JP3515738B2 - Content information reconstruction system and program recording medium for content information reconstruction - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for managing attribute information such as digital content and its copyright by a content identifier uniquely assigned to each content. In a system in which contents are distributed by being attached to both of them, it has become possible to easily restore lost digital watermarks and digital headers, or change the method of digital watermarks and the format of digital headers. The present invention relates to a content information reconstruction system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The distribution of various digital contents such as still images, moving images, music, and text data has been rapidly progressing in recent years. The issue in the distribution of such digital contents is how to establish a mechanism for protecting and managing copyrights and promoting the use of contents.

In order to solve such a problem, the content I which is an identifier unique to each digital content is used.
It has been proposed to build a system in which D is added and the digital content and the attribute information of the content such as information for searching the content and information about copyright are uniformly managed by the content ID.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the content management system. Content ID management center 100
Is a unique content ID for each digital content
And a function of managing the assigned content ID and the original of the content. The content management database 120 includes the issued content ID 200
And the content master 210 thereof. It should be noted that the content ID 200 and the content original 210 do not necessarily have to be managed by one content management database 120, and management of the content original 210 is sufficient if it can be accessed from the content ID management center 100 by some means. is there.

The content registration device 110 and the content use terminal 130 are information devices such as personal computers connectable to the content ID management center 100 via a network.

A person who has a copyright for digital content, such as a content creator or a content seller, needs to use the content registration device 11 when distributing the content.
A registration request including the original digital content and attribute information necessary for registration of the content is sent from 0 to the content I in advance.
Send to D management center 100. Upon receiving the content registration request, the content ID management center 100 issues a unique content ID for the content and registers the content ID and the content original in the content management database 120. Then, the issued content ID or the digital content to which the content ID is added is returned to the content registration device 110.

[0007] The general user is the content use terminal 130.
Content management center 1 via the network from
A request to search for content can be sent to 00. Upon receiving the search request, the content ID management center 100 searches for the content requested by the attribute information associated with the content ID, and if the use of the corresponding content is permitted, the content ID is electronically added to the original content. The content with ID embedded by a watermark or the like is transmitted to the content use terminal 130. Even for a content purchase request from the content use terminal 130, necessary charge processing is performed in the content ID management center 100.
Then, the ID-added content is transmitted to the request source content use terminal 130.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the data structure of the content ID in the content management system. Content ID
Reference numeral 200 is uniquely assigned to each digital content, and is related to an ID center management number including a center number and an in-center number, copyright attributes such as content genre, title, and media type, and copyright. It consists of a group of information on distribution attributes such as usage agreement condition attributes, distribution history attributes, royalty distribution information, and system control attributes for digital signatures, digital watermark information, and the like.

The content ID 200 is managed by the content management database 120 or the like in the content ID management center 100, and the content I
The D200 or a part thereof is added to the content copied from the content original 210 in the form of a digital header, or embedded in the content by a digital watermark or the like.

Of the content ID 200 shown in FIG. 7,
The part that actually has a unique value for each content is
Since this is the part of the ID center management number, and the content original 210 can be specified by the ID center management number, hereinafter, only this ID center management number will be simply referred to as a content ID. In this case, the entire content ID 200 shown in FIG. 7 will be called content attribute information.

Particularly, the ID for the content original 210
In the case of embedding with a digital watermark or the like, only the portion of the ID center management number (content ID in this specification) is embedded in order to reduce the amount of embedded information. When adding to the content in the form of a digital header (or it may be inserted in the tail or in the middle), for example, XML (Exte
nsible Markup Language) Content attribute information is added in document format.

In the system as described above, if the content ID is embedded in the original content with a digital watermark and the attribute information including the content ID is added as a digital header, the digital content is distributed.
It is considered that the connection between the digital content and the content ID can be strengthened.

As a known technique related to the present invention, there is a "copyright management system" described in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-292976. This is to detect unauthorized secondary use of a copyrighted work and record the secondary availability information in the target copyrighted work in order to enhance the effect of deterring unauthorized use for users who intend to use the database illegally. It is registered and managed by. However, in this method, either digital watermark embedding secondary usage availability information or digital header adding secondary usage availability information is selected.

[0014]

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention When digital contents in which information for managing copyright of digital contents is recorded in both a digital watermark and a digital header are distributed, any one of them is lost and disappears. It may happen.

For example, when the digital content is image data, if the image data is printed out on paper and converted into analog information, the digital watermark information remains but the digital header disappears. Also, if digital image conversion is performed by cutting out most of the digital content image data as digital information, changing the gradation significantly, or increasing or decreasing the number of pixels, even if a digital header remains, Digital watermark information may not be readable.

Therefore, it is said that the digital contents distributed from the contents ID management center are converted into analog information, duplicated, scanned by a scanner or the like to be converted into digital data, and further printed out to be converted into analog information. If you repeat such an operation,
The digital header originally added disappears, and the digital watermark information cannot be read.

If both the content ID embedded as a digital watermark and the content ID included in the content attribute information of the digital header cannot be read, the management information (attribute information) of the content cannot be specified and the content is copied. There arises a problem that an original of the content cannot be retrieved from the object or the like by using the content ID as a search key and the related content cannot be searched.

If the terminal side does not know the format of the digital header, the header information seems to be updated in the database of the content ID management center, the header information is partially missing or tampered with, When it is necessary to localize (or customize) the content of information within the permitted range, it is considered necessary to have a method of reconstructing the digital header in a form that does not contradict the digital watermark information.

On the other hand, with respect to the digital watermark information currently embedded in the digital content, when it is desired to change the digital watermark method, to change parameters such as the strength of the digital watermark, the digital watermark is partially missing or tampered with. When it is detected, it may be necessary to replace the digital watermark of the digital content with a required format. However, since the digital watermark is an irreversible conversion, it is very difficult to overwrite, add, reinsert new digital watermark information, change the method, change the parameter, etc. after embedding it in the digital content once. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide means for making it difficult to erase the content ID attached to the digital content in the form of a digital header and a digital watermark. Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for easily changing the format of a digital header or the method of digital watermarking for existing digital content with a content ID.

[0021]

According to the present invention, in a system in which a center manages digital content by a content ID that uniquely identifies each content, a digital header format (digital tail or a format inserted in the middle may be used. The main feature is that the content ID is attached to the digital content by both the same) and the digital watermark, and even if either one is lost, the means for reconstructing the lost data by inquiring to the center is provided. To do. In addition, even when it is desired to update either the digital header format or the digital watermark method, it is characterized by having means for reconstructing the lost data by inquiring the center with the content ID obtained from one of them.

The program for realizing the above means by a computer can be stored in an appropriate recording medium such as a computer-readable portable medium memory, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk.

[0023]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the present invention. The content ID management center 10 and the terminal device 20 are connected via a network. The terminal device 20 is composed of an information device such as a personal computer having a communication function.

The content ID management center 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 11 for communication via a network, a content management unit 12 for processing / controlling management of digital content, a content original document search unit 13 for searching and retrieving content original data, and content. A content ID embedding unit 14 for embedding a content ID in the original by a digital watermark,
A header information creation unit 15, which creates header information of content attribute information and adds it to the content as a digital header,
It has a content ID management table 16 for managing content IDs, and a content original storage unit 17 for storing and saving content originals.

The content ID management center 10 only needs to be able to access the registered content originals, and does not necessarily need to directly hold the content originals. Therefore, the content original storage unit 17 can be provided in an external device. .

The terminal device 20 receives the ID-attached content 21 in which the content ID is embedded, and inspects whether or not there is a digital header in the header information detection section 2
2, a digital watermark detection unit 23 that detects a digital watermark from the ID-added content 21, a content ID management center 10
To a content request unit 24 for requesting digital content with a digital header and a digital watermark, content I
It has a transmission / reception unit 25 that communicates with the D management center 10, and a content replacement unit 26 that replaces the ID-added content received from the content ID management center 10 with the incomplete or pre-updated ID-added content 21.

The ID-added content 21 may be stored in a file as digital information as it is, or may be converted into analog information such as printed out on a printing paper.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the ID-attached content 21 and digital header information. As shown in FIG. 2A, the normal ID-added content in the present system includes a digital header 21-1 and a data body 21-2 in which the content ID is embedded in a digital watermark. The digital header information 21-1 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2B, a content ID, digital watermark / version information, digital watermark strength information, header format / version information of the digital header, and header. It consists of description language information, header update date, header tampering detection information such as checksum, search keyword information for digital content, copyright information, license information and others.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the content ID management table 16 managed by the content ID management center 10. The content ID management center 10 has a content ID management table 16 as shown in FIG. 3 and raw data of content originals, and manages digital content by this. Therefore, the content I from the terminal device 20
If D is specified, it is possible to generate the content accompanied by both the digital header and the digital watermark in the specified header format or the specified digital watermark method and send it back to the terminal device 20.

The terminal device 20 inputs the content with ID as shown in FIG. 2, and the header information detecting section 22 detects the digital header 21-1. In addition, the digital watermark detector 23 detects the content ID embedded in the data body 21-2 with a digital watermark. If either of them has disappeared and cannot be detected, the content ID is read from one of the detected digital header 21-1 or digital watermark information, and the content requesting unit 24 sends the content ID to the content ID management center 10 via the transmitting / receiving unit 25. Request digital content.

When the content ID management center 10 receives this request by the transmission / reception unit 11, the content management unit 12 refers to the content ID management table 16 by the received content ID and obtains the information on the storage location of the original content. . The content original data retrieval unit 13 retrieves the content original data from the content original data storage unit 17,
The content ID is embedded by the content ID embedding unit 14.
Is embedded in the raw data of the content original with a digital watermark.
In addition, a digital header is added by the header information creation unit 15 based on the information obtained from the content ID management table 16, and the digitally watermarked ID-added content with the digital header is sent to the terminal device 20 via the transmission / reception unit 11. Send it back.

In the terminal device 20, the content replacement unit 2
6, the complete ID-added content received from the content ID management center 10 is replaced with the original ID-added content 21.

In the above example, the content ID management center 10 does not return the ID-added content accompanied by both the digital header and the digital watermark, but disappears in response to a request from the content requesting unit 24 of the terminal device 20. It is also possible to return only the header information or only the data body portion with the digital watermark, and replace only the necessary portion received by the terminal device 20 side with the ID-added content 21.

An example in which the terminal device 20 restores the lost digital header or digital watermark has been described. However, the terminal device 20 does not simply compensate for the loss of the digital header or digital watermark, but uses it at the request of the terminal side, for example The same mechanism can be used when it is necessary to replace the digital watermark such as when updating the contents of the digital header such as the license information or changing the strength of the digital watermark. In this case, the content ID management center 10 receives the information necessary for updating the content ID and the digital header or changing the digital watermark from the terminal device 20, updates the corresponding information in the content ID management table 16 as necessary,
The content with the digital header in which the content ID is embedded by the digital watermark is returned to the terminal device 20.

If the content ID management center 10 is not raw data of the original content but stores and manages content with a content ID previously embedded with a digital watermark and a digital header, the content I
The D management center 10 only needs to search for the ID-added content from the content ID in response to the restoration request for the lost digital header or the digital watermark from the terminal device 20, and return it. However, in this case, it is not possible to deal with version upgrades of digital headers and digital watermarks, format changes and content updates.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of the terminal device 20. For example, in the terminal device 20, when accessing the ID-added content 21 or inspecting the ID-added content 21, the digital header is detected from the ID-added content 21 (step S1). Also,
A digital watermark is detected from the ID-added content 21 (step S2).

Since one of the digital header and the digital watermark of the ID-added content 21 cannot be detected, it is determined whether an update is necessary to restore the digital header or whether the update is required at the user's request. (Step S3), if necessary, step S3
Go to 4. If there is no need, the process ends.

When it is necessary to update, the content ID read from the digital header or the digital watermark is sent to the content ID management center 10. In the case of an update request from the user, information such as the required header format (or header update information) and watermark method is added to the content ID.
It is sent together with the contents ID management center 10 (step S4). Wait for the reply of the result from the content ID management center 10 (step S5), and if the content with ID is sent from the content ID management center 10,
The current content is replaced with the sent ID-added content (step S6). This makes it possible to restore the lost digital header or digital watermark, or change the header format or watermark method.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of the content ID management center 10. The content ID management center 10 waits for a request from the terminal device 20 (step S1).
0), if there is a content restoration request or a header update request from the terminal device 20, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S11, the raw data of the content original having the specified content ID is taken out. Also, the content ID
The content ID management table 16 is searched with the key as a key, necessary data is extracted from the content ID management table 16, and a digital header is added to the raw data of the content original extracted in step S11 (step S12). Further, the content ID is embedded in the raw data of the content original by the designated digital watermark method (step S13). The resulting content with both the digital header and the digital watermark is sent back to the requesting terminal device 20 (step S14), and the process ends.

As a variation of the embodiment of the present invention, in the case where the content ID management center 10 does not have the raw data of the content original but has the content already having the digital header and the digital watermark, step S1.
The processes of 2 and S13 are unnecessary. However, the terminal device 20
Only for content restore requests from.

As another variation of the embodiment of the present invention, in the content ID management center 10, raw data of the content original and the content ID management table 16 are provided.
Send only the necessary information retrieved from the terminal device 20,
It is also possible to reconstruct the header and insert a digital watermark on the terminal device 20 side.
Since it can be easily inferred from the processing flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5, description using the flowcharts will be omitted.

A specific application example of the present invention will be described.

[Application Example 1] When the terminal device 20 checks the "header tampering detection information" of the digital header, the checksums do not match, so the information in the digital header including the content ID in the digital header is tampered with. It could have been done or damaged. Therefore, the content ID embedded in the data body of the content is read using a digital watermark, and the content ID is read.
Using the key as a key, the content ID management center 10 is requested for the content with the correct digital header. Since the content with the digital watermark is sent from the content ID management center 10 with the digital header, the current content is replaced with it.

[Application Example 2] The digital watermark information was read by the terminal device 20, but could not be read. Therefore, the content ID in the digital header is used as a key to request the content ID management center 10 for the content containing the correct digital watermark information, and the current content is replaced with it.

Application Example 3 The digital content of an image is converted into digital data by performing analog conversion such as printing out, and further reading it by a scanner or the like. In addition, digital image conversion such as image data compression is performed. Every time these processes are performed, the content ID management center 10
By using the key as a key to request the content, the loss of the digital header or digital watermark information is prevented.

It should be noted that the content I is added to the digital content.
As a method of embedding D, a digital watermark is most suitable in order to prevent the user from being conscious of the content ID, but the present invention is a method of embedding the content ID by another method without relying on the digital watermark. It is also applicable to.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a terminal device, it is possible to easily restore digital contents even if a digital header is lost by performing continuous conversion such as conversion of digital information to analog information or conversion of analog information to digital information. Will be possible. Further, for example, even if the digital watermark disappears by performing strong digital image conversion such as extreme partial cutting on the digital content of the image, it is possible to restore the content with the correct digital watermark.

Further, if the terminal device side does not know the format of the digital header, it seems that the header information has been updated, if the header information is partially missing or falsified, the contents of the header information are permitted. When it is necessary to localize (or customize) within a certain range, it is possible to update the digital header to a required format by using the content ID embedded with the electronic watermark as a key.

In addition, for the digital watermark information embedded in the digital contents, when a new digital watermark system is developed and it is desired to change the digital watermark system, or when parameters such as strength of the digital watermark are to be modified, In the case where a part of the digital watermark is missing or falsified, it is possible to replace the digital watermark of the content with a required method by using the content ID entered in the digital header as a key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of ID-added content and digital header information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a content ID management table.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of a terminal device.

FIG. 5 is a processing flowchart of a content ID management center.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of a background art of the present invention.

7 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of a content ID in the system shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Content ID Management Center 11 Transmitter / receiver 12 Content Management Department 13 Content Original Search Section 14 Content ID embedding section 15 Header information creation section 16 Content ID management table 17 Content original storage 20 terminal devices 21 Contents with ID 22 Header information detector 23 Digital Watermark Detection Unit 24 Content Request Section 25 Transmitter / receiver 26 Content replacement section

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Sachiko Irie 2-3-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) References JP 2000-50045 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/387 G06F 12/14 G06T 1/00 H04N 7/167

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier that uniquely identifies each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content, the terminal The apparatus can detect a content identifier embedded in the distributed content, detect content attribute information added to the distributed content, detect the embedded content identifier, and add the added content identifier. When the content attribute information that was found cannot be detected , Or, when content attribute information needs to be changed, a means for transmitting the content identifier to the center, requesting the content with the content identifier embedded and the content attribute information added, and the content received from the center. The center comprises means for replacing the distributed content, and the center, in response to the content request from the terminal device, acquires the original content of the content from the received content identifier, and acquires the original content of the content. A means for transmitting to the terminal device the content in which the content identifier is embedded, and the corresponding content attribute information or the changed new content attribute information is added in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle. Characteristic content information reconstruction system Beam. 2. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier that uniquely identifies each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content, the terminal The apparatus is capable of detecting a content identifier embedded in the distributed content, detecting content attribute information added to the distributed content, and detecting the added content attribute information. The detected content identifier cannot be detected , Or a means for transmitting content attribute information or content identifiers to the center when the content identifiers need to be re-embedded, and requesting content with the content identifiers embedded and the content attribute information added, and from the center. Means for replacing the received content with the distributed content, wherein the center acquires the original of the content from the received content attribute information or content identifier in response to the request for the content from the terminal device; A content identifier is embedded in the original of the acquired content, and corresponding content attribute information is added to a digital header, a tail or a format inserted in the middle, and the content is transmitted to the terminal device. Content information to Reconstruction system. 3. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier for uniquely identifying each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content, the terminal The apparatus detects a content identifier embedded in the distributed content, a means for detecting content attribute information added to the distributed content, the embedded content identifier and the added content attribute. If any of the information cannot be found , Or means for transmitting information including at least a content identifier to the center when reconstruction of any of them is required, and means for requesting information necessary for reconstruction of the content, and reconstruction of the content received from the center. A means for reconstructing the content, in which the content identifier is embedded and the corresponding content attribute information is added in the format of being inserted in the digital header, tail or in the middle, from the information necessary for construction and the distributed content. In response to a content request from the terminal device, the center acquires information necessary for reconstructing the content from the received content identifier, and information necessary for reconstructing the acquired content. And a means for transmitting the content to the terminal device. 4. The content information reconstruction system according to claim 1, wherein the content identifier is embedded in the original of the content by a digital watermark. Reconstruction system. 5. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier for uniquely identifying each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a terminal device in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content. A recording medium in which a program to be executed is recorded, a process of detecting a content identifier embedded in distributed content, a process of detecting content attribute information added to the distributed content, and the embedded program. Content identifier that can be detected and added If the specified content attribute information cannot be detected, or if the content attribute information needs to be changed, the content identifier is transmitted to the center,
A program for causing a computer to execute a process of requesting a content in which a content identifier is embedded and content attribute information added and a process of replacing the content received from the center with the distributed content are recorded. A program recording medium for content information reconstruction, characterized by: 6. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier that uniquely identifies each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a terminal device in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content. A recording medium in which a program to be executed is recorded, a process of detecting a content identifier embedded in distributed content, a process of detecting content attribute information added to the distributed content, Content attribute information can be detected and When the embedded content identifier cannot be detected or when it is necessary to re-embed the content identifier, the content attribute information or the content identifier is transmitted to the center, the content identifier is embedded, and the content attribute information is added. And a process of replacing the content received from the center with the distributed content.
A program recording medium for reconstructing content information, characterized by recording a program to be executed by a computer. 7. A means for managing an original of each content and content attribute information including a content identifier that uniquely identifies each content, a means for embedding the content identifier in the original of each content, and a content to be distributed. On the other hand, in a terminal device in a system comprising a center having means for adding content attribute information including the content identifier in a format inserted in a digital header, tail or in the middle, and a terminal device using the distributed content. A recording medium in which a program to be executed is recorded, a process of detecting a content identifier embedded in distributed content, a process of detecting content attribute information added to the distributed content, and the embedded program. Content identifier and the added content If any of the content attribute information cannot be detected, or if reconstruction of any of them is necessary, information including at least the content identifier is transmitted to the center and the information required for reconstruction of the content is requested. Format in which the content identifier is embedded and the corresponding content attribute information is inserted into the digital header, tail or the middle from the processing required to reconstruct the content received from the center and the distributed content. A program recording medium for reconstructing content information, characterized in that a program for causing a computer to execute the process of reconstructing the content added in (1) is recorded.