Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product

An image processing method comprising:

• reading, by an image processing apparatus, a printed material containing a digital watermark to obtain image data of the printed material;
• extracting, by the image processing apparatus, from the digital watermark contained in the image data, first storage-location information indicating a storage location where electronic source data of the printed material is stored;
• acquiring, by the image processing apparatus, the electronic source data from the storage location indicated by the first storage-location information;
• displaying, by the image processing apparatus, pieces of to-be-acquired information that are a unit of information acquired from the electronic source data;
• accepting an operation input specifying selection of at least one piece of to-be-acquired information;
• and
• storing the selected piece of to-be-acquired information in a storage location indicated by second storage-location information.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to function as:

• a reading control unit configured to read a printed material containing a digital watermark to obtain image data of the printed material;
• an extractor configured to extract, from the digital watermark contained in the image data, first storage-location information indicating a storage location where electronic source data of the printed material is stored;
• an acquirer configured to acquire the electronic source data from the storage location indicated by the first storage-location information;
• an operation acceptance unit configured to display pieces of to-be-acquired information that are a unit of information acquired from the electronic source data, and accept an operation input specifying selection of at least one piece of to-be-acquired information;
• and
• a storage control unit configured to store the selected piece of to-be-acquired information in a storage location indicated by second storage-location information.