Image processing apparatus and image processing method

A computer program product having a computer readable medium including programmed instructions for image processing, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform:

• in a converted image generated by converting pixel values of pixels that form minimum areas in a processed image generated by sectioning an image into a plurality of blocks and rearranging the blocks, wherein a computing method used to convert the pixel values is determined based on predetermined pixels that do not belong to each of the minimum area, detecting a position of a minimum area having a converted pixel value;
• determining a computing method used to restore the converted pixel value to an original pixel value before the pixel value was converted by the computing method by identifying the computing method for the minimum area;
• restoring the pixel values of the pixels that form the minimum area;
• and
• reverse-rearranging the blocks in original positions thereof in the image before the blocks were rearranged by using an encryption key.

An image processing unit comprising:

• a sectioning unit that sections an image to be processed into a plurality of blocks;
• a rearranging unit that rearranges the blocks into positions specified by an encryption key that uniquely specifies the positions of the blocks in the image;
• and
• a converting unit that converts pixel values pixels that form a minimum area included in each of the blocks in a processed image generated by rearranging the blocks by the rearranging unit.

An image processing method comprising:

• sectioning an image to be processed into a plurality of blocks;
• rearranging the blocks into positions specified by an encryption key that uniquely specifies the positions of the blocks in the image;
• and
• converting pixel values pixels that form a minimum area included in each of the blocks in a processed image generated by the rearranging.

An image processing system comprising a first image processing apparatus and a second image processing apparatus, wherein

• the first image processing apparatus includes
• a sectioning unit that sections an image to be processed into a plurality of blocks;
• a rearranging unit that rearranges the blocks into positions specified by an encryption key that uniquely specifies the positions of the blocks in the image;
• and
• a converting unit that converts pixel values pixels that form a minimum area included in each of the blocks in a processed image generated by rearranging the blocks by the rearranging unit, and
• the second image processing apparatus includes
• a detecting unit that, in the rearranged image, detects a position of a minimum area having a converted pixel value, wherein a computing method used to convert the pixel values is determined based on predetermined pixels that do not belong to each of the minimum area;
• a determining unit that determines a decryption computing method used to restore the converted pixel value to an original pixel value before the pixel value was converted by the computing method by identifying the computing method for the minimum area;
• a restoring unit that restores the pixel values of the pixels that form the minimum area;
• and
• a reverse-rearranging that reverse-rearranges the blocks in original positions thereof in the image before the blocks were rearranged by using an encryption key.