Method, apparatus, and system for processing information by attaching information to digital data, and storage medium storing computer-readable program codes to carry out he method

• US 20030101141A1
• Filed: 11/14/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Keiichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• 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 1/32315 Selecting a particular method from amongst a plurality of methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark

Abstract

A system and method are provided for selecting, from among a plurality of attachment schemes, an attachment scheme which is appropriate for embedding information in digital data, attaching information representing the selected attachment scheme to the digital data using a predetermined attachment scheme, and attaching arbitrary information such as copyright information or user information to the digital data using the selected attachment scheme.

Claims

1. A system for processing information, comprising:

a first terminal comprising selector means for selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data;

a second terminal comprising first attachment means for attaching second information to the digital data, the second information indicating the attachment scheme selected by said selector means and being attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extractor means for extracting attachment scheme information, indicated by the second information, from the digital data using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

a third terminal comprising second attachment means for attaching the first information to the digital data using the attachment scheme indicated by the second information extracted by said extractor means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the digital data is at least one of a type, a complexity, and a shape of the digital data.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the attribute of the first information is at least one of the amount of information of the first information and an application of the first information.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first information is one of items of information relating to a user who is permitted to use the digital data, and information about a copyright holder of the digital data.

5. A system according to claim 1 further comprising billing means for billing the charge for the attachment scheme selected by said selector means.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of terminals configured like said third terminal, each of which corresponds to an attachment scheme selectable by said selector means.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of attachment means like said second attachment means, each of which corresponds to an attachment scheme selectable by said selector means.

8. A method for processing information, comprising the steps of:

selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data;

attaching second information to the digital data, the second information indicating the attachment scheme selected in said selecting step and being attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extracting scheme information indicated by the second information from the digital data using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

attaching the first information to the digital data using the attachment scheme indicated by the second information extracted in said extracting step.

9. An apparatus for processing information, comprising:

selector means for selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data; and

transmitter means for transmitting second information, indicating the attachment scheme selected by said selector means, to be attached to the digital data using a predetermined attachment scheme.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said transmitter means transmits the second information to an external apparatus through a network.

11. An apparatus for processing information, comprising:

receiver means for receiving digital data to which first information is attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extractor means for extracting the first information from the digital data received by said receiver means, using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

transmitter means for transmitting the digital data to an apparatus which attaches second information to the digital data using an attachment scheme indicated by the first information extracted by said extractor means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transmitter means transmits the digital data to an external apparatus through a network.

13. A method for processing information, comprising the steps of:

selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data; and

transmitting second information indicating the selected attachment scheme to be attached to the digital data using a predetermined attachment scheme.

14. A method for processing information, comprising the steps of:

receiving digital data to which first information is attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extracting the first information from the received digital data using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

transmitting the digital data to an apparatus which attaches second information to the digital data using an attachment scheme indicated by the first information extracted in said extracting step.

15. A storage medium containing computer-readable program codes for performing a method of processing information comprising the steps of:

selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data;

attaching second information to the digital data, the second information indicating the attachment scheme selected in said selecting step and being attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extracting scheme information indicated by the second information from the digital data using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

attaching the first information to the digital data using the attachment scheme indicated by the second information extracted in said extracting step.

16. A storage medium containing computer-readable program codes for performing a method of processing information comprising the steps of:

selecting an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data based on one of an attribute of the digital data and an attribute of the first information to be attached to the digital data; and

transmitting second information indicating the selected attachment scheme to be attached to the digital data using a predetermined attachment scheme.

17. A storage medium containing computer-readable program codes for performing a method of processing information comprising the steps of:

receiving digital data to which first information is attached using a predetermined attachment scheme;

extracting the first information from the received data using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

transmitting the digital data to an apparatus which attaches second information to the digital data using an attachment scheme indicated by the first information extracted in said extracting step.

18. A system for processing information, comprising:

a selector that selects an attachment scheme for attaching first information to digital data;

a first attachment unit that attaches second information, which indicates the selected attached scheme, to the digital data using a predetermined attachment scheme;

an extractor that extracts the attachment scheme information indicated by the second information from the digital data, using an extraction scheme corresponding to the predetermined attachment scheme; and

a second attachment unit that attaches the first information to the digital data using the attachment scheme indicated by the second information extracted by said extractor.