Image processing method, image processing apparatus, image processing system and memory medium
AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorMasamine Maeda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an image processing apparatus for embedding visible specified information (electronic watermark information etc.) in an image in a manner not easily removable. For this purpose first embedding means embeds first specified information (publicly open) in the digital image entered by input means. Second embedding means embeds second specified information (disclosed only to specified user of equipment) in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded.
Claims11
An image processing method for embedding specified information into a digital image, comprising:
- a first embedding step of embedding first specified information in said digital image;
- a second embedding step of embedding second specified information in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded by said first embedding step;
- a compression step of compressing said digital image through plural compression stages,
- wherein said first embedding step includes a step of embedding said first specified information at an arbitrary stage among the plural compression stages in said compression step, and
- said second embedding step includes a step of embedding said second specified information in a stage next to said arbitrary stage.
An image processing apparatus comprising:
- input means for inputting an original digital image;
- first embedding means for embedding first specified information in the digital image inputted by said input means;
- second embedding means for embedding second specified information in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded by said first embedding means;
- and
- compression means for compressing the digital image inputted by said input means through plural compression stages,
- wherein said first embedding means is adapted to embed said first specified information in an arbitrary stage among the plural compression stages in said compression means, and
- said second embedding means is adapted to embed said second specified information in a stage next to said arbitrary stage.
An image processing system consisting of mutually connected plural equipment capable of transmitting and receiving a digital image with specified information embedded therein, the system comprising:
- input means for inputting an original digital image;
- first embedding means for embedding first specified information in the digital image inputted by said input means;
- second embedding means for embedding second specified information in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded by said first embedding means;
- transmission means for transmitting, through a network, the digital image in which said second specified information is embedded by said second embedding means, and
- compression means for compressing the digital image inputted by said input means through plural compression stages,
- wherein said first embedding means is adapted to embed said first specified information in an arbitrary stage among the plural compression stages in said compression means, and
- said second embedding means is adapted to embed said second specified information in a stage next to said arbitrary stage.
A computer readable memory medium storing process steps for embedding specified information in a digital image, the process steps comprising:
- a first embedding step of embedding first specified information in said digital image;
- a second embedding step of embedding second specified information in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded by said first embedding step;
- and
- a compression step for compressing said digital image through plural compression stages;
- wherein said first embedding step includes a step of embedding said first specified information at an arbitrary stage among the plural compression stages in said compression step;
- and
- said second embedding step includes a step of embedding said second specified information in a stage next to said arbitrary stage.
An image processing system consisting of mutually connected plural equipment capable of transmitting and receiving a digital image with specified information embedded therein, the system comprising:
- an inputter for inputting an original digital image;
- a first embedding circuit for embedding first specified information in the digital image inputted by said inputter;
- a second embedding circuit for embedding second specified information in the digital image in which the first specified information is embedded by said first embedding circuit;
- and
- a transmitter for transmitting, through a network, the digital image in which said second specified information is embedded by said second embedding circuit,
- and further comprising a compressor for compressing the digital image inputted by said inputter through plural compression stages,
- wherein said first embedding circuit is adapted to embed said first specified information in an arbitrary stage among the plural compression stages in said compressor, and
- said second embedding circuit is adapted to embed said second specified information in a stage next to said arbitrary stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.