Embedding data into document and extracting embedded data from document

An apparatus for extracting embedded data from an original image, the apparatus comprising:

• means for obtaining the original image, wherein the original image is presumed to be embedded with embedded data;
• means for detecting a plurality of patterns having a relative relationship and having at least two pattern types in the original image, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• means for detecting the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on characteristic information obtained from the plurality of patterns;
• means for detecting an angle of each one of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns to obtain a detected angle;
• means for determining at least one of (1) the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns, and (2) the relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• means for analyzing the relative relationship of the plurality of patterns using the at least one of the absolute angles and the relative angle obtained by the means for determining to obtain the embedded data of the original image.

An image processing method, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of:

• obtaining data to be embedded into an original image, wherein the data is to be embedded in the form of a plurality of patterns;
• selecting, from a plurality of pattern types, at least two pattern types to be used for the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded;
• determining a relative relationship of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• generating an embedded image by embedding the plurality of patterns, wherein the plurality of patterns has the relative relationship determined by the determining step and has the at least two pattern types selected by the selecting step.

An image processing method, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of:

• obtaining an original image, wherein the original image is presumed to be embedded with embedded data;
• detecting a plurality of patterns having a relative relationship and at least two pattern types in the original image, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• detecting the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on characteristic information obtained from the plurality of patterns;
• detecting an angle of each one of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns to obtain a detected angle;
• determining at least one of (1) the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns, and (2) the relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• analyzing the relative relationship of the plurality of patterns using the at least one of the absolute angles and the relative angle obtained by the step of determining;
• and
• obtaining the embedded data of the original image using the relative relationship of the plurality of patterns.

A computer readable medium storing computer instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform an image processing operation comprising:

• obtaining data to be embedded into an original image, wherein the data is to be embedded in the form of a plurality of patterns;
• selecting, from a plurality of pattern types, at least two pattern types to be used for the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded;
• determining a relative relationship of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• generating an embedded image by embedding the plurality of patterns, wherein the plurality of patterns has the relative relationship determined by the determining step and has the at least two pattern types selected by the selecting step.

A computer readable medium storing computer instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform an image processing operation comprising:

• obtaining an original image, wherein the original image is presumed to be embedded with embedded data;
• detecting a plurality of patterns having a relative relationship and at least two pattern types in the original image, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• detecting the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on characteristic information obtained from the plurality of patterns;
• detecting an angle of each one of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns to obtain a detected angle;
• determining at least one of (1) the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns, and (2) the relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• analyzing the relative relationship of the plurality of patterns using the at least one of the absolute angles and the relative angle obtained by the step of determining;
• and
• obtaining the embedded data of the original image using the relative relationship of the plurality of patterns.

A system for embedding data to be embedded into an original image, the system comprising:

• an embedded data obtainer to obtain the data to be embedded, wherein the data is to be embedded into an embedded area of the original image in the form of a plurality of patterns;
• a pattern determinator to select, from a plurality of pattern types, at least two pattern types to be used for the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded, and to determine a relative relationship of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns based on the data to be embedded, wherein the relative relationship is expressed by at least one of (1) absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns relative to the original image, and (2) a relative angle of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns indicating the relationship of the absolute angles of the at least two pattern types of the plurality of patterns;
• and
• a pattern embedder to embed the plurality of patterns having the relative relationship determined by the pattern determinator and having the at least two pattern types selected by the pattern determinator to the embedded area of the original image.