Abstract: Even through security information is embedded in a printed document, if the security level is changed after original data is printed, it is impossible to change the security level of a printed document. Hence, when vector data is generated from the printed document, vector data with a low security level is obtained, and that vector data can be edited and printed. Hence, a document image is read, the read image is segmented into image regions of different attributes, and pointer information embedded in each image region is extracted. An image of the image region from which no pointer information is extracted and whose vector conversion is instructed by the user is converted into vector data. A security level is set in the vector data, and the vector data set with the security level is registered in a server.

Abstract: When a history including printed information, a date, a user, and the like is stored, a search for stored information is allowed, and the history can be referred to if information has leaked, a large-capacity storage device is required to store all images in the storage device. Hence, user authorization is made. If user authorization has succeeded, image data is acquired, and is segmented into regions of respective attributes by block selection. Next, objects of respective segments are converted into vector data. It is searched if an object that matches each of the objects is stored in an image storage server. If a matching object is detected, an object ID added to that object is acquired. If no matching object is detected, an object ID of the object of interest is generated, and vector data added with the object ID is registered in the image storage server.

Abstract: Even through security information is embedded in a printed document, if the security level is changed after original data is printed, it is impossible to change the security level of a printed document. Hence, when vector data is generated from the printed document, vector data with a low security level is obtained, and that vector data can be edited and printed. Hence, a document image is read, the read image is segmented into image regions of different attributes, and pointer information embedded in each image region is extracted. An image of the image region from which no pointer information is extracted and whose vector conversion is instructed by the user is converted into vector data. A security level is set in the vector data, and the vector data set with the security level is registered in a server.

Abstract: When a history including printed information, a date, a user, and the like is stored, a search for stored information is allowed, and the history can be referred to if information has leaked, a large-capacity storage device is required to store all images in the storage device. Hence, user authorization is made. If user authorization has succeeded, image data is acquired, and is segmented into regions of respective attributes by block selection. Next, objects of respective segments are converted into vector data. It is searched if an object that matches each of the objects is stored in an image storage server. If a matching object is detected, an object ID added to that object is acquired. If no matching object is detected, an object ID of the object of interest is generated, and vector data added with the object ID is registered in the image storage server.

Abstract: An output control apparatus includes a reader for reading, from a storage medium in which image data and image output instruction data are written, the image data and the image output instruction data. The image data read by the reader is output to an image output device designated based on the read image output instruction data. In doing so, the work of designating a printer, which was previously manually performed for each image, is now automatically performed. For example, an image in a memory card can be directly printed by a printer at a remote print shop via a network.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided to easily form a cover sheet for covering a sheaf of plural sheets without burdening a user. In the apparatus which can input plural images to be formed on an identical face of the cover sheet for covering the sheaf of the plural sheets by using the input unit, information concerning a thickness of the sheaf of the plural sheets is obtained, and it is controlled that the plural images input by the input unit are disposed at an interval based on the obtained information.

Abstract: An output control apparatus includes a reader for reading, from a storage medium in which image data and image output instruction data are written, the image data and the image output instruction data. The image data read by the reader is output to an image output device designated based on the read image output instruction data. In doing so, the work of designating a printer, which was previously manually performed for each image, is now automatically performed. For example, an image in a memory card can be directly printed by a printer at a remote print shop via a network.