JP2001094754A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To convert information added to an image into print-resistant information and add it to the image, thereby suppressing deterioration of image quality and erasing information added to the image. Prevent it from getting lost. SOLUTION: From an image signal to which first information is added,
Detecting means for detecting the first information; generating means for generating, based on the detected first information, second information having print durability more than the first information; And an adding unit for adding the generated second information to the image signal in which the first information is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of digital cameras, scanners, and other input devices, the improvement of computer performance, and the spread of the Internet have led to a sharp increase in opportunities for ordinary users to handle digital images. On the other hand, digital contents including digital images are easily copied and modified, and users are not conscious of copyright protection.

Therefore, a so-called digital watermarking technique has been considered as a technique for preventing unauthorized copying. This is a technology for embedding copyright information, content purchaser information, etc. in the content itself so that it cannot be perceived by humans. For example, a method of operating sample values in a spatial region of an image, a DF
There is a method of performing frequency conversion such as F or DCT and embedding a watermark in a frequency component. Information to be embedded as a watermark mainly includes information on copyright and information on users.

[0004] Information on copyright is used, for example, for a content user to read copyright information from an image and take a copyright permission procedure with the copyright holder. Information on the user is used to embed the user's information at the time of copyright approval procedure, read the user's information when an illegal copy is found in the market, and specify the user and the distribution channel of the illegal copy. Things.

[0005]

However, when an image in which information such as the information about copyright and information about a user is embedded as a digital watermark is subjected to image processing such as rotation, enlargement / reduction, and filtering. In addition, there is a problem that if the embedded information has no tolerance, it disappears.

In addition, when an image in which information is embedded is printed by a printer or the like, if image processing such as D / A conversion processing or halftone processing is performed, the embedded information is lost. is there.

[0007] In addition, there is a trade-off between digital watermarking in terms of image quality and robustness. If the strength of the watermark is increased, the degradation of image quality is increased, and if the strength of the watermark is reduced, the robustness is weakened.

[0008] A first command capable of bidirectionally communicating commands.
In the image processing system configured by the first device and the second device, the first device detects a digital watermark from the image signal, and the second device adds information corresponding to the information related to the digital watermark to the image signal. There has been no such image processing system.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium for solving at least one of the above problems.

Further, according to the present invention, the information added to the image is converted into information more durable than the information added to the image and is added to the image, so that the information added to the image is converted into durable information so that the information is not easily erased. It is an object to provide an image processing device, an image processing method, and a storage medium.

Further, according to the present invention, information added to an image is erased while suppressing deterioration in image quality by converting information added to the image into information having print durability and adding the information to the image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium that prevent the occurrence of an image.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image processing system comprising a first device and a second device capable of communicating commands in two directions, a digital watermark is detected from an image signal in the first device, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing system, an image processing method, and a storage medium for adding information according to the information related to the digital watermark to an image signal in the device.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detecting means for detecting the first information from an image signal to which the first information has been added;
Generating means for generating, based on the detected first information, second information having print resistance higher than that of the first information; and an image signal for which the first information is detected by the detecting means. And adding means for adding the generated second information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, comprising: a detection unit configured to detect the first information from an image signal to which the first information is added; Generating means for generating second information that is more resistant than the first information based on the first information; and generating the second information with respect to the image signal in which the first information is detected by the detecting means. An image processing apparatus having an adding unit for adding second information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing system comprising a first device and a second device capable of bidirectionally communicating a command, The first device detects the first information from the image signal to which the first information is added, and outputs information corresponding to the detected first information in the second device to the first signal. The information is added to the detected image signal.

[0016]

(First Embodiment) First, FIG. 1 shows an example of a color image recording method to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, a color LBP (laser beam printer) is used as a color image recording method.

In FIG. 1, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 100 by the optical unit 107 based on image information transmitted for each color based on the TOP signal, and the formed latent image is stored in each color developing device holder 108. Developing units Dy, Dc, Db, Dm
, And are transferred to the image carrier 103 a plurality of times to form a multicolor image on the image carrier 103. Thereafter, the transfer material P selected and detected from the transfer material holders 181 to 184 is transported between the image carrier 103 and the transfer and transport belt 150, and the multicolor image on the image carrier 103 is transferred to the transfer material P. Transcribe. The multicolor image transferred onto the transfer material P is thermally fixed to the transfer material P by the fixing unit 104. afterwards,
The transfer material P is discharged from the discharge unit 105 to the upper tray unit 106 or the lower discharge tray unit 115.

Next, the operation of the color LBP will be specifically described. First, the photosensitive drum 100 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity (for example, −600 V) by the charger 111, and a latent image is formed by exposure with the laser beam L according to image data sent from the controller based on the TOP signal. For example, an M (magenta) color developing device D
The latent image on the photosensitive drum 100 is developed by m, and a developer image is formed on the photosensitive drum 100. On the other hand, at a predetermined timing, a primary transfer high voltage (for example, +200 V) of the opposite polarity (for example, positive polarity) to the developer image is applied to the image carrier 103, and the first developer image on the photosensitive drum Carrier 10
3 is transferred. Thereafter, the first developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 100 is removed by the cleaner 112 to prepare for the next latent image forming and developing process. After the completion of the first development color, a latent image of a second color (for example, cyan) is formed on the photosensitive drum 100 by the laser beam L,
A developing device forms a developer image. Then, the second developer image is the first developer image previously transferred to the image carrier 103.
Is transferred to the image carrier 103 in the same manner as described above in accordance with the leading end position of the developer image. Similarly, third and fourth latent images are sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 100, and are sequentially developed by the third and fourth developing units, respectively, and the developer images previously transferred to the image carrier 103 And the third and fourth developer images are sequentially transferred, and thus the image carrier 103
The four color developer images are formed on top of each other. Thereafter, when the leading end of the image carrier 103 onto which the four color developer images are superimposed and transferred approaches the transfer material transfer position, a high voltage (for example, +2 KV) is applied to the transfer and transport belt 150 to transfer and transfer the developer images. The transport belt 150 is brought into contact with the image carrier 103. Thereafter, the transfer material holders 90, 160, 181, and 18 are provided between the image carrier 103 and the transfer and transport belt 150.
The transfer material picked up from any one of 2, 183, and 184 is conveyed in accordance with the leading end position of the developing material image to perform transfer. Further, a reverse polarity (for example, -1 KV) of a bias applied to the transfer and transport belt 150 or ground is applied to the static elimination needle 151 disposed at the rear part of the transfer and transport belt 150, and the rear end of the transfer material leaves the transfer and transport belt 150. To remove the accumulated charge on the transfer material. When the rear end of the transfer material reaches the transfer end position (the exit of the nip formed by the image carrier 103 and the transfer and transport belt 150), the primary transfer high voltage applied to the image carrier 103 is turned off. (Ground potential).

Further, when the rear end of the transfer material is transported from the transfer and transport belt 150, the transfer and transport belt 15
0 and the high voltage applied to the static elimination needle 151 are turned off.
At this time, the transfer and transport belt 150 is attached to the image carrier 10.
Separated from 3 Next, the transfer material separated from the transfer and conveyance belt 150 is conveyed to the fixing unit 104, where the developer image on the transfer material is thermally fixed, and is discharged onto the lower discharge tray 115 or the upper discharge tray 105. You.
When the transfer from the image carrier 103 to the transfer material starts and the leading end of the transfer unit after the transfer approaches the cleaning roller 130, the cleaning roller is brought into contact with the image carrier 103. A bias having the same polarity as that of the transfer and transport belt 150 is applied to the cleaning roller 130, and the transfer residual developer having the opposite polarity on the image carrier 103 is attracted to the cleaning roller 130 to perform cleaning. The transfer residual developing material whose polarity has been changed to the polarity is returned to the photosensitive drum 100 by further increasing the polarity, and the image carrier 10
In preparation for the next printing sequence of 3.

When performing double-sided printing on the transfer material, the transfer material having undergone the above-described printing sequence is placed on the multi-sheet feeding tray 160 with the fixed surface of the transfer material facing the back side, or the printing sequence is performed again, or the transfer material is held. The above-described printing sequence may be performed again by placing the transfer material having completed the above-described printing sequence on one of the bodies 181 to 184 with the fixed surface facing up, or the developer image on the transferring material of the above-described printing sequence may be removed. After the fixing, the transfer material is conveyed to the duplex unit 90 side, and the switch material is rotated by rotating the switchback roller 170 of the duplex unit in the paper feed direction, so that the transfer material is held before the rear end of the transfer material reaches the switchback roller. Then, the switchback roller is rotated in the reverse direction to transfer the transfer material to the transfer material transfer path 80 in the duplex unit 90 below the fixing unit 104. Then, after the transfer material is picked up from the duplex unit and the above-described printing sequence is performed, the transfer material having the developer images fixed on both sides is transferred to the lower discharge tray 11.
5 or an upper discharge tray 105 to form a double-sided printed transfer material. The above is the outline of the printing process in the color LBP used in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of signal processing of the present embodiment. When a print command is received according to a user instruction of the host computer 200, a page description language is transmitted from the driver 201 and input to the controller 212. When outputting a bitmap image, the page description language includes bitmap data. A decoder (page description language interpreter) in the controller
202, band memory A203, band memory B20
4. The color conversion processing unit 205, the γ correction unit 206, and the halftone processing unit 207 are arranged. The input page description language is interpreted by the decoder 202 and converted into 8-bit RGB image data. RGB image data is input to the band memory. The band memory is composed of two memories, a band memory A203 and a band memory B204, and one memory can store several lines of image data. First, image data of RGB is output from the band memory A203 while the image area of the first predetermined line is expanded to the band memory A203 and the image area of the next predetermined line is expanded to the band memory B204. You.
Further, the image area for the next predetermined number of lines is stored in the band memory A.
RGB image data is output from the band memory B204 while the image data is being expanded to the image 203, and so on.
The image data is alternately developed and output to one band memory. RG output from band memory
The B image data is input to the color conversion processing unit 205 in parallel, and is subjected to predetermined color conversion processing and UCR processing.
It is converted into C, Y, BK image signals. As described above, this color electrophotographic printer uses Y, M, C, and BK colors 1 each.
Since printing is performed on a screen-by-screen basis, the color conversion processing unit 205 sequentially outputs data from one screen, that is, data for one screen of M, data for one screen of C, data for one screen of Y, and data for one screen of BK. An image signal is output. Further, the color conversion processing unit 2
From 05, a color signal for notifying the currently output color is sent to the engine. Next, the output density curve is corrected by the γ correction unit 206 so as to be linear, and the halftone processing unit 207 performs halftone processing by a method such as an organized dither method or an error diffusion method.

On the other hand, the digital watermark detection unit 214 accesses the band memories A and B to detect a digital watermark included in the print target described in the page description language, and if a digital watermark is detected, an information addition processing unit. The detected information is sent to 208.

Next, the processing contents of the digital watermark detection unit 214 will be described. Here, the digital watermark embedding method of the present embodiment will be briefly described. First, when embedding a watermark, the image is divided into blocks of a predetermined size as shown in FIG. A hatched portion 301 is one of the blocks.

The communication paths 215 and 216 are communication paths through which data and commands can be bidirectionally communicated. Using this communication path, the host computer 200, the controller 212, and the engine 213 can bidirectionally transmit data and commands.

Note that the communication paths 215 and 216 may be communication paths capable of bidirectionally communicating only commands. The information detected by the detection unit 214 can be transmitted between devices using this communication path.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a two-dimensional DCT coefficient distribution of the unit block of FIG. The DC component is at the upper left, and the higher frequency component is toward the lower right. The digital watermark manipulates the coefficients of the intermediate frequency components 401 surrounded by the thick frame of the DCT coefficients. This is because operating a low frequency component close to the DC component has a large effect on image quality, and a high frequency component
This is because data is lost due to compression, etc., and the detection is difficult because the coefficient is close to 0.

In the coefficient operation, + α or −α is added to the original coefficient in accordance with a predetermined rule. If + α, information “1” is represented, and if −α, information “0” is represented. By performing such an operation on each coefficient, information of, for example, 22 bits is embedded in the block. After the operation of the coefficients, the data is subjected to the inverse DCT transform to return to the image data. Such an operation is performed for each block in the image, and thus the digital watermark is embedded in the image.

Since the digital watermark embedded by manipulating the coefficients of the frequency components of the image data as described above generally has weaker resistance to printing processing than the method of adding minute dots described below. , Color conversion processing unit 2
05, there is a risk of disappearing due to the processing of the γ correction unit 206 and the halftone processing unit 207. In order to prevent the digital watermark from disappearing, in the present embodiment, the color conversion processing unit 20 is used.
5. Detect the information embedded as a digital watermark before performing the processing of the γ correction unit 206 and the halftone processing unit 207, perform processing on the image data, and then execute the processing of the information having the same content as the detected information. The addition is performed by the addition processing unit 208. As an example of the method of adding print tolerance,
For example, in the present embodiment, a method of arranging and embedding minute yellow dots in an image according to a certain rule is used. This makes it possible to embed yellow microdots that are difficult for human eyes to see, and to add a digital watermark that is durable without increasing the amount of addition to the coefficient of the frequency component. Also, the digital watermark can be added as a print-resistant digital watermark without disappearing.

The digital watermark detection unit 214 performs a process of detecting a digital watermark before the processing of the halftone processing unit and the like. The operation of the digital watermark detection unit 214 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The watermark detection unit 214 holds a block memory (not shown) having a size of at least one block in FIG. 3, and when a print command is issued from the host and printing is started (S501), the area 601 in FIG. The image data is read line by line from the band memory A (S502) and stored in the block memory. If all the image data 601 has not been read (S503).
Next, the data is read line by line from the band memory B (S5).
04) Stored in block memory. Perform the above operation 60
Repeat until all the image data of 1 is read. 6
When all of the image data of the block 01 is read, two-dimensional DCT is performed on the image data in the block memory (S507), the DCT coefficient is inspected (S508), and it is checked whether a digital watermark is detected (S509). ). Here, if the digital watermark is detected, the detected information and the signal addition ON command are transmitted to the information addition processing unit 20 of the engine.
8 and end the operation (S51).
1). If not detected, the image data in the area of the next block 602 starts to be read from the band memory A (S502), and the detection of a digital watermark is attempted in the same manner as described above. The detection of the watermark for the block 605 located at the bottom of the image is completed. If the detection is not possible, the operation is terminated by determining the last block (S506).
511). In the present embodiment, 601 to 60 in the image
Although the detection is performed only for the block 5, the detection may be performed for all the blocks.

Here, the information detected by the watermark detection unit 214 in the present embodiment is the registered ID of the copyright holder, the registered date, the network address of the system, the telephone number, and the like. However, the system is a copyright protection database described later.

Next, the function of the information addition processing unit 208 will be described. The information addition processing unit 208 generates information to be added in a method with high robustness from information added in a method with low robustness detected by the digital watermark detection unit 214, and performs a process of adding the generated information. The addition of information in the present embodiment is performed by performing an operation on the yellow pixel data, and specifically, for example, a small yellow dot that is hardly visible to human eyes is arranged in an image according to a certain rule, Perform embedding.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the information addition processing unit. The operation here will be briefly described. When a signal addition ON command is sent from the controller, the CPU 701 receives a permission signal via the serial I / O. CP
U701 receives the permission signal, is detected by the controller, receives the transmitted information of, for example, 22 bits, and
The data is stored in the register 702 in the PU. The stored data is scrambled and encrypted.

The main scanning counter 703 performs a counting operation in accordance with the clock signal PCLK of the image signal in the main scanning direction, and notifies the additional signal generation circuit 705 of the count in the main scanning direction. The sub-scanning counter 704 performs a counting operation according to the clock signal BD in the sub-scanning direction, and notifies the additional signal generation circuit 705 of the count number in the sub-scanning direction. The additional signal generation circuit 705 refers to the data of the register 702 and the main scan and sub scan counts only when the permission signal is ON and the color signal notified from the color conversion processing unit 205 specifies yellow. , The additional signal is turned ON only at a predetermined count.

The dot adding circuit 706 reads the dot shape parameters stored in the ROM 707, and superimposes dots on image data input only when the additional signal is ON.

As described above, after a signal is added by the information addition processing unit 208, the signal is pulse-width modulated by the PWM processing unit 209, D / A-converted, input to the laser driving unit 210, and printed. .

Finally, FIG. 8 shows an operation example of the copyright protection system including the printer of this embodiment. (1) When the copyright owner creates an image, (2) the copyright
Apply for D number and (3) receive ID number. (4) Next, the received ID number is embedded in the image using digital watermark embedding software. (5) The image in which the digital watermark is embedded is output by the printer of the present embodiment and is on the market.If the user wants to use the image, the printed image sample is read by a scanner or the like, and (6) the yellow dot The copyright ID is obtained by analyzing the arrangement of. (7) When the obtained copyright ID is inquired of the copyright database, (8) the copyright database responds with detailed information on the copyright owner, and the user gives the copyright owner a license agreement. Take the procedure.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, information added to an image is added to the image by a method having stronger print durability, thereby suppressing deterioration in image quality and adding information to the image. The information can be prevented from disappearing.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, information added to an image is converted into information having print durability and added to the image, so that deterioration in image quality can be suppressed. This prevents information added to the image from being lost.

In order to convert the information into print-resistant information as in the first embodiment, an additional algorithm different from the method to which the detected information is added is used. Uses the same addition algorithm as the method used to add the detected information to the information that is more resistant to You may make it.

For example, let us consider a case where the information detected by the digital watermark detection unit 214 in FIG. 2 has been added by manipulating the coefficients of the frequency components. The same method as the method to which the detected information is added, that is, the information is “1”
Then, add + α to the original original coefficient,
If “0”, a method of adding −α to the original coefficient is used. Here, in order to convert to information that is resistant,
If the information is "1", + α 'is added to the original coefficient, and if the information is "0", -α' is added in addition to -α. By increasing the coefficient of the frequency component to be added in this way, the information may be converted into robust information.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the method of operating the coefficients of the frequency components as described above, and other methods may be used. For example, the method in which the detected information is added is a method of embedding information in the least significant bit of a color component (yellow, magenta, and cyan yellow, red, green, and blue of blue) of an image signal. In such a case, in order to convert the information into durable information, a digital watermark may be embedded in the two least significant bits to convert the information into durable information.

In the case of arranging and embedding minute yellow dots in an image according to a certain rule and embedding the yellow dots, arranging yellow dots having a higher density than the detected yellow in the image. The information may be converted into resistant information.

(Other Embodiments) In the first and second embodiments, the information to be embedded with the digital watermark is the information of the copyright holder. However, the information of the user is embedded at the time of the copyright licensing procedure, and the information is illegal in the market. An application method of reading user information when a proper copy is found and identifying the user and the distribution channel of the illegal copy may be used.

In the first embodiment, the information is added by performing an operation on the pixel data of yellow among yellow, magenta and cyan. However, instead of yellow, for example, red, green and blue are added. It may be performed by performing an operation on pixel data of another color such as blue.

If a character or a line drawing exists, the operation may be performed by adding an operation to the thickness of the character or the line drawing, the space between the characters, the space between words, or the like.

In the first embodiment, the digital watermark is detected by the controller of the printer. However, the digital watermark may be detected by the application of the host computer or the printer driver, and the detected information may be transmitted to the printer. .

In the first embodiment, a laser printer has been described as an example. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other various types of printers such as an ink jet printer and an LED printer.

In the first embodiment, the information is added to a part of the image, but may be added to the entire image.

The information embedded as a digital watermark and the information embedded as minute dots are not necessarily the same. For example, additional information such as a machine number of a printer may be embedded or a part of the information may be deleted. .

In order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a single device may be used. (For example, a copying machine, a facsimile method, etc.).

Also, a computer in a method or a system connected to the various devices so as to operate the various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments is provided.
A program code of software for realizing the functions of the embodiment (for example, the function realized by the flowchart of FIG. 5) is supplied, and the computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or method is executed according to the stored program. What is implemented by operating the device is also included in the scope of the present invention.

In this case, the program code of the software itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and steps for supplying the program code to the computer, for example, the program code Is provided.

As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer or another program. Needless to say, the program code is included in the present embodiment even when the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized in cooperation with application software and the like.

Further, the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and then stored in the function expansion board or the function storage unit based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present embodiment also includes a case where a provided CPU or the like performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0056]

According to the first aspect, as described above,
By converting the information added to the image into information having strong print durability and adding the information to the image, it is possible to prevent the information added to the image from disappearing while suppressing the deterioration of the image quality.

An image processing method according to claim 26,
A similar effect can be obtained also in the storage medium according to claim 51.

According to the thirteenth aspect, the information added to the image is converted into information having a higher resistance than the information added to the image and is added to the image, so that the information added to the image is converted into the information having a higher resistance and is hardly erased. Can be

The same effect can be obtained with the image processing method according to claim 38 and the storage medium according to claim 52.

According to the twenty-third aspect, in the image processing system composed of the first device and the second device capable of communicating commands in two directions, the first device detects a digital watermark from an image signal. Then, information corresponding to the information on the digital watermark can be added to the image signal in the second device.

Further, since the processing for detecting the digital watermark and adding the information relating to the digital watermark to the image signal is shared between the first device and the second device, the load can be reduced and the configuration of the device can be reduced. Easy to do.

The same effect can be obtained with the image processing method according to claim 48 and the storage medium according to claim 53.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing unit in a color image recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of signal processing of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method for adding a digital watermark according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a method for adding a digital watermark according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a digital watermark detection method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a digital watermark detection method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an information addition processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation example of the copyright protection system of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 photosensitive drum 111 charger 103 image carrier 214 electronic watermark detection unit 208 information addition processing unit 705 additional signal generation circuit 706 dot addition circuit

Claims (59)

[Claims] 1. An image signal to which first information is added,
Detecting means for detecting the first information; and information corresponding to the detected first information as second information having more printing durability than the first information. An adding means for adding an image signal to the detected image signal. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image signal to which the second information has been added by the adding unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the adding unit adds the second information to the image formed by the image forming unit so that the second information is hardly seen by human eyes. 4. The first information and the second information,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is added to a part or the whole of the image signal. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information is added by operating a specific frequency component of the image. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information is added by operating a specific color component. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the specific color component is a blue component. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second information is added by superimposing dots of a specific color component. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the specific color component is a yellow component. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a copyright of an image. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a user of an image. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information and the second information are the same information. 13. A detecting means for detecting the first information from an image signal to which the first information has been added, wherein the information according to the detected first information is more resistant than the first information. An adding unit for adding, as the second information having the first information, an image signal in which the first information is detected by the detecting unit. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are added so as to be hardly visible to human eyes. 15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are added to a part or the whole of an image signal. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are added by operating a specific frequency component of the image. 17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are added by operating a specific color component. 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the specific color component is a blue component. 19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the specific color component is a yellow component. 20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a copyright of an image. 21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a user of an image. 22. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first information and the second information are the same information. 23. An image processing system comprising a first device and a second device capable of bidirectionally communicating a command, wherein the first device is an image signal to which first information is added. And means for detecting the first information, wherein the second device adds information corresponding to the detected first information to an image signal from which the first information is detected. An image processing system, comprising: 24. The image processing system according to claim 23, wherein said first device is a host computer, and said second device is an image recording device. 25. The image processing system according to claim 23, wherein the first device is a controller in an image recording device, and the second device is an image forming device in the image recording device. 26. A detecting step of detecting the first information from an image signal to which the first information is added, and printing information corresponding to the detected first information more than the first information. An adding step of adding, as the second information having resistance, an image signal in which the first information is detected by the detection means. 27. The image processing method according to claim 26, further comprising an image forming step of forming an image based on the image signal to which the second information has been added in the adding step. 28. The image processing method according to claim 27, wherein in the adding step, the second information is added to the image formed in the image forming step so that the second information is hardly seen by human eyes. 29. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the first information and the second information are added to a part or the whole of an image signal. 30. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the first information is added by operating a specific frequency component of the image. 31. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first information is added by operating a specific color component.
6. The image processing method according to 6. 32. The image processing method according to claim 31, wherein the specific color component is a blue component. 33. The image processing method according to claim 31, wherein the second information is added by superimposing dots of a specific color component. 34. The image processing method according to claim 33, wherein the specific color component is a yellow component. 35. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the first information and the second information are information relating to a copyright of an image. 36. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a user of an image. 37. The image processing method according to claim 26, wherein the first information and the second information are the same information. 38. A detection step of detecting the first information from an image signal to which the first information has been added, based on the detected first information, the detection step being more resistant than the first information. A generating step of generating certain second information; and an adding step of adding the generated second information to an image signal in which the first information is detected in the detecting step. Image processing method. 39. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are added so as to be hardly visible to human eyes. 40. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are added to a part or the whole of an image signal. 41. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are added by operating a specific frequency component of the image. 42. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the first information is added by operating a specific color component.
The image processing method described in the above. 43. The image processing method according to claim 42, wherein the specific color component is a blue component. 44. The image processing method according to claim 43, wherein the specific color component is a yellow component. 45. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are information relating to a copyright of an image. 46. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are information on a user of an image. 47. The image processing method according to claim 38, wherein the first information and the second information are the same information. 48. An image processing method in an image processing system including a first device and a second device capable of bidirectionally communicating a command, wherein the first information is added to the first device. Detecting the first information from the detected image signal, and adding information corresponding to the detected first information in the second device to the image signal from which the first information is detected. An image processing method characterized by the following. 49. The image processing method according to claim 48, wherein said first device is a host computer, and said second device is an image recording device. 50. The image processing method according to claim 48, wherein said first device is a controller in an image recording device, and said second device is an image forming device in said image recording device. 51. A code for detecting the first information from the image signal to which the first information has been added, and information corresponding to the detected first information is printed more durably than the first information. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the second information includes a code added to an image signal in which the first information is detected. 52. A code for detecting the first information from an image signal to which the first information has been added, and a code corresponding to the detected first information, which is more resistant than the first information. A computer-readable storage medium characterized by having, as certain second information, a code added to an image signal in which the first information is detected. 53. A computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program code in an image processing system constituted by a first device and a second device capable of bidirectionally communicating commands, wherein A code for detecting the first information from the image signal to which the first information is added in the device, and information corresponding to the detected first information in the second device. A computer-readable storage medium having a code added to an image signal in which information is detected. 54. A bidirectional communication of a command to an image processing apparatus which inputs an image signal and information to be added to the image signal, and adds information corresponding to the input information to the image signal. An image processing apparatus connected using a possible communication path, comprising: input means for inputting an image signal to which predetermined information is added; and detection means for detecting the predetermined information from the input image signal. An image processing apparatus comprising: 55. An image signal to which predetermined information is added is input, and a command is transmitted to an image processing apparatus which detects predetermined information from the input image signal using a communication path capable of bidirectional communication. An image processing apparatus to be connected, comprising: an input unit that inputs an image signal and predetermined information added to the image signal; and an addition unit that adds information corresponding to the predetermined information to the image signal. An image processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 56. A bidirectional communication of a command to an image processing apparatus which inputs an image signal and information to be added to the image signal, and adds information corresponding to the input information to the image signal. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus connected using a possible communication path, comprising: an input step of inputting an image signal to which predetermined information is added; and detecting the predetermined information from the input image signal. An image processing method comprising: 57. An image signal to which predetermined information is added is input, and a command is transmitted to an image processing apparatus which detects predetermined information from the input image signal using a communication path capable of bidirectional communication. An image processing method in a connected image processing apparatus, comprising: an input step of inputting an image signal and predetermined information added to the image signal; and an addition step of adding information corresponding to the predetermined information to the image signal. And an image processing method. 58. A bidirectional communication of a command to an image processing apparatus which inputs an image signal and information to be added to the image signal, and adds information corresponding to the input information to the image signal. A computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program code in an image processing apparatus connected using a possible communication path, wherein: a code for inputting an image signal to which predetermined information is added; A code for detecting the predetermined information from the image signal. 59. An image signal to which predetermined information is added is input, and a command is transmitted to an image processing apparatus which detects predetermined information from the input image signal using a communication path capable of bidirectional communication. A computer-readable storage medium storing an image processing program code in an image processing apparatus to be connected, wherein: a code for inputting an image signal and predetermined information added to the image signal; and information corresponding to the predetermined information. And a code for adding the following to the image signal.