JP3999159B2 - Content related information providing system, content related information providing method, provider device, user device, and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content-related information providing system, a content-related information providing method, a provider device, a user device, and a program for providing service information associated with content to consumers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When distributing content such as images, video or audio, instead of providing only the content data itself to the user, for example, by providing advertisement information of another service such as a commercial advertisement (CM), A method of using content distribution as an advertising business has already been realized.
[0003]
Further, as a method for linking content and service information, a method using digital watermark information has been proposed in order to maintain the linking even in analog output such as content editing and printing.
[0004]
In such a digital watermark technique, for example, a method in which the content ID is embedded in the content, and when the service is presented, the content ID is read out from the content, and service information linked in advance to the content ID is presented. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-322431 A (page 4, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional method of embedding service information and presenting service information using the digital watermark technology, the service information cannot be presented unless the embedded digital watermark information can be read in a complete form. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage that the quality of service information to be presented cannot be controlled according to the reading quality of the digital watermark.
[0007]
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and can provide service information even when incomplete digital watermark information is read, and further controls the quality of service information presented to the user according to the read quality of the digital watermark. It is an object to obtain a content related information providing system, a content related information providing method, a provider device, a user device, and a program.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For the purposes achieved, the content information provision system according to a first aspect of the invention, to the content data, decomposes the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts The service index adding means for embedding in the content data using a different digital watermark embedding method for each part, and provided in the provider apparatus together with the service index adding means, for each arbitrary part of the service index or a combination of arbitrary parts Service information holding means for associating and registering service information , and watermark embedded content data from the service index adding means are input, and a service index is detected for each part using a plurality of different digital watermark detection methods. Sir to Using a scan index obtaining means, provided in the user device with the service index obtaining means, it was correctly detected by the service index acquiring means, or a path over bets or combination of services index can be detected at a certain level of confidence Service information acquisition means for searching for and acquiring service information corresponding to this from the service information holding means, and providing service information related to the content data to the user.
[0009]
Thus, in the service index adding means, each part of the service index is embedded in the content data by using different digital watermark embedding methods, so that each embedded part has different digital watermark resistance. In addition, since service information to be provided is associated with an arbitrary part or a combination of arbitrary parts, the content data quality is maintained assuming the content data quality at the time of detection from the balance with the digital watermark resistance. Service information to be provided only when the user is in the service can be set. In the service index acquisition means, each part of the service index is detected by digital watermark detection using a different digital watermark detection method. At this time, detection success / failure information for each part, or detection status information that is information on the reliability index Also get. By providing service information associated with the detected service index and detection status information, it is possible to provide service information according to the reading quality of the digital watermark, that is, the quality of the content data.
[0016]
Further, the content information provision system according to the invention of claim 2, the electronic watermark embedding method for embedding service index content data by the service index adding means, a plurality of types provided by the difference in the embedding parameters of the same algorithm, the service electronic watermark detecting method of detecting the service index from the watermark embedded content data by the index acquiring means, a plurality of types provided by the difference in detection parameters of the same algorithm, characterized in Rukoto.
[0017]
Thereby, the interference of the service information between each embedding method and between each detection method can be reduced.
[0018]
Further, in the content related information providing system according to the invention of claim 3 , a plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data by the service index adding means are prepared according to differences in algorithms of different types , electronic watermark detecting method of detecting the service index from the watermark embedded content data by the service index obtaining means, a plurality of types provided by different algorithms with different types of resistance and said Rukoto.
[0019]
Thereby, the interference of the service information between each embedding method and between each detection method can further be reduced.
[0024]
Also, content-related information providing method according to the invention of claim 4, to the content data, to decompose the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts, each part A service index adding step for embedding in content data using a different digital watermark embedding method, a service information holding step for registering and holding service information in association with any part or combination of any part of the service index, as input watermark embedded content data by the service index addition step, and a service index acquiring step of detecting the service index for each part by using a plurality of different digital watermark detection method, the service index obtaining step And a service information acquisition step of acquiring lay could be detected, or a certain or more paths over preparative service index could be detected in the reliability or searching for service information corresponding to a combination thereof, the content data Service information related to the service is provided to the user.
[0025]
Thus, a plurality of different digital watermark embedding method, Rutotomoni can embed each part of the service index content data, the service index at a plurality of different digital watermark detection method can be detected for each part, service At the time of information acquisition, related service information registered in the database is automatically obtained based on the detectable part portion, and even when the quality of content data deteriorates, service information corresponding to this can be provided.
[0026]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content-related information providing method in which a plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data in the service index adding step are prepared with different embedding parameters of the same algorithm. A plurality of digital watermark detection methods for detecting a service index from watermark-embedded content data in the index acquisition step are prepared with different detection parameters of the same algorithm .
[0027]
Thereby, the interference of the service information between each embedding method and between each detection method can be reduced.
[0028]
In addition, in the content related information providing method according to the invention of claim 6 , a plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data in the service index adding step are prepared according to differences in algorithms of different types, A plurality of types of digital watermark detection methods for detecting a service index from watermark embedded content data in the service index acquisition step are prepared according to different algorithms having different types of tolerance .
[0029]
Thereby, the interference of the service information between each embedding method and between each detection method can further be reduced.
[0030]
Further, provider device according to the invention of claim 7, to the content data, to decompose the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts, different for each part Service index adding means for embedding in content data using a digital watermark embedding method, and service information holding means for registering and holding service information in association with each part or combination of any part of the service index, The service information held in the service information holding means is provided to the user device based on the service index added to the content data by the service index adding means.
[0031]
As a result, the provider device causes the user device to acquire the service index for each part embedded in the content using a different digital watermark embedding method, and the service device detected and sent by the user device using a different digital watermark detection method Accordingly, the service information corresponding to this can be returned to the user device, and thus the quality of the service information presented to the user can be controlled.
[0032]
In addition, the provider device according to the invention of claim 8 receives the service-acquired index for detecting the service index for each part using a plurality of different digital watermark detection methods using the watermark-embedded content data from the provider device as input. It means a service index were correctly detected by the acquisition means, or service information to acquire search to the provider device service information using a path over bets or combination of services index can be detected at a certain level of confidence Obtaining means, and receiving service information related to the content together with the content.
[0033]
Thereby, using a different digital watermark detection method from the content data input from the provider device, the user device detects the service index for each part, outputs it together with the detection status information, and uses these information Service information can be retrieved from the user device.
[0034]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a content-related information providing program causes a computer to function as each means constituting the provider device according to the seventh aspect. According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a content related information providing program causes a computer to function as each means constituting the user device according to the eighth aspect.
[0035]
Thereby, a provider apparatus and a user apparatus are realizable using a computer.
[0036]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0037]
The configuration of the content related information providing system in the embodiment of the present invention is as shown in FIG. This content-related information providing system includes a user device 2 and a provider device 1 connected on a network. The provider apparatus 1 includes a service information DB 3 as service information holding means and a digital watermark embedding apparatus 4 as service index adding means. The user device 2 includes a digital watermark detection device 5 as service index acquisition means and a service processing device 6 as service information acquisition means.
[0038]
The digital watermark embedding device 4 functions to add a service index for searching service information such as an advertisement corresponding to the content data to the content data. The service information DB 3 is provided in the provider device 1 together with the digital watermark embedding device 4, the service index is decomposed into each part, and the service information is registered and stored in association with each predetermined combination of each part. To function.
[0039]
On the other hand, the digital watermark detection apparatus 5 functions to acquire a service index added to content data. The service processing device 6 is provided in the user device 2 together with the digital watermark detection device 5, and searches for service information related thereto using the service index acquired by the digital watermark detection device 5 from the service information DB 3. Works to get.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the content related information providing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0041]
First, using a digital watermark embedding device 4 in the provider device 1, a service index corresponding to the content data is embedded in the content data using a digital watermark technique. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 4. This digital watermark embedding device 4 receives content data and a service index, and outputs watermark embedded content data. The service index is information indicating (searching for) service information associated with the content data.
[0042]
When embedding the service index, the service index decomposing unit 41 decomposes the service index into a plurality of parts, and uses the embedding units 42-1 to 42-n of the digital watermark embedding methods 1 to n different for each part. Embed in content data. At this time, different digital watermark embedding methods 1 to n may be realized by, for example, different parameters of the same algorithm, or a completely different method may be prepared. Prepare a system with little interference between the systems, that is, as independent as possible. In addition, for example, the digital watermark embedding method 1 has excellent image compression resistance but almost no geometric transformation resistance, and the digital watermark embedding method 2 has some degree of image compression resistance but excellent geometric conversion resistance. The resistance of each should be different.
[0043]
Next, registration of service information associated with the content is performed. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the service information DB 3 for registering such service information. The service index is decomposed into each part by the service index decomposition unit 41, and service information is associated with an arbitrary combination of the parts and registered in the service information DB 3. At this time, corresponding service information is determined in consideration of the robustness of the embedding method in which each part is embedded in the digital watermark embedding device 4.
[0044]
For example, let us consider a case in which part 1 has only compression resistance, part 2 has only geometric transformation resistance, and part 3 has only color correction resistance. In this case, service information desired to be provided only when the content data is uncompressed is registered in association with the combination of part 2 and part 3. Also, the service information that is desired to be provided only when the geometric transformation is not performed is registered in association with the combination of part 1 and part 3. Furthermore, service information that is desired to be provided only during non-compression / non-color correction is registered in association with the combination of part 1, part 2, and part 3.
[0045]
The content data in which the digital watermark is embedded in the provider device 1 and the related service information is registered in this way is provided to the user device via the network as watermark-embedded content data.
[0046]
Next, processing when the watermark embedded content data provided from the provider device 1 is obtained by the user device 2 and the user uses related service information will be described.
[0047]
First, the watermark embedded content data is input to the user device 2, and the digital watermark detection device 5 detects the service index embedded in the watermark embedded content data for each part. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the digital watermark detection apparatus 5 that detects this service index for each part. This digital watermark detection apparatus 5 receives watermark-embedded content data as input, and outputs detection watermark information at detection units 51-1 to 51-n corresponding to the digital watermark embedding methods 1 to n. That is, each part of the service index is detected from the watermark-embedded content data using a plurality of different watermark detection methods used at the time of embedding in the digital watermark detection apparatus 5.
[0048]
When detecting each part of this service index, as shown in FIG. 5, if the watermark-embedded content data has deteriorated due to compression, processing editing, printing / scanning, etc., some parts cannot be detected. The reliability of the detected part may be low. However, here, as the detected watermark information, the detected watermark information combining unit 52 collectively outputs the detected watermark information for each part and the detection status information (detection success / failure, reliability index), etc. To the service processing device 6 within the network.
[0049]
Next, the service processing device 6 in the user device 2 sends the detected watermark information to the provider device 1 and makes a request for obtaining service information related to the watermark-embedded content data. The provider apparatus 1 that has received the detected watermark information obtains a part that can be detected correctly in the detected watermark information in the service information DB 3 or a combination of parts that can be detected with a certain degree of reliability, as shown in FIG. . Further, the provider device 1 checks whether or not the service information associated with each combination is registered in the service information DB 3 by searching, and if there is a matching registration content, the registered service information is obtained by the user. Reply to device 2. At this time, it is also possible to search for registered contents that match as much as possible, and return registered service information (group), or return only those that have strong restrictions, that is, that match with a large number of combinations. It is good also as.
[0050]
Finally, the user device 2 that has received the service information from the provider device 1 uses the service information in the service processing device 6.
[0051]
The execution procedure of the content related information providing method is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in the digital watermark embedding device 4, a service index for searching service information corresponding to the content data is added to the content data by the digital watermark technique (step S1).
[0052]
Next, in the service information DB 3, service information is associated with a service index or a part of the service index and registered and held (step S 2). The digital watermark detection apparatus 5 acquires the service index added to the content data or a part of the service index (step S3), and the service processing apparatus 6 uses the service index acquired by the digital watermark detection apparatus 5 to use the service index. Relevant service information is retrieved and acquired from the service information holding means (step S4). In this way, service information corresponding to the content can be provided from the provider device 1 to the user device 2.
[0053]
As described above, according to the present invention, each part of the service index is embedded in the content data using a plurality of digital watermarking methods having different tolerances, and related service information associated with the combination of parts is stored in the service information DB 3. Register. When the related service information is acquired by the user, the registered related service information is searched based on the detectable part and provided to the user device 2. As a result, when the quality of the content data deteriorates or changes, service information can be provided accordingly.
[0054]
For example, consider a case in which the embedding strength (parameter for controlling watermark resistance) of a digital watermark method that is somewhat resistant to printing / scanning is changed and each is regarded as a different digital watermark method and applied to this embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a meaningful ID number is used as a service index (for example, it has a structure such as an area code + a city code like a telephone number), this is used as a plurality of semantic units. And embed each with different embedding strength. In this case, every time analog copying → scanning is repeated, it becomes impossible to detect in order from the part embedded with a low embedding strength.
[0055]
In the case of a telephone number, if only the area code can be detected, the general location can be known, and if the area code + local area code can be detected, the call can be actually made. Service quality can be changed according to the degree.
[0056]
Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, even when meaningful information is not used as a service index, only a single piece of the same information is used, and these are embedded at various strengths, to which part (up to how many pieces) ) The quality of service provided can be changed only by whether or not it was detectable.
[0057]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each function is arranged in a group called a user device / provider device. However, how are the functions such as a digital watermark embedding device, a digital watermark detection device, a service information DB, and a service processing device? May be arranged in any physical configuration.
[0058]
Note that service information provision processing can be performed by causing a computer system to execute a program for realizing the functions of the content-related information provision system of the present invention. Here, the computer system includes an OS and hardware of peripheral devices. In addition, when a WWW system is used, a homepage providing environment is included.
[0059]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention decomposes the input service index and embeds watermark information in the content data using a different embedding method for each part, while supporting any part of service index or any combination of parts. Service information is registered in the database, and the user device detects the service index for each part using different detection methods, and acquires the success / failure information and reliability index information for each part. By retrieving the service information associated with each information from the database, when the quality of the content data deteriorates or changes, it is possible to provide service information with quality corresponding to each.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a content related information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a digital watermark embedding apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of a service information DB in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the digital watermark detection apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing deterioration of digital watermark information in watermark embedded content data in the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of an execution procedure of the content related information providing method of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the effect of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
1: provider device, 2: user device, 3: service information DB (service information holding unit), 4: digital watermark embedding device (service index addition unit), 5: digital watermark detection device (service index acquisition unit), 6: Service processing device (service information acquisition means).

Claims (10)

To the content data, to decompose the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts, the service index added to be embedded in the content data using a different digital watermark embedding method in each part Means,
Service information holding means provided in the provider device together with the service index adding means, and registering and holding service information in association with each arbitrary part of the service index or a combination of arbitrary parts;
Service index acquisition means for detecting the service index for each part using a plurality of different digital watermark detection methods, using watermark embedded content data from the service index adding means as input ,
With Service Index acquiring means provided in the user device, corresponding thereto using services correctly detected by the index acquiring means, or a path over bets or combination of services index can be detected at a certain level of reliability services Service information acquisition means for retrieving and acquiring information from the service information holding means,
A content-related information providing system characterized by providing service information related to content data to users. A plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data by the service index adding means are prepared according to differences in embedding parameters of the same algorithm ,
Said service digital watermark detection method for detecting the service index from the watermark embedded content data by the index acquiring means, content-related information according to claim 1, characterized in that that will be a plurality of types provided by the difference in detection parameters of the same algorithm Offer system. A plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data by the service index adding means are prepared according to differences in algorithms of different types ,
Content of claim 1, the electronic watermark detecting method of detecting the service index from the watermark embedded content data by the service index acquisition means, and a plurality kinds Ru are prepared in different algorithms with different types of resistance Related information provision system. To the content data, to decompose the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts, the service index added to be embedded in the content data using a different digital watermark embedding method in each part Steps,
A service information holding step for registering and holding service information in association with each part of the service index or a combination of any part;
A service index acquisition step for detecting the service index for each part using a plurality of different digital watermark detection methods, using the watermark embedded content data by the service index addition step as input ,
Service was correctly detected by the index acquiring step, or the service information acquisition step of acquiring by searching the service information corresponding thereto using the path over bets or combination of services index can be detected at a certain level of confidence Including
A content related information providing method comprising providing service information related to content data to a user. A plurality of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding the service index in the content data in the service index adding step are prepared by the difference in the embedding parameters of the same algorithm,
An electronic watermark detection method for detecting a service index from watermark embedded content data in the service index acquisition step is a detection parameter of the same algorithm. Multiple types are prepared depending on the difference
The content related information providing method according to claim 4, wherein: A plurality of types of digital watermark embedding methods for embedding a service index in content data in the service index adding step are prepared according to differences in algorithms having different types of tolerance,
A plurality of types of digital watermark detection methods for detecting a service index from watermark embedded content data in the service index acquisition step are prepared according to differences in algorithms of different types.
The content related information providing method according to claim 4, wherein: To the content data, to decompose the service over screws index for retrieving service information associated with the content data into a plurality of parts, the service index added to be embedded in the content data using a different digital watermark embedding method in each part Means,
Service information holding means for associating and registering service information for each arbitrary part or combination of arbitrary parts of the service index,
A provider device characterized in that, based on the service index added to the content data by the service index adding means, the service information held in the service information holding means is provided to a user device. Service index acquisition means for detecting a service index for each part using a plurality of different digital watermark detection methods, using watermark embedded content data from a provider device as input ,
Service was correctly detected by the index acquiring means, or a service information acquisition means for acquiring by searching from the provider device and service information by using the path over bets or combination of services index can be detected at a certain level of confidence With
A user device characterized by receiving service information related to the content together with the content. A program for providing content-related information for causing a computer to function as each means constituting the provider device according to claim 7. A content-related information providing program for causing a computer to function as each means constituting the user device according to claim 8.

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