Image processing apparatus, image printing control apparatus, print image designation method and image printing control method

An image printing control apparatus comprising:

• a reading device for reading, from a recording medium on which have been recorded image data representing an image, first key information, which is provided for each item of the image data, relating to the image data, ordering information for specifying an ordered image to be printed, and second key information relating to the ordering information, said image data, said first key information, said ordering information and said second key information;
• key-information retrieval means for retrieving the first key information and the second key information regarding image data representing the ordered image specified by the ordering information;
• and
• printing control means for printing the ordered image by a printing device if said key-information match determination means has determined that the first key information matches the second key information and for executing en-or processing if said key-information match determination means has determined that the first key information does not match the second key information.

A method of designating a print image in an image processing apparatus capable of accessing a recording medium on which has been recorded image data representing a plurality of images, comprising the steps of:

• designating an ordered image to be printed from among images represented by image data that has been stored on the recording medium;
• storing, in association with the ordered image, ordering information for the ordered image designated, and key information for verifying the ordered image;
• and
• wherein the key information is at least one of partial image data representing part of the ordered image, a checksum of the ordered image, and data representing a random number generated at recording of the ordered image.

An image printing control method comprising the steps of:

• reading, from a recording medium on which have been recorded image data representing an image, first key information, which is provided for each item of the image data, relating to the image data, ordering information for specifying an ordered image to be printed, and second key information relating to the ordering information, said image data, said first key information, said ordering information and said second key information;
• retrieving the first key information and the second key information regarding image data representing the ordered image specified by the ordering information;
• determining whether the first key information found matches the second key information found;
• and
• printing the ordered image by a printing device if it has been determined that the first key information matches the second key information and executing error processing if it has been determined that the first key information does not match the second key information.