Patent ID: 7072489
Filing Date: 2006-07-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus for processing image data to be printed in accordance with a print request from an external, comprising: a reception unit adapted to receive a print request and image data; an identifying information generation unit adapted to generate identifying information unique to the print request and the image data received by said reception unit; an embedding unit adapted to embed electronic watermark information indicating the identifying information in the image data; a storage unit adapted to store image data in which the electronic watermark information has been embedded into a storage medium by associating the image data with the identifying information; an output unit adapted to output the image data in which the electronic watermark information has been embedded to a print unit; a judgment unit adapted to judge whether or not the identifying information is included in the print request received by said reception unit; and a reprint control unit adapted to read image data related to the identifying information from the storage medium when it is judged that the identifying information is included and output the image data to the print unit, wherein said reprint control unit transmits information related to the previous print request corresponding to the identifying information to a sender of the print request.