JPH1166009A - Method and apparatus for checking use condition violation of work, and storage medium storing program for checking use condition violation of work - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for checking a use condition violation of a work which can automatically detect unauthorized use of a work distributed through a network such as the Internet. According to the present invention, an original work in which watermark information including work identification information and user information is embedded is provided to a user, and the watermark information and usage conditions corresponding to the watermark information are stored in a management database. Then, a server using the work is detected, watermark information embedded in the work used in the server is obtained, and a use condition corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work is obtained from the management database. This checks whether the use of the work by the server does not violate the terms of use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for checking violation of use conditions of a work, and a storage medium storing a program for checking a use condition violation of a work. The present invention particularly violates usage conditions such as copying or reselling arbitrarily when registering a copyrighted work such as a digital image and a moving image on a server and publishing or selling the same via a network such as the Internet. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for checking a use condition violation of a copyrighted work, and a storage medium storing a program for checking a use condition violation of a copyrighted work, for checking the use condition of whether the copyrighted work is not used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when publishing or selling a copyrighted work such as a photograph on the Internet, in order to check whether a purchaser has violated usage conditions such as an expiration date, the seller must purchase the work. Access to the server, search for images sold by human eyes, check whether the usage conditions are violated, and if so, notify the purchaser of the violation and use A warning such as a stop is issued.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, since the work is checked manually, there is a problem that errors are likely to occur, time is required, and the cost increases accordingly. is there. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been made in consideration of the conditions of use of copyrighted works, such as digital images and moving images, distributed via networks such as the Internet and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a use condition violation checking method and apparatus, and a storage medium storing a use condition violation check program for a work.

[0004]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention. The method of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is used to check a use condition necessary for publishing or selling a copyrighted work including digital images and moving images via a network including the Internet. A use condition violation checking method, wherein an original work in which watermark information including work identification information and user information is embedded is provided to a user, and the watermark information and use conditions corresponding to the watermark information are stored in a management database. Storing (step 1), searching for a server that uses the work (step 2), and acquiring watermark information to obtain watermark information embedded in the work used by the server Step (Step 3) and obtaining the usage conditions corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work from the management database, (4) checking whether the use of the work by the user does not violate the use conditions (step 4).

According to the method for checking violation of use conditions of a work according to the present invention, a specific work in use is detected by a server connected to a network to check for violation of use conditions. Violations of the terms and conditions of use of the work by servers not authorized to use, as well as the server that was authorized, are automatically checked. In the method of checking the use condition violation of a copyrighted work according to the present invention, the search step includes a step of detecting a server that matches a search condition including a specified character string from the servers; Obtaining a text, and detecting a tag indicating the presence of the copyrighted work from the hypertext, wherein the watermark information obtaining step downloads a file of the copyrighted work indicated by the tag, Reading the watermark information of the work from the downloaded file of the work.

As a method for retrieving a copyrighted work, as a method other than the above-described method using a tag, a method of searching all directories in a server to check whether a copyrighted work exists may be used. Therefore, the searching step includes a step of detecting the designated server, and a step of searching all directories of the detected server to detect the presence of the copyrighted work. The method further includes a step of downloading a file of the detected work and a step of reading watermark information of the work from the downloaded file of the work.

Further, a condition including at least one of the expiration date and usable location information is used as the use condition. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is used in a content management server that publishes and distributes a copyrighted work including digital images and moving images through a network including the Internet to a user. A condition violation checking apparatus 100, comprising: a work providing means 110 for providing a user with an original work in which watermark information including work identification information and user information is embedded; Use condition management database 10
, A search unit 130 for detecting a server using the work, a watermark information obtaining unit 140 for obtaining watermark information embedded in the work used by the server, A check means 150 for checking whether the use of the work by the server does not violate the use conditions by obtaining a use condition corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work from the management database. .

[0008] The search means 130 includes a means 132 for detecting a server which matches a search condition of a form including a designated character string from the servers, a means 134 for obtaining hypertext from the detected server, Means 136 for detecting a tag indicating the presence of a copyrighted work from the hypertext.

The watermark information acquiring means 140 has means 142 for downloading a file of the work indicated by the tag, and means 144 for reading watermark information of the work from the downloaded file of the work. The copyrighted work providing means 140 and the checking means 14
No. 4 uses a condition including at least one of an expiration date and usable location information as a use condition.

According to the present invention, a content management server for publishing or distributing a literary work including a digital image and a moving image through a network including the Internet and providing it to a user is executed to check use conditions of the literary work. The storage medium storing the use condition violation check program for the copyrighted work includes a work providing process for providing the user with the original work in which the watermark information including the work identification information and the user information is embedded. A process of storing usage conditions corresponding to the watermark information in a management database; a search process of detecting a server using the work; and a watermark information embedded in the work used by the server. A watermark information acquisition process to obtain and embed in the work from the management database. A check process for checking whether the use of the work by the server does not violate the use conditions by obtaining the use conditions corresponding to the watermark information; and violating the use conditions of the work. Stores a check program.

The search process includes a process of detecting a server that matches a search condition including a specified character string from the servers, a process of acquiring a hypertext from the detected server, and a process of acquiring the hypertext from the detected server. And a process of detecting a tag indicating the presence of the work from the digital camera. The watermark information obtaining process includes a process of downloading a file of the work indicated by the tag, and a process of obtaining the work from the file of the downloaded work. Reading the watermark information of the object.

In the above-mentioned literary work providing process and the checking process, a condition including at least one of an expiration date and usable place information is used as a use condition.

[0013]

FIG. 3 shows a system configuration to which the present invention is applied. System in the figure, the content management database 10, the content management server 20, Internet 30, (hereinafter referred to as server) n stand WWW server comprised 40 ₁ to 40 _n. Internet 30, the content management server 20 and the server 40 _1-4
Communicating between 0 _n. The server 40 can access the content management server 20 in order to purchase and use a copyrighted product such as a digital image or a moving image from the content management server 20.

The content management server 20 includes a server 40
_When an application for purchase is made from a server 40 _m (1 ≦ m ≦ n) (hereinafter referred to as a user server) among ₁ to 40 _n , a copyright ID and an author ID are provided as watermark information in the original image. , The user ID is embedded and transmitted to the user server 40 _m . Further, in addition to the embedded information, the content management database 10 includes a work name, an author name,
And the use condition is inserted. The use conditions include, for example, the expiration date of the original picture (product) and the URL of the user server 40 _{m to} which the use application indicating usable place information is indicated.
including.

The content management server 20 is further appropriate search conditions (URL, search character string or the like) on the basis of the searching server 40 ₁ to 40 _n, the true search server 40 _l (hereinafter, checked server ) And accesses the server _40l to be checked. The server to be checked is not limited to the user server to which the right to use the work is given, but may be a server to which the right to use the work is not given.

[0016] The content management server 20 acquires the hypertext such as HTML files from the check target server 40 _l, search for tags indicating "that the work exists" from HTML, the corresponding tag is found If so, download the copyrighted file in the tag. Next, the content management server 20 reads out the work ID and the user ID embedded in the downloaded work as watermark information, and uses the work conditions and the user related to the work stored in the content management database 10. Retrieve the first name. Content management server 20
Is the information read from the copyrighted work used by the check target server 40 _l and the content management database 10
Then, it is checked whether the use of the literary work in the check target server _40l does not violate the use conditions of the literary work by collating with the information extracted from the above.

[0017] The content management database 10, the content management server 20 is watermark information and copyrighted name embedded in the original work, the author name, expiration date, to store the URL or the like of the user server 40 _m, which is permitted to use. FIG. 4 shows a first configuration of the content management server of the present invention. The content management server 20 includes a copyrighted work providing unit 52, a server searching unit 54, an HTML file obtaining unit 56, a memory 58,
It is composed of a work tag detection section 60, a work download section 62, a watermark information reading section 64, a use condition check section 66, and a violation processing section 68. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a use condition violation check operation realized by the first configuration of the content management server of the present invention.

The copyrighted work providing unit 52 includes a user server 40 _l
(Step 101), for example, an existing digital watermarking technique (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-305) is used.
No. 370, Japanese Patent Application No. 8-338787), a work ID, an author ID, and a purchaser ID are embedded in the original work (step 102). Further, the embedded information, the work name, the author name, The expiration date and the URL of the user server are written in the content management database 10 (step 103), and the original work in which the watermark information is embedded is distributed to the user server ₄₀₁ (step 104). Thereby, information as shown in FIG. 6 is embedded in the content management database 10.

The server search unit 54 is a server 4 that illegally uses a copyrighted work provided by the content management server 20.
To check if 0 ₁ to 40 _n exists,
For example, a search condition including a specified character string such as a URL generated based on the information stored in the content management database 10 is created (step 105), and a server is searched using the search condition (step 106). ).
If there is a server that satisfies the search condition, that is, the check target server 40 _l , the HTML file acquisition unit 56 accesses the check target server 40 _l , and
The TML file is acquired (step 107), and the memory 5
8 is stored.

An example of the source of the HTML file stored in the memory 58 is shown below. 1st line <HTML> 2nd line <HEAD> 3rd line <TITLE> ...... </ TITLE> 4th line </ HEAD> 5th line <BODY> 6th line <IMG SRC = "IMAGE .GIF "ALIGN = TOP> 7th line </ BODY> 8th line </ HTML> The copyrighted work tag detecting unit 60
From the image tag on the line, for example, the presence of a copyrighted work of the image file http: //....../IMAGE.GIF is detected (step 108).

[0021] The copyrighted work download unit 62 outputs an image file (ht) that is found to exist by the copyrighted work tag detection unit 60.
tp: //....../IMAGE.GIF) Check target server 40 _l
(Step 109) and stored in the memory 58. Next, the watermark information reading unit 64 outputs the work ID embedded in the work stored in the memory 58.
Then, the user ID is read (step 110). The use condition check unit 66 extracts the expiration date and usable URL associated with the literary work ID and the user ID obtained by the watermark information read unit 64 from the content management database 10 (step 111), and checks the server 40 to be checked. _It is checked whether or not _l corresponds to a usable URL or whether or not the expiration date has expired (step 112), and it is determined whether or not the use condition is violated (step 113). The URL of the check target server 40 _l that violates the use condition is stored in the violation processing unit 68
Notify.

The violation processing unit 62 notifies the server _40l violating the use conditions of the fact that the copyrighted work is illegally used, and if the right to use is paid, performs a surcharge request processing ( Step 114). FIG. 7 shows a second configuration of the content management server of the present invention. The content management server 20 includes a work providing unit 52, a server search unit 54, a work search unit in server 70, a work download unit 62, a watermark information reading unit 64, a use condition check unit 66, and a violation processing unit 68. You. The second configuration shown in FIG. 7 is different from the first configuration shown in FIG. 4 in that the HTML file acquisition unit 56 and the work tag detection unit 60 in the first configuration are replaced with a work detection unit 70 in the server. This is different from the first configuration. The server search unit 54 searches for the specified server,
The server of the search result is set as the server to be checked. The in-server work detection unit 70 searches all directories in the check target server 40 _l to detect the presence of the work,
The location information of the detected work is notified to the work download unit 62.

The above-mentioned embedding of watermark information in an original work is, for example, a digital watermark embedding technique which embeds other information in image information so as not to be perceived by a human and makes it possible to take out the embedded information when necessary. Is realized by: The principle of the watermark embedding technique will be described below.
The embedding process in the digital watermark embedding technology includes a decomposition process, an orthogonal transformation process, an embedding process, a decomposition process, an inverse orthogonal transformation process, and a reconstruction process.

In the decomposing process, one block of the original image is decomposed into a plurality of blocks of n pixels × m pixels. In the case of a moving image, it is divided into frames and the like, and each frame is decomposed into a plurality of blocks. In the orthogonal transformation processing, orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transformation (DCT transformation) is performed on each block decomposed in the decomposition processing, and an n × m frequency component matrix is obtained. Prior to embedding of the embedding information, an embedding position for determining at which position of the frequency component matrix obtained by the orthogonal transformation process the embedding information is to be embedded is determined by a random number,
Furthermore, a change amount indicating how much the value of the frequency component is changed at that position is determined, and the determined embedding position and the change amount are obtained as key information.

In the embedding process, when embedding information is to be embedded, it is not necessary to embed all of the information in the frequency component matrix for one block, but it may be embedded over the frequency component matrix of a plurality of blocks. By selecting, for example, a low-frequency portion of a frequency component matrix as an embedding position, embedding can be performed so that it cannot be perceived by humans. Also, by changing the change amount, the difference from the original value of the frequency component matrix can be changed, so that the deterioration of the image quality can be controlled. In the embedding process, the value of the frequency component matrix of each block is changed based on the embedding position and the amount of change of the key information, and the embedding information is embedded.

In the inverse orthogonal transform process, the frequency component matrix of each block in which the embedded information is embedded by the embedding process is subjected to inverse orthogonal transform to obtain a block image of n pixels × m pixels. In the reconstruction process, the block images obtained by the inverse orthogonal transform process are connected to obtain a watermark image in which embedded information is embedded.

Next, the process for extracting the embedded information in the above step 110 will be described. Extraction of embedded information includes decomposition processing, orthogonal transformation processing, extraction processing, and the like. In the decomposing process, the watermark image is decomposed into a plurality of blocks each including n pixels × m pixels. In the orthogonal transformation process, for each block decomposed by the decomposition process,
An orthogonal transformation is performed to obtain an n × m frequency component matrix. In the extraction process, the embedding position and the amount of change are obtained from the key information used in the embedding process at the time of embedding, and the embedding information is extracted from the frequency component matrix of each block.

As described above, digital watermarking technology
Embedding information cannot be extracted without the key information used at the time of embedding, the embedding information in the key information is not fixed because it is created by random numbers, and it is difficult to decipher the embedding information, and devising the embedding position Therefore, there is a feature that the embedded information is embedded so that a human cannot perceive it, and the degree of image quality deterioration can be controlled by changing the change amount.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following example, it is assumed that the check date is August 10, 1997, the expiration date is 90 days from the purchase date, and the expiration date is stored in the content management database 10 as a use condition for each purchase application. .

FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents of the content management database according to one embodiment of the present invention. There are currently five purchase applications from the user server 40. For each application, the image ID 11, the work name 12, the creator ID 13, the creator name 14, the expiration date 15, and the user server URL are stored in the content management database 10 It shall be registered in.

Further, an image ID, an author ID, and a user ID
Is embedded in each copyrighted work to be distributed by the watermark embedding technology, and is transmitted from the content management server 20 to the user server 40. The server detection unit 54 of the content management server 20 sends the URL http: // www. xxxx. co. jp / is extracted, and this URL is used as a search condition (step 10).
5). Thereby, the server search unit 54 accesses the extracted URL (step 106).
The HTML file acquisition unit 56 acquires the HTML file acquired by the access and stores it in the memory (Step 107). For example, the following HTML file is obtained. 1st line <HTML> 2nd line <HEAD> 3rd line <TITLE> ...... </ TITLE> 4th line </ HEAD> 5th line <BODY> 6th line <IMG SRC = "IMAGE .GIF "ALIGN = TOP> 7th line </ BODY> 8th line </ HTML> The copyrighted work tag detecting unit 60
From the image tag on the line, for example, the presence of a copyrighted work of the image file http: //....../IMAGE.GIF is detected (step 108).

[0038] The copyrighted work download unit 62 outputs an image file (ht) that has been found to exist by the copyrighted work tag detection unit 60.
tp: //....../IMAGE.GIF) Check target server 40 _l
(Step 109) and stored in the memory 58. This image file is, for example, a work ID (PID-A) in the content management database of FIG.

Next, the watermark information reading section 64 reads the literary work ID “PID-A” and the user ID “aaa” embedded in the image file stored in the memory 58 (step 110). Use condition check unit 66
Is the copyrighted work ID obtained by the watermark information reading unit 64
The expiration date “97.8.1” associated with “PID-A” and user ID “aaa” and available URL “ht”
tp: // www. xxxx. co. jp / "from the content management database 10 (step 11).
1). URL of the check target server 40 _l is available for use URL "http: //www.xxxx.c
o. jp / ”, the use condition of the place of use is satisfied. However, the check date is August 10, 1997, and the expiration date is August 1, 1997, so the expiration date has expired. Therefore, it is determined that the usage condition is violated (step 113), whereby the violation processing unit 62 sends a message to the server _40l that violates the usage condition. A notification that the copyrighted material has been used illegally is given, and if the right to use is paid, a surcharge payment request process is performed (step 114).

When embedding the watermark information in the original image, the information item serving as the watermark information may be manually input from a keyboard or the like, or may be read from a dedicated information file and embedded. further,
In the above embodiment, the expiration date is used as the use condition. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the use condition may be checked using various use conditions, such as when the payment has not been completed. Is possible.

Although the above embodiment has been described based on the configuration requirements of the content management server 20, the configuration requirements of the content management server 20 are not limited to this example. , And stored in a disk device or the like, and installed on the computer of the content management server 20 as necessary to check for usage condition violations. Furthermore, the built program is stored on a floppy disk or C
It is also possible to store it in a portable storage medium such as a D-ROM and use it versatilely when using such a system.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be variously modified and applied within the scope of the claims.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, a specific work in use by a server connected to a network is detected to check for violations of use conditions, so that the server provided with the work is provided. Not only that, there is an advantage that the use conditions of the use of the work by the server not permitted to use are automatically checked.

Further, by embedding an image ID, a creator ID, and a user ID as watermark information in an original image as a product, and transmitting the watermark information to the user server via a network such as the Internet, the user server can obtain the information. You cannot falsify information because you cannot falsify information,
It becomes impossible to use illegally. Furthermore, if the usage period has expired and the user continues to use the product, the usage conditions may be violated. Therefore, the information that seems to have reached the date is read from the management database. UR included in the information of the database
L to access the user server, obtain image information in which the watermark information is embedded, search the database based on the watermark information, and collate with the usage conditions, to thereby manually violate the usage conditions. You can check automatically without going through.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a first configuration diagram of a content management server of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart showing a use condition violation check operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing contents of a content management database of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a second configuration diagram of the content management server of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a content management database according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 management database 100 use condition violation check device for copyrighted work 110 copyrighted work provision means 120 storage means 130 server search means 140 watermark information acquisition means 150 check means

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. To publish a copyrighted work including digital images and moving images via a network including the Internet,
This is a method of checking the usage conditions of a copyrighted work, which is necessary to check the usage conditions required for sale.This method provides the user with an original work in which watermark information including work identification information and user information is embedded. Storing watermark information and use conditions corresponding to the watermark information in a management database; searching for detecting a server using the work; embedded in the work used in the server; Watermark information obtaining step of obtaining watermark information; and obtaining use conditions corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work from the management database, so that the use of the work by the server does not violate the use conditions. A method for checking whether or not a copyrighted work has been violated. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of searching includes a step of detecting, from the servers, a server that satisfies a search condition including a specified character string; a step of acquiring hypertext from the detected server; Detecting a tag indicating the presence of the work from the hypertext, wherein the watermark information obtaining step downloads a file of the work indicated by the tag, and a file of the downloaded work 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: reading watermark information of the work from the work. 3. The search step includes a step of detecting a designated server, and a step of searching all directories of the detected server to detect the presence of a copyrighted work. 2. The use of the work according to claim 1, further comprising: downloading the file of the detected work; and reading watermark information of the work from the file of the downloaded work. Condition violation check method. 4. The use condition violation of a work according to claim 1, wherein the use condition is a condition including at least one of a use period and usable place information. Method for checking. 5. A work including a digital image and a moving image may be disclosed via a network including the Internet,
In a content management server provided to a user by distributing, a use condition violation checking device for a copyrighted work, which provides a user with an original copyrighted work in which watermark information including copyrighted work identification information and user information is embedded. Means for providing a copyrighted work, means for storing the watermark information and usage conditions corresponding to the watermark information in a management database, search means for detecting a server using the copyrighted work, and means used in the server Watermark information obtaining means for obtaining watermark information embedded in the work; and obtaining usage conditions corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work from the management database, thereby enabling the server to use the work. Means for checking whether the use conditions have been violated. Ekku apparatus. 6. A search means for detecting a server that matches a search condition of a form including a specified character string from among servers, a means for acquiring hypertext from the detected server, Means for detecting a tag indicating the presence of the work from the hypertext, wherein the watermark information obtaining means downloads a file of the work indicated by the tag, and a file of the downloaded work 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: means for reading watermark information of the copyrighted work from the work. 7. The search means includes means for detecting a designated server, and means for searching all directories of the detected server to detect the presence of a copyrighted work. 6. The use of a work according to claim 5, further comprising: means for downloading the file of the detected work, and means for reading watermark information of the work from the file of the downloaded work. Condition violation check device. 8. The use condition violation of a work according to claim 5, wherein the use condition is a condition including at least one of a use expiration date and usable place information. Check device. 9. Publishing a copyrighted work including digital images and moving images via a network including the Internet,
A storage medium storing a work use condition violation check program that is executed to check use conditions of a work in a content management server provided to a user by distributing the work, the work identification information and the user information A process of providing a user with an original work in which watermark information including embedded watermark information is provided to a user; a process of storing the watermark information and use conditions corresponding to the watermark information in a management database; A search process for detecting a server that is present, a watermark information acquisition process for obtaining watermark information embedded in the work used in the server, and a use corresponding to the watermark information embedded in the work from the management database. By obtaining the conditions, the use of the work by the server violates the use conditions Storage medium storing operating conditions violation checking program work, characterized by comprising a check process of checking whether or not. 10. A process for detecting a server that matches a search condition in a form including a specified character string from among servers, a process for obtaining hypertext from the detected server, Detecting a tag indicating the presence of the work from the hypertext, wherein the watermark information obtaining process includes a process of downloading a file of the work indicated by the tag, and a file of the downloaded work. 10. A storage medium storing a work use condition violation check program according to claim 9, further comprising a step of reading watermark information of the work from the program. 11. The watermark information acquiring process, comprising: a process of detecting a designated server; and a process of searching all directories of the detected server to detect the presence of a copyrighted work. 10. The use of a copyrighted work according to claim 9, comprising: a process of downloading the file of the detected copyrighted work; and a process of reading watermark information of the copyrighted work from the file of the downloaded copyrighted work. A storage medium that stores a condition violation check program. 12. The program according to claim 9, wherein a condition including at least one of an expiration date and usable location information is used as the use condition. Storage medium storing.