Image processing apparatus

Abstract

By using a data combining portion, the predetermined data is combined with the original image data on a pixel position with an upper limit gray scale value in a direction of increase of the gray scale value and a combined image data is generated. Since the predetermined data is combined outside an extent of the gray scale of the original image data, there is no deterioration of the quality of the original data and a user never perceives the predetermined data combined outside the extent of the gray scale of the original image data. In addition, since the predetermined data is embedded in combined image data in itself encoded by an encoding portion, the predetermined data cannot be separated from the original image data before the encoded combined image data is decoded.

Description

[0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 10 / 667,377, filed on Sep. 23, 2003, and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120; and this application claims priority of Application No. 2002-277291 filed in Japan on Sep. 24, 2002 under 35 U.S.C. § 119; the entire contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which combines various predetermined data such as image data, character data and voice data or the like with original image data to generate combined image data and separates the various predetermined data from the combined image data. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] It has become easy for a large number of people to share the same data through a network such as Local Area Network (abbreviated as “LAN”) or the Internet or the like by digitalization of multimedia data such as an image or a v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides an image processing apparatus that can combine predetermined data with original image data without compromising the quality of the original image data. This is achieved by using a data combining means that combines the predetermined data with the original image data on a pixel position with a lower limit gray scale value in a direction of gray scale value decrease. The combined image data generated by this process has the same gray scale value as the original image data and cannot be separated from it. The invention also provides an image processing apparatus that can decode and separate the predetermined data from the combined image data. This prevents illegal deletion or copying of the original image data."

Problems solved by technology

However, digital data can be easily copied and therefore, unless any counter measure for preventing such a copy as mentioned above is taken, there is possibility that an illegal copy is rampant.

However, the larger amount of the predetermined data becomes, the greater deterioration of the quality of the color image becomes.

However, a method for realizing electronic watermark actually is more sophisticated and retrieving the predetermined data embedded in the original image data cannot be easily performed, and deterioration of quality of the color image is inevitably accompanied.

When the predetermined data is embedded in low-order bit of the gray scale value of the above mentioned image data, there is a problem of unavoidable deterioration of quality of the image in which the predetermined data is embedded.

In addition, when the predetermined data is written in the header and the control signal of the code, deterioration of the quality of the image can be avoided, but there is a problem that the predetermined data can be simply retrieved and an illegal copy of the original image data can be easily made because the predetermined data is written separately from the original image data.

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