JP2012226462A - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus that reduces processing for detecting an information image for an area including no information image as compared with a case in which this configuration is not available when each image includes a plurality of areas where the information image can be drawn and when the information image is analyzed by reading a plurality of images thereof.SOLUTION: Reception means of the image processing apparatus receives an image, determination means determines a first position for detecting an information image in an object image based upon a position in an information image detected last, detection means detects the information image based upon the first position, analysis means analyzes the information image, and output means outputs information as an analysis result. When the detection means fails to detect the information image at the first position, the determination means determines a second position on the opposite side in the image from the first position as a position for detecting the information image, and the detection means detects the information image at the second position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

There is a technique for detecting an information image.
As a technology related to this, for example, Patent Document 1 has an object to provide a method and an apparatus for finding and decoding a machine-readable symbol such as a data matrix symbol, and an image of the symbol is obtained. Starting by accumulating, finding an edge point between the quiet zone of the finder pattern for the symbol and the boundary of the solid line, from which at least part of the boundary of the first and second solid lines, preferably the solid line between them After searching for the corners of the finder pattern, finding at least part of the dotted border extending from the free end of the solid border, finding the solid and dotted borders of the finder pattern for the symbol, determining the perimeter and translation of the symbol, Appropriate decoding routines applied to decode symbol images Rukoto have been disclosed.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 2, it is possible to quickly detect a barcode area by shortening the processing time, and to perform high-precision barcode detection by removing image noise due to printing other than the barcode. As a problem, the maximum local maximum value is detected from the pixel density projection value distribution obtained by projecting the pixel density in the horizontal direction with respect to the two-dimensional image data, and the range based on the local minimum value or the minimum value adjacent to the maximum local maximum value is a barcode area. The pixel density projection value distribution is obtained by projecting the pixel density in the vertical direction in the determined bar code area height direction range, and a local maximum value is detected from this projection value. Detect the maximum number of consecutive local maxima that are more than a certain number with the interval of matching maxima within a certain ratio range, and the center coordinates of the first and last maxima of the detected parts are the width direction of the bar at both ends of the barcode Central seat Next, by which determines the width-direction range of the bar code area, detecting a barcode area is disclosed by the width-direction range and height-direction range.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 3, in an image reading apparatus including a document image reading unit that reads an image of a document and a code reader that recognizes an information code described in the document, information code reading errors are reduced / prevented. In order to eliminate the problem of cost increase and radiated radio waves by disposing the code reader inside the image reading apparatus main body and disposing it outside the image reading apparatus, It is disclosed that the original document has means for causing the document image reading means to recognize the position where the information code is written on the document and automatically moving the code reader to a position corresponding to the recognized information code position. ing.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-063772 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-184959 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-153150

  The present invention is a case where there are a plurality of areas in which information images can be drawn in each image, and when the plurality of images are read and the information image is analyzed, the present configuration is not compared. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing program capable of reducing the processing for detecting an information image even though it is a region having no information image.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
The invention according to claim 1 is for detecting an information image in a target image received by the receiving means based on a receiving means for receiving an image and a position of the information image detected immediately before in the image. Determining means for determining a first position; detecting means for detecting an information image based on the first position determined by the determining means; and analyzing means for analyzing the information image detected by the detecting means; Output means for outputting information as an analysis result by the analyzing means, and the determining means is the first position when the detecting means cannot detect the information image at the first position. The second position on the opposite side in the image is determined as a position for detecting the information image, and the detection means detects the information image at the second position determined by the determination means. An image processing apparatus according to claim Rukoto.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the determining means further detects an information image in the target image received by the receiving means based on a direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein a first direction is determined, and the detection unit detects an information image based on the position of the information image and the direction of the information image determined by the determination unit. It is a processing device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the case where the determining unit cannot detect the information image at the first position and the position of the already detected information image in the image is not different, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second position is determined as a position where the information image is detected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the case where the determination unit cannot detect the information image at the first position and the position and direction of the already detected information image in the image are not different. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second position and direction are determined as a position and direction in which an information image is detected.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the determination means is a case where the detection means cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position of the information image detected before immediately before is not different. If the position of the information image detected immediately before is different in the image, the position of the information image detected before the previous time is determined as the second position for detecting the information image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 3.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the determination means further includes a case in which the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image is opposite to the position of the information image detected before immediately before in the image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a position in the image of the information image detected before immediately before is determined as a second position for detecting the information image.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the determination means is a case where the detection means cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before immediately before are determined. If it is not different and the position or direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before is different, the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before the previous time are used as the second position for detecting the information image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus determines the direction.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the case where the determining means further has a position in the image of the information image detected immediately before that opposite to the position in the image of the information image detected before immediately before. If the direction of the information image detected immediately before is opposite to the direction of the information image detected before the previous time, the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before the previous time The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second position and direction for detecting an image are determined.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the computer detects the information image in the target image received by the receiving means based on the receiving means for receiving the image and the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image. Determining means for determining a first position for detection, detecting means for detecting an information image based on the first position determined by the determining means, and analyzing the information image detected by the detecting means An analysis means, and an output means for outputting information that is an analysis result by the analysis means. When the detection means cannot detect an information image at the first position, the determination means Means for determining a second position on the opposite side in the image as a position for detecting an information image, and the detection means is determined by the determination means. Information image at the position which is an image processing program for functioning as a means for detecting.

  According to the image processing device of claim 1, when there are a plurality of regions in which each information image can be drawn in each image, and when the plurality of images are read and the information image is analyzed, this configuration is used. Compared to the case where the information image is not included, it is possible to reduce the processing for detecting the information image even though the region has no information image.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to reduce the process of detecting the direction of the information image as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the third aspect, when an image of a document set upside down is read, the processing for detecting an information image can be reduced as compared with a case where this configuration is not provided. be able to.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the processing for detecting the direction of the information image can be reduced as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, this configuration is provided when an image of a document that is next to a document that has been set upside down and that has been set upside down is read. Compared to the case where the information image is not present, the processing for detecting the information image can be reduced.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, the original next to the original set upside down, and the original set upside down Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing for detecting the information image with high accuracy.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the seventh aspect, this configuration is provided when an image of a document that is next to a document that has been set upside down and that has been set upside down is read. Compared to the case where the information image is not detected, the processing for detecting the information image and the processing for detecting the direction of the information image can be reduced.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the eighth aspect, compared to a case where the present configuration is not provided, an original next to the original set upside down is set, and the original is set upside down. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing for detecting the information image and the processing for detecting the direction of the information image.

  According to the image processing program of claim 9, when there are a plurality of areas in each image where an information image can be drawn, and when the plurality of images are read and the information image is analyzed, this configuration is used. Compared to the case where the information image is not included, it is possible to reduce the processing for detecting the information image even though the region has no information image.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image which an image reception module receives. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an information image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of an information image drawing position table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of an information image drawing position direction table. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a data structure of an information image drawing position direction history table. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

Hereinafter, examples of various preferred embodiments for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example according to the first embodiment.
The module generally refers to components such as software (computer program) and hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment is a computer program for causing these modules to function (a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure, a program for causing a computer to function as each means, and a function for each computer. This also serves as an explanation of the program and system and method for realizing the above. However, for the sake of explanation, the words “store”, “store”, and equivalents thereof are used. However, when the embodiment is a computer program, these words are stored in a storage device or stored in memory. It is the control to be stored in the device. Modules may correspond to functions one-to-one, but in mounting, one module may be configured by one program, or a plurality of modules may be configured by one program, and conversely, one module May be composed of a plurality of programs. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” is used not only for physical connection but also for logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.). “Predetermined” means that the process is determined before the target process, and not only before the process according to this embodiment starts but also after the process according to this embodiment starts. In addition, if it is before the target processing, it is used in accordance with the situation / state at that time or with the intention to be decided according to the situation / state up to that point.
In addition, the system or device is configured by connecting a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like by communication means such as a network (including one-to-one correspondence communication connection), etc., and one computer, hardware, device. The case where it implement | achieves by etc. is also included. “Apparatus” and “system” are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the “system” does not include a social “mechanism” (social system) that is an artificial arrangement.
In addition, when performing a plurality of processes in each module or in each module, the target information is read from the storage device for each process, and the processing result is written to the storage device after performing the processing. is there. Therefore, description of reading from the storage device before processing and writing to the storage device after processing may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device via a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment detects an information image. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the image reception module 110, the information image detection module 120, the information image detection state storage module 130, the information The image analysis position determination module 140, the information image analysis module 150, the analysis result output module 160, and the analysis result storage module 170 are included.
Here, the information image refers to an image code systematically created to represent electronic data in a machine-readable manner, and specifically includes a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional code, and the like. In particular, a QR code (Quick Response code, registered trademark) has recently been used as a two-dimensional code, and this QR code is also exemplified in the present embodiment.

The image reception module 110 is connected to the information image detection module 120, receives an image, and passes the image to the information image detection module 120. Accepting an image means, for example, reading an image with a scanner, a camera, etc., receiving an image from an external device via a communication line by fax, etc., a hard disk (in addition to what is built in a computer, via a network) And the like, and the like read out the images stored in the device etc.). The image may be a binary image or a multi-value image (including a color image). Accepted images are a plurality of images. Further, it is sufficient that an information image is drawn as the content of the image, and it may be, for example, a document used for business, a pamphlet for advertisement, or the like. However, it is not necessary that all received images include an information image, and an image without an information image may be included.
Also, a series of original images may be captured continuously. For example, automatic document feeding attached to image reading devices (including scanners, fax machines, multi-function machines (scanners, printers, copiers, image processing devices having two or more functions such as fax machines), etc.) You may make it read an image with an apparatus (ADF (Auto Document Feeder), an auto sheet feeder, and an auto feeder). In addition, the sizes of received images are generally likely to be the same, but this is not necessary. As a series of originals, for example, an information image is mainly drawn at the same predetermined position of each original. However, the information image does not necessarily have to be drawn at the same position on all the originals, and originals whose top and bottom are set incorrectly may be mixed by preparations by the user.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image received by the image receiving module 110.
For example, assume that an n-page document is set in the automatic document feeder. Then, it is assumed that there are a plurality of areas (in this case, four) in which the information image can be drawn, and the information image is drawn in one of them. For example, the image data 200a includes an information image drawing area 210a, an information image drawing area 220a, an information image drawing area 230a, and an information image drawing area 240a, and an information image is drawn in the information image drawing area 240a. The image data 200b and the image data 200c are also equivalent. For example, the plurality of areas are thus set in a predetermined order, for example, 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 (in the case of the image data 200a, as shown in FIG. 2, the information image drawing area 210a → the information image drawing area 220a). Since the information image is drawn at the position 4 (the position of the information image drawing area 240a in the case of the image data 200a), the detection is performed in the information image drawing area 230a → the information image drawing area 240a). The positions of the areas 1, 2, and 3 where there is no information image each time (the positions of the information image drawing area 210a, the information image drawing area 220a, and the information image drawing area 230a in the case of the image data 200a) are processed. In many cases, an information image is drawn at the same position in a group of documents composed of a plurality of documents set in the automatic document feeder.
Therefore, in the first embodiment, an information image is detected using the position of the immediately preceding information image.

The information image detection state storage module 130 is connected to the information image detection module 120 and the information image analysis position determination module 140. The information image detection state storage module 130 stores at least the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image. In this case, when the information image detection module 120 detects an information image from within the image, the detected position is stored in the information image detection state storage module 130. Note that the information stored in the information image detection state storage module 130 is hereinafter also referred to as information image detection state information. In addition to the position, other information may be stored as information image detection state information. For example, the information image detection module 120 may detect the position of the information image and the direction of the information image, and store them in the information image detection state storage module 130. Further, not only the information image detection state information detected immediately before but also the information image detection state information before immediately before may be stored. This is a so-called detection history.
“Just before” is an image received immediately before the target image among the images received by the receiving unit. For example, if the target image is the image on the fifth page, the image detected immediately before is the image on the fourth page.
The information image detection state storage module 130 passes the stored information image detection state information to the information image analysis position determination module 140 by access from the information image analysis position determination module 140.

The position of the stored information image will be described.
In order to analyze the information image in the image, it is necessary to first detect where the information image is. The position of the stored information image refers to the position (or region) of the information image that has already been detected. For example, it may be coordinates in a coordinate system in which the upper left of the image is the origin, the right direction is the X coordinate, and the lower direction is the Y coordinate, or the position of the region in the image (specifically, the upper right, lower right, Or a difference in position from the previously detected information image (for example, 0 if it is at the same position as the previously detected information image). Also good. The following description will be made using reference numerals indicating the positions of regions in the image (specifically, upper right, lower right, lower left, upper left, etc.). This area may be, for example, an area when the image is divided into four equal parts, or may be a rectangular area having a predetermined size from the four corners of the image. Further, the number of regions may be 6 or 8, and the shape is not limited to a rectangle.

The direction of the stored information image will be described.
In order to analyze the information image in the image, it is necessary to detect the orientation of the information image. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the information image 300 includes an upward direction 310, a right direction 320, a downward direction 330, and a left direction 340. For example, the information image detection module 120 detects the direction of the information image 300 that matches the upward direction of the image, and the information image detection state storage module 130 stores it. The information image analysis module 150 analyzes (decodes) the information image using this direction, and extracts electronic data embedded in the information image. Of course, the definition of this direction is for convenience, and is not limited to this, and may be adapted to the information image analysis method.

The data structure of the information image detection state information stored in the information image detection state storage module 130 will be described. For example, the information image drawing position table 1000, the information image drawing position / direction table 1100, or the information image drawing position / direction history table 1200 is stored. In the first embodiment, either the information image drawing position table 1000 or the information image drawing position direction table 1100 may be used. In the second embodiment and the third embodiment, the information image drawing position direction. A history table 1200 is stored. Instead of the information image drawing position / direction history table 1200, a table that stores only the position of the information image (a table that does not require the direction of the information image) may be used.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the information image drawing position table 1000. The information image drawing position table 1000 has an information image drawing position column 1010. The information image drawing position column 1010 is the position of the information image detected by the information image detection module 120 and stores the immediately preceding detection result (that is, the latest detection result).
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the information image drawing position / direction table 1100. The information image drawing position / direction table 1100 includes an information image drawing position column 1110 and an information image direction column 1120. The information image drawing position column 1110 stores the position of the information image detected by the information image detection module 120. The information image direction column 1120 stores the direction of the information image detected by the information image detection module 120. These are the previous detection results.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the data structure of the information image drawing position / direction history table 1200. The information image drawing position / direction history table 1200 includes an information image drawing position column 1210, an information image direction column 1220, an information image drawing position column 1230, an information image direction column 1240, and the like. The information image drawing position columns 1210 and 1230 store the position of the information image detected by the information image detection module 120. The information image direction columns 1220 and 1240 store the direction of the information image detected by the information image detection module 120. These are a set, which is a history of past detection results.

The information image analysis position determination module 140 is connected to the information image detection module 120 and the information image detection state storage module 130. The information image analysis position determination module 140 is controlled by the information image detection module 120, extracts the position in the image of the information image detected immediately before from the information image detection state storage module 130, and based on the position, the image reception module 110. The first position for detecting the information image in the target image accepted by is determined. Here, “based on the position” includes, for example, determining the position as the first position. The determined first position is passed to the information image detection module 120.
When images of a series of documents are continuously captured, information images are often located at the same position in each image. In such a case, information is not detected without detecting a useless area. This is to detect an image.
Then, when the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, the information image analysis position determination module 140 extracts the information images in a predetermined order except for the first position. A second position for detection is determined. For example, if the predetermined order is 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 as described above, and the first position (that is, the position where the information image is detected in the immediately preceding document) is 3, The second position is determined in order 1 → 2 → 4 excluding the position. Then, the determined second position is passed to the information image detection module 120.

Further, the information image analysis position determination module 140 may determine the direction of the information image in addition to the position of the information image. That is, the information image analysis position determination module 140 further detects an information image in the target image received by the image reception module 110 based on the direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before. A first direction is determined.
Then, when the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position and the first direction, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines a combination of the first position and the first direction. Except, the combination of the second position and the second direction for detecting the information image is determined in a predetermined order. For example, as described above, as described above, 1 upward direction 310 → 1 right direction 320 → 1 downward direction 330 → 1 left direction 340 → 2 upward direction 310 → 2 right direction 320 → 2 Down direction 330 → Left direction 340 → 3 Up direction 310 → 3 Right direction 320 → 3 Down direction 330 → 3 Left direction 340 → 4 Up direction 310 → 4 Right direction 320 → 4 Below When the first position (that is, the position where the information image is detected in the immediately preceding document) is 3 and the first direction is the upward direction, the upward direction 310 is set to the left direction 340 of the direction 330 → 4. The second position is determined in the removed order. Then, the determined second position is passed to the information image detection module 120. Moreover, the order according to the following rules may be sufficient as a predetermined order. For example, the first position may be given priority, and in the above-described example, the right direction 320 → 3 in the right direction 320 → 3, the down direction 330 → 3, the left direction 340 → 3, the up direction 310 → 4, and the right direction 320 → 4. Downward direction 330 → 4 Left direction 340 → 1 Up direction 310 → 1 Right direction 320 → 1 Down direction 330 → 1 Left direction 340 → 2 Up direction 310 → 2 Right direction 320 → 2 Down The direction 330 → 2 is the left direction 340. As another rule, the order in which the first direction is given priority may be used. In the above example, the upper direction 310 → the upper direction 310 → the upper direction 310 → the upper direction 310 → the right direction 320 → 2 Right direction 320 → 3 right direction 320 → 4 right direction 320 → 1 down direction 330 → 2 down direction 330 → 3 down direction 330 → 4 down direction 330 → 1 left direction 340 → 2 left direction 340 → 3, left direction 340 → 4, left direction 340.

The information image detection module 120 is connected to the image reception module 110, the information image detection state storage module 130, the information image analysis position determination module 140, and the information image analysis module 150. The information image detection module 120 detects an information image based on the first position determined by the information image analysis position determination module 140. If the information image cannot be detected at the first position, the information image is detected at the second position determined by the information image analysis position determination module 140. If it can be detected, the detected position is stored in the information image detection state storage module 130 as information image detection state information.
The information image detection module 120 may detect the information image based on the position of the information image and the direction of the information image determined by the information image analysis position determination module 140. If the information image cannot be detected at the first position and the first direction, the information image is detected at the second position and the second direction determined by the information image analysis position determination module 140. If detected, the detected position and direction are stored in the information image detection state storage module 130 as information image detection state information.

  The information image analysis module 150 is connected to the information image detection module 120 and the analysis result output module 160. The information image analysis module 150 analyzes the information image detected by the information image detection module 120. That is, the information image is decoded to extract electronic data embedded in the information image. The electronic data that is the analysis result is passed to the analysis result output module 160.

The analysis result output module 160 is connected to the information image analysis module 150 and the analysis result storage module 170. The analysis result output module 160 outputs information that is an analysis result by the information image analysis module 150. Outputting the analysis result includes, for example, writing to a storage device such as a document database, storing it in a storage medium such as a memory card, and passing it to another information processing device. Here, an example of storing in the analysis result storage module 170 is illustrated.
The analysis result storage module 170 is connected to the analysis result output module 160 and stores the electronic data that is the analysis result in association with the target image. Thereafter, another information processing apparatus processes the corresponding image according to the contents of the electronic data. For example, when the storage location of the image is instructed as the contents of the electronic data, processing is performed to store the image in the storage location.

The invention taking the first embodiment as an example may be grasped as follows.
A first position for detecting an information image in the target image received by the receiving means is determined based on the receiving means for receiving the image and the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image. A determination unit; a detection unit that detects an information image based on the first position determined by the determination unit; an analysis unit that analyzes the information image detected by the detection unit; and an analysis result by the analysis unit Output means for outputting the information, and the determining means, when the detecting means cannot detect the information image at the first position, except for the first position, a predetermined order. And determining a second position for detecting the information image, and the detecting means detects the information image at the second position determined by the determining means. Location.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the first embodiment (an example in which the position of the information image is used without using the direction of the information image). This flowchart will be described using the processing example illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing example according to the first exemplary embodiment. The example of FIG. 4 is equivalent to the example described above with reference to FIG. 2, but the image (400th page image) is the target image data 400c and the image data 400b processed immediately before (n−1). This will be described as an image of the page.

An outline of the processing example will be described.
The information image detection state storage module 130 stores information image detection state information up to the image data 400b (the image of the (n-1) th page).
The information image detection module 120 refers to the information image detection state information of the immediately preceding image data 400b when decoding the image data 400c (the nth page image) that is the current processing target, and if the information image is detected. The first detection processing is performed on the position (4 (information image drawing area 440c) in the example of FIG. 4) corresponding to the detected position (4 (information image drawing area 440b) in the example of FIG. 4).
When the information image cannot be detected, the second and subsequent detection processes are performed in a predetermined order except for the position (in the example of FIG. 4, (information image drawing area 440c)). For example, the detection process is performed in the order of 1 → 2 → 3 (in the example of FIG. 4, the information image drawing area 410c → the information image drawing area 420c → the information image drawing area 430c).
When the information image can be detected, the information image detection state information is stored in the information image detection state storage module 130, and the information image analysis module 150 decodes the information image and moves the processing to the image data of the next page.

In step S502, the image reception module 110 acquires image data.
In step S504, under the control of the information image detection module 120, the information image analysis position determination module 140 accesses the information image detection state storage module 130 to determine whether or not the previous information image detection state information has been acquired. If it can be acquired (when the target image is the second page and thereafter), the process proceeds to step S508. Otherwise (when the target image is the first page), the process proceeds to step S506.
In step S506, the information image analysis position determination module 140 sets a predetermined position as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.
In step S508, the information image detection position acquired by the information image analysis position determination module 140 is set as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.

In step S510, it is determined whether or not the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S518. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S512.
In step S512, the information image analysis position determination module 140 sets a predetermined position (excluding the place where detection processing is performed) as the detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.
In step S514, it is determined whether or not the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S518. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S516.
In step S516, the information image detection module 120 determines whether or not detection processing has been performed at all positions in the image. If detection processing has been performed at all positions, the process proceeds to step S518. Otherwise, step S512 is performed. Process from.

In step S518, the information image analysis module 150 performs a decoding process.
In step S520, the analysis result output module 160 stores the decoding result (state) in the analysis result storage module 170.
In step S522, it is determined whether or not the information image analysis module 150 has analyzed all the image data. If all the image data has been analyzed, the process ends (step S599). Otherwise, the process starts from step S502. Repeat the process.

<Second Embodiment>
The module configuration example of the second embodiment is equivalent to the module configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Note that a duplicate description of modules having the same functions and functions as those of the above-described embodiment is omitted.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 is connected to the information image detection module 120 and the information image detection state storage module 130. The information image analysis position determination module 140 is controlled by the information image detection module 120, extracts the position in the image of the information image detected immediately before from the information image detection state storage module 130, and based on the position, the image reception module 110. The first position for detecting the information image in the target image accepted by is determined. The determined first position is passed to the information image detection module 120.

  Then, when the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, the information image analysis position determination module 140 is located on the side opposite to the first position in the target image. The position 2 is determined as a position for detecting the information image. Then, the determined second position is passed to the information image detection module 120. The “second position opposite to the first position in the target image” means that the position is symmetrical with respect to the center of the image. Specifically, the image in FIG. To explain using the example of the data 600d, when the first position is the information image drawing area 640d, it is the information image drawing area 620d. This is to cope with a case where the upper and lower sides of the document are set incorrectly.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 is a case where the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position of the already detected information image in the image is not different. You may make it determine the 2nd position on the opposite side in the image made into object as a 1st position as a position which detects an information image. Then, the determined second position is passed to the information image detection module 120. In the information image analysis position determination module 140 described above, “when the position of the already detected information image in the image is not different” is added as a condition. Here, “when the position of the already detected information image in the image is not different” means information image detection state information that is a detection result of the information image performed on a predetermined number of images from the immediately preceding image. When the position of the information image of the detection result is not different with reference to the group (detection history) (the same is a predetermined ratio (the denominator of the ratio here is the above-mentioned predetermined number and the numerator Is the number of information images having the same position), and the case where all of the information images are the same includes the same case.

The information image analysis position determination module 140 is controlled by the information image detection module 120, extracts the position and direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before from the information image detection state storage module 130, and based on the position and direction. Thus, the first position and the first direction for detecting the information image in the target image received by the image receiving module 110 are determined. The determined first position and first direction are passed to the information image detection module 120.
Then, when the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image in the first position and the first direction, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines that the first position is within the target image. The second position on the opposite side is determined as the position for detecting the information image, and the second direction, which is the opposite direction to the first direction, is determined as the direction for detecting the information image. In addition, when the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image in the first position and the first direction, the second position on the opposite side in the target image from the first position is determined. The position where the information image is detected may be determined, and the first direction may be determined as it is as the second direction. When the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position and the first direction, the first position is determined as it is as the second position, and the first direction is The second direction that is the opposite direction may be determined as the direction in which the information image is detected. Then, the determined second position and second direction are passed to the information image detection module 120. The “direction opposite to the first direction” refers to a direction obtained by rotating the information image by 180 degrees. Specifically, when the description is given using the example of the information image 300 in FIG. The upward direction 310 is the downward direction 330. This is to cope with a case where the upper and lower sides are set incorrectly.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 is a case where the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position and direction of the already detected information image in the image are not different. The second position and direction may be determined as the position and direction for detecting the information image. Then, the determined second position is passed to the information image detection module 120. In the information image analysis position determination module 140 described above, “when the position and direction of the already detected information image in the image are not different” is added as a condition. Here, “when the position and direction of an already detected information image in the image are not different” means information image detection that is a detection result of an information image performed on a predetermined number of images from the immediately preceding image. This refers to a case where the combination of the position and direction of the information image of the detection result is not different with reference to the state information group (detection history).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the second exemplary embodiment. This flowchart will be described using the processing example illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing example according to the second exemplary embodiment. The example of FIG. 6 is equivalent to the example described above with reference to FIG. 2, but the image (600th page image) is the image (600th page image) and the image data 600c is processed immediately before (n−1). This will be described as an image of the page.

An outline of the processing example will be described.
The information image detection state storage module 130 stores information image detection state information up to image data 600c (image of the (n-1) th page).
The information image detection module 120 refers to the information image detection state information of the immediately preceding image data 600c when decoding the image data 600d (the nth page image) that is the current processing target, and if the information image is detected. The first detection processing is performed on the position (4 (information image drawing area 640d) in the example of FIG. 6) corresponding to the detected position (4 (information image drawing area 640c) in the example of FIG. 6).
When the information image cannot be detected, the detection position and direction of the information image are extracted by referring to the detection history that goes back from the immediately preceding image data 600c to the predetermined number of pages of image data 600b.
Then, when the detected position and direction of the extracted information image are equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (for example, all), with respect to the first analyzed position (4 (information image drawing area 640d) in the example of FIG. 6). Thus, the second detection process is performed on the position (2 (information image drawing area 620d) in the example of FIG. 6) that is on the opposite side of the center position 650 of the image data 600d.
If the information image cannot be detected even in the second detection process, the third and subsequent analyzes are performed in a predetermined order excluding the first and second positions. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the order is 1 (information image drawing area 610d) → 3 (information image drawing area 630d).
When the detected position and direction of the extracted information image are not the same for a predetermined ratio (for example, even if one differs), the first analyzed position (4 (information image drawing area 640d in the example of FIG. 6)). )), The second and subsequent detection processes are performed in a predetermined order. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the order is 1 (information image drawing area 610d) → 2 (information image drawing area 620d) → 3 (information image drawing area 630d).
When the information image is detected by any of the processes, the information image detection state information is stored in the information image detection state storage module 130, and the information image analysis module 150 decodes the information image and processes the image data of the next page. Move.

In step S702, the image reception module 110 acquires image data.
In step S704, under the control of the information image detection module 120, the information image analysis position determination module 140 accesses the information image detection state storage module 130 to determine whether or not the previous information image detection state information has been acquired. If it can be obtained (when the target image is the second page and thereafter), the process proceeds to step S708. Otherwise (when the target image is the first page), the process proceeds to step S706.
In step S706, the information image analysis position determination module 140 sets a predetermined position as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.
In step S708, the information image detection position acquired by the information image analysis position determination module 140 is set as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.

In step S710, it is determined whether or not the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S724. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S712.
In step S712, the information image analysis position determination module 140 uses the information image detection state storage module 130 to refer to a detection history that is a predetermined page back from the previous page, and detects the detection position of the information image and the direction of the information image. Is read.
In step S714, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines whether or not the detection position of the information image and the direction of the information image are all the same based on a detection history retroactive to the page, and if all are the same, step S714 is performed. Proceed to S718, otherwise proceed to step S716. In addition, you may make it judge whether it is more than a predetermined ratio instead of judgment whether all are the same.

In step S716, the position and direction to be detected are determined in a predetermined order excluding the position first detected by the information image analysis position determination module 140, and the information image detection module 120 performs the second and subsequent detection processing. To do.
In step S718, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines a position that exists on the opposite side of the center of the page with respect to the position detected first, and the information image detection module 120 detects the position second. To process. Note that, as the direction of the information image at that position, a direction opposite to the direction of the first detection processing is determined. Then, the information image detection module 120 detects an information image using the determined position and direction.
In step S720, it is determined whether or not the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S724. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S722.
In step S722, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines the position and direction to be detected in a predetermined order excluding the first and second detection processed positions, and the information image detection module 120 performs the third and subsequent steps. Is detected.

In step S724, the information image analysis module 150 performs a decoding process.
In step S726, the analysis result output module 160 stores the decoding result (state) in the analysis result storage module 170.
In step S728, it is determined whether or not the information image analysis module 150 has analyzed all the image data. If all the image data has been analyzed, the process ends (step S799). Otherwise, the process starts from step S702. Repeat the process.
In step S706 and step S708, the information image may be detected using the position and direction of the information image.
Further, the processing of step S712, step S714, and step S716 may be omitted. That is, if No in step S710, the process may move to step S718.
In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 7, the process for the position and direction of the information image is performed. However, the process for only the position of the information image may be performed.

<Third Embodiment>
The module configuration example of the third embodiment is equivalent to the module configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Note that a duplicate description of modules having the same functions and functions as those of the above-described embodiment is omitted.

The information image analysis position determination module 140 is connected to the information image detection module 120 and the information image detection state storage module 130. The information image analysis position determination module 140 is controlled by the information image detection module 120, extracts the position in the image of the information image detected immediately before from the information image detection state storage module 130, and based on the position, the image reception module 110. The first position for detecting the information image in the target image accepted by is determined. The determined first position is passed to the information image detection module 120.
The information image analysis position determination module 140 is a case where the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position of the information image detected before the previous time is different. If the position of the information image detected immediately before is different in the image, the position of the information image detected before the previous time is determined as the second position for detecting the information image. Also good. In the processing in the information image analysis position determination module 140 of the second embodiment, “when the position of the information image detected immediately before is different” is added as a condition. Here, "when the position of the information image detected immediately before is different" means that the position of the information image detected before the previous time and the position of the information image detected immediately before are within the image. Compared to the different cases. A typical example is a case where images are read continuously, a document that is upside down is mixed, and the subsequent image (that is, an image in which the top and bottom are normal) is targeted. is there. Here, it is assumed that the mixing of a document that is upside down is not necessarily a single sheet, but is often not continuous. Since the subsequent image is in a normal state in the same way as the image before the previous time, the same position as the image before the previous time is detected.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 further determines that the position in the image of the information image detected immediately before is opposite to the position in the image of the information image detected before immediately before. You may make it determine the position in the image of the information image detected previously as a 2nd position which detects an information image. As shown in the above-mentioned typical example, the fact that one document is upside down is added to the judgment.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 is a case where the information image detection module 120 cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before the previous time. If the position or direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before is not different, and the position or direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before is the second position for detecting the information image And the direction may be determined. In the processing in the information image analysis position determination module 140 of the second embodiment, “when the position or direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before is different” is added as a condition. Here, “when the position or direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before is different” means that the combination of the position and direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before and the information image detected immediately before A combination of position and direction in an image is compared and is different. A typical example is a case where images are read continuously, a document that is upside down is mixed, and the subsequent image (that is, an image in which the top and bottom are normal) is targeted. is there. Here, it is assumed that the mixing of a document that is upside down is not necessarily a single sheet, but is often not continuous. Since the subsequent image is in a normal state in the same way as the image before the previous time, the same position as the image before the previous time is detected.

  The information image analysis position determination module 140 is a case where the position in the image of the information image detected immediately before is opposite to the position in the image of the information image detected before immediately before, If the direction of the information image detected immediately before is the opposite of the direction of the information image detected before the previous time, the information image is detected based on the position and direction of the information image detected before the previous time in the image. The second position and direction may be determined. As shown in the above typical example, the fact that one sheet is upside down is added to the judgment.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example according to the third exemplary embodiment. This flowchart will be described using the processing example illustrated in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a processing example according to the third exemplary embodiment. The example of FIG. 8 is equivalent to the example described above with reference to FIG. 2, but the image (800th page image) is the image (800th page image) and the image data 800c is processed immediately before (n−1). This will be described as an image of the page.

An outline of the processing example will be described. This is processing subsequent to the outline of the processing example described in the second embodiment. Therefore, the processing example described in the second embodiment is omitted.
The detected position and direction of the extracted information image are not the same for a predetermined ratio or more (for example, even if one is different), and the detected position or direction of the information image is different by n-1 pages. In this case, “the detection position of the information image on page n−1 is opposite to the center of the page with respect to the detection position of information image up to page n−2”, and “the direction of the information image on page n−1 is In the case of “direction rotated by 180 ° with respect to the direction of the information image up to page n-2”, the detection position of the information image up to page n-2 (4 (information image drawing area 840d) in the example of FIG. 8) Is analyzed second.
If the information image cannot be detected, the third and subsequent detection processes are performed in a predetermined order excluding the first and second. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the order is 1 (information image drawing area 810d) → 3 (information image drawing area 830d). Further, the information image detection state information is stored in the information image detection state storage module 130, and the information image analysis module 150 decodes the information image and moves the processing to the image data of the next page.
When the detected position and direction of the extracted information image are not the same for a predetermined ratio and the detected position of the information image or the direction of the information image differs by n−1 pages, “n−1” The information image detection position of the page is on the side opposite to the center of the page with respect to the detection position of the information image up to page n-2. If it does not correspond to the “direction rotated by 180 ° with respect to the image direction”, the second position in a predetermined order excluding the first analyzed position (2 (information image drawing area 820d) in the example of FIG. 8). Perform subsequent analysis. For example, in the example of FIG. 8, the order is 1 (information image drawing area 810d) → 3 (information image drawing area 830d) → 4 (information image drawing area 840d).

In step S902, the image reception module 110 acquires image data.
In step S904, under the control of the information image detection module 120, the information image analysis position determination module 140 accesses the information image detection state storage module 130 to determine whether or not the previous information image detection state information has been acquired. If it can be acquired (when the target image is the second page and thereafter), the process proceeds to step S908. Otherwise (when the target image is the first page), the process proceeds to step S906.
In step S906, the information image analysis position determination module 140 sets a predetermined position as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.
In step S908, the information image detection position acquired by the information image analysis position determination module 140 is set as the first detection position, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.

In step S910, the information image detection module 120 determines whether or not an information image has been detected. If detected, the process proceeds to step S934. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S912.
In step S912, the information image analysis position determination module 140 reads the information image detection position and the information image direction by using the information image detection state storage module 130 with reference to a detection history that is a predetermined page back from the previous page. .
In step S914, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines whether or not the information image detection position and the information image direction are all the same based on a detection history retroactive to the page, and if all are the same, the process proceeds to step S928. Otherwise, go to step S916.

In step S916, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines whether the detection position of the information image or the direction of the information image differs by n−1 pages, and the information image detection position or the information image direction of n−1 pages is determined. If they are different, the process proceeds to step S920; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S918.
In step S918, the position and direction to be detected are determined in a predetermined order excluding the position first detected by the information image analysis position determination module 140, and the information image detection module 120 performs the second and subsequent detection processing. To do.
In step S920, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines that the information image detection position of the n-1 page is opposite to the center of the page with respect to the information image detection positions up to the n-2 page. It is determined whether or not the information image direction of the page is “the direction rotated by 180 ° with respect to the information image direction up to page n-2”. If so, the process proceeds to step S922. Otherwise, step S918 is performed. Proceed to

In step S922, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines the information image detection positions up to n-2 as positions to be detected second, and the information image detection module 120 performs detection processing.
In step S924, it is determined whether the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S934. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S926.
In step S926, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines the position and direction to be detected in a predetermined order excluding the first and second detection processing positions, and the information image detection module 120 performs the third and subsequent steps. Is detected.

In step S928, the position present on the side opposite to the center of the page with respect to the position first detected by the information image analysis position determination module 140 is determined as the position to be detected second, and the information image detection module 120 is detected. Performs the detection process.
In step S930, it is determined whether or not the information image detection module 120 has detected an information image. If detected, the process proceeds to step S934. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S932.
In Step S932, the information image analysis position determination module 140 determines the position and direction to be detected after the third in a predetermined order excluding the first and second detection processing positions, and the information image detection module 120 Perform detection processing.

In step S934, the information image analysis module 150 performs a decoding process.
In step S936, the analysis result output module 160 stores the decoding result (state) in the analysis result storage module 170.
In step S938, it is determined whether or not the information image analysis module 150 has analyzed all the image data. If all the image data has been analyzed, the process ends (step S999). Otherwise, the process starts from step S902. Repeat the process.
In step S906 and step S908, the information image may be detected using the position and direction of the information image.
Further, the process of step S920 may be omitted. That is, if Yes in step S916, the process may move to step S922.
In the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 9, the process for the position and direction of the information image is performed. However, the process for only the position of the information image may be performed.

  A hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration shown in FIG. 13 is configured by a personal computer (PC), for example, and shows a hardware configuration example including a data reading unit 1317 such as a scanner and a data output unit 1318 such as a printer.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1301 includes various modules described in the above-described embodiments, that is, the information image detection module 120, the information image analysis position determination module 140, the information image analysis module 150, the analysis result output module 160, and the like. It is a control part which performs the process according to the computer program which described the execution sequence of each module.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 1302 stores programs used by the CPU 1301, calculation parameters, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 1303 stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 1301, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 1304 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 1304 is connected to an external bus 1306 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 1305.

  A keyboard 1308 and a pointing device 1309 such as a mouse are input devices operated by an operator. The display 1310 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays various types of information as text or image information.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1311 has a built-in hard disk, drives the hard disk, and records or reproduces a program executed by the CPU 1301 and information. The hard disk stores received images, information image detection states, analysis result information, and the like. Further, various computer programs such as various other data processing programs are stored.

  The drive 1312 reads data or a program recorded on a removable recording medium 1313 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and reads the data or program into an interface 1307 and an external bus 1306. , The bridge 1305, and the RAM 1303 connected via the host bus 1304. The removable recording medium 1313 can also be used as a data recording area similar to a hard disk.

  The connection port 1314 is a port for connecting the external connection device 1315 and has a connection unit such as USB and IEEE1394. The connection port 1314 is connected to the CPU 1301 and the like via the interface 1307, the external bus 1306, the bridge 1305, the host bus 1304, and the like. A communication unit 1316 is connected to a network and executes data communication processing with the outside. The data reading unit 1317 is, for example, a scanner, and executes document reading processing. The data output unit 1318 is, for example, a printer, and executes document data output processing.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 13 shows one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 13, and the modules described in the present embodiment are executed. Any configuration is possible. For example, some modules may be configured with dedicated hardware (for example, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.), and some modules are in an external system and connected via a communication line Alternatively, a plurality of systems shown in FIG. 13 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. Further, it may be incorporated in a copying machine, a fax machine, a scanner, a printer, a multifunction machine, or the like.

  Further, in the description of the above-described embodiment, “more than”, “less than”, “greater than”, and “less than (less than)” in a comparison with a predetermined value contradicts the combination. As long as the above does not occur, “larger”, “smaller (less than)”, “more than”, and “less than” may be used.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standard “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact disc (CD), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), Blu-ray disc ( Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), magneto-optical disk (MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)) )), Flash memory, Random access memory (RAM) Etc. are included.
The program or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium for storage or distribution. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Image reception module 120 ... Information image detection module 130 ... Information image detection state storage module 140 ... Information image analysis position determination module 150 ... Information image analysis module 160 ... Analysis result output module 170 ... Analysis result storage module

Claims (9)

Receiving means for receiving images;
A determining means for determining a first position for detecting an information image in the target image received by the receiving means based on a position in the image of the information image detected immediately before;
Detecting means for detecting an information image based on the first position determined by the determining means;
Analyzing means for analyzing the information image detected by the detecting means;
Output means for outputting information which is an analysis result by the analysis means;
The determining means detects the information image at a second position opposite to the first position in the image when the detecting means cannot detect the information image at the first position. As a position,
The image processing apparatus characterized in that the detection means detects an information image at the second position determined by the determination means. The determining means further determines a first direction for detecting an information image in the target image received by the receiving means based on a direction in the image of the information image detected immediately before. ,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects an information image based on the position of the information image and the direction of the information image determined by the determination unit. The determining means determines the second position when the detecting means cannot detect the information image at the first position and the position of the already detected information image in the image is not different. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position is determined as a position where an image is detected. The determination means is the case where the detection means cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the position of the already detected information image does not differ from the position in the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the direction is determined as a position and a direction for detecting the information image. The determination means is information when the detection means cannot detect the information image at the first position, and the information image detected immediately before and when the position in the image of the information image detected before immediately before is not different. The position in the image of the information image detected before the previous time is determined as the second position for detecting the information image when the positions of the images in the image are different. The image processing apparatus described. The determination means further detects the information image detected immediately before the position when the position of the information image detected immediately before is opposite to the position of the information image detected before the previous image in the image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the position of the information image in the image is determined as a second position for detecting the information image. The determination means is detected when the detection means cannot detect the information image at the first position and the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before the previous time are not different and immediately before. If the position or direction in the image of the information image is different, the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before immediately before is determined as the second position and direction for detecting the information image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 or 4. The determining unit is further configured to detect immediately before the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image is opposite to the position of the information image detected immediately before in the image. When the direction of the information image is opposite to the direction of the information image detected before the previous time, the position and direction in the image of the information image detected before the previous time are used to detect the information image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing apparatus is determined as a position and a direction. Computer
Receiving means for receiving images;
A determining means for determining a first position for detecting an information image in the target image received by the receiving means based on a position in the image of the information image detected immediately before;
Detecting means for detecting an information image based on the first position determined by the determining means;
Analyzing means for analyzing the information image detected by the detecting means;
Function as an output means for outputting information as an analysis result by the analysis means;
A position for detecting the information image, the second position located opposite to the first position in the image when the detecting means cannot detect the information image at the first position. Means to determine,
Means for detecting an information image at a second position determined by the determining means;
Image processing program to function as

Images