Abstract: An apparatus that embeds data in an image includes a mark embedding unit that embeds a feature that forms a predetermined pattern in the image, as a mark to be used to specify an area in which the data is embedded, and a data embedding unit that embeds the data in the image of the area specified by the mark.

Abstract: When it is determined whether the color of each cell of an image is black or white from the gradation value of each cell, the determination is made by comparison of the gradation level of the cell with a threshold if the gradation level is sufficiently close to that of black or white. In contrast, if the gradation value of the cell is within a gray zone, the color of the cell is determined from the colors of the cells adjacent to the cell of interest. That is, if the gradation value of the cell is gray and the colors of the adjacent cells are all black, the color of the cell is determined to be white; and conversely if the colors of all the adjacent cells are white, the color of the cell is determined to be black.

Abstract: A code type determining method comprises a block selecting step of selecting input image data in units of rectangular blocks, a block determining step of determining whether or not the selected block satisfies a predetermined condition, and a code determining step of determining a type of code included in the block which satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A character region detecting unit detects respective character regions in a plurality of document images which are partitioned and read. A character recognizing unit recognizes the characters within the detected character regions, and converts them into character codes. An overlapping position detecting unit detects the positions of line images whose matching degrees are high as an overlapping position by making a comparison between the positions and the sizes of the character regions in the two document images. An image merging unit merges the two document images at the detected overlapping position.

Abstract: An apparatus that embeds data in an image includes a mark embedding unit that embeds a feature that forms a predetermined pattern in the image, as a mark to be used to specify an area in which the data is embedded, and a data embedding unit that embeds the data in the image of the area specified by the mark.

Abstract: A bar code is scanned and a line of image data is extracted in a process. The line of extracted image is divided into patterns forming characters in a process. The divided patterns are converted into characters in a process. In the process, a pattern is divided by the number of modules having the smallest width forming a black bar or a white bar, a module value indicating each module as black or white is determined, and each pattern is converted into a character, thereby correctly recognizing a bar code using general-purpose optical equipment for reading a bar code.

Abstract: An input image distortion detection unit 11 detects a distortion of each of a plurality of input images (two herein) and corrects the distortion of each image. An overlapping position detection unit 12 detects the overlapping position of the two input images being combined using the images after subjecting to correction for distortion. A mutual distortion and expansion/contraction detection unit 13 detects a mutual distortion or expansion/contraction of the two images being combined in the overlapping position. Based on these detection results, the mutual distortion of the two input images is corrected or the expansion/contraction is interpolated. Finally image superimpose unit 15 combines the two images.

Abstract: When it is determined whether the color of each cell of an image is black or white from the gradation value of each cell, the determination is made by comparison of the gradation level of the cell with a threshold if the gradation level is sufficiently close to that of black or white. In contrast, if the gradation value of the cell is within a gray zone, the color of the cell is determined from the colors of the cells adjacent to the cell of interest. That is, if the gradation value of the cell is gray and the colors of the adjacent cells are all black, the color of the cell is determined to be white; and conversely if the colors of all the adjacent cells are white, the color of the cell is determined to be black.

Abstract: A code type determining method comprises a block selecting step of selecting input image data in units of rectangular blocks, a block determining step of determining whether or not the selected block satisfies a predetermined condition, and a code determining step of determining a type of code included in the block which satisfies the predetermined condition.

Abstract: In the first stage, a merging position relationship (a rotation angle, and/or presence/absence of mirror image flipping) between two images is identified by using reduced images, and a rough overlapping region is detected. In the second stage, an exact overlapping position, an inclination, etc. are detected. In the third stage, the two images are merged by using the process results of the first and the second stages.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an image processing device and an image processing method for processing a decoded image, and its objective is to optimally binarize a decoded original. After the respective density histograms of colors R, G, and B have been drawn, the hierarchical relationship between the low-density-side peak value and high-density-side peak value is investigated. A color component which is to become a binarization object is determined based on the comparison results on the number of color components whose high-density-side peak value is/are higher and the number of color components whose low-density-side peak value is/are higher, and the color of the pixel to be outputted is determined based on the comparison of the pixel with a threshold value.

Abstract: A bar code is scanned and a line of image data is extracted in a process 1. The line of extracted image is divided into patterns forming characters in a process 1. The divided patterns are converted into characters in a process 3. In the process 3, a pattern is divided by the number of modules having the smallest width forming a black bar or a white bar, a module value indicating each module as black or white is determined, and each pattern is converted into a character, thereby correctly recognizing a bar code using general-purpose optical equipment for reading a bar code.

Abstract: First, a tilt angle relative to paper or a subject of each input image is obtained. Then, the tile of each input image is corrected based on the detected tilt angle. Using the corrected input image or an image obtained by reducing the amount of data of the corrected input image, the overlapping position between the two input images is detected. Finally, two input images are combined in the detected overlapping position.

Abstract: In the first stage, a merging position relationship (a rotation angle, and/or presence/absence of mirror image flipping) between two images is identified by using reduced images, and a rough overlapping region is detected. In the second stage, an exact overlapping position, an inclination, etc. are detected. In the third stage, the two images are merged by using the process results of the first and the second stages.

Abstract: A storage program for smoothly conveying an information transmission destination and information, which are required at the time of an information exchange between an enterprise side and a consumer side, is converted into pattern information, and distributed to consumers. The storage program renders assistance for information conveyance that suits an environment surrounding the consumer side, for example, depending on whether or not to make a connection to a network, etc. Additionally, a prize by which winning/losing is determined on the spot can be implemented by storing an ID number of a prize draw winner in pattern information. According to the present invention, a bidirectional information exchange between an enterprise side and a consumer side can be smoothly made. At that time, troublesomeness of the operations of both the enterprise and the consumer sides can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an image processing device and an image processing method for processing a decoded image, and its objective is to optimally binarize a decoded original. After the respective density histograms of colors R, G, and B have been drawn, the hierarchical relationship between the low-density-side peak value and high-density-side peak value is investigated. A color component which is to become a binarization object is determined based on the comparison results on the number of color components whose high-density-side peak value is/are higher and the number of color components whose low-density-side peak value is/are higher, and the color of the pixel to be outputted is determined based on the comparison of the pixel with a threshold value.