JP2001136366A - Device, system and method for processing picture and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture processor capable of reliably and efficiently executing working processing of picture information and retaining and outputting of the processing result based on template information. SOLUTION: A rendering means 101 forms a piece of picture information by composing at least two pieces of picture information work-processed based on the template information. A picture composing information storing means 103 stores at least one of the position and the composing method of each picture information which was the object of picture composition at the means 101.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a technology for processing an image by handling an image file, and more particularly to a technology for processing an image based on template information selected by a user. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image processing apparatus that stores input image information in a main storage unit, processes the image information based on template information specified by a user, and outputs the processed image information. . In this image processing apparatus, the input image information and the template information can be stored in an external storage device, and the stored input image information and the template information are read into the main storage unit to edit the template information. And output.

[0003]

However, in the conventional image processing apparatus as described above, when re-editing or outputting using the input image information and the template information stored in the main storage unit, the template information is not included. If the input image information used in the external storage device and the main storage device does not exist in the external storage device and the main storage device, the editing result and the output result may be different from the previously saved state.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and performs processing for processing image information based on template information and saving and outputting the processing result reliably and efficiently. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer-readable storage medium capable of storing an image processing apparatus, an image processing system, an image processing method, and a processing step for executing the image processing apparatus and the image processing method.

[0005]

For such a purpose,
A first invention is an image processing means for processing input image information based on predetermined template information, and a reference relation indicating a reference relation between the template information and the image information in the processing by the image processing means. A reference relation storage unit for storing information; a rendering unit for combining at least two pieces of image information processed by the image processing unit based on the template information to form one image information; Image combining information storing means for storing at least one of the position of each image information subjected to image combining and the combining method.

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect,
Image input means for inputting the image information, image information storage means for storing image information input by the image input means, template information storage means for storing the template information, and processing by the image processing means The image processing apparatus further includes an image output unit that outputs the processed image information, and a storage unit that stores the image information processed by the image processing unit together with template information used for the image information.

[0007] A third invention is the above-mentioned first invention, wherein:
The image processing apparatus further includes a rendering control unit that controls an operation of the rendering unit based on the template information.

[0008] In a fourth aspect based on the first aspect,
Electronic watermark information storage means for storing predetermined electronic watermark image information; electronic watermark information adding means for adding the electronic watermark image information to the image information processed by the image processing means; Digital watermark information removing means for removing the digital watermark image information from the image information to which the information has been added.

In a fifth aspect based on the first aspect,
The image processing apparatus further includes a communication unit that performs communication of image information with another device via a network.

In a sixth aspect based on the fourth aspect,
A digital watermark image information synthesizing means for synthesizing at least two digital watermark image information is provided.

In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect,
A circumscribing rectangle information acquiring means for acquiring the circumscribing rectangle information of the digital watermark image information, and a judging means for judging an overlap of a plurality of the circumscribing rectangle information are provided.

An eighth invention is an image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus having an image processing function for processing input image information based on predetermined template information, at least connected to a network. The processing device also has the function of the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

A ninth invention is an image input device for inputting image information, an image information storage device for storing image information input by the image input device, and a template information storage for storing predetermined template information. Device, an image processing device having a function of processing image information input by the image input device based on template information in the template information storage device, and outputting the image information processed by the image processing device An image processing system comprising: an image output device that performs processing, and an external storage device that stores the image information processed by the image processing device together with template information used for the image information,
The image processing apparatus has the function of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0014] A tenth invention is an image processing method for processing input image information based on predetermined template information, and shows a reference relationship between the template information and the image information in the processing. A reference relation storing step of storing reference relation information; a rendering step of combining at least two pieces of image information processed based on the template information in the processing to form one piece of image information; And an image combining information storing step of storing at least one of the position of the image information and the combining method when the image information is combined.

In an eleventh aspect based on the tenth aspect, the reference relation information includes information for identifying image information used for the template information.

In a twelfth aspect based on the tenth aspect, the reference information includes information indicating whether image information can be processed with respect to the template information.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in the tenth aspect, the reference relation information is included in the template information.

A fourteenth invention is characterized in that, in the tenth invention, a rendering control step of controlling a processing operation in the rendering step based on the template information is further included.

In a fifteenth aspect based on the tenth aspect, a digital watermark information storing step of storing predetermined digital watermark image information, and adding the digital watermark image information to the processed image information. The method further includes a digital watermark information adding step, and a digital watermark information removing step of removing the digital watermark image information from the image information to which the digital watermark image information has been added.

According to a sixteenth aspect, in the tenth aspect, a communication step of communicating image information with another device via a network is further provided.

According to a seventeenth aspect, in the fifteenth aspect, a digital watermark image information synthesizing step of synthesizing at least two of the digital watermark image information is included.

According to an eighteenth aspect based on the seventeenth aspect, the method further comprises a circumscribing rectangle information acquiring step of acquiring circumscribing rectangle information of the digital watermark image information, and a judging step of judging overlapping of the plurality of circumscribing rectangle information. It is characterized by the following.

According to a nineteenth invention, a processing program for implementing the function of the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or the function of the image processing system according to any one of claims 8 and 9 is provided. And a storage medium readable by a computer.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, a computer readable storage medium stores processing steps for executing the image processing method according to any one of claims 10 to 18.

More specifically, for example, image information used for storing template information is determined based on reference relationship information indicating a reference relationship between template information and image information, and the determined image information is stored in an external storage device together with the template information. save. Further, by rendering means for combining two pieces of image information into one piece of image information, the same output image information as an image output to the output device is created, and the created output image information is stored in an external storage device. Printing of the stored template information is performed using only the stored output image information. Also, by combining the image information inserted in the image frames (templates) whose image attributes (reference relation information) cannot be edited (processed) by the above-described rendering means, a plurality of non-editable image frames can be obtained. Into one uneditable image frame. In particular, when two pieces of image information are combined, information (image combining information) such as position information of the pieces of image information and a combining method is stored. If the image information used in the template information cannot be obtained, the image information from which the image information is to be synthesized cannot be obtained by the image synthesis information for the image information that could not be obtained. The image information is acquired as alternative image information, and the alternative image information is synthesized based on the image synthesis information.

Further, the means for inserting the digital watermark image information into the image information and the means for deleting the digital watermark image information from the image information to which the digital watermark image information has been added can be used to store the image stored in the external storage device. Digital watermark image information is added to the information and stored, and if necessary, the digital watermark image information added when the image stored in the external storage device is read into the main storage device is deleted.

Further, by means for acquiring image information via the network, when the image information used in the template information does not exist in the external storage device and the main storage device, the image information can be obtained from another device on the network. By acquiring the information, it is possible to output and edit the template information.

[0028]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The present invention is applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus 100 as shown in FIG. This image processing apparatus 100
Has a function of performing processing on input image information based on template information specified by a user and outputting the processed image information.

For this reason, the image processing apparatus 100 stores a CPU 101 which controls the operation of the entire apparatus, a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FDD) 102 which is an external storage device for storing various information, and image information and template information. Hard disk drive (HD)
D) 103, RAM 1 for writing and reading various data during template information storage processing and print processing operation
04, a ROM 105 for storing a processing program for a template information storing process and a printing process operation, a keyboard 106 for inputting various data and instructions from a user, and a video RAM (VRAM) 10 for storing image display data.
7. Printer interface (printer I / F) 10
9. Scanner interface (scanner I / F) 11
2 and a network interface (network I / F) 114, which exchange data with each other via a bus 111.

A VRT 107 is connected to a CRT 108 for displaying an image and an operation panel, and a printer I / F 109 is connected to a printer 11 for printing and outputting an image.
0 is connected to the scanner I / F 112, and a scanner 113 for inputting an image is connected to the scanner I / F 112.
14, another image processing apparatus 20 via a network.
0 is connected.

FIG. 2 shows the structure (data format) of the template information 300 used by the image processing apparatus 100.

The template information 300 includes, for example, an HD
D103 (or FDD 102), and as shown in FIG.
, And a plurality of page information 320a, 320b,...

The header information 310 includes information 311 on the number of page information. For example, if the page information is 320
In the case of a and 320b, "2" is stored here.

Each of the page information 320a, 320b,... Has the same configuration, and stores information corresponding to each page of the print output. Specifically, for example, the page information 320b stores page number information 321, file name information 322 of output image information, and number information 323 of image frames, and for each image frame, Image frame position information 324, hierarchy information 325, size information 326, attribute information 327, file name information 3 of inserted image information
28, and new image frame number information 329 are stored.
Here, it is assumed that the information of each of the two image frames 1 and 2 is stored as an example.

The position information 324 of the image frame is information representing the coordinate position of the lower left corner of the image frame by coordinates with the origin at the lower left corner of the page. The image frame hierarchy information 325 is information represented by numerical information based on the frame present at the back of the page, and indicates that the larger the numerical value is, the more the image frame is output to the front. . The image frame size information 326 is information indicating the rectangular size of the image frame. Image frame attribute information 3
Reference numeral 27 denotes information indicating permission / non-permission of inserting the input image information input by the scanner 113 (image input device). File name information 328 of image information
Is information for indicating a reference relationship between template information and image information, and is for identifying a file on the HDD 103 (main storage device) or the FDD 102 (external storage device) in which the image information to be inserted into the image frame exists. This is information indicating a file name.

The new image frame number information 329 is used when the image information of the relevant image frame has already been synthesized with the image information of another image frame and the synthesized image information has been generated as new image information. The image frame number of the image information is set, and is used as image information synthesis information.

The new image frame number information 329 is not set if the image information of the image frame is not already combined with the image information of another image frame. Therefore, when the image frame number is set in the new image frame number information 329,
The image information of the image frame of the image frame number (image information before combining) is not used in the normal image frame display. When no image information is inserted into the image frame, the file name information 328 of the image information is not set.

FIG. 3 shows the result (output image) of processing the input image information based on the template information 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 above
, “410” indicates the image frame 1 of the template information 300, and “420” indicates the other image frame 2. The images inserted into those image frames indicate image information input from the scanner 113 or the like.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the operation principle of digital watermarking and the process of synthesizing image information mixed with a digital watermark, which is one of the features of the present embodiment. FIG.

Here, in the image processing apparatus 100, C
The PU 101 has an image processing function, a function of inserting a digital watermark, a function of deleting a digital watermark, a rendering control function, a function of synthesizing two digital watermarks, a function of obtaining a circumscribed rectangle of the digital watermark, and a plurality of functions. Has the function of determining the overlap of the circumscribed rectangles. Also, HD
D103 stores, in addition to information such as image information and template information, digital watermark information and information such as a position of the digital watermark and a combining method when two digital watermarks are combined.

The “digital watermark” is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), in order to prevent image information from being diverted to other uses. Image information 438a (hereinafter, also referred to as “watermarked image information”) formed by mixing image information 437a (hereinafter, also referred to as “watermark image information”) in the storage device Means means for visually disabling the image information or for clearly indicating the source of the image information. This means also includes means for removing the watermark image information 437a from the watermarked image information 438a in which the watermark image information 437a is mixed by a predetermined method, and restoring the original image information 436a.

In the image processing apparatus 100, the CPU 101 preliminarily stores the HDD 103 in response to the original image information.
The watermark image information stored in (main storage device) is embedded by performing an exclusive OR operation to generate watermarked image information. Further, the watermark image information is restored to the original image information by performing an exclusive OR operation on the watermark image information again from the watermarked image information.

The method of realizing the above-mentioned digital watermark is a method of synthesizing and mixing the watermark image information with the original image information by exclusive OR, but is not limited to this. Other image processing means may be used.

Therefore, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, in the prior art, watermarked image information 438a in which watermark image information 437a is mixed, and watermark image information 437b
When two pieces of watermarked image information with the watermarked image information 438b in which are mixed are combined, the combined image information 439 obtained as a result is a state in which the watermark image information 437a and the watermark image information 437b overlap each other. Had been lost. Therefore, the watermark image information 437a and the watermark image information 437b could not be identified.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, a watermarked image information 438a in which watermark image information 437a is mixed and a watermarked image information in which watermark image information 437b is mixed. When combining two pieces of watermarked image information with the image information 438b, first, the watermarked image information 438a is separated into the original image information 436a and the watermarked image information 437a. It is separated into original image information 436b and watermark image information 437b.

Next, the original image information 436a and the original image information 436b are synthesized with each other to obtain synthesized image information 440. In addition, the watermark image information 437a and the watermark image information 437b are combined with each other to obtain the combined watermark image information 441. At this time, for example, the watermark image information 437a
By detecting each circumscribed rectangle of the watermark image information 437b and the watermark image information 437b, the watermark image information 437a and the watermark image information 437b are detected.
b should not overlap each other.

Then, the combined image information 440 and the combined watermark image information 441 are combined to obtain combined image information 442.

By the image synthesizing process in the present embodiment as described above, the watermark image information 437a mixed with the watermarked image information 438a and the watermarked image information 43
The watermarked image information 438a and the watermarked image information 438b can be combined with each other while the watermark image information 437b mixed in the image information 8b is held in an identifiable state.

The operation of the template information storing process and the printing process executed by the image processing apparatus 100 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

Step S501: The image information obtained by the scanner 113 (image input device) is transmitted to the scanner I / F1.
12 is input. This input image information is
File name (for example, "flower.BMP" or "mountain.BMP"
) Are temporarily stored in the HDD 103. still,
Image information stored in the FDD 102 may be used as input image information.

Step S502: In accordance with a user operation on the keyboard 106, corresponding template information (template information desired by the user) is stored in the HD.
Selection is made from template information stored in advance in D103.

Step S503: The image frame for which the insertion of the input image information is permitted, based on the attribute information of the image frame information of each page information included in the template information selected in step S502 (see FIG. 2). (Editable image frame)
Search for.

Step S504: Based on the result of the search in step S503, it is determined whether or not there is an image frame permitted to insert the input image information.

Step S505: As a result of the determination in step S504, if there is an image frame for which insertion of the input image information is permitted, step S5 is performed on the information of the image frame.
At 01, a file name of the input image information is set in order to insert the input image information stored in the HDD 103. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the file name “flower.BMP” of the input image information is stored for the image file name information 328 of the image frame 1 of the page information 320b.

Step S506: It is determined whether or not there is unprocessed input image information. If it is determined that the input image information is present, the process returns to step S503 to execute the processing of steps S503 to S505 for the next input image information. On the other hand, when the input image information does not exist, that is, for all input image information, steps S503 to S5
If the insertion operation by step 05 is completed, the next step S5
The process proceeds from 07.

Step S507: When the user instructs to save the template information by operating the keyboard 106, the operation panel is displayed on the CRT 108,
Ask the user for instructions on how to save template information.

Step S508: When the user instructs the saving method of the template information in step S507, whether or not the instruction is an instruction for saving the template information in a saving method that allows all re-editing operations. Is determined. If the result of this determination is that there is an instruction to save the template information in a saving method that allows all re-editing operations, the process proceeds from step S512 (FIG. 6).

Step S509: If the result of determination in step S508 is that there is no instruction to save template information in a saving method that allows all reediting operations, only reinsertion of input image information inserted in the image frame is performed. It is determined whether or not the instruction is to store template information in a storage method that allows an editing operation. If the result of this determination is that the instruction to save the template information in a save method that allows only reinsertion,
It proceeds to the processing from step S518 (FIG. 6).

Step S510: If the result of determination in step S509 is that there is no instruction to save template information in a storage method that allows only reinsertion, an instruction is to save template information in a storage method that allows only reprinting. It is determined whether or not. If the result of this determination is that there is an instruction to save the template information in a saving method that allows only reprinting, the process proceeds to step S525 (FIG. 7).

Step S511: If the result of determination in step S510 is that the instruction is not an instruction to save template information in a storage method that allows only reprinting, it is determined whether the instruction is an instruction to print out the template information. If the result of this determination is that it is an instruction to print out template information, the flow proceeds to processing from step S534 (FIG. 8). still,
If the result of determination in this step is not an instruction to print out template information, that is, if none of the instructions in steps S508 to S511,
This processing ends.

Steps S512 to S517: (see FIG. 6) As a result of the determination in step S508 (see FIG. 5 above), the user's instruction indicates that all the reediting operations can be performed to save the template information. If it was an instruction,
The following steps S512 to S517 are executed.

Step S512: First, all the image frame information in which nothing is set for the new image frame number 329 (see FIG. 2) of each page information of the template information is searched. Then, the following steps S513 to S515 are performed on the image frame information.

Step S513: The file name information in the target image frame information is obtained, and the image information having the file name is obtained from the HDD 103.

Step S514: Convert watermark image information to HD
D103 (main storage device).

Step S515: The input image information obtained in step S513 and the watermark image information obtained in step S514 are combined by performing an exclusive OR operation to generate watermarked image information. Then, the watermarked image information is stored in the FDD 102 (external storage device).

Step S516: For all the image frame information (image frame information with the new image frame number 329 being "none") obtained in step S512, the generation of watermarked image information and the process of storing it in the FDD 102 are performed. It is determined whether or not the process has been completed. If the result of this determination is that the processing has not been completed yet, the process returns to step S512, and the processing of steps S512 to S515 is executed for the next image frame information.

Step S517: As a result of the determination in step S516, when the above-described processing for all the image frame information obtained in step S512 is completed, the template information is stored in the FDD 102 (external storage device). After that, the process ends.

Steps S518 to S524: (see FIG. 6) As a result of the determination in step S509 (see FIG. 5), an instruction from the user can perform an editing operation only for re-insertion of the input image information inserted in the image frame. If it is an instruction to save the template information in an appropriate saving method, following the execution of the following steps S518 to S524,
The processing of steps S512 to S517 described above is performed.

Step S518: First, the hierarchical information of all the image frame information in which nothing is set for the new image frame number 329 (see FIG. 2) of each page information of the template information is acquired.

Step S519: Attribute information of two consecutive image frame information is obtained in ascending order of the value of the hierarchical information obtained in step S518, and they are compared.

Step S520: Based on the result of the comparison in step S519, it is determined whether or not the two pieces of attribute information both prohibit the insertion of the input image information. If the result of this determination is that the insertion of the input image information has not been prohibited, the flow proceeds to step S524 described below.

Step S521: If the result of determination in step S520 is that both of the two pieces of attribute information prohibit the insertion of the input image information, the two image frames corresponding to them are combined and Create two image frames. That is, file name information of both image frames is acquired, and input image information having those file names is acquired from the HDD 103. Then, the input image information is combined to generate combined image information (rendering process), and the combined image information is stored in the HDD 103 (external storage device) as an image file.

Step S522: The position information and the size information of the two image frames are obtained, and a minimum image frame including the two image frames is newly created.

Step S523: And step S5
In step S52, the file name of the composite image information in
In step 2, the template information is set as the file name information of the image frame newly created, and the information on the two image frames is deleted.

Step S524: Steps S519 to S5 are performed on all the image frame information to be processed (image frame information with the new image frame number 329 being "none").
It is determined whether or not the process of 23 is completed. If the result of this determination is that the above processing has not been completed for all image frames, the process returns to step S519, and the processing of steps S519 to S523 is performed for the next image frame. On the other hand, if the processing has been completed, the process proceeds to step S512, and the subsequent processing steps are executed.
Note that the processing from step S512 is the same as the case where the saving of the template information is instructed by the saving method that allows all the re-editing operations, and thus the detailed description is omitted.

Steps S525 to S533, S630 to S630
S634: (see FIG. 7) If the result of determination in step S510 (see FIG. 5 above) indicates that the user's instruction is to save template information in a save method that allows only reprinting, the template The following step S5 is performed for each page information.
25 to S531, S630 to S634 are executed, and after that, the same processing (step S533) as step S517 described above is executed.

Step S525: First, the hierarchical information of each image frame of the page information is obtained, and the corresponding input image information is obtained from the HDD 103.

Step S526: It is determined for each image frame whether or not the input image information has been acquired in the process of step S525, that is, whether or not the input image information corresponding to the image frame exists in the HDD 103. If the input image information is stored in the FDD 102, the FDD
It is determined whether or not the corresponding input image information is present in 102. As a result of this determination, if input image information corresponding to the image frame to be determined exists in the HDD 103, the process proceeds to step S529 described below.

Step S527: If the input image information does not exist in the HDD 103 as a result of the determination in step S526, the target image information is transmitted to the other image processing apparatus 200 via the network I / F 114. Is transmitted (image file name information of the image frame in step S525), and communication for requesting input image information is performed.

Step S528: It is determined whether or not the input image information has been obtained as a result of the communication in step S527. If the result of this determination is that it could not be obtained, the process proceeds to step S630 described below.

Step S529: If the result of determination in step S528 is that input image information can be obtained through communication,
Alternatively, if the input image information exists in the HDD 103 as a result of the determination in step S526, or if the image frame information does not exist as a result of the determination in step S631 described below,
According to the contents of the hierarchical information of the page information of the template information, the input image information is synthesized in ascending order of the value to generate output image information.

Step S530: It is determined whether or not the image synthesis processing in steps S526 to S529 has been completed for all the image frames. Step S5
If the result of determination in 28 is that input image information has not been sent from the other image processing apparatus 200, step S529
The determination processing in this step is executed as it is without performing the image synthesis processing in step (1). If the result of this determination is that image synthesis processing has not been completed for all image frames, step S
Returning to step S526, the process returns to step S526 for the next image frame.
Step S529 is executed.

Step S531: If the result of determination in step S530 is that image combining processing has been completed for all image frames, the output image file name generated in step S529 is output to the output image file name information of the target page information. The file name of the information is set, and it is stored in the HDD 103.

Step S532: It is determined whether or not the saving of the output image information in steps S525 to S531 has been completed for all the page information. If the result of this determination is that the processing has not been completed, the flow returns to step S525, and the processing of steps S525 to S531 is executed for the next page information.

Step S533: As a result of the determination in step S532, when the storage of the output image information for all the page information is completed, the template information is also stored in the HDD 10.
Save to 3. After that, the process ends.

Step S630: If the input image information cannot be obtained through the communication as a result of the determination in step S528, first, in order to obtain a substitute image frame of the image frame to be processed, first, from each page information of the template information, Then, the image frame information in which the image frame number of the image frame to be processed is set in the new image frame number information 329 is searched.

Step S631: As a result of the search in step S630, whether or not there is image frame information in which the image frame number of the image frame to be processed is set for the new image frame number information 329, that is, the alternative image frame It is determined whether or not the image frame information exists. If the result of this determination is that there is no image frame information of the substitute image frame, the above-described step S
Proceed to 530 to execute the subsequent processing.

Step S632: If the image frame information of the alternative image frame exists as a result of the search in step S630, the other image processing apparatus 20 is connected via the network I / F 114.
0, the information of the file name of the image information of the alternative image frame is sent, and communication for requesting the image information is performed.

Step S633: As a result of the communication in step S632, it is determined whether or not the image information of the substitute image frame has been obtained. If the result of this determination is that it could not be obtained, the process proceeds to step S530, and the subsequent processes are executed.

Step S634: As a result of the communication in step S632, if the image information of the substitute image frame can be obtained,
The image information is synthesized in ascending order of the value of the hierarchical information of the alternative image frame by the processing of steps S653 to S662 (FIG. 9) described later to generate alternative output image information.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S529, and the subsequent processes are executed.

Steps S534-S542, S644-
S648: (see FIG. 8) If the result of determination in step S511 (see FIG. 5 above) indicates that the user's instruction is an instruction to print out template information, the above-described steps S525 to S531, S630 are performed. Step S53 similar to S634
Following execution of the processing of steps 4 to S540 and S644 to S648, steps S541 and S542 are performed.
Execute the processing of

Steps S534 to S540: First, as described above, the hierarchical information and the input image information of each image frame are obtained based on each of the edge information of the template information (step S534). If the input image information is HDD 103 or FD
If it does not exist in D102 (step S535),
Another image processing apparatus 2 via the network I / F 114
00, the file name information of the input image information is sent, and communication is performed to request the input image information (step S5).
36).

When the input image information is sent from another image processing apparatus 200 via the network I / F 114 (step S537), the input image information is synthesized in ascending order of the contents of the above-mentioned hierarchical information, and the output image is synthesized. Information is generated (step S538), and the process proceeds to step S539.

If the input image information is not sent from another image processing apparatus 200, the new image frame number information 329 is converted from each page information of the template information to obtain an alternative image frame for the image frame to be processed. Image frame information in which the image frame number of the target image frame is set (image frame information of the substitute image frame) is searched (step S644). As a result of this search, when the image frame information of the alternative image frame does not exist (step S645), the process proceeds to step S539 described later.

If the image frame information of the alternative image frame exists (step S645), the file name information of the image information of the alternative image frame is sent to another image processing apparatus 200 via the network I / F 114, and Communication for requesting the image information is performed (step S646). As a result of this communication, if the image information of the alternative image frame has not been transmitted (step S647), step S539 described later.
Proceed to.

When image information of a substitute image frame is transmitted from another image processing apparatus 200 via the network I / F 114 (step S647), the image information is synthesized in ascending order of the hierarchical information value of the substitute image frame. Then, alternative output image information is generated (step S648). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S538 described above, and the subsequent processes are executed.

Then, it is determined whether or not the image synthesizing process has been completed for all the image frames (step S539). When the process has been completed, the generated image is generated under the output image file name of the page information. The file name of the output image information is set (step S540).

Step S541: The output image information generated in step S538 is printed out from the printer 110 via the printer I / F 109.

Step S542: It is determined whether or not the print output of the output image information in steps S534 to S541 has been completed for all the page information. If the result of this determination is not complete, step S53
4 and return to steps S534 and S53 for the next page information.
The processing of S541 and S644 to S648 is executed. On the other hand, when the print output of the output image information for all the page information ends, the process ends.

Steps S653 to S662: (see FIG. 9) The processing of steps S653 to S662 shown in FIG. 9 is the processing of synthesizing the image information by step S634 shown in FIG. 7 and step S648 shown in FIG. is there.

Step S653: First, when image combining processing is started with two pieces of image information as arguments, the given image information (hereinafter, referred to as "image information A" and "image information B") is obtained. On the other hand, it is determined whether or not watermark image information (hereinafter, referred to as “watermark image information a” and “watermark image information b”) is mixed.

Step S654: If the result of determination in step S653 is that watermark image information has not been mixed in each of image information A and image information B, image information A
And the image information B, and the synthesized image information is used as an output image result. After that, the process ends.

Step S655: On the other hand, step S65
If the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b are mixed in the image information A and the image information B respectively as a result of the determination of 3, the watermark image information a is first separated from the image information A, The original image information of the information A (hereinafter, referred to as “image information A ′”) and the watermark image information a are obtained, the watermark image information b is separated from the image information B, and the original image information of the image information B is obtained. (Hereinafter referred to as “image information B ′”) and watermark image information b.

Step S656: Next, the image information A 'and the image information B' are synthesized to obtain synthesized image information of the original image information.

Step S657: Next, a circumscribed rectangle of the watermark image information a (hereinafter, referred to as “circumscribed rectangle a ′”) is obtained, and a watermark image information b is also acquired by the circumscribed rectangle (hereinafter, “circumscribed rectangle b”). '").

Step S658: Next, it is determined whether or not there is an overlap when the circumscribed rectangle a 'and the circumscribed rectangle b' overlap each other.

Step S659: Based on the determination in step S658, it is determined whether or not there is an overlap between the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b. As a result of this determination,
If there is no overlap between the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b, the process proceeds to step S661 described below.
Proceed to.

Step S660: If there is an overlap between the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b as a result of the determination in step S659, the watermark image information is set so that the circumscribed rectangles a ′ and b ′ do not overlap each other. The position (the position of the watermark image information in the entire image) or the size of the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b is changed, and then the process proceeds to the next step S661. The process of combining the watermark image information a and the watermark image information b so that the circumscribed rectangle a ′ of the watermark image information a and the circumscribed rectangle b ′ of the watermark image information b do not overlap, for example, Any method such as moving the watermark image information, or moving or deforming the watermark image information based on the distance from the center of gravity of each other and the circumscribed rectangle may be used.

Step S661: The watermark image information a and the watermark image information b are combined with each other to obtain combined watermark image information.

Step S662: The combined image information obtained in step S656 and the combined watermark image information obtained in step S661 are combined, and the combined result is set as the output image result. After that, the process ends.

It is to be noted that an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the host and the terminal of the above-described embodiment to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (computer) of the system or apparatus It is needless to say that the present invention can also be achieved by a CPU or an MPU) reading and executing a program code stored in a storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, a ROM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like can be used. Also,
By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the embodiments are realized, but also an OS or the like running on the computer performs part of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a case is also included in which the functions of the embodiments are implemented by performing all the processes and implementing the functions. Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in an extension function board inserted into the computer or a function extension unit connected to the computer, the function extension is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the embodiments.

[0113]

As described above, according to the present invention, when template information is stored in an external storage device or the like, it is possible to store the image information used therein together with the template information. . In addition, by combining a plurality of pieces of image information among the above-mentioned stored image information and storing the combined image information as one piece of image information in an external storage device or the like, the storage required when template information is stored in the external storage device or the like. The capacity can be reduced. In particular, since information (image combining information) such as the position of the image information and the combining method is stored when the image information is combined, necessary image information is obtained from another device or the like via a network. Even in the case where the image information cannot be obtained, the necessary image information is restored by obtaining the image information before the synthesis of the required image information (alternative image information of the required image information) based on the image synthesis information, and output. Image information can be generated.

If the digital watermark image information is combined (added) with the stored image information and stored in an external storage device or the like, the image information can be used for other purposes. Can be prevented.

Further, when combining image information into which digital watermark image information is inserted, the image information is combined so that the digital watermark information of the image information is not overlapped and combined. It is possible to prevent the digital watermark image information inserted in the image information from becoming ineffective.

Further, when re-editing the stored template information, it becomes possible to obtain necessary image information from another device via a network and generate output image information.

Therefore, according to the present invention, unlike the prior art, the editing result and the output result do not differ from the state when they were previously saved, and the processing of the image information based on the template information and the result of the processing are performed. Can be reliably and efficiently stored and output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a data structure of template information used in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a state in which input image data is processed on the basis of the template information and printed out in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a digital watermark processing function in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a template information saving process and a printing process executed by the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows an instruction to save template information in the above-described processing in a saving method that allows all re-editing operations or a saving method in which only an input image information inserted into an image frame can be edited. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process of the case.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process when an instruction to save a save method that allows only reprinting is given in the above process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process when an instruction to print out template information is issued in the above process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of synthesizing image information in the above process.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 image processing apparatus 101 CPU (image processing means, means for inserting a digital watermark, means for deleting a digital watermark, rendering means,
Rendering control means, means for synthesizing two pieces of digital watermark image information, means for acquiring circumscribed rectangle information of electronic watermark image information, means for determining overlapping of a plurality of circumscribed rectangle information) 102 FDD (external storage means) 103 HDD ( A template information storage unit, an image information storage unit, a digital watermark information storage unit, a reference relationship storage unit, and an image synthesis information storage unit that stores a position of the information when two pieces of digital watermark image information are synthesized, a synthesis method, and the like. RAM 105 ROM 106 Keyboard 107 VRAM 108 CRT 109 Printer I / F 110 Printer (image output means) 111 Bus 112 Scanner I / F 113 Scanner (image input means) 114 Network interface (communication means) 200 Other image processing apparatus

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An image processing means for processing input image information based on predetermined template information, and reference relation information indicating a reference relation between the template information and the image information in processing by the image processing means. Reference storing means for storing the image information; rendering means for combining at least two pieces of image information processed by the image processing means based on the template information to form one piece of image information; An image processing apparatus comprising: image synthesis information storage means for storing at least one of information on a position of each image information to be synthesized and a synthesis method. 2. An image input unit for inputting the image information, an image information storage unit for storing the image information input by the image input unit, a template information storage unit for storing the template information, Image processing means for outputting the image information processed by the image processing means; and storage means for storing the image information processed by the image processing means together with template information used for the image information. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rendering control unit that controls an operation of the rendering unit based on the template information. 4. Digital watermark information storage means for storing predetermined digital watermark image information, and digital watermark information adding means for adding the digital watermark image information to the image information processed by the image processing means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising digital watermark information removing means for removing the digital watermark image information from the image information to which the digital watermark image information has been added. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising communication means for communicating image information with another apparatus via a network. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a digital watermark image information synthesizing unit that synthesizes at least two of the digital watermark image information. 7. The image according to claim 6, further comprising: circumscribing rectangle information acquiring means for acquiring circumscribing rectangle information of the digital watermark image information; and determining means for judging overlapping of the plurality of circumscribing rectangle information. Processing equipment. 8. An image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus having an image processing function of processing input image information based on predetermined template information, connected at least on a network, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises: An image processing system having the function of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 9. An image input device for inputting image information, an image information storage device for storing image information input by the image input device, a template information storage device for storing predetermined template information, An image processing device having a function of processing image information input by an image input device based on template information in the template information storage device; and an image output device outputting the image information processed by the image processing device An image processing system comprising: an external storage device that stores the image information processed by the image processing device together with template information used for the image information. The image processing device according to claim 1, An image processing system having the function of any one of the image processing apparatuses described above. 10. An image processing method for processing input image information based on predetermined template information, wherein reference relationship information indicating a reference relationship between the template information and the image information in the processing is provided. A reference relationship storing step of storing; a rendering step of combining at least two pieces of image information processed based on the template information in the processing to form one piece of image information; and combining the at least two pieces of image information. An image synthesis information storing step of storing at least one of the position of the image information and the synthesizing method when the image processing is performed. 11. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the reference relation information includes information for identifying image information used for the template information. 12. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the reference relation information includes information indicating whether image information can be processed with respect to the template information. 13. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein said reference relation information is included in said template information. 14. The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a rendering control step of controlling a processing operation in said rendering step based on said template information. 15. A digital watermark information storing step of storing predetermined digital watermark image information; a digital watermark information adding step of adding the digital watermark image information to the processed image information; 11. The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: a digital watermark information removing step of removing the digital watermark image information from the image information to which the information has been added. 16. The image processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a communication step of communicating image information with another device via a network. 17. The image processing method according to claim 15, further comprising a digital watermark image information synthesizing step of synthesizing at least two of the digital watermark image information. 18. The image according to claim 17, further comprising: a circumscribed rectangle information acquiring step of acquiring circumscribed rectangle information of the digital watermark image information; and a determining step of judging an overlap of the plurality of circumscribed rectangle information. Processing method. 19. A computer reads a processing program for implementing the functions of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or the functions of the image processing system according to claim 8. A storage medium characterized by being stored as possible. 20. A storage medium characterized by storing processing steps for executing the image processing method according to claim 10 in a computer readable manner.