Method of referring to digital watermark information embedded in a mark image

• US 20010021978A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shinoda, Takashi, Asakai, Hiroshi, Okayasu, Satoe
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2463/103 applying security measure for protecting copyright
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark

Abstract

A browser 21 of a mark user client 3 obtains Web page 11 from a mark provider server 2 and displays it. Then control is transferred to a mark reference program 22 when a mark is detected, and the program extracts digital watermark information from a mark image. This digital watermark information comprises referred data, and an action definition that includes an action class and an index of the referred data as a parameter. The mark reference program 22 refers to this action definition, refers to required data through the index included in the action definition, and then performs processing defined by the action class.

Claims

1. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image, the digital watermark information being embedded in the mark image, processing being performed with reference to the digital watermark information,

wherein the digital watermark information comprises referred data, and an action definition that includes an action class and an index of the referred data as a parameter,

said method comprising a step of referring to said action definition;

and a step of referring to said referred data through the index included in the action definition to perform processing defined by the action class.

2. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 1

wherein:

said action definition defines an action executed when a menu item is pointed, and includes names of menu items as labels.

3. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 1

, wherein:

said action definition defines an action that displays a text; and

data that is referred to through the index is a text to be displayed.

4. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 3

, wherein:

said text comprises fixed information common to the same mark and information that is variable for each mark provider who attaches the same mark.

5. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 1

, wherein:

said action definition defines an action that obtains another Web page, which is different from a Web page to which said mark image is attached, and displays said another Web page; and

data that is referred to through the index is URL representing a location of said another Web page.

6. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 1

, wherein:

an action defined by said action definition is off-line authentication by comparing URL representing a mark provider in the digital watermark information with URL of a Web page to which the mark image is attached and by checking them.

7. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 6

, wherein:

as a result of the off-line authentication, an action defined by said action definition warns an authentication server of discrepancy of both URLs.

8. A method for referring to digital watermark information in a mark image according to

claim 1

, wherein:

an action defined by said action definition is on-line authentication by inquiring of an authentication server whether or not URL representing a mark provider in the digital watermark information is an appropriate mark provider.

9. A transmission medium in which a mark image and digital watermark information embedded in the mark image are transmitted via a network,

wherein the digital watermark information has a data configuration comprising an entity item for storing referred data and another entity item of an action definition that includes an action class and an index of the referred data as a parameter.

10. A transmission medium transmitted via a network, wherein said transmission medium includes a browser for browsing a Web page and performing the following processing functions with reference to digital watermark information embedded in a mark image:

said digital watermark information comprises referred data, and an action definition that includes an action class and an index of the referred data as a parameter;

the action definition is referred to;

the referred data is referred to via the index included in the action definition; and

processing defined by the action class is performed.