Image analysis – Applications
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-16
2004-12-07
Boudreau, Leo (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
C380S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06829367
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for judging content data by embedding an electronic watermark in data such as image data or audio data prepared by a digital device, and subsequently detecting the embedded electronic watermark. In particular, the present invention pertains to a content data judging apparatus and a method for maintaining security, by performing an appropriate authentication process, involving the use of a digital device, a recording medium and a plurality of programs, and by inspecting content data for alterations and identifying portions containing altered data. The present invention also pertains to an insurance service processing system using the apparatus and the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional, well known method for detecting the alteration of image data uses a hash function to prepare in advance information that is added to image data. This information is compared with a hash value produced based on the image data to determine whether the image data were altered. But while the alteration of image data can be detected using this method, a data portion containing altered image data can not be identified. To resolve this problem, the invention in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-158358 was submitted. In this invention, a method is described whereby additional information for detecting an alteration is embedded in content data as an electronic watermark, and the content data portion containing altered data is identified by detecting the additional information.
However, this method does not provide a system for judging content data. A judging operation comprises functions for accurately determining whether an exchange of content data occurred from the time the data were produced until an alteration of the data was detected, for identifying an occasion on which the content data may be altered, and for identifying a portion of the data that was altered.
In addition, the conventional method does not provide a system for maintaining security in order to handle, as evidence, content data prepared by a digital device, such as a camera, a recording device, a scanner or a video camera, or a process for a claim service and an insurance service that uses the data.
Furthermore, the conventional method does not provide a mechanism for determining whether identification data were altered, and for, if the data were altered, identifying a portion containing altered data.
Further, the conventional method does not provide a standardized content data judging method and apparatus, regardless of the digital device type that prepares content data.
To resolve the above problems, it is one object of the present invention to provide a content data judging apparatus and method for accurately determining whether an exchange of content data occurred from the time the data were produced until an alteration of the data was detected, for identifying an occasion on which the content data may be altered, and for identifying a portion of the data that was altered.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for maintaining security for accurately determining whether an exchange of content data, or a process for a claim service and an insurance service which uses these content data.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for determining whether identification data was altered and for identifying a portion of data that was altered.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Content Data Judging Apparatus
A content data judging apparatus, which determines whether content data prepared by a digital device were altered, comprises: (1) means for performing an authentication process using a medium on which content data are recorded; (2) means for reading the content data from the medium; (3) means for embedding, in the content data, data for verifying the pertinent contents; (4) means for extracting, from the content data, the data for verifying the pertinent contents; and (5) means for using the results of the extraction to determine whether the content data were altered. Preferably, the means (5) includes means for, when the content data were altered, identifying a portion containing altered data.
Preferably, the content data recorded in the medium includes the results of an authentication process performed for the digital device and the medium, and the means (2) for reading the content data includes means for reading the results of the authentication process.
Preferably, the means (3) for embedding data for verifying the content data includes means for embedding, in the content data, authentication history information for content data and ID information, such as a creation date, a creator, a creating device and a registration date.
Apparatus for Embedding Data Used for Alteration Detection
An apparatus, for embedding alteration detection data in content data prepared by a digital device, comprises: (1) means for performing an authentication process using a medium on which content data are recorded; (2) means for reading content data stored on the medium; and (3) means for embedding, in the content data, alteration detection data used to identify a portion containing altered data and for storing the resultant content data.
Content Data Alteration Judging Apparatus
A content data alteration judging apparatus comprises: (1) means for extracting alteration detection data from content data; and (2) means for using the results of an extraction of the alteration detection data to determine whether the content data were altered, and for, when the content data were altered, identifying a portion containing altered data.
Image Data Judging Apparatus
An image data judging apparatus, which includes a digital camera, a recording medium on which an image acquired by a digital camera is recorded, an electronic watermark embedding device for accessing and reading image data stored on the recording medium and for embedding an electronic watermark in the image data, and an electronic watermark extraction device for extracting the electronic watermark from the image data, comprises: (1) means for preparing image data in the digital camera; (2) means for performing an authentication process between the digital camera and the recording medium; (3) means for, when the authentication process is successful, recording the image data on the recording medium; (4) means for performing an authentication process between the recording medium and the electronic watermark embedding device; (5) means for, when the authentication process is successful, using the electronic watermark embedding device to read the image data from the recording medium; (6) means for using an electronic watermark embedding device to embed in the image data, as an electronic watermark, alteration determination data, as well as the results obtained by the several authentication processes and ID information for the image data; (7) means for using the electronic watermark embedding device to record, on a storage device, the image data in which the electronic watermark was embedded; (8) means for using the electronic watermark detection device to read the image data from the storage device and to extract the electronic watermark from the image data; and (9) means for using the electronic watermark detection device to determine whether the image data were altered, and for identifying a portion containing altered image data.
Image Data Judging Method
A method for judging an image acquired by a digital camera comprises the steps of: (1) preparing image data in digital camera; (2) performing an authentication process between the digital camera and a recording medium; (3) recording the image data on the recording medium when the authentication process is successful; (4) performing an authentication process between the recording medium and a device driver; (5) performing, when the authentication process is successful, an authentication process between the device driver and an electronic watermark embedding program; (6) perm
Morimoto Norishige
Tonegawa Satoko
Toyokawa Kazuhara
Akhavannik Hussein
Boudreau Leo
Herzberg L.
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