IP Library Granted Patent US 8,011,586
Granted Patent B2
US 8,011,586 · App. 12/498,416 · Granted Sep 6, 2011

Apparatus, method, program, and storage medium

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,011,586
App. No.
12/498,416
Granted
Sep 6, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An object of the present invention is to reduce a processing time and make a printed image look better in appearance in processing of printing a two-dimensional code again. In order to achieve the above-described object, an apparatus according to the present invention includes decoding unit for decoding a non-upright two-dimensional code in a manuscript image, and synthesis unit for creating a two-dimensional code by using information obtained by the decoding, to synthesize the two-dimensional code in an upright state onto the manuscript image.

Claims (38)

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a decoding unit operable to decode a first two-dimensional code serving as a non-upright two-dimensional code in a manuscript image;

a synthesis unit operable to create a second two-dimensional code serving as an upright two-dimensional code by using information obtained by the decoding unit, to synthesize the second two-dimensional code onto the printed image data; and

a calculating unit operable to calculate a rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code,

wherein the synthesis unit determines whether the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is greater than a rotation angle threshold value (θ) determined by a threshold length Z, and, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is greater than the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the synthesis unit synthesizes the second two-dimensional code onto the printed image data by rotating the second two-dimensional code by the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code, and, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is less than or equal to the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the synthesis unit synthesizes the second two-dimensional code onto the printed image data without rotating the second two-dimensional code, and

wherein the rotation angle threshold value (θ) satisfies an equation:

A (sin θ+cos θ−1)≦ Z,

A being a length of one side of the first two-dimensional code in millimeters and the threshold length Z being in millimeters.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, the synthesis unit is operable to calculate a circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code, and to synthesize the second two-dimensional code in an upright state inside the calculated circumscribed rectangular area.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized in an upright state onto the printed image data, the synthesis unit is operable to change a color of pixels in the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, the synthesis unit is operable to calculate an area based on a circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code, and to synthesize the second two-dimensional code inside the calculated area based on the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, the synthesis unit is operable to change a color of pixels in the area based on the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code.

6. An image forming method comprising:

decoding a first two-dimensional code serving as a non-upright two-dimensional code in a manuscript image;

creating a second two-dimensional code serving as an upright two-dimensional code by using information obtained by the decoding, to synthesize the second two-dimensional code onto printed image data;

calculating a rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code; and

determining whether the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is greater than a rotation angle threshold value (θ) determined by a threshold length Z;

wherein, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is determined to be greater than the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data by rotating the second two-dimensional code by the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code,

wherein, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is determined to be less than or equal to the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data without rotating the second two-dimensional code, and

wherein the rotation angle threshold value (θ) satisfies an equation:

A (sin θ+cos θ−1)≦ Z,

A being a length of one side of the first two-dimensional code in millimeters and the threshold length Z being in millimeters.

7. The image forming method according to claim 6 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, a circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code is calculated, and the second two-dimensional code is synthesized in an upright state inside the calculated circumscribed rectangular area.

8. The image forming method according to claim 7 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized in an upright state onto the printed image data, a color of pixels in the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code is changed.

9. The image forming method according to claim 6 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, an area based on a circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code is calculated, and the second two-dimensional code is synthesized inside the calculated area based on the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code.

10. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein, if the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data, a color of pixels in an area based on the circumscribed rectangular area of the first two-dimensional code is changed.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program that, when executed by a computer processor, causes the computer processor to perform an image forming method, the method comprising:

decoding a first two-dimensional code serving as a non-upright two-dimensional code in a manuscript image;

creating a second two-dimensional code serving as an upright two-dimensional code by using information obtained by the decoding, to synthesize the second two-dimensional code onto printed image data; and

calculating a rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code; and

determining whether the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is greater than a rotation angle threshold value (θ) determined by a threshold length Z;

wherein, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is determined to be greater than the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data by rotating the second two-dimensional code by the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code,

wherein, if the rotation angle of the first two-dimensional code is determined to be less than or equal to the rotation angle threshold value (θ), the second two-dimensional code is synthesized onto the printed image data without rotating the second two-dimensional code, and

wherein the rotation angle threshold value (θ) satisfies an equation:

A (sin θ+cos θ−1)≦ Z,

A being a length of one side of the first two-dimensional code in millimeters and the threshold length Z being in millimeters.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the printed image data is image data obtained by eliminating the first two-dimensional code from the manuscript image.

13. The image forming method according to claim 6 , wherein the printed image data is image data obtained by eliminating the first two-dimensional code from the manuscript image.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2009
From: SATO, HIROCHIKA
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 023393/0139 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-185112 · Jul 16, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100012729A1 · Jan 21, 2010