Patent ID: 8339415

Claim:
An image processing apparatus, comprising: an image inputting electronic processing section for inputting image information for a plurality of images; an encoding electronic processing section for encoding incidental information relating to input main image or images into image data, and further wherein the encoded incidental information image data is in a form that may be directly transformed back into the incidental information; and an image integration electronic processing section for integrating the inputted main image or images and the encoded image data obtained by said encoding section so as to be displayed in respective regions of a display screen, wherein at least some of the image data has an aspect ratio that is adjusted for image integration, and further wherein aspect ratio adjustment data is utilized for image integration processing and further wherein an image arrangement position adjusting mechanism automatically adjusts a relative position of the plurality of images and the image integration processing section varies a size of the encoded image that is integrated with the main image data so that both longitudinal and lateral sizes of the composite image exhibit a predetermined aspect ratio and a luminance, shape or color of the encoded image define additional information.