Patent ID: 7681049

Claim:
A first imaging apparatus comprising: an image data generating unit which generates first image data; an authentication data generating unit which generates first authentication data from the first image data; a receiving unit which receives second image data and second authentication data from an external device, wherein both the second image data and the second authentication data are generated by a second imaging apparatus, the second imaging apparatus is different from the first imaging apparatus, and the second authentication data is generated from the second image data; an authentication unit which has (a) a first authentication mode where said authentication unit authenticates, using the first authentication data, whether the first image data has been altered, and (b) a second authentication mode where said authentication unit authenticates, using the second authentication data, whether the second image data has been altered; and a display unit which (a) displays information indicating that the first image data was generated by the first imaging apparatus, if said authentication unit authenticates whether the first image data has been altered and (b) displays information indicating that the second image data was not generated by the first imaging apparatus, if said authentication unit authenticates whether the second image data has been altered.