Image Processing Apparatus Watermark Color Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The embedding of additional images in generated images often results in deteriorated image quality due to perceptibility issues caused by colors, leading to a decrease in the overall quality of the printed image.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus, such as a multifunction peripheral (MFP), is equipped with a controller that executes programs to generate and embed digital watermark information, including an inverting unit that adjusts the colors of the embedded data based on the colors of the input image data to minimize perceptibility, thereby maintaining improved image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If additional image data is embedded in the generated image, then information capacity is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to perceptibility of the embedded watermark

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation capacityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color inversion to the embedded watermark image based on the background color analysis. The controller determines the dominant background color and inverts the watermark colors to complement the background, making the watermark less perceptible. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high information capacity while improving image quality through color adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the color parameters of the embedded watermark based on the background image characteristics. By analyzing the background color distribution and adjusting the watermark color values accordingly, the system achieves better integration between watermark and background, reducing perceptibility while preserving information content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If watermark density is increased to improve information embedding capacity, then information capacity is improved, but perceptibility increases causing image quality to deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatermark information capacityVSAvoidperceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses color inversion adapted to background characteristics to reduce watermark perceptibility. By analyzing the background color and inverting watermark colors to complement rather than contrast with the background, the system can embed watermarks at higher densities without increasing perceptibility, thus resolving the contradiction between information capacity and perceptibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3226202B1Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3226202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3226202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3226202B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes: an embed-data generating unit (1F2) configured to generate embed-data (DA) to be embedded in input-image-data (DIN), the input-image-data (DIN) representing an image including a first color, the embed-data (DA) representing an image including a second color; an inverting unit (1F3) configured to invert the image represented by the embed-data (DA), in response to meeting a predetermined condition relating to the first color and the second color; and an output-image-data generating unit (1F1) configured to embed, in the input-image-data (DIN), embed-data (DA) representing the image that is inverted by the inverting unit (1F3), in order to generate output-image-data (DOUT) in a case where the predetermined condition is met, and configured to embed, in the input-image-data (DIN), embed-data (DA) representing the image that is not inverted by the inverting unit (1F3), in order to generate output-image-data (DOUT) in a case where the predetermined condition is not met.