Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10070003-B2
Application number	US-201715459471-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2017
Priority date	Mar 17, 2016
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an operation receiver, an image processor configured to perform image processing to add a digital watermark containing address information of the image processing apparatus to a first image to thereby generate a second image; a communication controller configured to receive a taking-out request to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image from an information processing device; and a storage controller configured to store a log in a storage unit. When receiving the taking-out request, the image processor performs image processing to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image to thereby generate the first image. The communication controller transmits the first image generated by the image processor to the information processing device. The storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing identification information identifying the user of the information processing device from which the taking-out request is transmitted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a network,
the image processing apparatus comprising:
an operation receiver configured to receive an operation input from a user;
an authentication controller configured to authenticate a user of the information processing device that connects to the image processing apparatus and a user who operates the operation receiver;
an image processor configured to perform image processing to add a digital watermark containing address information of the image processing apparatus to a first image to be processed by the image processing apparatus to thereby generate a second image;
a communication controller configured to receive a taking-out request to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image from the information processing device; and
a storage controller configured to store, in a storage unit, a log representing an operation of the image processing apparatus that is performed according to an instruction of the user who is authenticated by the authentication controller,
wherein
when the communication controller receives the taking-out request, the image processor performs image processing to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image to thereby generate the first image,
the communication controller transmits the first image that is generated by the image processor to the information processing device, and
the storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing identification information that identifies the user of the information processing device from which the taking-out request is transmitted.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the communication controller receives the first image from the information processing device, and
the storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing the identification information that identifies the user of the information processing device from which the first image is transmitted.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a read controller configured to read information that is recorded in a recording medium as the first image,
wherein the storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing the identification information that identifies the user who makes an operation input to issue an instruction to read the first image.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a print controller configured to print the second image,
wherein the storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing identification information that identifies the user who makes an operation input to issue an instruction to print the second image.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image processor adds, to the first image, an invisible digital watermark that is not visible to the user as the digital watermark.

6. An image processing method performed by an image processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a network, the image processing method comprising:
by the image processing apparatus, receiving an operation input from a user;
by the image processing apparatus, authenticating a user of the information processing device that connects to the image processing apparatus and a user who makes the operation input;
by the image processing apparatus, performing image processing to add a digital watermark containing address information of the image processing apparatus to a first image to be processed by the image processing apparatus to thereby generate a second image;
by the image processing apparatus, receiving a taking-out request to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image from the information processing device;
by the image processing apparatus, storing, in a storage unit, a log representing an operation of the image processing apparatus that is performed according to an instruction of the user who is authenticated at the authenticating,
by the image processing apparatus, on receiving the taking-out request, performing image processing to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image to thereby generate the first image,
by the image processing apparatus, transmitting the first image that is generated at the generating the first image, and
by the image processing apparatus, storing, in the storage unit, the log containing identification information that identifies the user of the information processing device from which the taking-out request is transmitted.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program that causes an image processing apparatus that is connected to a plurality of information processing devices via a network to function as:
an operation receiver configured to receive an operation input from a user;
an authentication controller configured to authenticate a user of the information processing device that connects to the image processing apparatus and a user who operates the operation receiver;
an image processor configured to perform image processing to add a digital watermark containing address information of the image processing apparatus to a first image to be processed by the image processing apparatus to thereby generate a second image;
a communication controller configured to receive a taking-out request to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image from the information processing device; and
a storage controller configured to store, in a storage unit, a log representing an operation of the image processing apparatus that is performed according to an instruction of the user who is authenticated by the authentication controller,
wherein
when the communication controller receives the taking-out request, the image processor performs image processing to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image to thereby generate the first image,
the communication controller transmits the first image that is generated by the image processor to the information processing device, and
the storage controller stores, in the storage unit, the log containing identification information that identifies the user of the information processing device from which the taking-out request is transmitted.

Assignees

• Shindoh Hidenori
• Kubo Shuko
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shindoh Hidenori
• Kubo Shuko

Classifications

• H04N1/32144 Primary

  embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp · CPC title

• H04N1/4413

  involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN · CPC title

• H04N1/44

  Secrecy systems · CPC title

• H04N1/32352

  Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers (for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00832

  Recording use, e.g. counting number of pages copied · CPC title