JPH11339056A - Data processor, data supply device, data processing method, data supply method, data processing system and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain data processing control on which the will of a data provider can be accurately reflected. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a data analyzing means 104 for extracting data control information from data to which the data control information for controlling the operation of each kind of processing is applied, data processing means 106 for each kind of processing to data to which the data control information is applied, display means 107 for displaying a processing function related with each kind of processing, and control means 105 for controlling the data processing means 106 and the display means 107 based on the data control information. Therefore, processing is controlled according to the data control information extracted from the data. Thus, each kind of processing control can be accurately attained according to the control stage of the control information applied to the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a data processing device, a data supply device, a data processing method, a data supply method, a data processing system, and a storage medium, and more particularly to editing, referencing, printing, and the like for supplied image data. It is suitable for use in a system including a program on a processing device such as a personal computer for performing the above processing and a program on a processing device such as a computer for supplying image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the performance of personal computers has dramatically increased, and editing and referencing of image data, audio data, and even moving image data (hereinafter, simply referred to as data or original data). And various processes such as printing can be easily performed.

[0003] Such an environment is also helping, and the distribution of the above data is becoming widespread. For example, CD-RO
Anyone can purchase image data stored on removable disks such as M. Furthermore, it can be easily obtained by using a paid distribution service of voice data, image data, or moving image data by a communication karaoke service via a network represented by the Internet. As a result, illegal use such as editing, printing, and quoting without permission of the copyright holder of the creative data is increasing.

[0004] On the other hand, since the side using the creative data can easily obtain an adult image and a moving image, there is a disadvantage that a minor can easily refer to these images and the moving image. Is growing. From the above background, the necessity of a technique for regulating the processing of creative data has become more important than ever.

In the prior art, the copyright claim, the source of the image data, the restrictions on editing, etc., of the image data are described in JFIF (JPEG InterChange Format) which is one of image data formats using a commonly distributed JPEG compression algorithm. )
Described in the comment area defined in the above, the method of giving the image data and notifying the added information before executing the processing of the image data, and the method of notifying the original image when illegally used image data is found There was a way to pursue the source.

Further, there is a method of recognizing added information when instructing the start of editing of image data or receiving the image data to the image processing apparatus, and regulating the entire image data. According to the above method, for example, it is possible to refuse acceptance of image data to which information indicating an adult image has been added to the image processing apparatus.

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned prior art, notification of the contents of regulation is performed only in advance, and it is up to the user to determine the actual processing. Therefore, for example, even if there is a notice to the effect of restricting partial cutout of image data and overlapping arrangement with other image data,
Since it is possible for the user to execute the above-described processing while ignoring the notification, there has been virtually no regulation at all.

If the regulation is performed by the conventional technique, it can be realized by using the above-mentioned method of regulating adult images. In this case, however, the processing of image data is completely regulated. For this reason, for example, there is a problem that it is not possible to perform a partial restriction such that, for example, reference for viewing is permitted, but editing and printing of image data using the image processing apparatus are not permitted.

On the other hand, for audio data, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digi
tal Interface)
Copyright information can be recorded in a meta event (metaevent), which is one of the data areas defined in F (Standard MIDI File), but the actual processing is performed by the user in the same way as the image data described above. It is up to the decision or only controls the entire audio data, such as restricting storage.

[0010] Furthermore, regarding moving images, MPEG (Moving Picture Expe- sion) of the moving image compression standard specified in ISO11172.
Moving image data files using rts Group) are widely distributed, but actual processing of the moving image data can be left to the user as in the case of image data and audio data. Only regulated.

It should be noted that a signal for preventing unauthorized duplication of moving image data recorded by a video recorder is distributed together with a signal of the moving image.
This also regulates the entire image data. For example, it is not allowed to cut out a part of the moving image data and create a rush, but it is not possible to partially restrict the reproduction of the whole work. There was a problem.

[0012]

Therefore, according to the above-mentioned prior art, when a certain restriction condition exists for image data, the restriction is applied to the entire image data, or the restriction is left to the discretion of the user. There was only one alternative, whether or not to do so.

[0013] For this reason, there is a problem that the regulation according to the intention of the creative data provider cannot always be realized. Further, there is a problem that a user of the above-mentioned creation data is also forced to regulate more than necessary.

In view of the above problems, the present invention performs image processing control that accurately reflects the intention of an image data provider using image data to which control information having a plurality of restriction steps is added, and It is another object of the present invention to appropriately handle image data. It is a second object of the present invention to be able to more clearly notify regulations.

[0015]

A data processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a data analyzing means for extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is provided; Data processing means for performing various processing on the data to which information has been added; display means for displaying processing functions relating to the various processing; data processing means and the display based on data control information extracted by the data analysis means Control means for controlling means, wherein the control means regulates the execution of a process to be regulated in accordance with data control information extracted from the data, and a processing function relating to the various processes in the display means. Is changed to the suppressed state display. Another feature of the data processing apparatus of the present invention is that the control means causes the display means to display a notification display indicating that the data is subjected to the processing restriction. Also,
Another feature of the data processing apparatus of the present invention is that the control means causes the display means to display that the processing to be restricted cannot be executed when the processing to be restricted is selected. Another feature of the data processing device of the present invention is that the control means changes the display color on the display means as the suppression state display. Another feature of the data processing device of the present invention is that the control means blinks a display on the display means as the suppression state display. Another feature of the data processing apparatus of the present invention is that the data control information is copyright information or edit restriction information based on the copyright information. Another feature of the data processing device of the present invention is that the editing restriction information includes data color conversion, sharpness, transparency setting, processing of a boundary portion, inversion, up / down overlapping, rotation, masking,
It is characterized by including at least one of insertion into a photo frame and mixing. Another feature of the data processing apparatus according to the present invention is that the editing restriction information is information that regulates the processing content stepwise according to the editing restriction level. Another feature of the data processing apparatus of the present invention is that the control means regulates processing based on a restriction level of the editing restriction information. Another feature of the data processing apparatus of the present invention is that the data is image data.

A data supply device according to the present invention stores data and data control information, and stores the data and data control information; registering means for registering the data and data control information in the storage means; Data control information providing means for extracting and providing data control information corresponding to the data, wherein the data and the data control information corresponding thereto are distributed in response to a distribution request of the data.

According to the data processing method of the present invention, there is provided an extracting step of extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is added, and a method of extracting the data control information extracted by the extracting step. And a display step of displaying a processing function regulated based on the display function.

A data supply method according to the present invention includes a registration step of registering data and data control information corresponding to the data; a storage step of storing and managing the data registered in the registration step; And extracting and adding data control information corresponding to the data in the data in accordance with the above.

A data processing system according to the present invention comprises a data supply device for distributing the data and corresponding data control information in response to a data distribution request, and a process to be regulated in accordance with data control information extracted from the data. And a data processing device that controls a display mode of a processing function related to various types of processing on the display unit, wherein the data supply device stores and manages data and data control information, Registration means for registering data and data control information in the storage means, and a data control information providing means for extracting and providing data control information corresponding to the data in response to a data distribution request,
The data processing device, a data analysis unit that extracts the data control information from data to which data control information that regulates performing various processes is provided, and a data processing unit that performs various processes on the data. Display means for displaying processing functions related to the various processes, and control means for controlling the data processing means and display means based on the data control information extracted by the data analysis means, wherein the control means According to the present invention, it is characterized in that, in accordance with data control information extracted from the data, the execution of a process to be regulated is restricted, and the display mode of the processing function on the display means is changed to a suppressed state display.

[0020] The storage medium of the present invention is characterized by an extraction step of extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes has been added, and a storage medium based on the data control information extracted by the extraction step. And a display step of displaying a processing function regulated by the computer. Another feature of the storage medium of the present invention is that a registration step of registering data and data control information corresponding to the data, and a storage step of storing and managing the data registered in the registration step. A program that constitutes a data supply method that includes, in a data in response to a data distribution request, an appending step of appending data control information corresponding to the data, is recorded in a computer-readable manner. I have.

[0021]

Since the present invention has the above technical means, it is possible to perform various restrictions according to the restriction stage of the control information added to the creative data when there is a certain restriction condition on the creative data. As a result, it is possible to realize the regulation according to the intention of the creative data provider. Further, it is possible to realize the above-mentioned regulation without forcing the user of the creation data to unnecessarily restrict the user. Further, it is possible to more explicitly notify the regulations existing in the creative data.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> Next, a first embodiment of a data processing device, a data supply device, a data processing method, a data supply method, a data processing system, and a storage medium of the present invention. Will be described. In the embodiment described below, among the creative data, particularly, image data is described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an information processing apparatus (computer) included in the present invention. In the present embodiment, both a client computer for direct operation by a user and a server including a server computer for supplying resources on a network, a client system, and a standalone system operating alone are used. It is feasible.

Further, there is no difference in the internal configuration of the server computer and the client computer of the server-client system. Further, regarding the internal configuration of the stand-alone computer, even if the network interface (Net-I / F) is not configured 1004, Since there is no difference from the computer of the server client system except that it can be realized, FIG.
Describes all computer systems.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1001 denotes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus. 1002, a RAM;
01 as a main memory, as a work area for execution programs, and as a temporary save area for data.

Reference numeral 1003 denotes a ROM that stores the operation processing procedure of the CPU 1001. The ROM 1003 includes a program ROM in which a system program (basic software: OS) for controlling the device of the print service controller is recorded, and a data ROM in which information necessary for operating the system is stored.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes a network interface (Net-I / F) which performs data transfer control with a network data server described later, data control and diagnosis for performing data transfer with a network system (such as the Internet), and the like. It is for doing.

Reference numeral 1005 denotes a video RAM (VRAM)
Then, expand the image displayed on the screen of the CRT 1006,
The display is controlled. Reference numeral 1007 denotes a keyboard controller for controlling an input signal from an external input device such as a keyboard. Also, 1008 and 1009
Is an external input device for receiving an operation;
8, a keyboard (KB); and 1009, a pointing device (PD, mouse, etc.).

Reference numeral 1010 denotes a hard disk drive (H
DD), which is used for storing application programs and image information data described later. Reference numeral 1011 denotes a removable disk drive (FDD) such as a floppy disk or a CD-ROM, which is used for reading an application program described later from a medium, writing and reading image data, and the like.

Reference numeral 1012 denotes a printer control device (PRTC) which controls and outputs an external output device 1013 described later. The external output device 1013 is for outputting processed information to the outside, such as a printer. Reference numeral 1000 denotes an I / O bus (address bus, data bus, and control bus) for connecting the above-described units.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and the flow of data. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a registration unit for registering image data and image control information.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a storage unit, and the registration unit 1
01, or for storing and storing image data and image control information in advance, and a generally used database system or the like is used.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a data control information providing means.
For example, in accordance with a request for distributing desired image data, acquiring desired image data and image control information from the image data and image control information stored in the storage unit 102,
This is for adding image control information using a comment area of image data or the like.

Reference numeral 104 denotes data analysis means for extracting image control information from the image data to which the image control information has been added by the data control information giving means 103. A control unit 105 controls the data processing unit 106 and the display unit 107 based on the image control information extracted by the data analysis unit 104.

Numeral 106 denotes a data processing means for processing the image data generated by the data control information provision processing means 103 for processing such as editing and printing or temporarily storing the image data in preparation for general processing. To do.

Reference numeral 107 denotes display means, which is the control means 1
It operates while being controlled by the control unit 05, and displays data, a function menu provided by the data processing device, the contents of data control information, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows an example of image data control information and editing corresponding to the image data control information. Here, the image data control information is information that expresses some restrictions regarding data, such as editing, print size restrictions and the degree of use for commercial purposes, and in order to reflect the will of the image data provider as accurately as possible, For example, it is possible to express a plurality of stages with respect to one restriction condition such as a restriction on an editing function.

In general, this information is expressed in such a form that the control means of the client can control the restricted items of the image data and the steps of the items as easily as possible. Or a bit string.

In the present embodiment, in order to clarify the present invention, description will be made using information for limiting the editing function of the data processing means of the client step by step. Hereinafter, the image data control information in the present embodiment may be referred to as “edit restriction information”.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a restriction level corresponding to the editing restriction information in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, there are three levels of restriction levels, which are expressed numerically.

That is, the first stage is expressed as 0001, the second stage is expressed as 0002, and the third stage is expressed as 0003. In addition, each stage of the editing restriction in the present embodiment is restricted as follows. The first stage (edit restriction information 0
001) can be edited freely without any editing restrictions. The second stage (edit restriction information 000
2) allows editing within a range that does not damage the image. And the third stage (edit restriction information 0003)
Restricts all editing functions to preserve the original form of the image. The editing function for performing the restriction at each stage in the present embodiment is as follows.

In the first stage, there is no editing function to restrict. The second stage is color conversion (brightness / contrast etc.), image filter (sharp etc.), transparency setting, border blur, up / down / left / right inversion, registration to background, up / down of overlap,
Rotation at an arbitrary angle, insertion into a mask or a photo frame, and the like are suppressed.

In the third stage, in addition to the editing function restricted in the second stage, planting is suppressed. Note that the magnification change (resizing) is not particularly suppressed since the original shape is maintained by maintaining the aspect ratio of the image data.

Reference numeral 302 in FIG. 3 denotes an example of editing in the first stage (free editing). Reference numeral 303 denotes an example of editing in the second stage (partially free editing), and reference numeral 304 denotes an example of editing in the third stage (when all editing is restricted).

FIG. 4 shows an example of adding image data control information to image data. The image data control information is
Stored in the image data file. The image data file format is applicable not only to a special format for adding image data control information but also to all commonly distributed file formats. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the image data file is stored in the comment area.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes the structure of an image data file format described in the present embodiment. The image data file 401 includes a file header 402 that stores additional information such as the format, size, and compression ratio of the image data file, a comment area 403 that stores a comment on the image data, and an original image area that is the substance of the image data. 404. The image data control information of the present embodiment is stored in the comment area 403 in the image data file.

Next, an example of storing image data control information stored in the comment area 403 will be described. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 411 denotes a storage example of image data control information in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the image data control information start identifier 412, the image data control information entity 413, the image data control information end identifier 4
It is expressed as 14.

The details will be described below. Reference numeral 412 denotes an image data control information start identifier that distinguishes other information in the comment area from the image data control information and indicates the start of the image data control information. In the present embodiment, it is expressed by brackets and a character string, that is, [control code].

The start identifier 412 is mainly used for the data analysis means 104 to recognize the start position of the image data control information when extracting the image data control information. In addition to the expression, the expression can be expressed by a specific bit string that only the data analysis means 104 can know.

The image data control information entity 413 indicates a state in which the first level of the editing restriction information is set. First, “0001” is a character string indicating that this is the first stage of the edit restriction information. This may also be represented by a bit string instead of a legible character string. The following “#” is a comment identifier indicating that the subsequent information is a comment of the editing restriction information.

In this embodiment, "#" is used as a comment identifier. However, a commonly used comment descriptor such as a program description language is usually used. The comment descriptor may be represented by a bit string that the data analysis means 104 can know. The character string "edit free" following the comment descriptor is a comment for the edit restriction information.

The comment descriptor and the comment can be omitted. That is, the data analysis means 10
4 is not indispensable for extracting the image data control information. Reference numeral 414 denotes an image data control information end identifier indicating the end of the image data control information.

In the present embodiment, a description method similar to the image data control information start identifier is used.
Expressed by [control code end]. Note that, in the present embodiment, an example of storing in the comment area 403 has been described. However, the comment area 403 generally requires that other information such as image creation information and creator's comment also exist in the comment area at the same time. Therefore, the existence of the image data control information can be recognized using the start identifier and the end identifier.

FIG. 5 is a data example of image data and image data control information stored in the storage means 102 in FIG. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a commonly used relational database (hereinafter referred to as DB) and a storage such as a hard disk are used.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 601 denotes a group of image data information stored in the DB, and 602 denotes a group of image data control information stored in the DB. Reference numeral 603 denotes an image data storage in which an entity group of image data indicated by the image data information stored in the image data information 601 is stored.

The image data information group 601 is stored using a DB, and expresses image data as one record of the DB. In this embodiment, the record is composed of the following three members.

That is, the first is member 1, image number 6
04. This is a serial number of the image data stored in the storage means 102, and is used as a serial number for specifying the image data in the present embodiment. The image number is automatically issued when the registration unit 101 registers in the storage unit 102.

The second is a member 2 and an image data file name. This stores information indicating a single image data from the image data group stored in the image data storage. In the present embodiment, the image data file names stored in the image data storage are stored.

Third, member 3, image data name 606.
This stores the name of the image data. In the present embodiment, this can be realized even if the image data name is not stored. One image data includes the members 1, 2, and 3 described above.
(604, 605, 606) are stored as one record. For example, the member of the image number 001 in FIG. 5 is the image number: 001, the image data file name: 00
1. JPG, image data name: mountain, each member is represented as one record. Further, it has a record for image data stored in the image data storage 603.

The image data control information group 602 is stored using a DB, and one record is composed of the following two members. That is, member 1, image number 607. This stores the same number as the image number 604 which is one of the members of the record stored in the image data information group 601.

Then, the image number 604 and the image number 607
Are the same number, the image data information group 601
And the corresponding record of the image data control information group 602 are data for the same image data.

Member 2, image data control information entity 60
8. The image data control information described in FIG. 2 corresponding to the image number 607 is stored. Image data storage 603
Stores the entity group of the image data file. 609
Indicates an individual image data file.

FIG. 6 is a screen display example of the registration means 101 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 701 denotes an image file designation field for designating a file name of an image data file to be registered.

Reference numeral 702 denotes an image name designation field for designating the name of the image data to be registered. Reference numeral 703 denotes an edit limitation information designation field for designating the stage of the edit limitation information which is the image data control information in the present embodiment. It is.

An image preview screen 704 displays an image when an image file name is designated in the image file designation field 701. An image registration instruction button 705 instructs image registration. Reference numeral 706 denotes an image registration cancel button for canceling the registration processing by the main registration unit.

FIG. 7 shows control data for restricting editing to the image processing apparatus in accordance with the editing restriction information in the present embodiment. The data is expressed by grouping functions to be suppressed for each editing restriction level.

Further, since the functions to be suppressed at the stage where the editing restriction level is low can be referred to all functions below the target editing restriction level, the function to be newly added at that level is registered as a group. Have been. In the present embodiment, the functions described with reference to FIG. 3 are used as they are, and are grouped as follows.

First stage: None. The second stage: color conversion (brightness / contrast etc.), image filter (sharp etc.), transparency setting, blurring of border, up / down / left / right inversion, registration to background, up / down of overlap,
Arbitrary rotation, insertion into masks and photo frames. The third stage: mixed planting.

In this embodiment, the functions of the data processing means 106 are grouped based on the editing restriction information. However, all the functions of the data processing means 106 are used as in other embodiments described later. A data structure that enumerates and assigns edit restriction information for each function is naturally allowed.

<Data Flow and Processing> Next, FIGS.
1, a data flow and a series of processes according to the present embodiment will be described. First, an outline of a data flow and a series of processes in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The original image and the image data control information of the original image are registered and stored in the storage unit 102 by the registration unit 101. Next, a distribution request to process the image data stored in the storage unit 102 is sent to the image data control information providing unit 10.
3 to the image data control information providing means 1
03 acquires the image data and the image data control information from the storage unit 102, adds the image data control information to the image data, and delivers the image data to the data processing unit 106.

Next, when an instruction to start the processing of the image data is given, the data analyzing means 104 extracts the image data control information from the image data as a preparatory processing.
5 instructs the data processing means 106 so that the operator cannot select a function to be suppressed before the start of the processing, and the control means 105 instructs the display means 107 to display according to the contents of the suppression.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given using a flowchart. First, the storage unit 10 is registered using the registration unit 101.
The processing up to the registration of the image data and the editing restriction information in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 1, 6, and 5. FIG.

FIG. 8 shows registration means 1 in the present embodiment.
13 is a flowchart showing a procedure up to registration of image data and image data control information in the storage means 102 using No. 01.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the process is started, first, in a first step S901, the operator issues an activation instruction from an input device such as the keyboard 1008 or the pointing device 1009 at an arbitrary timing. Then, the registration unit 101 constituted by the program stored in the HDD 1010 is started.

When the registration means 101 is activated, a step
Proceeding to S902, the screen display of FIG. 6 is displayed through the CRT 1006. The operator of the registration unit 101 uses an input device such as a keyboard 1008 or a pointing device 1009 to read an external storage device such as a CD-ROM containing the original image desired to be registered from the removable disk drive 1011. The drive in which the original image exists and the file name are input in a specification field 701.

Next, the process proceeds to step S903, where the original image is extracted from the drive file name input in step S902 and displayed on the preview screen 704. Next, step S904
Then, after confirming the original image displayed on the preview screen, the operator inputs the name of the image to be registered in the image name designation field 702.

Next, in step S905, edit restriction information of an image to be registered is specified in an edit restriction information specification field 703. In the present embodiment, one of the three steps is selected.

Next, in step S906, the operator checks the image file designation field 701, the image name designation field 702, the edit restriction information designation field 703, and the preview screen 704 to determine whether or not to perform registration.

If the result of this determination is that registration is to be performed, the flow advances to step S907 to give a registration instruction such as clicking the image registration instruction button 705 with the pointing device 1009, so that the registration means 101 stores the storage means 10 shown in FIG.
2 and the image data and the editing restriction information are registered in the storage means 102.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S906 is that registration is not to be made, processing returns to step S902, and the above-described operation is repeated.

Next, the processing from the provision of the image data control information to the distribution of the image data when the image data distribution request is made will be described with reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure from when the data control information providing unit 103 provides the data control information to when the image data is distributed. The following description is based on the premise that a distribution request has been made to the data control information providing unit 103 when the operator desires to edit or print the image data stored in the storage unit 102.

First, in the first step S1001, the data control information providing means 103 which has received the distribution request acquires the image data requested to be distributed from the storage means 102. As an acquisition procedure, a record of the desired image data is searched from the image data information group 601 stored in the storage unit 102, and the image data of the file name stored in the image data file name 605 as a member in the record is searched. This is realized by acquiring a file from the image data storage 603.

Next, in step S1002, the data control information providing means 103 searches for and obtains data control information of desired image data from the image data control information group 602 stored in the storage means 102. Note that the search in steps S1001 and S1002 is realized by a general search method because a general DB system is used for the storage means 102, and detailed description is omitted.

Next, in step S1003, step S100
The image data control information is added to the comment area of the image data file acquired in step 1 as shown in FIG. Next, in step S1004, the image data file provided with the image data control information is delivered.

Next, the control means 105 controls the data processing means 106 based on the image data control information, and
The procedure until 07 notifies the operator will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 1, 2, 4, 7 and 11. In the present embodiment, a procedure in which the control unit 105 suppresses the function of the data processing unit 106 in advance will be described.

FIG. 10 shows the data control information adding means 103.
The data analysis means 104 analyzes the image data distributed by, extracts image data control information, and the control means 105 controls the data processing means 106 based on the rough control information, and the control means 105 controls the data processing means 106 based on the image data control information. 5 is a flowchart until a notification of the content of restriction is displayed by a display unit 107.

The flow described in this flowchart is a preparation process of the data processing unit 106 when the operator instructs the data processing unit 106 to start some image processing such as editing or printing of a certain image. Since the processing is performed, the description will be made from the state where the data processing unit 106 is activated.

In FIG. 10, the first step S1101 is that the operator issues an instruction to edit image data to the data processing means 106.
Do for Next, in step S1102, the data analysis unit 104 extracts image data control information from the image data file for which the editing instruction has been issued in step S1101. In the present embodiment, since the image data control information is provided in the comment area of the image data file as shown in FIG. 4, the data analysis unit 104 determines that the image data control information start identifier 412 exists in the comment area. Or do an analysis. Then, as a result of the analysis, when it is determined that the image restriction information exists, the entity 413 of the image data control information is extracted. Taking FIG. 4 as an example, a character string “0002” is extracted.

Next, in step S1103, the control means 105
Acquires the editing function to be suppressed from the control data shown in FIG. 7 based on the image data control information extracted in step S1102 in order to suppress the editing function of the data processing means 106.

For example, if the image data control information extracted in step S1102 is in the first stage of the editing restriction level, there is no function to suppress it in the first stage, and there is no data to be obtained. Acquires the function of suppressing in the first and second stages. If it is the third stage, all the functions of the first, second, and third stages are obtained from the control data.

Next, the flow advances to step S1104, where the control means 1
05 to the data processing means 106 in the above step S1
Notify the suppression function acquired in 103 and stop using that function.

Next, in step S1105, step S110
The control unit 105 requests the display unit 107 to notify the suppression state acquired in step 3 or requests the display unit 107 to display the data processing unit 106 in a state where the suppression function is stopped in step S1104. As described above, when the processing of the flowchart in FIG. 10 is completed, the data processing unit 106 is ready to process image data.

Next, the suppression of editing of image data by image data control information in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 11 shows a display example in which the display means 107 displays, via the CRT 1006, the state of the data processing means 106 in which the processing can be performed. Note that in the description of FIG. 11, the data analysis unit 104, the control unit 105, the data processing unit 106,
The display means 107 is expressed as an application in the sense of supervising.

In FIG. 11, reference numerals 1201, 1202, 1203
Is an example of an application screen displayed on the display unit 107 in the present embodiment. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1201 denotes first-stage image data control information;
At 202, image data control information of the second stage is assumed. At 1203, image data having image data control information of the third stage is handled.

Reference numeral 1204 denotes an editing area on the application screen according to the present embodiment.
Through an external input operation such as a touch panel or a pointing device 1009, or an editing menu operation described later, editing processing such as combining, editing, and superimposing of image data is performed, and a display request is issued to the display unit 107. create. Since all editing processes are restricted in 1203, only image data can be displayed in the editing area 1204.

Reference numeral 1205 denotes a guideline for indicating image data in the editing area 1204 and a state where the data is selected. In the application according to the present embodiment, a guideline such as 1205 is displayed when a target in the editing area is selected, and when the selection is released, the guideline is deleted. Shall be.

Reference numeral 1206 denotes a selection menu for inputting / outputting a file in the application according to the present embodiment. The selection menu is used to open a document file displayed in the editing area 1204 and save the document file when selected by the pointing device 1009. And processing such as closing.

Reference numeral 1207 denotes an editing menu for specifying an editing operation in the application according to the present embodiment. By specifying one of the menus 1207 for a target selected in the editing area 1204, The corresponding editing process is executed. Also, there are some such as the “insert image” menu, which can perform processing even if there is no target selected in the editing area 1204.

Next, the flow of processing when handling image data having image data control information at each stage will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 1201 denotes an example of a display screen when image data having first-stage image data control information is handled, that is, when image data that can be edited is handled. If image data having the same restriction is selected in the editing area 1204, an instruction to start editing the image data is issued in step S1101, and a guideline 1205 is displayed around the data.

Next, after the image data control information is extracted from the image file in steps S1102 and S1103 of the flowchart of FIG. 10 and the function to be suppressed is obtained, the function is stopped in step S1104. In step S1105, the contents are notified to the display means 107, and the display is changed so that the processing item in the target edit menu 1207 cannot be selected. In addition, 1201
Since this example deals with data that has no editing restrictions,
The display state of the edit menu 1207 is not changed.

Reference numeral 1202 denotes an example of a display screen when image data having the image data control information of the second stage is handled, that is, when image data such as the color conversion and the image filter that limits the above-described editing processing is handled. is there. Also in this case, similarly to the processing described above, the functions to be suppressed are displayed on the display unit 1 by the steps from step S1101 to step S1105.
07 is notified.

At 1202, since some processes on the edit menu 1207 are to be suppressed, the display means 1
Since the menu for designating the corresponding process is different from the processable normal menu display under the control of 07, for example, a suppressed state such as gray-out display is displayed and the state cannot be selected.

Reference numeral 1203 denotes an example of a display screen when image data having image data control information at the third stage is handled, that is, when image data for which all editing processing is restricted is handled. In this case as well, the steps
Through the steps from S1101 to S1105, the suppression target function is notified to the display means 107.

At 1203, all the processes on the edit menu 1207 are to be suppressed.
Under the control of 7, all menus are in a state in which selection is impossible together with a display indicating a suppressed state such as grayout display.

The editing functions which are suppressed for the image data in the state of the screen display examples 1202 and 1203, for example, the functions cannot be selected in order to perform the color conversion, so that the functions are suppressed according to the editing restriction information. Is done. The display mode of the display unit 107 is not limited to the above-described one. For example, the color and brightness of each regulated menu may be changed, or the menu display portion may blink. .

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, in addition to the notification of the suppression function of FIG. 11 in the above-described first embodiment, the suppression function by the display unit 107 for the purpose of notifying the operator of the notification of the suppression function more clearly. It explains the method of notification.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1301 denotes an example of the editing application screen in the present embodiment, and the screen display examples 1201, 1202, and 1201 in FIG.
This is the state displayed before 203. It should be noted that also in the description of this drawing, the data analysis means 104, the control means 105,
The data processing means 106 and the display means 107 are expressed as an application in the sense of controlling them.

A selection menu 1206 is the same as the selection menu 1206 in FIG. 11, and is a selection menu for inputting / outputting a file in the application of the present embodiment. A means for performing processing such as saving and closing a document file is provided.

An edit menu 1207 is the same as the edit menu 1207 in FIG. 11, and is an edit menu for designating an edit operation in the application according to the present embodiment, and provides a means for designating various edit processes.
In the figure, since there is no image data to be edited, all the editing menu items are in a suppressed state, for example, grayout display.

Reference numeral 1304 denotes the pointing device 10.
09 is a mouse pointer displayed in conjunction with 09, and 13
It is assumed that the processing of the target selected in 04 is executed.
In FIG. 12, the "open file" menu is selected.

Reference numeral 1305 denotes a warning panel displayed when opening image data having image data control information.

When opening image data having image data control information, the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG.
The editing function suppressed by the processing from S1101 to S1104 is notified from the control means to the display means, and the warning panel 130
5, the contents are displayed.

In the panel 1305, reference numeral 1306 denotes a character string indicating the editing process to be suppressed, which is obtained based on the image data control information at each stage. It is targeted. 1
Buttons 307 and 1308 are used to designate continuation and cancellation of processing, respectively, and each processing is executed by selecting with the pointing device 1009.

After the operator confirms the image data suppression information on the warning panel and gives an instruction to continue the processing with the continuation button 1307, the data processing means shown in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment continues. Screen display.

<Third Embodiment> In the present embodiment, the editing function suppressing method and display example described in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the first embodiment and the first embodiment of the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a function suppression method different from the function suppression method based on image data control information in which FIG. 12 is added is realized.

In this embodiment, FIGS. 10, 11 and 1 of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.
13 and FIG. 14 instead of FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display for notifying the editing application by the display unit (107) of the present embodiment of the suppression of the function, instead of FIG. 11 and FIG. In the description of this drawing, the data analysis unit 104, the control unit 105, the data processing unit 106, and the display unit 107 are expressed as an application in the sense of controlling them.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. Instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the image data distributed by the data control information providing means 103 in the present embodiment is subjected to data analysis. The means 104 analyzes and extracts image data control information, and the control means 105 controls the data processing means 1 based on the control information.
6 shows a procedure until the control unit displays the notification of the restriction content based on the image data control information on the display unit 107. Note that this figure illustrates a state in which the application has already been started and editing is performed.

Referring to FIG. 13, reference numeral 1401 denotes an example of an editing application screen according to the present embodiment. 14
Reference numeral 02 denotes graphic data arranged in the editing area, which does not have editing restrictions. 1402
Has been selected for editing and the guidelines are displayed.

Reference numeral 1304 denotes a mouse pointer which is displayed in conjunction with a pointing device 1009 similar to the mouse pointer 1304 in FIG. 12, and it is assumed that the processing of the object selected in 1304 is executed.

In FIG. 13, image data 1402 having no image data control information or image data 1402 having edit restriction information in the edit restriction stage 1 is selected.
The guidelines are displayed in.

Reference numeral 1404 denotes image data having the image data control information of the second stage. Since mixed planting is not suppressed, the image data can coexist on the same screen as the graphic data 1402. Here, the pointing device 1009
By moving the mouse pointer, the mouse pointer 1304 is moved to arrange the image data 1402 so as to overlap the image data 1404.

[0123] Reference numeral 1405 denotes a display screen when the movement processing is performed. The image data 1404 having the image data control information is subjected to the editing process of “overlapping up and down” in which the image data 1404 is displayed in an overlapping manner and the vertical relationship is adjusted. The editing means is notified to the display means, and the warning panel 14
06 displays its contents.

In the warning panel 1406, reference numeral 1407 is a character string of the warning content obtained based on the image data control information of the corresponding stage (the second stage in the figure). Reference numeral 1408 denotes a confirmation button for confirming a warning. When a selection is made with the pointing device 1009, the display of the panel ends, and the screen 1401 returns to the screen 1401 before the movement of the graphic data 1402.

Next, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 7, FIG.
Will be described in comparison with a screen display example.
First, in the first step S1501, the application is instructed to start editing data including the image data 1404 displayed in the editing area of the display example 1401 to the application.

Next, the flow advances to step S1502, where the data analysis means 104 extracts the image data control information added to the image data 1404. Then, the extracted image data control information is sent to the control means 105. The control means 105 stores the transmitted image data control information in a memory area such as the RAM 1002.

The image data is sent to the data processing unit 106.
To the display means 1 so that the display example 1401 is displayed.
07, requesting display, and the display unit 107 displays a screen through the CRT 1006.

Next, the flow advances to step S1503, in which the operator waits for the application to execute an editing function with respect to the image data 1404.
Proceed to. In FIG. 13, the process proceeds to step S1504 when an instruction of the “overlap up / down” function is given to the image data 1404 as in the display example 1405.

Next, in step S1505, the control means 105 acquires the editing restriction level of the designated function from the control data shown in FIG. In order to obtain the editing restriction level of the “overlapping up / down” function in the example of FIG. 13, the “overlapping up / down” function is searched from the function group grouped at each stage, and the editing restriction level to which the detected group belongs is determined. It is realized by acquiring. In the case of the present embodiment, since the second stage is acquired, it is understood that the suppression is the second stage.

In step S1506, the image data 1404 extracted in step S1502 and stored in the RAM 1002 or the like.
The image data control information is compared with the editing restriction level of the function indicated by the item acquired in step S1505, and it is determined whether or not the function can be executed. The “up / down overlap” function is a function that is suppressed in the second stage.
No. 4 is not permitted because it is the second-stage editing restriction information.

In step S1507, the control unit 105 notifies the data processing unit 106 of the function permitted in step S1507, and the data processing unit 106 executes the function.

If the execution is not permitted in step S1506, the flow advances to step S1508, and a warning panel 1406 for informing the display means 107 of the rejection of the execution from the control means 105.
Is displayed and the editing process to be suppressed is notified. Upon receiving the notification, the display unit 107 displays a warning panel 1406.

Then, in step S1509, after confirming, the operator instructs that the notice has been confirmed with the confirm button 1408. When the control unit 105 receives the notification of the instruction, the process proceeds to step S1510.

In step S1510, the control means 105 notifies the data processing means 106 to reject the execution.
The data processing unit cancels the moving process of the image data 1402 upon receiving the refusal notice of the execution, and the display example 140
The display unit 107 returns to the state of 1 and requests display to the display unit 107. The display unit 107 performs display through the CRT 1006.

According to the above procedure, notification of function suppression and actual function suppression are realized by the image data control information. In this embodiment, the first embodiment,
Compared to the second embodiment, the pointing device 10 can be used without performing a function execution instruction from an edit menu.
The function to be executed by the operation 09 and the effect on suppression of a function that occurs as a result of the function execution on image data that does not have image restriction information or has a low restriction stage as shown in FIG. large.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the present embodiment, the functions are suppressed by combining the first and third embodiments described above. That is,
The present invention realizes suppression of the edit menu in advance and suppression by image data control information by permission determination of the execution instruction when an execution instruction of the editing function is issued.

<Fifth Embodiment> This embodiment realizes function suppression by combining the above-described second embodiment and third embodiment. That is,
In addition to the fourth embodiment, a method of notifying the suppression function on a warning panel before the start of editing is realized.

<Sixth Embodiment> This embodiment is different from the first to fifth embodiments in that the control for imposing the editing restriction shown in FIG. 8 on the image processing apparatus is performed. This is an example in the case of having control data instead of data.

Hereinafter, a description of control data replacing FIG. 8 will be made with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 shows the present embodiment.
This is control data for imposing editing restrictions on the image processing apparatus in accordance with the editing restriction information.

The data is provided with an editing restriction level for each function to be suppressed. The expression of the editing restriction level may have either a restriction level or a permission level. In the present embodiment, a permitted level is given.

Next, a method for obtaining the editing restriction level for the editing function in step S1103 in FIG. 10 and step S1504 in FIG. 14 when using the control data shown in FIG. 15 will be described.

First, in step S1103 in FIG. 11,
The restriction levels of all functions of the control data are checked, and those lower than the restriction levels of the image data are extracted.
For example, if the image data is at the editing restriction level 2,
It suffices to extract lower level 1 functions.
If the restriction level is 3, the functions of level 1 and level 2 are extracted.

Next, in the case of step S1504 in FIG. 14, since the function to be acquired is a single function, the editing functions of the control data are sequentially searched, and the search is terminated at the time when the editing functions are detected. What is necessary is just to acquire the restriction level of the searched function.

The restriction level detected in step S1504 of FIG. 14 is expressed as a permission level, and in step S1505, which is compared with the restriction level of image data, the logic is reverse to that of the sixth embodiment. Make a decision. That is, in the sixth embodiment, a function having a restriction level equal to or greater than the editing restriction level of image data is not permitted to perform processing, but in the present embodiment, an editing function having a level equal to or greater than the restriction level of image data is not permitted. Function allows execution.

As described above, even in the case of using the control data shown in FIG.
In the fifth embodiment, the function suppression by the image data control information can be realized similarly to the control data shown in FIG.

<Seventh Embodiment> This embodiment is a computer according to the first to sixth embodiments which stores image data and provides the stored image data. And an example constituted by an image data processing computer for editing and printing image data.

In this embodiment, a plurality of image data distribution computers and a plurality of image data processing computers may exist. In the present embodiment, the computers are not connected to each other by a network.

In the present embodiment, a description will be given using a functional configuration diagram of FIG. 16 instead of FIG. 2 in the first to sixth embodiments.

First, the configuration in the present embodiment is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of a case where a plurality of computers are applied in this embodiment instead of the configuration diagram of FIG. 2 applied in the first to sixth embodiments.

In FIG. 16, reference numeral 1701 denotes an image data distribution unit which stores image data and image data control information corresponding to the image data and includes an image supply apparatus of the present invention for the purpose of distributing the stored image data. It shows the concept of a computer.

Reference numeral 1702 denotes the concept of an image data processing computer including the image processing apparatus of the present invention for processing image data such as editing and printing image data. 101
Is a registration unit that is equivalent to the registration unit 101 in FIG.

A storage unit 102 is equivalent to the storage unit 102 in FIG. 2, and stores image data and image data control information corresponding to the image data. 103 is the data control information adding means 10 in FIG.
3 is a data control information providing means similar to that of FIG.
The distribution request from the storage unit 703 is obtained from the image data stored in the storage unit 1702, the image data control information corresponding to the image data is obtained, added to the image data, and passed to the browsing unit 1703.

Reference numeral 1703 denotes an image distribution computer 170.
A means for browsing the image data stored in the first storage means 102 is provided, and the user browses the image data stored in the storage means 102 by this browsing means, and the image desired to be processed by the image processing computer is displayed. If there is, a request for distribution of the image data is made to the data control information providing means 103, the image data provided with the image data control information is received, and an arbitrary floppy disk desired by the user is used so that the image processing computer can use it. Disc or CD-
Writing is performed on a removable disk such as R by the removable disk drive 1011.

Reference numeral 104 denotes the data analysis means 1 in FIG.
Reads image data stored on the hard disk 1010 or the removable disk drive 1011 and extracts image data control information from the image data to which the image data control information has been added. To the control means 105.

A control unit 105 is equivalent to the control unit 105 in FIG. 2, and controls the data processing unit 106 and the display unit 107 based on the image data control information extracted by the data analysis unit 104.

Reference numeral 106 denotes the data processing means 1 in FIG.
This is a data processing unit that performs processing on image data such as editing and printing, or processing such as temporary storage of image data in preparation for the above processing.

Reference numeral 107 is equivalent to the display means 107 in FIG.
Display means for displaying the display request 05. Note that the registration unit 101, the data control information providing unit 103, and the browsing unit 1703 are configured by a program executed on the image data distribution computer 1701.
It is stored in the OM 1003 or the HDD 1010. This is realized by being developed and used in the RAM 1002. Data recorded in an external storage device such as a CD-ROM is read out by the removable disk drive 1011 and, if necessary, temporarily stored in the HDD 1010 and then
It is also possible to use it developed in AM1002.

The storage means 102 is realized by a generally used database system (DB), and is realized by a program and stored data.
The programs are stored in the ROM 1003 or the HDD 1010 in the same manner as the registration unit 103 and the like, and are realized by being developed and used in the RAM 1002.

However, what is recorded on an external storage device such as a CD-ROM is transferred to the removable disk drive 10.
It is also possible to read it out at 11, and once save it to the HDD 1010, and then expand it to the RAM 1002 for use. The data stored in the storage means is HD
D1010, RAM 1002, or removable disk.

Data analysis means 104, control means 105,
The data processing means 106 and the display means 107 are programs executed on the image processing computer 1702,
Stored in the OM 1003 or the HDD 1010,
It is realized by developing and using M1002,
Data recorded in an external storage device such as a CD-ROM is read out by the removable disk drive 1011 and, if necessary, temporarily stored in the HDD 1010 and then stored in the RAM 1010.
02 can also be used.

In this embodiment, the data analyzing means 104, the control means 105, and the data processing means 10
6. The display means 107 is provided as an application including a program for realizing each means.

Next, a screen display example of the browsing means 1703 will be described. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 1801 denotes a screen displayed by the browsing unit. Reference numeral 1802 denotes a viewing area for displaying data stored in the storage unit 102. In the present embodiment, image data, an image number, an image name, and image data control information are displayed.

1803 is an image processing computer 170
2 is an image number designation field for designating the image number of the image data desired to be processed. Reference numeral 1804 denotes a storage destination specification field for specifying a storage destination of image data desired by the user. 1
Reference numeral 805 denotes a save instruction button for saving image data.

<Data Flow and Processing> Next, FIGS.
The data flow and processing in the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, FIG. 2 applied to the sixth embodiment from the first embodiment will be described.
A description will be given from the browsing of the image data in the storage unit 102 by the browsing unit 1703, which is the difference from the configuration of FIG.

Therefore, the following description is based on the premise that the image data and the image data control information described above with reference to FIG. The description after the image data is fetched is the same as the description of the first to sixth embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

First, the user activates the browsing unit 1703 to obtain desired image data from the image data stored in the storage unit 102. When the browsing unit 1703 is activated, the browsing unit 1703 sequentially acquires the records of the image data information group 601 and the image data control information group 602 in order to display the storage unit 102 in the browsing area 1802, and from the image storage 603. Acquire the corresponding image data and set the image number, image name,
Viewing area 18 together with image data control information (restriction stage)
02 is displayed.

The user browses the image data displayed in the browsing area 1802 and, when finding the desired image data, enters the image number of the desired image data into the image number designation field 1
803 is input. Then, in order to save the image data to a removable disk desired by the user, a save destination designation field 1
A storage destination removable disk drive is designated in 804. After the above specification, a removable disk is set in the drive specified in the storage destination specification column 1804, and a storage instruction is given by a storage instruction button 1805.

The browsing unit 1703 sends the image number to the data control information providing unit 103 in accordance with the given storage instruction, and requests distribution of the image. Data control information providing means 10
3 acquires the image data of the requested image number from the storage means 102 according to the distribution request, and adds the image data control information. Note that the method of acquiring the image data and providing the image data control information is as described in the first embodiment. Images with image control division added
The data is passed from the data control information providing unit 103 to the browsing unit 1703 and is written to the removable disk specified in the storage destination specification column 1804.

By performing the above processing, image data that the user desires to process in the image processing computer 1702 is stored in the removable disk. Subsequently, the user activates an application of the image processing computer 1702. This is realized by using the “open file” menu in the application selection menu 1206 or the “insert image data” in the edit menu 1207.

After that, the image data is protected by the image data control information by the method described in the first to sixth embodiments.

<Eighth Embodiment> This embodiment describes a case where a plurality of computers connected to a network are used in the first to sixth embodiments. Computers connected to the network
Image data distribution computer (server computer) including the image supply device of the present embodiment for storing computer image data and providing the stored image data, and image data including an image processing device for editing and printing image data It is composed of a processing computer (client computer).

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a case where the present embodiment is constituted by a plurality of computers instead of the block diagram of FIG. 2 applied in the first to sixth embodiments. is there.

In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1901 denotes an image data distribution computer for storing image data and image data control information corresponding to the image data, and for distributing the stored image data. In the present embodiment, the computer is connected to a network and is mainly referred to as a server computer because of its main purpose of providing data.

In FIG. 18, reference numeral 1902 denotes an image data processing computer for processing image data such as editing and printing image data. In the present embodiment,
It is referred to as a client computer because the main purpose is for a user to perform processing on image data including data provided from a server computer.

A registration unit 101 is the same as the registration unit 101 in FIG. 2, and registers image data in the storage unit 102. 102 is a storage unit 102 in FIG.
And storage means for storing image data and image data control information corresponding to the image data.

Reference numeral 103 is the same as the data control information providing means 103 in FIG. 2, and is a data control information providing means.
The image data stored in the storage unit 1902 is obtained in response to the image data distribution request from 903 via the network, and the image data control information corresponding to the image data is obtained and added to the image data.

[0177] Reference numeral 1903 denotes a server computer 190.
A means for browsing the image data stored in the first storage means 102 is provided, and the user browses the image data stored in the storage means 102 by the browsing means, and there is an image which the client computer desires to process. In this case, a request for distribution of the image data is made to the data control information providing unit 103 via the network. The image data to which the image data control information is added is acquired by the browsing unit 1903 or acquired by an application including the data analysis unit 104, the control unit 105, the data processing unit 106, and the display unit 107.

Reference numeral 104 denotes the data analysis means 1 in FIG.
In the same manner as in step 04, the image data is read from the hard disk 1010 or the removable disk drive 1011 and extracted from the image data to which the image data control information has been added, and is passed to the control unit 105.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a control unit which is equivalent to the control unit 105 in FIG. 2 and controls the data processing unit 106 and the display unit 107 based on the image data control information extracted by the data analysis unit 104.

Reference numeral 106 denotes the data processing means 1 in FIG.
This is a data processing unit that performs processing on image data such as editing and printing, or processing such as temporary storage of image data in preparation for the above processing. 107
Is a display unit that is equivalent to the display unit 107 in FIG. 2 and displays a display request of the data processing unit 106 and the control unit 105.

1904 is equivalent to the network interface 1004 in FIG. 1 and performs network control for connecting the server computer 1901 to the network. The image data control information is stored in the storage unit 102 and the image data control information 103 on the network. It is possible to transfer data on the server computer such as the provided image data.

1905 is equivalent to the network interface 1004 and the network interface 107 in FIG. 1, performs network control for connecting the client computer to the network, and displays the browsing means 1 on the client computer 1902.
903 or data analysis means 102, control means 10
3. An application including the data processing unit 1903 and the display unit 104 can acquire data on the network.

Note that the registration means 101 and the data control information provision means 103 are programs executed on the server computer 1901,
10, which is realized by expanding and using the RAM 1002. The data stored in an external storage device such as a CD-ROM is read out by the removable disk drive 1011 and temporarily stored in the HDD 1010 if necessary. It is also possible to use it after expanding it to the RAM 1002 later.

The storage means 102 is realized by a generally used database system (DB), and is realized by a program and stored data. As for the program, the RO
M1003 and HDD 1010, and are stored in RAM
It is realized by expanding to 1002 and using it.
Data recorded in an external storage device such as a D-ROM is read out by the removable disk drive 1011 and, if necessary, temporarily stored in the HDD 1010 and then stored in the RAM 10010.
2, it is also possible to use. The data stored in the storage means includes an HDD 1010, a RAM 10
02 or a removable disk.

Browsing means 1903, data analyzing means 10
4. The control means 105, the data processing means 106, and the display means 107 are programs executed on the client computer 1902,
0 is stored in the external storage device such as a CD-ROM, read out by the removable disk drive 1011 and temporarily stored in the HDD 1010 if necessary. It is also possible to use it after expanding it to the RAM 1002 later.

In the present embodiment, the browsing means 1903 uses a commonly used network browsing means, and functions not provided in the general browsing means are extended means of the general browsing means. (Plug-in). Since the extension of the browsing unit by the extension unit is a general method, a detailed description is omitted. In addition, data analysis means 104, control means 105,
The data processing means 106 and the display means 107 are provided as applications including programs for realizing the respective means.

<Data Flow and Processing> Next, FIGS.
The data flow and processing according to the present embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, FIG. 2 applied to the first to sixth embodiments is used.
Client computer 190 which is the difference from the configuration of
Storage means 10 on the server computer 1901 via the network by the browsing means 1903 arranged in
The description from the browsing of the image data in 2 to the loading of the image data into the application arranged in the client computer will be described.

Therefore, the following description is based on the premise that the image data and the image data control information described with reference to FIG. The description after the image data is fetched is the same as the description of the first to sixth embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

First, using the client computer 1902, the user activates the browsing unit 1903 to obtain desired image data from the image data stored in the storage unit 102 on the server computer 1901.

The screen display example of the browsing unit 1903 in the present embodiment is substantially equivalent to the screen display example of the browsing unit 1703 described in the eighth embodiment, and the storage destination designation column contains image data. Usage of browsing means 1
Since it is explicit that the client computer 903 is the activated client computer, the storage destination designation field 1804 may be omitted. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the storage destination designation field 1804 is omitted.

When the browsing unit 1903 is activated, the image data information group 601 and the image data group 601 are displayed in order for the storage unit 102 to display in the browsing area 1802 via the network connected via the network interfaces 1904 and 1905.
The records of the image data control information group 602 are sequentially obtained,
The corresponding image data is acquired from the image storage 603, and displayed as the preview image together with the image number, the image name, and the image data control information (restriction stage) in the viewing area 1802.

When the user browses the image data displayed in the browse area 1802 and finds the desired image data,
The image number of the desired image data is entered in the image number designation column 180
Enter 3 Subsequently, a save instruction is given by a save instruction button 1805.

The browsing unit 1903 sends the image number to the data control information providing unit 103 in accordance with the save instruction, and requests distribution of the image. The data control information providing unit 103 acquires the image data of the requested image number from the storage unit 102 according to the distribution request, and provides the image data control information. The method for acquiring image data and providing image data control information is as described in the first embodiment.

When the generation of the image to which the image data control information is added is completed, a notice of the completion of preparation is sent from the data control information adding means 103 to the browsing means 1903 along with the path of the image data file.

When the browsing unit 1903 receives the notification of the completion of preparation, and if the browsing unit 1903 itself saves the image data in the client computer, the browsing unit 1903 obtains the image data with the image data control information added from the server computer and obtains the HDD Write to.

At this time, if the application has a temporary storage function such as an electronic album for the purpose of easily using the image data in the application, the image data stored in the client computer 1902 is transmitted to the application. Instructs registration for the temporary storage function.

When the application acquires image data from the server computer 1901, the preparation completion notification of the data control information providing unit 103 is sent to the browsing unit 1903.
When the is received, the application is instructed to acquire the image data together with the path of the image data file.

The application acquires the image data from the server computer 1901 and writes it in the HDD 1010 or the like in accordance with the above acquisition instruction. At this time, if the application has a temporary storage function such as an electronic album in order to easily use the image data in the application,
If the client application has a function of temporarily storing image data with respect to the application, registration for the temporary storage function is performed. By performing the above processing, the image data that the user desires to process is stored in the client computer 1902.

Subsequently, the user operates the image processing computer 1
The application 902 is started. This is realized by using the “open file” menu in the application selection menu 1206 or the “insert image data” in the edit menu 1207. If the application has a temporary storage function, select an image from the image data managed by the temporary storage function. If there is no temporary storage function, the basic software (OS)
Acquire image data using file management provided by, for example.

As described above, the client computer obtains the image provided with the image data control information from the server computer connected via the network, and processes the image data by the image data control information without violating the intention of the image provider. Can be performed.

<Ninth Embodiment> This embodiment is applied to audio data, and uses SMF format audio data instead of JFIF format image data described in the image data embodiment. I do.

In this case, of the various data defined by the meta event which is one of the data sets recorded in the data section in the track chunk which is the various data area defined in the SMF format, any text data of The multi-step data control information used in the present invention is embedded in a text area or a copyright display area where writing is permitted.

[0203] The registration means 101 stores the audio data and
The voice data control information for the voice data is registered, and the storage unit 102 stores and manages the voice data and voice data control information corresponding to the voice data. The data control information providing means 103 embeds the audio data control information in a text area in the meta event area of the audio data in the SMF format. The data analysis means 104 extracts the audio data control information from the data and passes it to the control means. The control means 105 regulates the processing functions of the data processing means 106 according to the audio data control information.

Each stage of the audio data control information in the present embodiment is determined as follows. First stage: Free editing (allows partial editing of audio data) Second stage: Partially editable (permits editing of entire audio data) Third stage: No editing (only playback)

The data processing means 106 regulates the editing function according to each stage. For example, in the third stage, all functions other than the playback function are regulated. In the second stage, partial editing is restricted by restricting a partial selection function for selecting a part of audio data.

In the first stage, no particular restrictions are imposed. The display means 107 notifies the contents of the regulation by an instruction to start editing the audio data, disables the display of the regulation function of the data processing means 106, and indicates that the regulation is performed by the warning panel if the execution instruction of the regulation function is given. Announce. As described above, the present invention can be realized even when the present invention is applied to audio data.

<Tenth Embodiment> This embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to moving image data, and a moving image using MPEG instead of the JFIF format image data described in the image data embodiment. A data format (hereinafter, referred to as an MPEG file format) is used.

In this case, in the MPEG file format, in a comment area of the JFIF format for image data or a copyright display area or a text area of the SMF format for audio data, an area equivalent to a text control area (hereinafter, referred to as a data control information embedding area). The data control information having a plurality of stages used in the present invention is embedded.

The registration means 101 registers moving image data and moving image data control information for the moving image data, and the storage means 102 stores the moving image data and moving image data control information corresponding to the moving image data. Store and manage.

The data control information adding means 103 embeds moving image data control information in the data control information embedding area in the MPEG file format. Data analysis means 1
Reference numeral 04 extracts moving image data control information from the data and passes it to the control means. The control means 105 regulates the processing functions of the data processing means 106 according to the moving image data control information.

[0211] Each stage of the moving image data control information in the present embodiment is determined as follows. First stage: Free editing (allows partial copying of moving image data) Second stage: Partially editable (permits copying of entire moving image data) Third stage: No editing (only playback)

[0212] The data processing means 106 regulates the editing function according to each stage. For example, in the third stage, all functions other than the reproduction function are regulated. In the second stage, partial copying is restricted by restricting a partial selection function for selecting a part of moving image data. There is no regulation in the first stage.

[0213] The display means 107 notifies the contents of regulation by displaying an instruction to start editing of moving image data, by displaying the contents, displaying a predetermined mark, and partially changing the color / brightness, and the like. A disable display is performed, and if an instruction to execute the restriction function is issued, a warning panel notifies that the restriction is performed. As described above, the present invention can be applied to moving image data.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention) The present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but is also applicable to a device composed of one device. You may.

Further, in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments, a device connected to the above-mentioned various devices or a computer in a system is operated so as to operate various devices so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. The present invention also includes programs implemented by supplying the program code of the software described above and operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer,
For example, a storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
A magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a 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) or other operating system running on the computer. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software or the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

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

[0219]

As described above, according to the present invention, data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is added,
Since the operation of the data processing means for performing various processes is controlled based on the data control information, it is possible to regulate the processes to be regulated according to the restriction stage of the data control information. . Thereby, fine regulation can be realized according to the intention of the creative data provider. For example, in accordance with the image data control information,
It is possible to accurately reflect the intention of the image data provider, such as restrictions on editing and printing size and the degree of use for commercial purposes. Further, according to another feature of the present invention, it is possible to realize the above-mentioned regulation without forcing a user of the above-mentioned data more than necessary regulation,
By changing the display, the regulations existing in the data can be more clearly notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a system configuration diagram of a computer included in an image processing apparatus and an image supply apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a module configuration diagram according to first to sixth embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating image control information according to an embodiment of the present invention and an example of a processing result obtained by an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a format of image data and a state where image control information is added in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of image data and image control information stored in a storage unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example of a registration unit in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating control data used by a control unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering image data and image control information in a storage unit by the registration unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of an image control information providing unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a control unit in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the data processing means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a regulation notification for image data to which image control information has been added in the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the data processing means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a control unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating control data used by a control unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a module configuration diagram according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example of a browsing unit according to the seventh embodiment and the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a module configuration according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Registration means 102 Storage means 103 Image control information provision means 104 Data analysis means 105 Control means 106 Data processing means 107 Display means 301 Example of image control information 302 Example of result of first stage image data processing 303 Result of second stage image data processing Example 304 Example of image data processing result of the third stage 401 Image data file 402 Header 403 Comment area 404 Original image data 411 Image control information storage example 412 Image control information start start identifier 413 Image control information entity 414 Image control information end identifier 601 Image Data information group 602 Image control information group 603 Image data storage 604 Image number 605 Image data file name 606 Image data name 607 Image number 608 Image control information entity 609 Image data file 701 Image file File specification field 702 image name specification field 703 edit restriction information specification field 704 image preview screen 705 image registration instruction button 706 image registration cancel button 1000 I / O bus (address bus, data bus and control bus) 1001 CPU 1002 RAM 1003 ROM 1004 Network interface (Net-I
/ F) 1005 Video RAM (VRAM) 1006 CRT 1007 Keyboard controller 1008 Keyboard 1009 Pointing device 1010 Hard disk drive 1011 Removable disk drive 1012 Printer control device 1013 External output device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Mitani 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (29)

[Claims] 1. A data analysis means for extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is provided, and performing various processes on the data to which the data control information is added. A data processing unit to perform; a display unit for displaying processing functions related to various processes performed by the data processing unit; and a control of the data processing unit and the display unit based on data control information extracted by the data analysis unit. And control means for performing, in accordance with data control information extracted from the data, control of performing a process to be controlled, and a display mode of a processing function related to the various processes in the display means. A data processing device for changing to a suppressed state display. 2. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the display means to display a notification display indicating that the data is processing-restricted. 3. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the display means to display, when a process to be regulated is selected, the fact that the process cannot be executed. 4. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the color of the display on the display unit as the suppression state display. 5. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means blinks a display on said display means as said suppression state display. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data control information is copyright information or edit restriction information based on the copyright information. 7. The editing restriction information includes data color conversion,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising at least one of sharpness, transparency setting, processing of a boundary portion, inversion, up / down of overlap, rotation, masking, insertion into a photo frame, and mixed planting. 8. The data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the editing restriction information is information for restricting processing contents stepwise according to the editing restriction level. 9. The data processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said control means controls processing based on a restriction level of said editing restriction information. 10. The data processing device according to claim 1, wherein the data is image data. 11. Accumulating data and data control information,
Storage means for managing, registration means for registering the data and data control information in the storage means, data control information providing means for extracting and providing data control information corresponding to the data in response to a data distribution request; A data supply device for distributing the data and the corresponding data control information in response to the data distribution request. 12. The data supply device according to claim 11, wherein the data control information is copyright information and a processing restriction code based on the copyright information. 13. The data supply device according to claim 11, wherein said data is image data. 14. An extraction step for extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is added, and a process regulated based on the data control information extracted in the extraction step. Performing a display step of displaying a function. 15. A registration step of registering data and data control information corresponding to the data, storing the data registered in the registration step,
A data supply method, comprising: a managing storage step; and an assigning step of extracting and assigning data control information corresponding to data in the data in response to a data distribution request. 16. A data supply device that distributes the data and corresponding data control information in response to a data distribution request, and regulates execution of a process to be regulated in accordance with data control information extracted from the data. And a data processing device for controlling a display mode of a processing function related to various processes on the display means. The data supply device stores the data and the data control information and manages the data and the data control information. A registration unit for registering in the storage unit; and a data control information providing unit for extracting and providing data control information corresponding to the data in response to a data distribution request, wherein the data processing device performs various processes. Data analysis means for extracting the data control information from the data to which the data control information restricting the execution is provided; and Data processing means for performing various processing on the data, display means for displaying processing functions relating to the various processing, control of the data processing means and display means based on the data control information extracted by the data analysis means. Control means for performing, in accordance with the data control information extracted from the data, restricting the execution of the processing to be regulated, and controlling the display mode of the processing function on the display means. The data processing system is characterized by changing to the suppression status display. 17. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein the control means causes the display means to display a notification display indicating that the data is subjected to the processing restriction. 18. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein said control means causes said display means to display that execution is impossible when a process to be restricted is selected. 19. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein the control means changes the color of the display on the display means as the suppression state display. 20. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein said control means blinks a display on said display means as a suppressed state display. 21. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein the data control information is copyright information and a processing restriction code based on the copyright information. 22. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein said data is image data. 23. The data processing system according to claim 16, wherein the data control information is copyright information or edit restriction information based on the copyright information. 24. The editing restriction information includes at least one of data color conversion, sharpness, transparency setting, boundary processing, inversion, true up / down, rotation, masking, insertion into a photo frame, and mixed planting. The data processing system according to claim 23, wherein: 25. The data processing system according to claim 23, wherein the editing restriction information restricts in-process customers according to the level thereof. 26. The data processing system according to claim 25, wherein said control means regulates processing based on the level of editing restriction information. 27. An extracting step of extracting the data control information from data to which data control information for restricting the execution of various processes is added, and a process regulated based on the data control information extracted in the extracting step. A storage medium, wherein a program for executing a display step of displaying a function is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. 28. A registration step of registering data and data control information corresponding to the data, storing the data registered in the registration step,
A program constituting a data supply method comprising: a storage step of managing; and, in data in response to a data distribution request, an adding step of adding data control information corresponding to the data, are recorded in a computer-readable manner. Storage medium characterized by the following. 29. The storage medium according to claim 27, wherein said data is image data.