Patent ID: 8649616

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an image separating unit that separates and creates a plurality of derivative images from an input image based on a feature of the input image, wherein the plurality of derivative images includes a mask image, foreground image and background image; a coding unit that codes each of the derivative images separately and couples coded data of the derivative images to generate multilayer structure data; and a controller that controls a code amount of coded data of at least one derivative image with a low code assignment priority out of the derivative images so that a data amount of the multilayer structure data is equal to or less than a limit amount by deleting the code amount of the at least one derivative image with the low code assignment priority, wherein the controller sets the low code assignment priority in the background image, a next low code assignment priority in the foreground image, and a high code assignment priority in the mask image, the controller determines an excess amount of coded data by calculating a code amount of the data amount of the multilayer structure data which exceeds the limit amount, and the controller deletes the code amount with the next low code assignment priority when the excess amount of coded data is greater than or equal to a data amount of the coded data of the background image.