Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and data storage media

An image processing method for coding an image signal to display a predetermined composite image which comprises plural objects, said coding being performed for each of object areas which include the respective objects constituting the composite image, said method comprising the steps of:

• adding position disturbance information for disturbing the position of each object area, to area position information which indicates the position of the object area in an individual coordinate system for processing the image signal of the object area, thereby generating disturbed area information, and subjecting the image signal corresponding to the object area to a coding process based on the individual coordinate system, in accordance with the area position information or the disturbed area information, thereby generating a coded image signal corresponding to the object area;
• multiplexing a disturbed area signal obtained by coding the disturbed area information and the coded image signal corresponding to each object area, and outputting the multiplexed signal as a coded object signal for each object;
• adding the position disturbance information to coordinate position information which indicates the positional relationship between a whole coordinate system for displaying the whole composite image and the individual coordinate system corresponding to each object area, such that the position of each object area, which moves in the individual coordinate system in accordance with the position disturbance information, becomes unchangeable in the whole coordinate system in spite of the position disturbance information, thereby generating disturbed coordinate information;
• and
• multiplexing a disturbed coordinate signal obtained by coding the disturbed coordinate information and the coded object signals corresponding to the respective objects to output a multiplexed coded signal.