Method and apparatus for embedding authentication information within digital data

• US 6,163,842 A
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Barton, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US09/320,596
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 380/30, 380/54, 713/176
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0057 Compression invariant watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0203 whereby the image with embedded watermark is reverted to the original condition before embedding, e.g. lossless, distortion-free or invertible watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/34 Encoding or coding, e.g. Huffman coding or error correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• 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 1/32154 Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32277 Compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

Arbitrary digital information is embedded within a stream of digital data, in a way that avoids detection by a casual observer and that allows a user to determine whether the digital data have been modified from their intended form. The embedded information may only be extracted as authorized and may be used to verify that the original digital data stream has not been modified.

Claims

1. A method for embedding information into image data representative of an image, comprising the steps of:

a) providing image data representative of an image, said image data comprising digital data blocks including image luminance components of the image represented by said image data;

b) providing a bit string of information for encoding knowledge of interest to a receiver of said digital data blocks; and

c) processing said image data and said bit string by both a data embedding step and an encryption step to provide modified image data having said bit string embedded and encrypted therein, said data embedding step being performed by modifying said image luminance components with said bit string of information in a manner so that said bit string is not readily noticeable when said modified image data is converted into a non-digital form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said luminance components are represented by sequences of bits representing luminance values for the image, and wherein said step of embedding comprises modifying said sequences of bits representing luminance values with said bit string of information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of embedding comprises modifying least significant bits of said sequences of bits representing luminance values for the image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said bit string of information includes meta-data about said image data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said bit string of information includes a digital signature for said image data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said digital signature is generated based upon said image data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said digital signature is calculated according to a predetermined digital signature calculation technique, and wherein said method further includes the step of appending digital data indicative of said predetermined digital signature calculation technique to said bit string of information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said encryption step is performed according to a predetermined encryption technique, and wherein said method further includes the step of appending digital data indicative of said predetermined encryption technique to said bit string of information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of processing further includes an error correction step to provide an error correctable bit string which is embedded and encrypted in said image data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said error correction step comprises calculating an error correction code for said bit string for correcting a possible error, and appending said error correction code to said bit string.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the step of compressing said image data.

12. The method of claim 1, further including the step of compressing said bit string of information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein portions of said image data are modified during said embedding step, and wherein said method further includes the steps of compressing said portions of said image data that are to be modified during said embedding step to provide a compressed representation of said portions, and appending said compressed representation to said bit string.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of recovering said image data after said step of processing, said step of recovering comprising extracting said compressed representation from said modified image data;

decompressing said compressed representation extracted from said modified image data; and

replacing the portions of said modified image data that were modified during said embedding step with said decompressed representation.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said bit string includes at least one of restoration information and authentication information, and wherein said method further includes the steps of retrieving said bit string from said modified image data, and performing at least one of a restoring step and an authentication step on said modified image data block in accordance with said retrieved bit string.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said embedding step comprises embedding said bit string in a pseudo-random distribution fashion.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said image data is based upon a photographic image.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said image data is based upon a video image.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said image data is provided by one of a camera, a video recorder, and a cable converter.

20. A method for embedding information into image data representative of an image, comprising the steps of:

a) providing image data representative of an image, said image data comprising digital data blocks including image luminance components of the image represented by said image data;

b) providing a bit string of information for encoding knowledge of interest to a receiver of said digital data block;

c) encrypting said bit string of information to provide an encrypted bit string; and

d) embedding said encrypted bit string of information in said digital data blocks by modifying said image luminance components with said encrypted bit string of information.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said luminance components are represented by sequences of bits representing luminance values for the image, and wherein said step of embedding comprises modifying said sequences of bits representing luminance values with said encrypted bit string.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of embedding comprises modifying least significant bits of said sequences of bits representing luminance values for the image.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said bit string of information includes meta-data about said image data.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said bit string of information includes a digital signature for said image data.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said digital signature is generated based upon said image data.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said digital signature is calculated according to a predetermined digital signature calculation technique, and wherein said method further includes the step of appending digital data indicative of said predetermined digital signature calculation technique to said bit string of information.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of encrypting is performed according to a predetermined encryption technique, and wherein said method further includes the step of appending digital data indicative of said predetermined encryption technique to said bit string of information.

28. The method of claim 20, further including an error correction step to provide an error correctable bit string which is embedded in said image data.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said error correction step comprises calculating an error correction code for correcting a possible error, and appending said error correction code to said bit string of information.

30. The method of claim 20, further including the step of compressing said image data.

31. The method of claim 20, further including the step of compressing said bit string of information.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein portions of said image data are modified during said embedding step, and wherein said method further includes the steps of compressing said portions of said image data that are to be modified during said embedding step to provide a compressed representation of said portions, and appending said compressed representation to said bit string of information.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of appending is performed prior to said step of encrypting said bit string.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of recovering said image data after said step of embedding, said step of recovering comprising extracting said compressed representation from said modified image data;

decompressing said compressed representation extracted from said modified image data; and

replacing the portions of said modified image data that were modified during said embedding step with said decompressed representation.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein said bit string includes at least one of restoration information and authentication information, and wherein said method further includes the steps of retrieving said bit string from said modified image data, and performing at least one of a restoring step and an authentication step on said modified image data in accordance with said retrieved bit string.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of retrieving said bit string comprises first retrieving said encrypted bit string by de-embedding said modified image data, and then decrypting said encrypted bit string.

37. The method of claim 20, wherein said embedding step comprises embedding said bit string in a pseudo-random distribution fashion.

38. The method of claim 20, wherein said image data is a JPEG image.

39. The method of claim 20, wherein said image data is an MPEG image.

40. The method of claim 20, wherein said image data is provided based upon optically input information to produce said digital data blocks.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said digital data blocks are provided by a photographic camera.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said digital data blocks are provided by a video camera.

43. The method of claim 20, wherein said image data is provided by one of a camera, a video recorder, and a cable converter.