Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus

Abstract

In a watermark process section in an image processing apparatus, a visible watermark pattern read-out section reads out a visible watermark pattern that is stored in a memory. An invisible watermark generating section draws an invisible watermark on the read-out visible watermark pattern. Image data, which includes both the visible watermark and drawn invisible watermark, is multiplied by an overlay ratio. An adder section adds the visible/invisible watermark image data, which is multiplied by the overlay ratio, and input image data. Thus, watermark-overlaid image data is generated.

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 a memory section that stores image data of a visible watermark pattern;    a read-out section that reads out the image data of the visible watermark pattern that is stored in the memory section;    an invisible watermark generating section that draws an invisible watermark image on an image-drawing region of the image data of the visible watermark pattern that is read out by the read-out section; and    an adder section that adds visible/invisible watermark image data, on which the invisible watermark image is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, to input image data.    
   
   
       2 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the invisible watermark image that is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section is overlaid with a difficult-to-perceive high-frequency component.  
   
   
       3 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visible watermark pattern of the image data, which is stored in the memory section, is an overlay of an easy-to-perceive low-frequency component or a direct drawing of a character, a symbol, etc.  
   
   
       4 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visible watermark pattern of the image data, which is stored in the memory section, is overlaid on a luminance component, and the invisible watermark image, which is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, is overlaid on a chrominance component.  
   
   
       5 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the visible/invisible watermark image data, on which the invisible watermark image is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, is overlaid on a yellow component of the input image data.  
   
   
       6 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein as regards an information amount of the visible/invisible watermark image data on which the invisible watermark image is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, an information amount of the invisible watermark image is made relatively large.  
   
   
       7 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein as regards information of the visible/invisible watermark image data on which the invisible watermark image is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, an information amount of the invisible watermark image is made relatively large, for example, by using a department name or a machine number for the visible watermark, and a personal name, an image number, etc. for the invisible watermark image.  
   
   
       8 . The image processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein as regards information of the visible/invisible watermark image data on which the invisible watermark image is drawn by the invisible watermark generating section, the visible watermark is non-encrypted information and the invisible watermark is encrypted information.  
   
   
       9 . An image processing apparatus comprising: 
 an image input section that inputs an image;    a watermark process section that executes a watermark process by adding visible/invisible watermark image data, in which an invisible watermark is drawn on image data of a visible watermark pattern, to the image data that is input by the image input section; and    an image forming section that forms an image on the basis of image data that is subjected to the watermark process in the watermark process section.    
   
   
       10 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 an image input section that inputs an image;    a memory section that stores image data that is input by the image input section;    a detection section that detects, from the image data input by the image input section, watermark information including both a visible watermark and an invisible watermark;    an image retrieval section that executes, on the basis of a detection result of the detection section, a retrieval as to whether the memory section stores image data or document data, which is substantially equal to the input image data; and    an image forming section that forms an image on the basis of the image data input by the image input section or the image data stored in the memory section, in accordance with a retrieval result of the image retrieval section.    
   
   
       11 . An image forming apparatus comprising: 
 an image input section that inputs an image;    a watermark process section that draws watermark information on image data that is input by the image input section;    an image forming section that forms an image on the basis of image data in which the watermark information is drawn by the watermark process section;    a filing section that files, as electronic data, the image data in which the watermark information is drawn by the watermark process section; and    a display section that displays the electronic data filed by the filing section.    
   
   
       12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the watermark process section draws the watermark information with such a density as to be hardly visible in display by the display section and to be visible in image formation by the image forming section.  
   
   
       13 . An image processing method for an image processing apparatus that processes an image, comprising: 
 storing image data of a visible watermark pattern;    reading out the stored image data of the visible watermark pattern;    drawing an invisible watermark image on an image-drawing region of the read-out image data of the visible watermark pattern; and    adding visible/invisible watermark image data, on which the invisible watermark image is drawn, to input image data.    
   
   
       14 . An image forming method for an image forming apparatus that forms an image, comprising: 
 drawing watermark information on input image data;    forming an image on the basis of image data in which the watermark information is drawn;    filing, as electronic data, the image data in which the watermark information is drawn; and    displaying the filed electronic data.    
   
   
       15 . An image forming method for an image forming apparatus that forms an image, comprising: 
 inputting an image;    storing the input image data in a memory section;    detecting, from the input image data, watermark information including both a visible watermark and an invisible watermark;    executing, on the basis of a detection result, a retrieval as to whether the memory section stores image data or document data, which is substantially equal to the input image data; and    forming an image on the basis of the input image data or the image data stored in the memory section, in accordance with a retrieval result.