Data processing device and data processing method

A data processing device which compresses image data, said data processing device comprising:

• an input unit configured to acquire image data;
• a meaning information extraction unit configured to extract meaning information indicating a feature of an object image included in an image represented by the image data;
• a compression specifying unit configured to determine an initial value of a compression ratio which indicates a level of compression efficiency;
• a compression unit configured to compress the image data according to the compression ratio determined by said compression specifying unit to generate compressed image data;
• and
• a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the meaning information extracted by said meaning information extraction unit can be extracted from the compressed image data generated by said compression unit,
• wherein said compression specifying unit is further configured to change the compression ratio from the initial value according to a result of the determination by said determination unit, and
• when said compression specifying unit changes the compression ratio, said compression unit is further configured to compress the image data according to the changed compression ratio to newly generate compressed image data.