Abstract: An image processing method of arranging orientation detection information for detecting an image orientation in an image includes arranging the orientation detection information in at least two positions that are symmetric with respect to a center of the image.

Abstract: In an information embedding apparatus, an image selecting unit selects original image data from an original image data group, a decoder detects a code from the selected original image data, and a candidate code determining unit calculates a candidate code. A candidate code embedding unit embeds the candidate code in the selected original image data.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of embedding information into an image has obtaining an image data by taking the image by an image input device, dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, determining an area in each of the blocks on the basis of a resolution power of the image input device, where a characteristic value may be modified in accordance with the information, respectively, comparing the size of the block with the size of the area and modifying a characteristic value of each of the blocks in accordance with the information to be embedded when the ratio of the size of the area with respect to the size of the blocks is smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a specified image position estimating apparatus, for, even if an original image varies in size to vary a size of a mark, detecting the mark in the original image fast and accurately to securely estimate the position of a specified image included in the original image, there are provided a position detection point detecting unit for, in a state where three or more position detection marks, each of which is made such that two or more straight lines intersect with each other or come into contact with each other at one position detection point, are affixed to the original image, detecting the position detection point of each of the position detection marks on the original image and a specified image position estimating unit for estimating the position of the specified image in the original image on the basis of the position detection point.

Abstract: To reduce the processing required to embed a code into image data and decode the code. The present invention includes a block dividing section 101 that divides original image data 10 into a plurality of blocks (M×N); an averaging section 103 that extracts each average density (characteristic amount) in a plurality of blocks; and an encoding section 106 that embeds a code C (a plurality of bits) into a plurality of blocks by relating one code (one bit out of the code C) to each pair of blocks mutually located in near position in the plurality of blocks based on a magnitude relation of the average density.

Abstract: A mobile telephone serving as a first apparatus enters image data with stegano data embedded, that cannot be recognized visually, the mobile telephone sending the entered image data to the outside and receiving the result of processing from the outside, for holding the same. A server acting as a second apparatus effects data processing on the image data received from the mobile telephone, to acquire stegano data, and sends the acquired stegano data as the result of processing to the mobile telephone. Being the mobile telephone with a camera having a limited processing performance, the first apparatus sends image data with stegano data embedded to the second apparatus, such as the server, having a high processing capability and being connected to the first apparatus through a communication path, in order to acquire the result of processing.

Abstract: To reduce the processing required to embed a code into image data and decode the code. The present invention includes a block dividing section 101 that divides original image data 10 into a plurality of blocks (M×N); an averaging section 103 that extracts each average density (characteristic amount) in a plurality of blocks; and an encoding section 106 that embeds a code C (a plurality of bits) into a plurality of blocks by relating one code (one bit out of the code C) to each pair of blocks mutually located in near position in the plurality of blocks based on a magnitude relation of the average density.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus comprises an image input unit 12 for entering image data, a block split unit 14 for splitting the entered image data into a plurality of blocks, a block extractor unit 16 and an averaging unit 18, both of which act as a value acquisition unit for acquiring a certain value from the split block image, and a code generation unit 20 for generating a code based on the acquired value of the block image.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of embedding information into an image comprises dividing the image into a plurality of blocks, providing a plurality of embedded blocks corresponding to the plurality of blocks, respectively, each of the embedded blocks having the same size as each of the blocks when each of the blocks is smaller than a predetermined size, each of the embedded blocks having the predetermined size and being placed at the center of each the block when each of the blocks is not smaller than the predetermined size and selectively modifying the characteristic value of each of the embedded blocks in accordance with the information to be embedded.

Abstract: In a data embedding apparatus a code calculating unit extracts a feature quantity from the image and calculates a code by using extracted feature quantity and a code embedding unit embeds calculated code into the image. An embedding determining unit that determines whether the code has been embedded normally into the image. If the embedding determining unit determines that the code has not been embedded normally into the image, an image-feature-quantity modifying unit modifies the extracted feature quantity. Finally, the code calculating unit extracts a new feature quantity from the image based on modified feature quantity, and recalculates a code by using the new feature quantity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image display control unit comprising a screen size information obtaining section, an image information obtaining section for obtaining information on vertical and horizontal sizes of an image, an arithmetic section for calculating an image magnification ratio so that at least one of the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image substantially conforms with at least one of vertical and horizontal display-possible sizes of a display screen, and a display control section for displaying the image at the magnification ratio calculated in the arithmetic section on the display screen. With this arrangement, in displaying an image on a display screen, the image can be displayed automatically at the optimal magnification ratio on the display screen. Accordingly, the wasteful use of the display screen is avoidable, and the image appears on the display screen in an easy-to-see condition.

Abstract: To reduce the processing required to embed a code into image data and decode the code. The present invention includes a block dividing section 101 that divides original image data 10 into a plurality of blocks (M×N); an averaging section 103 that extracts each average density (characteristic amount) in a plurality of blocks; and an encoding section 106 that embeds a code C (a plurality of bits) into a plurality of blocks by relating one code (one bit out of the code C) to each pair of blocks mutually located in near position in the plurality of blocks based on a magnitude relation of the average density.

Abstract: An image processing method of arranging orientation detection information for detecting an image orientation in an image includes arranging the orientation detection information in at least two positions that are symmetric with respect to a center of the image.

Abstract: In an information embedding apparatus, an image selecting unit selects original image data from an original image data group, a decoder detects a code from the selected original image data, and a candidate code determining unit calculates a candidate code. A candidate code embedding unit embeds the candidate code in the selected original image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method using the error diffusion method to prevent jumps in a highlight part and darkening in a shadow part at high resolution. The image processing method comprises a step of calculating an average value of density values of N×M (N, M>1) pixels, a step of adding the average value and a diffused quantization error value, a step of quantizing the addition result with a predetermined number of tones, a step of selecting a quantization pattern corresponding to the quantization result, and a step of calculating the diffused quantization error value from the quantization error. The error diffusion algorithm has flexibility in outputting dots. In other words, error diffusion processing is performed in N×M pixel units, and a plurality of quantization patterns are provided, and a quantization pattern is selected based on the quantization result.

Abstract: An apparatus embeds data into an area of image data. The apparatus determines whether colors of the area are specific colors, modifies image data of the area based on a determination result, and embeds the data into the area.

Abstract: An apparatus detects an area specified based on a mark of a specific color out of three primary colors in pigment or three primary colors in light from an image. An other-color-information eliminating unit eliminates information of other colors from a tone level of the specific color by correcting the tone level of the specific color based on tone levels of two colors other than the specific color out of the three primary colors in pigment or the three primary colors in light. An area detecting unit detects the area by specifying the mark based on the tone level from which the information of other colors is eliminated.

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: The invention provides an image processing apparatus which can correct distortion of read image data using only the image data without using a two-dimensional sensor. The image processing apparatus includes an estimation section for estimating a displacement amount between part data which form image data based on a cross-correlation between the part data, and a correction section for correcting the image data so as to cancel a displacement in the image data based on the displacement amount estimated by the estimation section. The image processing apparatus is used to correct distortion of an image, particularly a document image, inputted from an image inputting apparatus such as, for example, a handheld image scanner.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a specified image position estimating apparatus, for, even if an original image varies in size to vary a size of a mark, detecting the mark in the original image fast and accurately to securely estimate the position of a specified image included in the original image, there are provided a position detection point detecting unit for, in a state where three or more position detection marks, each of which is made such that two or more straight lines intersect with each other or come into contact with each other at one position detection point, are affixed to the original image, detecting the position detection point of each of the position detection marks on the original image and a specified image position estimating unit for estimating the position of the specified image in the original image on the basis of the position detection point.