Method and Device for Incorporating Additional Information into Main Information Through Electronic Watermarking Technique

• US 20090092244A1
• Filed: 11/19/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: TARUGUCHI, Hideaki, TERADA, Kosei
• Granted Patent: US 7,849,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/026 File encryption of specific electrophonic music instrument file or stream formats, e.g. MIDI, note oriented formats, sound banks, wavetables digital rights management [DRM] G06F21/00; encryption H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/041 File watermark, i.e. embedding a hidden code in an electrophonic musical instrument file or stream for identification or authentification purposes audio watermarking G10L19/018
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/311 MIDI transmission G10H2240/056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data

Abstract

Two data units are selected from main information, such as MIDI data, into which additional information is to be incorporated, to calculate a difference between respective values of the two data units. A particular data segment to be incorporated into one of the MIDI data units is selected from a group of data of additional information. The size of the data segment to be incorporated into one of the data units may be either one bit or two or more bits. Substitute data to replace the content of one MIDI data unit is generated on the basis of a predetermined function using, as variables, the data-related value and a value of the particular data segment, and the content of the data unit corresponding to a predetermined one of the two MIDI data units is replaced by the generated substitute data. Thus, through such an electronic watermarking technique, any desired additional information can be incorporated into the MIDI data without changing the MIDI data format. In another implementation, data of encoding information, representative of an encoding procedure, are incorporated dispersedly into particular data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of the main information, and data belonging to a predetermined second data group of the main information are encoded by the encoding procedure represented by the encoding information.

Claims

1. A method of encrypting main information, data of said main information including a group of data units, said method comprising:

a first step of incorporating data of encrypting information, representative of an encrypting procedure, dispersedly into particular ones of the data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of said main information; and

a second step of executing the encrypting procedure, represented by said encrypting information, on the data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first step further incorporates predetermined additional information, other than said encrypting information, into said first data group of said main information.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first data group of said main information is classified into at least two characteristic groups according to data characteristics thereof, and said encrypting information is incorporated redundantly into said at least two characteristic groups.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said first step incorporates said encrypting information into each of the characteristic groups in accordance with an algorithm unique to said characteristic group.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said main information to be encoded is provided in a form of a real-time data stream, and

wherein said first step incorporates the data of encrypting information, in real time, into said main information of the real-time data stream, and said second step executes the encrypting procedure, in real time, on said main information of the real-time data stream, and

wherein said method further comprises a step of transmitting to a communication network said main information having said encrypting information incorporated therein and having been encrypted by said second step, in a form of the real-time data stream.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said main information incorporates with additional information, and

wherein said main information is music performance information and said additional information contains data representative of any one of a text message, still picture, moving picture and sound message.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said main information is music performance information, and

wherein said method further comprises a step of transmitting the music performance information after the execution of said encrypting procedure by said second step,

whereby at a receiving end, only portions, other than a particular portion corresponding to said data belonging to the predetermined second data group, of the music performance information can be reproduced by every person while the particular portion of the music performance information having undergone the encrypting can be reproduced only by an authorized person.

3. An electronic information processing device for encrypting main information, data of said main information including a group of data units, said electronic information processing device comprising:

a first section that incorporates data of encrypting information, representative of an encrypting procedure, dispersedly into particular ones of the data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of said main information; and

a second section that executes the encrypting procedure, represented by said encrypting information, on the data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information.

4. A machine-readable recording medium containing a program executable by a computer for encrypting main information, data of said main information including a group of data units, said program comprising:

a first step of incorporating data of encrypting information, representative of an encrypting procedure, dispersedly into particular ones of the data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of said main information; and

a second step of encrypting the data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information through the encrypting procedure represented by said encrypting information.

5. method of decoding and reproducing encrypted main information, data of encrypting information being incorporated dispersedly into particular data units in a predetermined first data group of said main information, data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information being encrypted by an encrypting procedure represented by said encrypting information, said method comprising:

a first step of reproducing said encrypting information, from said first data group of said main information having said encrypting information incorporated therein; and

a second step of, on the basis of said encrypting information reproduced by said first step, decoding the data belonging to said second data group to thereby reproduce said main information.

10. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said first data group of said main information is classified into at least two characteristic groups according to data characteristics thereof, and said encrypting information is incorporated redundantly into said at least two characteristic groups.

13. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said main information to be decoded is transmitted via a communication network, in a form of a real-time data stream, and wherein said method further comprises a step of receiving said main information of the real-time data stream transmitted via the communication network, and

wherein said first step reproduces said encrypting information, from said first data group of said main information of the real-time data stream received via the communication network;

and

wherein said second step decodes, on the basis of said encrypting information reproduced by said first step, the data belonging to said second data group of said main information of the real-time data stream received via the communication network to thereby decode said main information.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said main information incorporates with additional information, and

wherein said method further comprises a third step of detecting said additional information from the main information;

and a fourth step of displaying said additional information detected by said third step.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said main information incorporates with additional information, and

wherein said main information is music performance information and said additional information contains data representative of any one of a text message, still picture, moving picture and sound message.

6. A device for decoding and reproducing encrypted main information, data of encrypting information being incorporated dispersedly into particular data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of said main information, data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information being encrypted by an encrypting procedure represented by said encrypting information, said device comprising:

a first section that reproduces said encrypting information, from said first data group of said main information having said encrypting information incorporated therein; and

a second section that, on the basis of said encrypting information reproduced by said first section, decodes the data belonging to said second data group to thereby reproduce said main information.

7. A machine-readable recording medium containing a program executable by a computer for decoding and reproducing encrypted main information, data of encrypting information being incorporated dispersedly into particular data units belonging to a predetermined first data group of said main information, data belonging to a predetermined second data group of said main information being encrypted by an encrypting procedure represented by said encrypting information, said program comprising:

a first step of reproducing said encrypting information, from said first data group of said main information having said encrypting information incorporated therein; and

a second step of, on the basis of said encrypting information reproduced by said first step, decoding the data belonging to said second data group to thereby reproduce said main information.