Image processing method and image inspecting method

• US 8,553,928 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Metropolitan Public University Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Tokyo Metropolitan University Corporation
• Inventors: Hata, Yoichi, Kakii, Toshiaki, Goto, Yoshimitsu, Kiya, Hitoshi, Nishikawa, Kiyoshi, Fujiyoshi, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US12/529,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00047 using an image not specifically designed for the purpose
• 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 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

The present invention relates to an image processing method and image inspecting method with high versatility which enable efficient and highly accurate proof of authenticity of a digital image. The image processing method subjects at least a part of a digital image which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, to a first morphology operation using a predetermined structuring element, to process the digital image. The image inspecting method subjects the digital image thus processed, to a second morphology operation using the same structuring element as in the first morphology operation. The morphology operations have the idempotent and the presence or absence of falsification can be detected by determining identity of images before and after the second morphology operation.

Claims

1. An image processing method of processing a digital data as an object, which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, so as to enable proof of authenticity thereof, the image processing method comprising:

a first extraction step of extracting from an unprocessed digital image, at least a part of the unprocessed digital image as processing object information;

a first operation step of subjecting the processing object information to a first morphology operation using a predetermined first structuring element, to obtain first morphology image information;

a first generation step of generating a processed digital image containing the first morphology image information; and

a second operation step of subjecting difference information between the processing object information and the first morphology image information to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element different from the first structuring element, to obtain first morphology difference information,

wherein the first generation step performs a logical subtraction operation between the first morphology image information and the first morphology difference information to generate the processed digital image.

2. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the first extraction step extracts, as a processing object component, at least one of a plurality of image components resulting from component decomposition of the unprocessed digital image, as to one of frequency components, color components, luminance components, and bit planes of the unprocessed digital image,

wherein the first operation step subjects the processing object component to the first morphology operation to obtain the first morphology image information, and

wherein the second operation step subjects difference information between the processing object component and the first morphology image information to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element different from the first structuring element, to obtain the first morphology difference information.

3. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by the image processing method according to claim 2, the image inspecting method comprising:

a second extraction step of extracting as inspection object information at least one of a plurality of image components resulting from component decomposition of the acquired digital image, as to any one of frequency components, color components, luminance components, and bit planes of the acquired digital image;

a third operation step of subjecting the inspection object information to a third morphology operation using a third structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a fourth operation step of subjecting difference information between the inspection object information and the second morphology image information to a fourth morphology operation using a fourth structuring element which is the same as the second structuring element, to obtain second morphology difference information; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on the second morphology difference information.

4. An image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the first extraction step extracts, as a processing object image, one or more clipped images of a specific shape each of which is clipped from the unprocessed digital image and each of which forms a part of the unprocessed digital image,

wherein the first operation step subjects the processing object image to the first morphology operation to obtain the first morphology image information, and

wherein the second operation step subjects difference information between the processing object image and the first morphology image information to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element different from the first structuring element, to obtain the first morphology difference information.

5. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by the image processing method according to claim 4, the image inspecting method comprising:

a second extraction step of extracting as an inspection object image one or more clipped images of a specific shape each of which is clipped from an acquired digital image and each of which forms a part of the acquired digital image;

a third operation step of subjecting the inspection object image to a third morphology operation using a third structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a fourth operation step of subjecting difference information between the inspection object information and the second morphology image information to a fourth morphology operation using a fourth structuring element which is the same as the second structuring element, to obtain second morphology difference information; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on the second morphology difference information.

6. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by the image processing method according to claim 1, the image inspecting method comprising:

a second extraction step of extracting from the acquired digital image, at least a part of the acquired digital image as inspection object information;

a third operation step of subjecting the inspection object information to a third morphology operation using a third structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a fourth operation step of subjecting difference information between the inspection object information and the second morphology image information to a fourth morphology operation using a fourth structuring element which is the same as the second structuring element, to obtain second morphology difference information; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on the second morphology difference information.

7. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by an image processing method of processing a digital data as an object, which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, so as to enable proof of authenticity thereof, the image processing method comprising:

a first extraction step extracting from an unprocessed digital image, at least a part of the unprocessed digital image as processing object information;

a first operation step of subjecting the processing object information to a first morphology operation using a predetermined first structuring element, to obtain first morphology image information; and

a first generation step of generating a processed digital image containing the first morphology image information,

the image inspecting method comprising;

a second extraction step of extracting from the acquired digital image, at least a part of the acquired digital image as inspection object information;

a second operation step of subjecting the inspection object information to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a second generation step of generating a digital image for inspection containing the second morphology image information; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on difference information between the digital image for inspection and the acquired digital image.

8. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by the image processing method of processing a digital data as an object, which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, so as to enable proof of authenticity thereof, the image processing method comprising:

a first extraction step of extracting from an unprocessed digital image, at least a part of the unprocessed digital image as processing object information;

a first operation step of subjecting the processing object information to a first morphology operation using a predetermined first structuring element, to obtain first morphology image information,

a first generation step of generating a processed digital image containing the first morphology image information,

wherein the first extraction step extracts, as a processing object component, at least one of a plurality of image components resulting from component decomposition of the unprocessed digital image, as to one of frequency components, color components, luminance components, and bit planes of the unprocessed digital image,

wherein the first operation step subjects the processing object component to the first morphology operation to obtain the first morphology image information,

wherein the first generation step performs component composition to combine the first morphology image information with the remaining image components except for the processing object component out of the plurality of image components, and

the image inspecting method comprising;

a second extraction step of extracting as inspection object information at least one of a plurality of image components resulting from component decomposition of the acquired digital image, as to any one of frequency components, color components, luminance components, and bit planes of the acquired digital image;

a second operation step of subjecting the inspection object information to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a second generation step of performing component composition to combine the second morphology image information with the remaining image components except for the inspection object component out of the plurality of image components, to generate a digital image for inspection; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on difference information between the digital image for inspection and the acquired digital image.

9. An image inspecting method of implementing inspection of authenticity of a digital image, which is acquired from a falsification-vulnerable environment and has been subjected to processing for proof of authenticity by the image processing method of processing a digital data as an object, which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, so as to enable proof of authenticity thereof, the image processing method comprising:

a first extraction step of extracting from an unprocessed digital image, at least a part of the unprocessed digital image as processing object information;

a first operation step of subjecting the processing object information to a first morphology operation using a predetermined first structuring element, to obtain first morphology image information; and

a first generation step of generating a processed digital image containing the first morphology image information;

wherein the first extraction step extracts, as a processed digital image containing the first morphology image information,

wherein the first extraction step extracts, as a processing object image, one or more partial images of a specific shape of each of which forms a part of the digital image, from the unprocessed digital image,

wherein the first operation step subjects the processing object image to the first morphology operation to obtain the first morphology image information,

wherein the first generation step changes image information of a region corresponding to the processing object image, in the unprocessed digital image, so as to contain the first morphology image information, and

the image inspecting method comprising;

a second extraction step of extracting a whole of the acquired digital image as an inspection object image;

a second operation step of subjecting the inspection object image to a second morphology operation using a second structuring element which is the same as the first structuring element, to obtain second morphology image information;

a second generation step of generating a difference image between the second morphology image information and the acquired digital image, as a digital image for inspection; and

a determination step of determining authenticity of the acquired digital image, based on the digital image for inspection generated.