JP4033288B2 - Content management device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to content management technology. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing the copyright of content, and a system including the apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the advancement of digital technology, network infrastructure, and the spread of information equipment, digital content has been produced and distributed in an unprecedented amount. Digital content is expected to continue to expand in the future due to high noise immunity and other merits due to digital, but the concern of those concerned is the copyright issue. That is, it becomes easy to copy content with familiar hardware such as a PC (Personal Computer), and the sound development of human culture can no longer be considered without solving this problem.
[0003]
In relation to this problem, a watermark technology for imprinting copyright information on content has been known. In other words, even when the content is illegally copied, the original copyright holder is imprinted on the content to protect the rights of that person.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Content was something that was distributed and enjoyed by general users, but recently there has been a culture of creating content on its own, such as creating CG, taking pictures with high artistic values with a digital camera, and posting them on a website. It is spreading. In addition, image processing tools have become widespread, and the number of images taken by themselves or downloaded from websites or the like has been increased and used. The present invention provides a digital content management technique corresponding to such a new situation.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a content management method. This method includes a step of acquiring original digital content, a step of performing predetermined image processing or sound processing on the content, and a second content generated by the processing, to a first content related to the original content. And a step of recording the copyright information together with the second copyright information relating to the secondary content itself.
[0006]
Another aspect of the present invention includes a step of acquiring original digital content, a step of performing predetermined image processing or sound processing on the content, a secondary content generated by the processing, and an original content. Recording the second copyright information relating to the secondary content itself while leaving the first copyright information.
[0007]
The original content may have a copyright, and the secondary content may have its own copyright. If any original content is modified by image processing or audio processing, there is a possibility that the modification right of the content may be touched. Conversely, if the modification is made until almost no aesthetic elements remain in the original content, the copyright of the original content is In some cases, it can be determined that it no longer exists. On the other hand, if a secondary content has its own copyright, a mechanism for protecting the copyright of the content is necessary.
[0008]
For this reason, in this aspect, even if it is left to humans to make subjective judgments regarding copyright, information necessary for this purpose, here, the first copyright information and the second copyright information are recorded inside and outside the content. Is. Note that the process of recording or leaving the first copyright includes a negative case in addition to positively doing so. That is, it is within the intended scope of the present invention for such processing, provided that it remains recorded or remains unless it is actively deleted.
[0009]
In the present invention, at least a part of the first copyright information and the second copyright information may be imprinted on the secondary content as a watermark. This watermark may or may not be visible or audible. That is, it includes both perceptible and non-perceptible cases. Further, the second copyright information may include information regarding the contents of the processing. For example, it may include information indicating image processing elements such as cut, scaling, rotation, color change, and other arbitrary processing, and in this case, the relationship with the original content becomes clearer. The same applies to voice.
[0010]
The present invention further includes a step of inspecting whether the person who performs the process is a person who has the right to modify the original content prior to the process, and the case where the person who performs the process is a person who has the right to modify The process of permitting the execution of the process may be included. In this aspect, the modification of the content can be operated strictly, and copyright infringement due to the modification can be prevented in advance.
[0011]
The present invention may further include the step of associating the secondary content with the original content and registering them in the database. In this case, the relationship between the original content and the secondary content becomes clearer, which is useful for copyright management, and there may be an interaction in which the height of one evaluation spreads to the other.
[0012]
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a content management apparatus. This apparatus relates to an original content to an input unit that acquires original digital content, a main processing unit that performs predetermined image processing or audio processing on the content, and secondary content generated by the processing. And an imprinting unit that records the first copyright information and the second copyright information related to the secondary content itself.
[0013]
Another aspect includes an input unit that acquires original digital content, a main processing unit that performs predetermined image processing or audio processing on the content, secondary content generated by the processing, and original content. An imprinting unit for recording the second copyright information relating to the secondary content itself, while leaving the first copyright information.
[0014]
Another aspect of the present invention also relates to a content management apparatus, which performs predetermined image processing or audio processing on the original content, and then converts the original content into secondary content generated by the processing. The imprinting unit for recording together the first copyright information related to the second copyright information related to the secondary content itself.
[0015]
In yet another aspect, after predetermined image processing or audio processing is performed on the original content, the first copyright information related to the original content is left in the secondary content generated by the processing. The imprinting unit for recording the second copyright information related to the secondary content itself is included.
[0016]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a content management method. In this method, original digital content is acquired, predetermined image processing or audio processing is performed on the content, secondary content generated by the processing is recorded in association with the original content. Including the step of. In the recording step, the copyright information may be recorded in association with the original content and the secondary content.
[0017]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a content management apparatus. The apparatus includes an input unit that acquires original digital content, a main processing unit that performs predetermined image processing or audio processing on the content, secondary content generated by the processing, and original content. And a registration unit for recording in association with each other.
[0018]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for managing content. The system includes a content generation device that processes original content to generate secondary content, and a distribution device that distributes the secondary content, and the content generation device includes the original digital An input unit for acquiring content, a main processing unit that performs predetermined image processing or audio processing on the content, a secondary unit generated by the processing, and a registration unit that records the original content in association with each other Have
[0019]
The system may further include a billing processing device that charges the delivery destination with the secondary content delivery. The system may further include a revenue management device that distributes a part of the revenue from the billing to the copyright holder of the original content.
[0020]
Yet another embodiment of the present invention relates to a content management method. In this method, a step of acquiring a first image and a second image, a matching using a singular point between the first image and the second image is calculated, and a unit of pixels is set between the images. Detecting corresponding points, performing interpolation calculation using the detection result, generating an intermediate image between the first image and the second image, and copyright information on the intermediate image. And associating.
[0021]
The step of associating the copyright information includes, as copyright information, information specifying either the copyright holder of the first image and the second image, or the entity that performs the process of creating the intermediate image, as the copyright information. You may associate. Further, in the step of associating the copyright information, information specifying a subject performing the process of creating the intermediate image may be associated with the intermediate image as copyright information.
[0022]
The method includes a step of distributing the intermediate image, a step of charging a distribution destination when the intermediate image is distributed, and a part of the revenue from the charging as the first image and the second image. And distributing to the copyright holder of the image.
[0023]
In addition, what arbitrarily replaced or combined the above arbitrary processing processes and components is also effective as an aspect of the present invention. Furthermore, a computer program that realizes the contents of such processing and a recording medium that stores the computer program are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As already mentioned, when secondary content is created based on the original content, management of both of these contents is desirable. Hereinafter, in the embodiment, for secondary content, copyright information of the original content (hereinafter abbreviated as first copyright information or FCI) and copyright information of the secondary content itself (hereinafter referred to as “first copyright information”). Second copyright information (or abbreviated as SCI) is printed together.
[0025]
Further, as an example of image processing for content, a technique (hereinafter referred to as “premise technique”) previously proposed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent No. 2927350 is used. The base technology calculates matching using singular points between two key frames, detects corresponding points in units of pixels between them, performs interpolation calculation using the result, and intermediates between key frames A frame is generated. Therefore, it is possible to generate a smooth moving image between key frames, a morphed image, a viewpoint change image, and the like. Here, the key frame is regarded as original content, and the intermediate frame is regarded as secondary content.
[0026]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a content management apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The content input unit 12 inputs two key frames I1 and I2. The first copyright information extraction unit 14 extracts the first copyright information FCI from these key frames, and sends this to the imprinting unit 24 described later. The key frame itself is sent to the main processing unit 16.
[0027]
The main processing unit 16 is a processor that performs the processing of the base technology, detects a singular point by performing a two-dimensional search in each key frame, and identifies a set of pixels that correspond between the two key frames. Go. The corresponding point file MF generated in this way is stored in the corresponding point file holding unit 20.
[0028]
In this embodiment, an optional authentication unit 18 is provided to authenticate a person who performs this image processing based on the user identification information UID and the password PW. If the authenticated user is a person who is legally permitted to modify the content, such as the copyright holder indicated in the first copyright information FCI, the processing by the main processing unit 16 is permitted by the instruction of the authentication unit 18. The
[0029]
Based on the data of the two key frames I1 and I2 and the corresponding point file MF between them, the intermediate image generating unit 22 interpolates the position and the pixel value, that is, the color between the corresponding pixels. And generate an intermediate frame at any temporal or spatial position between the key frames. The generated intermediate frame Ii is output to the imprint unit 24.
[0030]
The imprinting unit 24 imprints the first copyright information FCI and the preset second copyright information SCI as a watermark on the intermediate frame Ii. The second copyright information SCI may be an ID assigned in software or hardware to the content management apparatus 10 itself, or may be information on a user who uses the content management apparatus 10. In any case, the intermediate frame Ii, which is the content on which the copyright information is imprinted, is registered in the content database 28 by the action of the registration unit 26. At the time of registration, the registration unit 26 registers the two key frames I1 and I2 associated with the intermediate frame Ii.
[0031]
The content output unit 30 outputs an intermediate frame Ii or key frames I1 and I2 associated therewith to an arbitrary target such as a network or a storage device. Therefore, the content output unit 30 may have a communication function, a memory control function, or a display control function. In short, a configuration according to the purpose is sufficient.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a somewhat generalized procedure of processing by the content management apparatus 10. First, the content input unit 12 inputs original content (S10). Subsequently, the first copyright information FCI is extracted or acquired from the content (S12). Subsequently, the user is authenticated (S14), and if it can be determined that there is a modification right (Y in S14), the processing by the main processing unit 16 is permitted (S16). If it cannot be determined that there is a modification right or not (N in S14), the process is terminated.
[0033]
Then, the imprinting unit 24 imprints the first copyright information FCI and the second copyright information SCI on the generated secondary content (S18), and the registration unit 26 finally creates the original content. The contents are registered in the contents database 28 together with the contents (S20).
[0034]
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C show images of the first key frame I1, the second key frame I2, and the generated intermediate frame Ii, respectively. As shown in the figure, the intermediate frame Ii is an image between the two key frames I1 and I2. Original copyright information, that is, first copyright information FCIa and FCIb is imprinted on the first key frame I1 and the second key frame I2, respectively, and the second copyright is added to the intermediate frame Ii. The right information SCI is also written. Further, in the intermediate frame Ii, information PROC indicating the content of processing added to the original content is described.
[0035]
Examples of the first copyright information FCI and the second copyright information SCI include the creator, the distribution right holder and other copyright or related rights owner, the date and time of creation, the place of creation, the title of the content, the original Data format, copyright declarations, such as conditions for abandoning copyrights, and other bibliographic items.
[0036]
Examples of processing information PROC include details of processing, for example, adjustment of color balance, monochromeization, filtering, resolution reduction, edge enhancement, interpolation processing as in the embodiment, outline of manual editing, synthesis of CG and live action, etc. For example. The sound may be any known technique as well.
[0037]
Since the contents of these processes are extremely long in some cases, the processing elements may be coded and written in advance. For example, “HPF” is used for high-pass filtering, and “ROT + 30” is used for 30 ° rotation. Such processing elements may be acquired from a log file of processing actually performed in the content management apparatus 10, and may be included in the second copyright information SCI.
[0038]
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above contents, and there are the following modified techniques.
[0039]
The content management apparatus 10 has performed image processing by itself, but acquires secondary content after image processing is performed externally, and includes first copyright information FCI and second copyright information SCI. May be imprinted.
[0040]
The first copyright information extraction unit 14 may be configured not to perform any special processing. In this case, no data may be sent to the imprinting unit 24 as the first copyright information FCI. At this time, the imprinting unit 24 writes only the second copyright information SCI. The merit of this aspect is that there is no contradiction even when the first copyright information FCI does not exist in the original content, and even if it exists, the process of actively deleting it is not performed to some extent. It can be expected that it will remain with high probability.
[0041]
In the first embodiment, image matching and generation of an intermediate image are considered as content processing. However, this may be arbitrary processing, and may be arbitrary audio processing as well as image processing. For example, it may be a process of cutting a part of a movie or changing the arrangement of music. In short, secondary content different from the original content may be generated.
[0042]
In the first embodiment, the first copyright information extraction unit 14 extracts the first copyright information FCI from the original content, but the original content includes a management area such as header data in addition to the content data. In this case, it may be acquired from the management area, that is, not necessarily acquired from the content data itself. It may be acquired via a network or the like via a route (not shown) that is completely different from the original content.
[0043]
Similarly, the imprinting unit 24 does not need to embed copyright information directly in the secondary content data itself, but stores it in the management area of the content or the related data area of the site related to the content. , Operational flexibility is high.
[0044]
In the first embodiment, a still image is taken as an example, but naturally there may be a moving image. For example, a new movie generated by replacing a character with an animal is a suitable example. In addition, the data format as the content may be completely changed, such as changing a still image into a moving image or converting a moving image into music based on the image or frequency.
[0045]
The content management apparatus 10 in the first embodiment manages the copyright by imprinting the first copyright information FCI and the second copyright information SCI into secondary content. However, such management is not always preferable from a business viewpoint. For example, when secondary content is created using the original content of the copyright holder A, at least part of the copyright of the content is negotiated between the copyright holder A and the secondary content creator. Can have a determined nature. Depending on the discussion, secondary copyright management may be entrusted only to the creator. In such a case, it may be advantageous that the first copyright information FCI is not imprinted on the secondary content. Next, an apparatus capable of managing the copyright of secondary contents so as to suit the actual operation will be described.
[0046]
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the content management apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment. The configuration denoted by the same reference numerals as the functional blocks described with reference to FIG. 1 in this figure has the same functions as the functional blocks of FIG. The registration unit 102 registers the intermediate frame Ii generated by the intermediate image generation unit 22 and the second copyright information SCI in the content database 104 in association with each other. The second copyright information SCI is copyright information of the intermediate frame Ii, and may be information in which at least one of the copyright holder and the creator of the original content is the copyright holder.
[0047]
The second copyright information SCI is determined in advance by discussion between related parties. The second copyright information database 106 holds the second copyright information SCI determined by the discussion in association with the copyright holder of the original content. The registration unit 102 stores the second copyright information SCI associated with the copyright holder indicated by the first copyright information FCI extracted by the first copyright information extraction unit 14 in the second copyright information database. Read from 106 and associate with the intermediate frame Ii. Thereby, based on the first copyright information FCI of the original content used to create the intermediate frame Ii, the registration unit 102 can automatically associate the second copyright information SCI with the intermediate frame Ii. . In order to create the intermediate frame Ii, two key frames are required, but the copyright holders of the first key frame and the second key frame may be different. The second copyright information database 106 also holds second copyright information SCI in such a case.
[0048]
The registration unit 102 may print the second copyright information SCI as a watermark on the intermediate frame Ii, or may register the second copyright information SCI in the content database 104 separately from the intermediate frame body. Furthermore, the registration unit 102 may register the key frame used for creating the intermediate frame Ii in association with the intermediate frame Ii. For example, the registration unit 102 may print the second copyright information SCI as a watermark on the intermediate frame Ii and register the key frame in association with the intermediate frame Ii. The point is that the registration unit 102 can distribute the profits to the parties involved in the creation of the intermediate frame so that the second copyright information SCI can be shown as the copyright holder at the distribution destination of the intermediate frame. Register the data.
[0049]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a system 150 for managing secondary content according to the third embodiment. Each functional block constituting the content management system 150 is connected to the network 168. The original content storage units 166a and 166b hold the original content and have different copyright holders. The intermediate image generation device 152 is, for example, the content management device 100 in FIG. 4, and acquires the original content from the original content storage units 166 a and 166 b and generates secondary content (hereinafter referred to as secondary content). The intermediate image generation device 152 stores the generated secondary content in the intermediate image storage unit 154 via the network 168. Further, the intermediate image generating apparatus 152 stores the copyright information of the original content and the copyright information of the secondary content in the copyright database 160 in association with information for specifying the secondary content.
[0050]
The user terminal 164 is a terminal used by a user who browses secondary content. The distribution server 156 distributes the secondary content stored in the intermediate image storage unit 154 in response to a request from the user terminal 164. Then, the distribution server 156 notifies the charging server 162 that the secondary content has been distributed. The billing server 162 performs billing processing for the distribution destination user. The revenue management server 158 distributes a part of the revenue to the related copyright holders based on the copyright information associated with the distributed secondary content. As a result, secondary contents can be distributed while managing the copyright. In addition, since a mechanism for distributing profits to the copyright holders of original contents and secondary contents is established, it leads to the activation of the entire contents distribution industry.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a content management apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the content management apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C are diagrams showing copyright information written in content in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a content management apparatus according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a system for managing secondary content according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Content management apparatus, 12 Content input part, 14 1st copyright information extraction part, 16 Main processing part, 18 Authentication part, 24 Imprinting part, 26 Registration part, 28 Content database

Claims (3)

An input unit for inputting original content which is original digital content and in which first copyright information which is copyright information of the content is recorded;
A copyright information extraction unit that extracts the first copyright information from the original content;
A main processing unit that executes image processing based on a predetermined program to generate a secondary content is digital content that is different from the original content to the original content,
The second copyright information, which is the copyright information of the secondary content itself generated by the main processing unit, is input, and the secondary content corresponding to the secondary content extracted by the copyright information extraction unit. An imprinting unit that imprints, as a watermark, first copyright information, the second copyright information, and information on the contents of processing executed by the main processing unit;
A registration unit for registering the secondary content and the original content in a content database in association with each other;
Only including,
The input unit inputs a first image and a second image as the original content,
The copyright information extraction unit extracts first copyright information as copyright information from each of the first image and the second image,
The main processing unit calculates matching using a singular point between the first image and the second image based on the program, and detects corresponding points in units of pixels between the images. , Generating an intermediate image between the first image and the second image as the secondary content by performing an interpolation calculation using the detection result,
The imprinting unit includes each first copyright information extracted by the copyright information extracting unit, second copyright information that is copyright information of the intermediate image itself, and the intermediate processing unit by the intermediate processing unit. Imprinting the intermediate image as a watermark with information indicating the content of the process of generating an image,
The registration unit registers the first image and the second image and the corresponding intermediate image in the content database in association with each other . An input unit for inputting original content which is original digital content and in which first copyright information which is copyright information of the content is recorded;
Said executes image processing based on a predetermined program to the original content, to generate the secondary content is different from the digital content and the original content leaving without erasing the first copyright information A main processing unit;
Second copyright information, which is copyright information of the secondary content itself generated by the main processing unit, is input, and the second copyright information and the main processing are input to the secondary content. An imprinting unit that imprints information about the contents of processing executed by the unit as a watermark;
A registration unit for registering the secondary content and the original content in a content database in association with each other;
Only including,
The input unit inputs a first image and a second image as the original content,
The main processing unit calculates matching using a singular point between the first image and the second image based on the program, and detects corresponding points in units of pixels between the images. Then, by performing an interpolation calculation using the detection result, an intermediate image between the first image and the second image is generated as the secondary content,
The imprinting unit uses the second copyright information, which is the copyright information of the intermediate image itself, and information indicating the content of the processing for generating the intermediate image by the main processing unit as a watermark in the intermediate image. Imprinting,
The registration unit registers the first image and the second image and the corresponding intermediate image in the content database in association with each other .   Prior to the image processing or audio processing by the main processing unit, based on input information by a person who performs the processing, the person is authenticated whether or not the person has the right to modify the original content, and has the right to modify. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit that permits execution of the process only when the user is a user.

Images