# US 8,571,212 B2 · Image encrypting device, image decrypting device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,212 B2 - Document ID: US8571212B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/623,935 - Filed: 2009-11-23 - Published: 2010-03-18 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-30 - Assignees: Fujitsu Limited - Applicants: Taizo Anan; Kensuke Kuraki; Shohei Nakagata - Inventors: Taizo Anan; Kensuke Kuraki; Shohei Nakagata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571212B2 ## CPC - G09C 5/00: Ciphering apparatus or methods not provided for in the preceding groups, e.g. involving the concealment or deformation of graphic data such as designs, written or printed messages - G06F 21/608: {Secure printing} - H04L 9/0825: {using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates} - H04L 9/14: using a plurality of keys or algorithms - H04N 1/4486: {using digital data encryption} - H04L 2209/88: Medical equipments - G09C: CIPHERING OR DECIPHERING APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHIC OR OTHER PURPOSES INVOLVING THE NEED FOR SECRECY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An encrypting device generates an encrypted image by converting an image of a specified region in an input image with an encryption key, by embedding information obtained by encrypting the encryption key with a public key pairing with the private key of a destination, and by performing pixel value conversion. Then, the encrypted image is transmitted to the destination as a printed matter or via a network. A decrypting device converts the encrypted image in the form of print data or electronic data into an image, and inputs it. Next, the decrypting device extracts a decryption key (the encryption key) from the image of the encryption region by executing a process reverse to that of the encrypting device for the encryption region of the converted encrypted image. Then, the decrypting device decrypts the original image of the encrypted region by using the decryption key, and restores the entire encrypted image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image encrypting device for encrypting an image, the image encrypting device comprising: a computer configured to: input image data to be encrypted; specify an encryption region to be encrypted in the image data; convert the encryption region into a first image by using an encryption key; obtain a public key of a transmission destination of the data to be encrypted; encrypt the encryption key by using the public key; embed encryption key associated information, which is information about the encrypted encryption key, in the first image to convert the encryption region into a second image; convert a pixel value of the second image at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the second image to convert the encryption region into a third image; and output an encrypted image, which is obtained by converting an image of the encryption region into the third image in the image data, in a predetermined method. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image encrypting device according to claim 1, wherein: the computer specifies a plurality of encryption regions; converts images of the plurality of encryption regions individually by using a plurality of encryption keys; obtains a plurality of public keys; and encrypts the plurality of encryption keys individually by using the plurality of public keys. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image encrypting device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of public keys are public keys of a plurality of transmission destinations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image encrypting device according to claim 1, wherein the computer obtains the public key from a public key management server that manages the public key. ### Claim 5 An image decrypting device for decrypting an encrypted image including an image encrypted into an original image, the image decrypting device comprising: a computer configured to: input the encrypted image as image data; detect a position of an encryption region that is a region, in which an image is encrypted in the encrypted image, by analyzing the encrypted image; restore a pixel value of the image of the encryption region to a pixel value before being converted by a first conversion process for converting a pixel value of the image of the encryption region at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the image of the encryption region, by executing a second conversion process reverse to the first conversion process in order to identify the position of the encryption region on the basis of information about the position of the encryption region; extract encryption key associated information, which is information about an encryption key embedded in the image of the encryption region, from the restored image of the encryption region; decrypt a decryption key, which is used to decrypt the image of the encryption region, from the encryption key associated information by using a first private key pairing with a first public key used to generate the encryption key associated information; decrypt an original image by decrypting the image of the encryption region by using the decrypted decryption key; and output the original image in a predetermined method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image decrypting device according to claim 5, wherein the first private key is a private key that is possessed by a transmission destination of the encrypted image and used by another party, to which the transmission destination submits the encrypted image, to decrypt the encrypted image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The image decrypting device according to claim 5, wherein the computer obtains a public key to obtain a second public key pairing with a second private key when the encryption key associated information is encrypted with the first public key and the second private key, and decrypts the decryption key from the encryption key associated information by using the first private key and the second public key. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The image decrypting device according to claim 5, wherein: each piece of encryption key associated information, which is included in an image of each of a plurality of encryption regions, is information about an individual encryption key; the computer extracts an individual piece of the encryption key associated information from each of the plurality of encryption regions; and the computer decrypts, from each piece of the encryption key associated information, each decryption key used to decrypt the image of each of the plurality of encryption regions, in which each piece of the encryption key associated information is embedded, by using a private key pairing with a public key used to generate each piece of the encryption key associated information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The image decrypting device according to claim 5, wherein the computer obtains the public key from a public key management server that manages the public key. ### Claim 10 An image encrypting method for encrypting an image, the image encrypting method comprising: inputting image data to be encrypted; specifying an encryption region to be encrypted in the image data; converting the specified encryption region into a first image by using an encryption key; obtaining a public key of a transmission destination of the data to be encrypted; encrypting the encryption key by using the obtained public key; embedding encryption key associated information, which is information about the encrypted encryption key, in the first image to convert the encryption region into a second image; converting a pixel value of the second image at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the second image to convert the encryption region into a third image; and outputting an encrypted image, which is obtained by converting an image of the encryption region into the third image in the input image to be encrypted, in a predetermined method. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The image encrypting method according to claim 10, wherein: the specifying the region to be encrypted specifies a plurality of encryption regions; the converting the specified encryption region converts images of the plurality of encryption regions individually by using a plurality of encryption keys; the obtaining the public key obtains a plurality of public keys; and the encrypting the encryption key encrypts the plurality of encryption keys, which are used to convert the images of the plurality of encryption regions, individually by using the plurality of public keys. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The image encrypting method according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of public keys obtained are public keys of a plurality of transmission destinations. ### Claim 13 An image decrypting method for decrypting an encrypted image including an image encrypted into an original image, the image decrypting method comprising: inputting the encrypted image as image data; detecting a position of an encryption region that is a region, in which an image is encrypted in the encrypted image, by analyzing the encrypted image; restoring a pixel value of the image of the encryption region to a pixel value before being converted by a first conversion process for converting a pixel value of the image of the encryption region at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the image of the encryption region, by executing a second conversion process reverse to the first conversion process in order to identify the position of the encryption region on the basis of information about the detected position of the encryption region; extracting encryption key associated information, which is information about an encryption key embedded in the image of the encryption region, from the restored image of the encryption region; decrypting a decryption key, which is used to decrypt the image of the encryption region, from the encryption key associated information by using a first private key pairing with a first public key used to generate the extracted encryption key associated information; decrypting the original image by decrypting the image of the encryption region by using the decrypted decryption key; and outputting the original image in a predetermined method. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The image decrypting method according to claim 13, wherein the first private key is a private key that is possessed by a transmission destination of the encrypted image and used by another party, to which the transmission destination submits the encrypted image, to decrypt the encrypted image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The image decrypting method according to claim 13, further comprising obtaining a public key to obtain a second public key pairing with a second private key when the encryption key associated information is encrypted by using the first public key and the second private key, wherein the decrypting the decryption key decrypts the decryption key from the encryption key associated information by using the first private key and the second public key. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The image decrypting method according to claim 13, wherein: each piece of encryption key associated information, which is included in an image of each of a plurality of encryption regions, is information about an individual encryption key; the extracting the encryption key associated information extracts an individual piece of the encryption key associated information from each of the plurality of encryption regions; and the decrypting the decryption key decrypts each decryption key used to decrypt the image of each of the plurality of encryption regions, in which each piece of the encryption key associated information is embedded, is decrypted by using a private key pairing with a public key, which is used to generate each piece of the encryption key associated information, from each piece of the encryption key associated information. ### Claim 17 A storage medium not including a signal, storing an image encrypting program for causing a computer, in order to encrypt an image, to execute a process comprising: inputting image data to be encrypted; specifying an encryption region to be encrypted in the image data; converting the encryption region into a first image by using an encryption key; obtaining a public key of a transmission destination of the data to be encrypted; encrypting the encryption key by using the public key; embedding encryption key associated information, which is information about the encrypted encryption key, in the first image to convert the encryption region into a second image; converting a pixel value of the second image at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the second image to convert the encryption region into a third image; and outputting an encrypted image, which is obtained by converting an image of the encryption region into the third image in the image data, in a predetermined method. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The storage medium according to claim 17, wherein: the specifying the encryption region specifies a plurality of encryption regions; the converting the encryption region converts images of the plurality of encryption regions individually by using a plurality of encryption keys; the obtaining the public key obtains a plurality of public keys; and the encrypting the encryption key encrypts the plurality of encryption keys individually by using the plurality of public keys. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the converting the encryption region individually converts an image in each of the plurality of encryption regions by using an individual encryption key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of public keys are public keys of a plurality of transmission destinations. ### Claim 21 A storage medium not including a signal, storing an image decrypting program for causing a computer, in order to decrypt an encrypted image including an image encrypted into an original image, to execute a process comprising: inputting the encrypted image as image data; detecting a position of an encryption region that is a region, in which an image is encrypted in the encrypted image, by analyzing the encrypted image; restoring a pixel value of an image of the encryption region to a pixel value before being converted by a first conversion process for converting a pixel value of the image of the encryption region at certain cycles in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of the image of the encryption region, by executing a second conversion process reverse to the first conversion process in order to identify the position of the encryption region on the basis of information about the position of the encryption region; extracting encryption key associated information, which is information about an encryption key embedded in the image of the encryption region, from the restored image of the encryption region; decrypting a decryption key, which is used to decrypt the image of the encryption region, from the encryption key associated information by using a first private key pairing with a first public key used to generate the encryption key associated information; decrypting the original image by decrypting the image of the encryption region by using the decrypted decryption key; and outputting the original image in a predetermined method. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein the first private key is a private key that is possessed by a transmission destination of the encrypted image and used by another party, to which the transmission destination submits the encrypted image, to decrypt the encrypted image. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The storage medium according to claim 21, the process further comprising obtaining a public key to obtain a second public key pairing with a second private key when the encryption key associated information is encrypted with the first public key and the second private key, wherein the decrypting the decryption key decrypts the decryption key from the encryption key associated information by using the first private key and the second public key. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The storage medium according to claim 21, wherein: each piece of encryption key associated information, which is included in an image of each of the plurality of encryption regions, is information about an individual encryption key; the extracting the encryption key associated information extracts an individual piece of the encryption key associated information from each of the plurality of encryption regions; and the decrypting the decryption key decrypts, from each piece of the encryption key associated information, each decryption key used to decrypt the image of each of the plurality of encryption regions, in which each piece of the encryption key associated information is embedded, by using a private key pairing with a public used to generate each piece of the encryption key associated information.