JP2009225078A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor for decoding data at a high speed even when a plurality of conditions are provided for extracting optional data embedded in an image. <P>SOLUTION: The image processor 100 has a condition-estimating means 101 estimating a decoding condition from image data; a region-division means 102 dividing a predetermined region related to the image data; an additional information extracting means 103 extracting additional information from a relationship in a feature quantity between divided blocks; and an additional information output means 104 outputting the extracted additional information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that extracts arbitrary data embedded in image data.

  In recent years, development of a method for embedding arbitrary data (hereinafter referred to as “additional information”) into digital data or a print image (hereinafter referred to as “image data”) has been advanced. The image data in which the additional information is embedded is used for, for example, a user interface or a right claim.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method of embedding additional information in image data by dividing an image into blocks and associating a magnitude relationship between gradation levels with codes constituting additional information for each pair block. Hereinafter, the process of embedding additional information in image data is referred to as “encoding”.

  When performing processing for extracting the additional information from the image data in which the additional information is embedded by the above-described method (hereinafter referred to as “decoding”), it is necessary to know conditions such as the number of blocks when the additional information is embedded. Therefore, when there are a plurality of candidates for the number of used blocks, a method may be considered in which decoding is performed sequentially in a fixed order using the number of blocks of each candidate, and the decoded successfully is output.

  However, in the above-described decoding method, when there are candidates for the number of blocks that should be used later in the order, a decoding result is obtained only after decoding is performed for a plurality of candidate blocks. There was a problem that it took time.

For example, (1) decoding when an image is divided into 38 blocks × 48 blocks and 12-digit data (binary number) is embedded, and (2) 24-digit data is embedded using 54 blocks × 68 blocks. When decoding is performed in the order of decoding in the case, in order to obtain data from the image in case (2), the process in case (1) must be performed.
JP 2004-349879 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the problem to be solved is to perform high-speed decoding even when a plurality of conditions for extracting arbitrary data embedded in an image can be considered. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can be used.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the information processing apparatus acquires part or all of information constituting the image data in the information processing apparatus that extracts the additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded. A condition estimating unit that estimates a condition for extracting the additional information from the image data from the acquired information, a region dividing unit that divides a predetermined region in the image data according to the estimated condition, and the division For each adjacent block, the feature quantity relationship between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship, and the addition is performed. Additional information extracting means for extracting information; additional information output means for determining whether the extracted additional information is correct and outputting the additional information when it is determined to be correct; Provided.

  According to the information processing apparatus, the condition estimating means acquires part or all of the information constituting the image data, and estimates the condition for extracting the additional information from the image data from the acquired information. Then, the additional information extracting unit extracts the additional information by converting the feature quantity relationship between adjacent blocks in the block divided by the region dividing unit according to the estimated condition into a part or all of the corresponding additional information. .

  Therefore, even when there are a plurality of conditions for extracting additional information from image data, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the possibility that extraction of additional information from image data will fail. As a result, even when there are a plurality of conditions for extracting the additional information from the image data, the additional information can be extracted from the image data at high speed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing high-speed decoding even when a plurality of conditions for extracting arbitrary data embedded in an image can be considered. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment estimates a condition (hereinafter referred to as “decoding condition”) for extracting additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded (hereinafter simply referred to as “image data”). A condition estimation unit 101, a region dividing unit 102 that divides an image region related to image data, an additional information extracting unit 103 that extracts additional information from the relationship of feature amounts between the divided regions (hereinafter referred to as “blocks”), And additional information output means 104 for outputting the extracted additional information. The “image area related to image data” refers to an area of an image when the image data is displayed on a display device such as a display.

  The image data according to the present embodiment divides the image area related to the image data into a plurality of blocks, and for each of two adjacent blocks (hereinafter referred to as “pair blocks”), the relationship between the feature amounts between the blocks in the pair blocks By adjusting the relationship between the feature quantities so that the predetermined code (for example, “0” or “1”) and the predetermined code (for example, “0” or “1”) have a one-to-one correspondence, This is image data in which a code (binary number, hereinafter referred to as “information code”) is embedded.

The condition estimation unit 101 acquires part or all of the information constituting the image data from the image data, and estimates the decoding condition based on the acquired information.
Here, “information constituting the image data” is, for example, gradation information (for example, RGB values) of each pixel in the image related to the image data. Or it is the aspect ratio of the image which concerns on image data.

  Decoding conditions are, for example, conditions for encoding processing in which additional information is embedded in image data. Specifically, the number of blocks to be divided during encoding, the block size, the number of digits of the information code, and the like.

The area dividing unit 102 divides the image area related to the image data into a plurality of blocks according to the decoding conditions.
The additional information extraction unit 103 calculates a feature amount for each block, and converts the relationship between the feature amounts between the blocks in each pair block into an information code associated with the relationship. Then, the obtained information code is converted into additional information to extract additional information.

  Here, the “feature amount” is, for example, a gradation level of an RGB value (for example, a blue value) in each block. In this case, the “relationship between feature amounts between blocks” is, for example, a relationship in magnitude between gradation levels between blocks. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any index that characterizes an image in the block, such as an average density value or an average saturation value of a predetermined area (for example, the central portion of the block) in the block, may be used. .

The additional information output unit 104 outputs the additional information extracted by the additional information output unit 104 to a predetermined device (for example, a display device or a storage device (not shown)).
(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image data 200 according to the present embodiment.

The image data 200 according to the present embodiment is image data encoded under any of the following encoding conditions.
(1) The image data 201 is image data in which an image related to image data is divided into 48 blocks vertically and 38 blocks horizontally and a plurality of 12-digit codes are embedded. Hereinafter, this encoding condition is referred to as “first encoding condition”, and the condition for decoding the image data 201 is referred to as “first decoding condition”.

  (2) The image data 202 is image data in which an image related to the image data is divided into 68 vertical blocks and 54 horizontal blocks, and a plurality of 24-digit codes are embedded. Hereinafter, this encoding condition is referred to as “second encoding condition”, and the condition for decoding the image data 202 is referred to as “second decoding condition”.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 capable of decoding using the above two decoding conditions will be described, but it is natural that the present invention is not limited to this. If necessary, decoding may be performed according to two or more decoding conditions.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.
When starting the image data decoding process, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S301.

  In step S <b> 301, the image processing apparatus 100 reads out desired image data from the external storage device 125 in which image data is stored, and a part of the image related to the predetermined image data (hereinafter referred to as “evaluation area”). ) Information. And the said area | region is divided | segmented and a pair block is acquired.

  For example, the image processing apparatus 100 acquires a pair block (hereinafter referred to as “first pair block”) obtained by dividing the evaluation region according to a first decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction). Similarly, the image processing apparatus 100 acquires a pair block (hereinafter referred to as “second pair block”) obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the second decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction).

Note that the first and second decoding conditions may be stored in advance in the external storage device 125 or the like provided in the image processing apparatus 100 and read as necessary.
Here, a process of dividing the evaluation area according to the first decoding condition and acquiring the first pair block will be described with reference to FIG.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment acquires a central area of an image related to the image data 200 as an evaluation area 400. However, the evaluation area is not limited to the area shown in FIG. The evaluation area may be any area of the image related to the image data as long as the code having the required number of digits can be extracted according to the first or second decoding condition.

  In the evaluation area 400 according to the present embodiment, the horizontal width is the same as the horizontal width of the image related to the image data, but the vertical width d is one pixel. Therefore, the first pair block is generated by dividing into 38 blocks in the horizontal direction according to the first decoding condition. Of course, the vertical width is not limited to one pixel.

The same applies to the case where the second pair block is obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the second decoding condition.
When the first and second pair blocks are acquired as described above, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S302.

  In step S <b> 302, the image processing apparatus 100 calculates a gradation level difference between block pairs for each block pair for the first pair block, and calculates an average D <b> 1 of gradation level differences. Similarly, the image processing apparatus 100 calculates an average D2 of gradation level differences for the second pair block.

Here, the relationship between the average of the gradation level differences in the first and second pair blocks and the decoding conditions to be applied will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a difference in gradation level of each block pair in the evaluation region of image data encoded under the first encoding condition. The horizontal axis indicates the center position of the block pair in the evaluation area, and the vertical axis indicates the gradation level. In this embodiment, the gradation level for the blue value of the RGB value of the image data is used. However, one or more other RGB values may be used, and a gray scale or the like is used. May be.

  The practice shown in FIG. 5 shows the difference in gradation level between the blocks in the first block pair obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the first decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction). Indicates the difference in gradation level between the blocks in the second block pair obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the second decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction).

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the case of image data encoded under the first encoding condition, the gradation level difference between the blocks in the first block pair is the gradation between the blocks in the second block pair. It turns out that it becomes larger than the difference of the level.

  That is, in the case of image data encoded under the first encoding condition, the average D1 of gradation level differences in the first block pair is larger than the average D2 of gradation level differences in the second block pair.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a difference in gradation level of each block pair in the evaluation region of image data encoded under the second encoding condition. As in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates the position of the block pair in the evaluation area, and the vertical axis indicates the gradation level.

  In addition, the practice shown in FIG. 6 shows the difference in gradation level between blocks in the first block pair obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the first decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction), Indicates the difference in gradation level between the blocks in the second block pair obtained by dividing the evaluation area according to the second decoding condition (limited to the number of blocks in the horizontal direction).

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of image data encoded under the second encoding condition, the gradation level difference between the blocks in the second block pair is the gradation between the blocks in the first block pair. It turns out that it becomes larger than the difference of the level.

  That is, in the case of image data encoded under the second encoding condition, the average D2 of gradation level differences in the second block pair is larger than the average D1 of gradation level differences in the first block pair.

When the averages D1 and D2 of gradation level differences are calculated in step S302, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S303.
In step S303, the image processing apparatus 100 compares the gradation level difference averages D1 and D2. If D1> D2, the image processing apparatus 100 shifts the process to step S304 and sets the first decoding condition to be used preferentially. In the case of D1 ≦ D2, the image processing apparatus 100 shifts the processing to step S305 and sets the second decoding condition to be used preferentially.

  In step S304 or S305, when the priority setting of the decoding condition is completed, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S306. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 executes decoding of the image data according to a decoding condition with a high priority.

  In step S307, the image processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the decoding is successful based on the information code obtained as a result of decoding in step S306. For example, an error code (for example, a parity code or ECC) added in advance to the information code is embedded in the image data, and the error check is performed on the information code obtained as a result of decoding in step S306.

  If it is determined in step S307 that the decoding has succeeded, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S308. Then, the additional information extracted by decoding is output to the display device, the external storage device 125, or the like.

  If it is determined in step S307 that the decoding has failed, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S309, and determines whether or not decoding has been performed for all decoding conditions.

  If it is determined that there is a decoding condition that has not been executed, the image processing apparatus 100 proceeds to step S310. Then, other decoding conditions are acquired, and the process proceeds to step S306.

  If it is determined that decoding has been executed for all decoding conditions, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S311. Then, for example, a message indicating that the decoding has failed is displayed on the display device or the like, and the decoding process is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus 100 includes two decoding conditions has been described. However, three or more decoding conditions may be included. In this case, for example, in step S302, averages D1, D2, D3,... Of the gradation levels of the pair blocks in the evaluation region are calculated for each decoding condition. In step S303, the average of the differences in gradation levels is calculated. May be sorted in descending order and the decoding conditions may be applied in the sorted order to execute the processes of steps S306 to S312.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific configuration of the image data 200 according to the present embodiment. In addition,
FIG. 7 shows the case of image data generated according to the first encoding condition, but the same applies to image data generated according to the second encoding condition.

Hereinafter, in order to simplify the description, the direction of the arrow a illustrated in FIG. 7 is referred to as “lateral direction”, and the direction of the arrow b is referred to as “vertical direction”.
An image area related to image data can be divided into 48 blocks in the vertical direction and 38 blocks in the horizontal direction. Then, two blocks adjacent in the horizontal direction are set as a pair block. FIG. 7 shows a case where the image area is divided into areas L001, R001, L002, R002,..., L912, R912.

  In this case, regions L001 and R001, L002 and R002,..., L912 and R912 are pair blocks. Hereinafter, for example, a pair block composed of blocks A and B is represented as (A, B).

  When the additional information is embedded in the image area, the pair block (L001, R001) is read from the image area. Then, average densities d1 and d2 for the regions L001 and R001 are calculated. Then, when embedding the information code “0”, the average densities d1 and d2 are adjusted so as to satisfy the relationship “d1 <d2”. When the information code “1” is embedded, “d1 ≧ d2”. The average densities d1 and d2 are adjusted so as to satisfy the relationship.

  Similarly, the pair of blocks (L002, R002), (L003, R003),..., (L912, R912) are acquired in the horizontal direction, and each pair block is matched with each information code. The average densities d1 and d2 are adjusted.

  In addition, although FIG. 7 shows an example in which two blocks adjacent in the horizontal direction are paired blocks for the divided blocks, for example, two blocks adjacent in the vertical direction may be paired blocks. Further, although the average density (d1, d2, etc.) of the entire block is calculated, for example, the average density in a predetermined area corresponding to the center of the block may be used.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a specific process of the decoding process (step S306) according to the present embodiment.
In step S801, the image processing apparatus 100 divides the image area related to the image data according to the decoding conditions set in step S304 or S305, and extracts a pair block. Then, the process proceeds to step S802.

  In step S802, the image processing apparatus 100 initializes a counter to zero. Here, the counter is a variable for holding the bit number of the bit string obtained by coding the additional information. For example, when the information code is “101100101100 (binary number)”, “1”, “0”, “1”, “1”, “0”, “0”,. Embed in data. At this time, the counter values are sequentially counted as “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”,.

  In step S803, the image processing apparatus 100 calculates average densities d1 and d2 of each block of the pair block acquired in step S801. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S804.

In step S804, the image processing apparatus 100 compares the average densities d1 and d2 calculated in step S803.
In step S805, if the average density is in the relationship of d1 <d2 as a result of the comparison in step S804, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S806. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 generates an information code “0” corresponding to the pair block.

  In step S805, when the average density is in the relationship of d1 ≧ d2 as a result of the comparison in step S804, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S807. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 generates an information code “1” corresponding to the pair block.

In step S808, the image processing apparatus 100 increments the counter value by one. Then, the process proceeds to step S809.
In step S809, the image processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the decoding processing in steps S803 to S807 has been completed for all the bits of the information code (that is, the bit string having the number of digits of the decoding condition).

  For example, the image processing apparatus 100 compares the count value with the number of digits M of the decoding condition, and when the counter value is equal to or greater than M, the image processing apparatus 100 determines that the decoding processing of steps S803 to S807 has been completed for all bits of the information code. Then, the process proceeds to step S810.

  If the counter value is smaller than M, it is determined that the decoding process in steps S803 to S807 has not been completed for all bits of the information code. Then, the process proceeds to step S8011.

In step S810, the image processing apparatus 100 initializes a counter to zero. Then, the process proceeds to step S811.
In step S811, the image processing apparatus 100 determines whether or not the processing in steps S803 to S810 has been performed for all blocks in the image area. If the processes in steps S803 to S810 are completed for all blocks, the process proceeds to step S812.

  If the processes in steps S803 to S810 have not been completed for all blocks, the process proceeds to step S803. Then, the processes in steps S803 to S811 are repeated.

Through the above processing, the image processing apparatus 100 extracts the information code repeatedly embedded in the image area from the image data.
In step S812, the image processing apparatus 100 determines a single information code by performing a majority decision process described later on the plurality of information codes acquired by the processes in steps S803 to S811.

  In step S813, the image processing apparatus 100 converts the information code determined in step S812 into additional information. Then, the process proceeds to step S814 to end the decoding process.

  When converting the information code into the additional information, a table or the like in which the information code and the additional information are associated in advance may be used, or a JIS code or the like may be used as the information code.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the majority decision process in the decoding process according to this embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the case of the first decoding condition (information code is 12 digits), but the same applies to the case of the second decoding condition (information code is 24 digits).

  "C001, c002, ..., c0012", "c013, c014, ..., c0024", "c025, c026, ..., c0036", ..., "c109, c110,... .., C120 "indicates the information code read out by the processing in steps S803 to S811 shown in FIG.

  The image processing apparatus 100 extracts the largest value for each bit. For example, for the bit 1 bit, the image processing apparatus 100 extracts the largest value among c001, c013, c025,. Then, the extracted value is determined as the value of bit1. Similarly, each bit of bit2, bit3,..., Bit12 is also determined.

Through the above majority process, a fixed bit string is determined as an information code.
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

When starting the image data decoding process, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S1001.
In step S1001, the image processing apparatus 100 reads desired image data from the external storage device 125 in which the image data is stored. For example, the vertical and horizontal pixel numbers are acquired with reference to the header information of the image data. Then, the aspect ratio of the image related to the image data is calculated.

When the aspect ratio of the image related to the image data is calculated, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S1002.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, when the aspect ratio of the image related to the image data is in the range of “1: 1 to 1: 1.2”, the image area related to the image data is vertically: Divide into 42 blocks and horizontal: 42 blocks for decoding. Hereinafter, this condition is referred to as “third decoding condition”.

  In addition, when the aspect ratio of the image related to the image data is in the range of “1: 1.2 to 1: 1.4”, the image area related to the image data is divided into 48 blocks in the vertical direction and 38 blocks in the horizontal direction for decoding processing. To do. Hereinafter, this condition is referred to as “fourth decoding condition”.

  In step S1002, if the aspect ratio is smaller than 1.2, the image processing apparatus 100 moves the process to step S1003 and sets the third decoding condition to be used preferentially. If the aspect ratio is 1.2 or more, the process proceeds to step S1004, and the fourth decoding condition is set to be used preferentially.

  When the priority setting is completed in step S1003 or S1004, the image processing apparatus 100 shifts the processing to step S1005. Then, the image processing apparatus 100 reads out the decoding conditions with high priority from the external storage device 125 or the like provided in the image processing apparatus 100, and executes the image data decoding process according to the decoding conditions.

The subsequent processing in steps S1005 to S1011 is the same as the processing described in steps S306 to S312 shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus 100 includes two decoding conditions has been described. However, as in the first embodiment, three or more decoding conditions may be included. In this case, for example, the aspect ratio ranges “1: 1 to 1: 1.2”, “1: 1.2 to 1: 1.3”, “1: 1.3 to 1: 1.4”, .. Is stored in advance, and in step S1002, the priority decoding condition is determined in accordance with the aspect ratio calculated in step S1001.

  An image processing apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a CPU 121 that executes a program that implements image processing according to the present embodiment in addition to executing peripheral devices and various software, and a volatile memory that is used to execute the program. 122 (for example, RAM), an input device 123 (for example, a keyboard and a mouse) as an external data input means, an output device 124 for displaying data and the like, and a program necessary for the image processing apparatus 100 to operate In addition to data and data, an external recording device 125 that records a program for realizing image processing according to the present embodiment, and data in the memory 122 and the external recording device 125 are stored in a portable recording medium 127 (for example, a floppy disk or an MO disk, CD-R, DVD-R, etc.) or program or data from portable recording medium 127 A medium driving device 126 out look, a network connection device 128 for connecting to the network 129, has, these devices has become a transfer can be performed configuration data to each other are connected to a bus 120. Note that not all the above-described devices are essential, and the image processing device 100 may be configured using devices that are necessary as appropriate.

  In the above-described configuration, the condition estimating unit, the region dividing unit, the additional information extracting unit, and the additional information output unit can be realized by causing the CPU 121 to execute an instruction of a predetermined program.

  The estimation processing (steps S301 to S305) according to the first embodiment described above and the estimation processing (steps S1001 to S1004) according to the second embodiment can be implemented in combination. That is, the processes of steps S1001 to S1004 may be performed after the processes of steps S304 and S305, or the processes of steps S301 to S305 may be performed after the processes of steps S1003 and S1004.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in steps S301 to S305 in FIG. 3 and steps S1001 to S1004 in FIG. Is used to estimate the decoding condition to be applied to the image data. Then, the estimated decoding conditions are preferentially used to decode the image data.

  As a result, since the probability of decoding failure can be kept low, there is an effect that decoding can be completed at high speed without wasting time even when a plurality of decoding conditions are conceivable.

  In addition, even image data for which a plurality of decoding conditions can be considered can be decoded at high speed, so that the encoding apparatus can be encoded with a plurality of encoding conditions. Play.

  For example, the decoding device can change the block size, the aspect ratio of the block, the number of blocks, etc. according to the aspect ratio of the image data, etc., and change and encode it flexibly within the range of known conditions. Become.

The following appendices are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including Examples 1 and 2 described above.
(Additional remark 1) In the information processing apparatus which extracts the said additional information from the image data in which arbitrary additional information was embedded,
Condition estimation means for acquiring a part or all of the information constituting the image data and estimating a condition for extracting the additional information from the image data from the acquired information;
Area dividing means for dividing a predetermined area in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Additional information extracting means for extracting the additional information;
The additional information output means for determining whether the extracted additional information is correct or not and outputting the additional information when it is determined to be correct;
An image processing apparatus comprising:
(Supplementary Note 2) When it is determined that the extracted additional information is not correct additional information, a predetermined region in the image data is divided according to a condition different from the estimated condition.
The image processing apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein:
(Supplementary Note 3) The condition estimation means includes:
An arbitrary partial region in the image data is divided according to a first condition, a feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and a first difference in the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is calculated. First feature quantity calculating means for
A second feature that divides the partial region according to a second condition, obtains a feature amount for each block obtained by the division, and calculates a second difference in the feature amount between the adjacent blocks A quantity calculating means;
Condition selection means for comparing the first difference with the second difference and selecting the condition according to the result of the comparison;
The information processing apparatus according to attachment 1, further comprising:
(Supplementary note 4) The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 3, wherein the first and second conditions are the number of blocks obtained by dividing the predetermined area.
(Supplementary note 5) The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 3, wherein the first and second conditions are a size of a block that divides the predetermined area.
(Additional remark 6) The said condition selection means compares the said 1st difference with the said 2nd difference, and selects the conditions from which a larger difference is obtained as the conditions which extract the said additional information from the said image data. The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 3, wherein
(Additional remark 7) The said condition estimation means acquires the aspect-ratio of the said image data, The said information is selected according to this aspect ratio, The information processing apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
(Supplementary note 8) The information processing apparatus according to supplementary note 1, wherein the feature amount is a gradation level in the block.
(Supplementary Note 9) In a program for causing an information processing apparatus to perform processing for extracting the additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded,
Conditions for reading out the image data from the image data storage means for storing the image data, obtaining part or all of the information constituting the image data, and extracting the additional information from the image data from the obtained information A condition estimation process for estimating
A region dividing process for dividing a predetermined region in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Additional information extraction processing for extracting the additional information;
An additional information output process for determining whether the extracted additional information is correct and outputting the additional information when it is determined to be correct;
For causing an information processing apparatus to execute the program.
(Additional remark 10) In the decoding method which extracts the said additional information from the image data in which arbitrary additional information was embedded,
Conditions for reading out the image data from the image data storage means for storing the image data, obtaining part or all of the information constituting the image data, and extracting the additional information from the image data from the obtained information Estimate
Dividing a predetermined region in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Extracting the additional information;
Determine whether the extracted additional information is correct or not, and output the additional information when it is determined to be correct.
A decoding method characterized by the above.

It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the image processing apparatus which concerns on a present Example. It is a figure explaining the image data which concerns on a 1st Example. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the process which divides | segments an evaluation area | region according to 1st decoding conditions, and acquires a 1st pair block. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the average of the difference of the gradation level in a 1st and 2nd pair block, and the decoding conditions to apply. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the average of the difference of the gradation level in a 1st and 2nd pair block, and the decoding conditions to apply. It is a figure explaining the specific structure of the image data which concerns on a 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process of the decoding process (step S306) which concerns on a 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of the majority determination process in the decoding process which concerns on a 1st Example. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the image processing apparatus which concerns on a 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining the decoding conditions based on a 2nd Example. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on a present Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 101 Condition estimation means 102 Area division means 103 Additional information extraction means 104 Additional information output means

Claims (5)

In an information processing apparatus that extracts the additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded,
Condition estimation means for acquiring a part or all of the information constituting the image data and estimating a condition for extracting the additional information from the image data from the acquired information;
Area dividing means for dividing a predetermined area in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Additional information extracting means for extracting the additional information;
The additional information output means for determining whether the extracted additional information is correct or not and outputting the additional information when it is determined to be correct;
An image processing apparatus comprising: When it is determined that the extracted additional information is not correct additional information, a predetermined region in the image data is divided according to a condition different from the estimated condition.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The condition estimating means includes
An arbitrary partial region in the image data is divided according to a first condition, a feature amount for each block obtained by the division is obtained, and a first difference in the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is calculated. First feature quantity calculating means for
A second feature that divides the partial region according to a second condition, obtains a feature amount for each block obtained by the division, and calculates a second difference in the feature amount between the adjacent blocks A quantity calculating means;
Condition selection means for comparing the first difference with the second difference and selecting the condition according to the result of the comparison;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. In a program for causing an information processing device to perform processing for extracting the additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded,
Conditions for reading out the image data from the image data storage means for storing the image data, obtaining part or all of the information constituting the image data, and extracting the additional information from the image data from the obtained information A condition estimation process for estimating
A region dividing process for dividing a predetermined region in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Additional information extraction processing for extracting the additional information;
An additional information output process for determining whether the extracted additional information is correct and outputting the additional information when it is determined to be correct;
For causing an information processing apparatus to execute the program. In a decoding method for extracting the additional information from image data in which arbitrary additional information is embedded,
Conditions for reading out the image data from the image data storage means for storing the image data, obtaining part or all of the information constituting the image data, and extracting the additional information from the image data from the obtained information Estimate
Dividing a predetermined region in the image data according to the estimated condition;
The feature amount for each block obtained by the division is acquired, and for each adjacent block, the relationship of the feature amount between the adjacent blocks is converted into a part or all of the additional information corresponding to the relationship. Extracting the additional information;
Determine whether the extracted additional information is correct or not, and output the additional information when it is determined to be correct.
A decoding method characterized by the above.