining image files, comprising:

a combination unit which combines a first image file with a second image file to generate a third image file;

a selection unit which selects one of a first security processing related to the first image file or a second security processing related to the second image file; and

a processing unit which applies the selected security processing to the generated third image file.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects a security processing according to user'"'"'s instruction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit which stores priority level information for each security processing,

wherein the selection unit selects a security processing according to the priority level information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the selection unit selects a security processing with priority level information indicating a higher priority level.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first security processing is a processing of composing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with an image of the first image file, the second security processing is a processing of embedding digital watermark information into an image of the second image file, and the selection unit selects the first security processing from the first and second security processing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first security processing is a processing of composing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with an image of the first image file, the second security processing is a processing of composing an image into which information is embedded with an image of the second image file, and the selection unit selects the first security processing from the first and second security processing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combination unit combines image files each having a different file name to generate an image file having a single file name.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each security processing is defined by commands.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each security processing is defined in a file.

10. A method of combining image files with a combination processing apparatus, the method comprising:

a combination step of combining a first image file with a second image file to generate a third image file;

a selection step of selecting one of a first security processing related to the first image file or a second security processing related to the second image file; and

a processing step of applying the selected security processing to the generated third image file,

wherein the combination step, the selection step, and the processing step are carried out by the combination processing apparatus.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the selection step selects a security processing according to user'"'"'s instruction.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a storing step of storing priority level information for each security processing in a storage unit,

wherein the selection step selects a security processing according to the priority level information.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the selection step selects a security processing with priority level information indicating a higher priority level.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first security processing is a processing of composing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with an image of the first image file, the second security processing is a processing of embedding digital watermark information into an image of the second image file, and the selection step selects the first security processing from the first and second security processing.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first security processing is a processing of composing a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image with an image of the first image file, the second security processing is a processing of composing an image into which information is embedded with an image of the second image file, and the selection step selects the first security processing from the first and second security processing.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the combination step combines image files each having a different file name to generate an image file having a single file name.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein each security processing is defined by commands.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein each security processing is defined in a file.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program executable by a computer to combine image files, the computer program comprising:

a combination instruction configured to combine a first image file with a second image file to generate a third image file;

a selection instruction configured to select one of a first security processing related to the first image file or a second security processing related to the second image file; and

a processing instruction configured to apply the selected security processing to the generated third image file.