JPH11191881A - Identification/management method for image information and identification/management system for image information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information management technique where a receiver side can manage a broadcast image. SOLUTION: A transmitter side superimposes identification information on a major image of image information and broadcasts resulting image information 4. A receiver side detects a reception channel of the received image information 4 and extracts identification information 3. The receiver side also measures a detection start time of the identification information and a detection time and/or a detection end time of the identification information in response to the detection of the extracted identification information 3. Then the receiver side provides an output of the extracted identification information, the detection start time of the identification information and the detection time and/or the detection end time of the identification information as management information of the received image information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a technology for identifying and managing image information, and more particularly to a technology for identifying and managing broadcasted image information on a receiving side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, a broadcasting station broadcasts various images including television programs and commercials. Some of these, such as commercials, require management of broadcast time and the like.

[0003]

At present, the broadcast station has manually managed the broadcast date and time and broadcast time of these images that require management, and there has been a demand for rationalization thereof. Also, there has been a request that a person associated with an image to be broadcast in some form wants to receive the broadcast image and manage the image on the receiving side.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technique for managing image information in which broadcasted images can be managed on the receiving side.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is a method for identifying and managing image information, comprising the steps of generating identification information, superposing the identification information on a main screen of the image information,
Broadcasting image information on which the identification information is superimposed,
Receiving the broadcasted image information; detecting a reception channel of the received image information; extracting the identification information from the received image information; and detecting the extracted identification information. Measuring a detection start time of the identification information, a detection time of the identification information, and / or a detection end time of the identification information in response to the extracted identification information;
Outputting the detected reception channel, the detection start time of the identification information, the detection time of the identification information, and / or the detection end time of the identification information as management information of the received image information. This is achieved by a method for identifying and managing characteristic image information.

As a method of superimposing the identification information on the main screen of the image information, a method of scrambling the identification information and superimposing the scrambled identification information on a scanning line of the main screen, As a method of extracting the identification information from the information, a method of extracting the identification information by extracting the scrambled identification information from the scan line of the main screen and then performing descrambling is considered.

Further, as a method of superimposing the identification information on the main screen of the image information, a predetermined scramble is applied to the identification information, the scrambled identification information is superimposed on one scanning line of the main screen, and the identification information is superimposed. A method of applying the predetermined scrambling to information having the opposite polarity to information and superimposing the scrambled information on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line, or as a method of extracting the identification information from the received image information A method is conceivable in which a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen is obtained, the difference signal is descrambled, and identification information is extracted based on the polarity of the descrambled signal.

As a method of superimposing the identification information on the main screen of the image information, a method of firstly modulating the identification information, then spreading it with a predetermined spreading code, and superimposing the spectrum-spread identification information on the main screen. Also, as a method of extracting the identification information from the received image information, the identification information is extracted by extracting the spectrum-spread identification information from the main screen, then despreading with the spreading code, and then demodulating. A method is conceivable.

As a method of superimposing the identification information on the main screen of the image information, the identification information is primary-modulated and then spread with a predetermined spreading code, and the spread identification information is applied to one scanning line of the main screen. A signal having a phase opposite to that of the primary modulated identification information is generated by superimposing the signal, the signal is spread with a predetermined spreading code, and the spread signal is superimposed on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line. As a method for extracting the identification information from the received image information, a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen is obtained, and the difference signal is despread with the predetermined spreading code. A method of extracting identification information by demodulating the signal thus obtained is conceivable.

An object of the present invention is an image information identification / management system, comprising: identification information generating means for generating identification information; an encoder for superimposing identification information on a main screen of image information; A transmitting station having a unit for transmitting the superimposed image information, a receiving unit for receiving the image information on which the identification information is superimposed, a decoder for decoding the identification information from the received image information, and the received image Channel detection means for detecting a reception channel of information; and measurement for measuring a detection start time of the identification information, a detection time of the identification information, and / or a detection end time of the identification information in response to the detection of the extracted identification information. Means for detecting the extracted identification information, the detected reception channel, the detection start time of the identification information, the detection time of the identification information, and / or the detection of the identification information. End time, the identification of the image information, characterized by having a receiving terminal and a management information output means for outputting as the management information of the received image information
Achieved by a management system.

The encoder has a means for scrambling and encoding the identification information and superimposing the encoded identification information on a scanning line of the main screen. The decoder has a main screen as a configuration of the decoder. It is conceivable to have a means for decoding and extracting the identification information by performing descrambling after extracting the scrambled identification information from the scan line.

[0012] The encoder may be configured such that predetermined scrambling is applied to the identification information, the scrambled identification information is superimposed on one scanning line of the main screen, and
Means for applying the predetermined scrambling to the information having the opposite polarity to the identification information, and superimposing the scrambled information on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line. Take the difference signal between two adjacent scan lines, descramble this difference signal,
It is conceivable to have means for extracting identification information based on the polarity of the descrambled signal.

[0013] The encoder may include means for primary-modulating the identification information, spreading the encoded information with a predetermined spreading code, encoding the encoded identification information, and superimposing the encoded identification information on a main screen. As a configuration of, by extracting the spread spectrum identification information from the main screen, then despread with the spreading code and then demodulated,
It is conceivable to have means for decoding and extracting identification information.

In the encoder, the identification information is primary-modulated and then spread with a predetermined spreading code, and the spread identification information is superimposed on one scanning line of the main screen.
Means for generating a signal having a phase opposite to that of the primary modulated identification information, spreading the signal with a predetermined spreading code, and superimposing the spread signal on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line. The decoder has a configuration in which a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen is taken, the difference signal is despread with the predetermined spreading code, and the despread signal is demodulated to perform identification. It is conceivable to have means for extracting information.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a commercial image having an identification number 19 of an automobile company A is used as image information, and information indicating that the image information is a commercial having an identification number 19 of an automobile company A is used as identification information. An example will be described.

In FIG. 1, 1 is original image information of a commercial,
2 is an encoder, 3 is identification information, 4 is image information on which identification information is superimposed, 5 and 6 are antennas, 7 is a receiver, 8 is a decoder, 9 is a management information processing device, and 10 is a timer. First, the identification information 3 is superimposed on the original image information 1 by the encoder 2. Here, the original image information 1 is a commercial image of the identification number 19 of the A automobile company, and the identification information 3 is information indicating that it is a commercial image of the identification number 19 of the A automobile company.

The identification information 3 is output by the encoder 2.
Is superimposed on the main screen of the original image information 1. This is because, when using blanking of image information, not only legal procedures are required, but blanking may be replaced when image information is dubbed. Furthermore, many programs are played back on tape, and it is necessary that identification information be superimposed on image information before tape recording.

The image information 4 on which the identification information 3 is superimposed is aired via an antenna 5. The on-air image information 4 is received by the receiver 7 via the antenna 6. Then, the received image information 4 is decoded by the decoder 8, and the identification information 3 is extracted. The receiver 7 having received the image information outputs the information of the reception channel of the image information to the information processing device 9 for management.

On the other hand, the identification information 3 decoded by the decoder 8 is input to the management information processing device 9. When the identification information 3 is detected in the management information processing device 9, the timer 10 starts measuring time, and measures until the identification information 3 is no longer detected. At this time, the detection start time and the detection end time are also detected. Next, in the management information processing device 9, the identification information 3, the reception channel information from the receiver 7,
Based on the detection time, detection start time and detection end time,
Generate commercial management information.

For example, if the identification information 3 is the 19th commercial of the A car, the receiving channel is 4 channels, the detection time is 30 seconds, the detection start time is 11:00 am, and the detection end time is 11:30 am, the commercial The management information outputs data indicating that the nineteenth commercial of the A car was broadcast on four channels for 30 seconds from 11:00 am to 11:30 am. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of commercial management information.

In this way, when the commercial
You can manage how many channels and for how long. Next, the encoder 2 and the decoder 8 will be further described. As a technique for performing encoding and decoding, a technique called a so-called digital watermark can be considered. This digital watermarking technique includes a method of dividing image information into a plurality of small pixel blocks and embedding watermark information (identification information), a method of using a masking effect, and a method of using watermark information (DCT) on a frequency component of an image obtained using DCT. A method of spreading the spectrum of the identification information), a method of spreading the spectrum of the PN code, a method of using a wavelet transform, and a method of embedding watermark information (identification information) in an MPEG motion vector can be considered.

Here, a predetermined scramble is applied to the identification information, the scrambled identification information is superimposed on one scanning line of the main screen, and the same scramble as the information having the opposite polarity to the identification information is applied to the identification information. A method of superimposing the scrambled information on a scan line adjacent to a scan line on which identification information is superimposed will be described.

In this method, if one bit of information is superimposed on one scanning line, the information can be superimposed on 240 lines per frame.
An information amount of 240 bits = 30 bytes per frame is obtained. This is, for example, an information amount of 30 characters in ASCII code. For example, if the identification information is used to identify a commercial as in the present embodiment, six characters are used for the identification (company code) of the automobile company A and four characters are used for the identification of the 19th commercial (commercial number). Even if there is, it can be understood that information for 20 characters can be assigned to other information, and a sufficient amount of information can be obtained.

Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of superimposing scrambled identification information on a main screen. The following operation is performed by the encoder 2 or the decoder 8. The rectangular wave of identification information (n lines) in FIG. 3 is identification information, and has one bit of information per line. Then, the identification information (n +
The rectangular wave of (1 line) is a rectangular wave having a polarity opposite to that of the rectangular wave in the identification information (n lines). (N + 1 line)
Is a scanning line adjacent to (n lines).

FIG. 3 shows a case where 1 digital data is superimposed (n lines), and when 0 digital data is superimposed, the polarities of (n lines) and (n + 1 lines) are changed. The opposite is true. That is, by changing the polarity, digital data of 0 or 1 can be superimposed. The encoder 2 scrambles the (n line) and (n + 1 line) having opposite polarities with an M-sequence code to obtain a scramble signal (n line) and a scramble signal (n + 1 line). Then, these signals are superimposed on the main screen at a minute level.

Next, the decoder 8 will be described. The decoder 8 obtains a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines for the received image information. That is, a difference signal between the scramble signal (n line) and the scramble signal (n + 1 line) is obtained. Since the adjacent scanning lines are generally similar signals (images), if the difference between the two scanning lines is taken, the signal of the main screen is likely to be canceled out, but the scrambled signal superimposed with the opposite polarity is The difference is detected as double.

Subsequently, the difference signal is descrambled with the same M-sequence code as used for encoding to obtain a descrambled signal. Then, identification information is obtained based on the polarity of the descrambling signal. In this way, the rectangular wave of the identification information and the rectangular wave having the opposite phase to this rectangular wave are superimposed on two adjacent lines,
By taking the difference signal between these signals on the receiving side, the receiving side can detect the signal at twice the level of the superimposed identification information. For this reason, the signal level superimposed on one line can be reduced, and the influence on the main screen can be minimized.

In this embodiment, an example in which one bit is superimposed on two adjacent lines is described, but it is also possible to superimpose several bits on two lines by dividing the line. In this embodiment, the identification information is scrambled without performing primary modulation. However, after the identification information is primarily modulated by a modulation method such as PSK modulation, scrambling is performed in the same manner as described above. A spread spectrum method may be used.

[0029]

According to the present invention, since the image is broadcast after the identification information is superimposed on the image, and the program is managed on the receiving side, the program management can be performed on the receiving side without making a major change to the existing system. I can do it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining commercial management information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of superimposing scrambled identification information on a main screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Original image information 2 Encoder 3 Identification information 4 Image information with identification information superimposed 5, 6 Antenna 7 Receiver 8 Decoder 9 Management information processing device 10 Timer

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for identifying and managing image information, comprising: a step of generating identification information; a step of superimposing identification information on a main screen of image information; and broadcasting the image information on which the identification information is superimposed. Receiving the broadcasted image information; detecting a reception channel of the received image information; extracting the identification information from the received image information; and extracting the identification information. Measuring the detection start time of the identification information, the detection time of the identification information and / or the end time of the detection of the identification information in response to the detection of the extracted identification information, the detected reception channel,
Outputting the detection start time of the identification information, the detection time of the identification information, and / or the detection end time of the identification information as management information of the received image information. ·Management method. 2. The step of superposing the identification information on the main screen of the image information is a step of scrambling the identification information and superimposing the scrambled identification information on a scan line of the main screen. Extracting the identification information from the information, by performing descrambling after extracting the scrambled identification information from the scan line of the main screen,
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of extracting identification information. 3. The step of superimposing identification information on a main screen of the image information includes applying predetermined scrambling to the identification information, superimposing the scrambled identification information on one scan line of the main screen, and Applying the predetermined scramble to the information having the opposite polarity to the information, and superimposing the scrambled information on a scan line adjacent to the one scan line, and extracting the identification information from the received image information. Acquiring a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen, descrambling the difference signal, and extracting identification information based on the polarity of the descrambled signal. How to identify and manage information. 4. The step of superimposing identification information on the main screen of the image information, the method comprising: firstly modulating the identification information, spreading the information with a predetermined spreading code, and superimposing the spectrum-spread identification information on the main screen. Wherein extracting the identification information from the received image information includes extracting the identification information by extracting the spectrum-spread identification information from the main screen and then despreading with the spreading code and then demodulating the extracted information. 2. The method for identifying and managing image information according to claim 1, wherein the method is a step. 5. The method of superimposing identification information on a main screen of the image information, the method comprising: firstly modulating the identification information and then spreading the same with a predetermined spreading code; and applying the spread identification information to one scan line of the main screen. A signal having a phase opposite to that of the primary modulated identification information is generated by superimposing the signal, the signal is spread with a predetermined spreading code, and the spread signal is superimposed on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line. Extracting the identification information from the received image information, taking a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen, despreading the difference signal with the predetermined spreading code, and despreading. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of extracting identification information by demodulating the selected signal.
Management method. 6. An image information identification / management system, comprising: identification information generating means for generating identification information; an encoder for superimposing identification information on a main screen of image information; and image information on which the identification information is superimposed. A transmitting station having means for transmitting the image information; a receiving means for receiving the image information on which the identification information is superimposed; a decoder for decoding the identification information from the received image information; and a reception channel for the received image information. Channel detection means for detecting, and measurement means for measuring a detection start time of the identification information, a detection time of the identification information, and / or a detection end time of the identification information in response to the detection of the extracted identification information; The identification information, the detected reception channel, the detection start time of the identification information, the detection time of the identification information and / or the detection end time of the identification information, Identification of the image information and management system characterized by having a receiving terminal and a management information output means for outputting as the management information of the signal image information. 7. The encoder includes means for scrambling and encoding the identification information, and superimposing the encoded identification information on a scanning line of the main screen, wherein the decoder is scrambled from the scanning line of the main screen. 7. The image information identification / management system according to claim 6, further comprising means for decoding and extracting the identification information by performing descrambling after extracting the identification information. 8. The encoder according to claim 1, wherein the encoder applies predetermined scrambling to the identification information, superimposes the scrambled identification information on one scanning line of a main screen, and applies the predetermined scrambling to information having a polarity opposite to that of the identification information. And a means for superimposing the scrambled information on the scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line. The decoder obtains a difference signal between two scanning lines adjacent to each other on the main screen, and descrambles the difference signal. 7. The image information identification / management system according to claim 6, further comprising means for extracting identification information based on the polarity of the descrambled signal. 9. The encoder according to claim 1, further comprising: means for firstly modulating the identification information, then spreading and encoding the identification information with a predetermined spreading code, and superimposing the encoded identification information on a main screen. 7. The image information identification apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: means for extracting the spectrum-separated identification information from the screen, despreading with the spreading code, and then demodulating the decoded information to decode and extract the identification information. -Management system. 10. The encoder according to claim 1, wherein the encoder performs primary modulation on the identification information, spreads the identification information with a predetermined spreading code, superimposes the spread identification information on one scan line of a main screen, and
Generating a signal having a phase opposite to that of the next modulated identification information, spreading the signal with a predetermined spreading code, and superimposing the spread signal on a scanning line adjacent to the one scanning line; The decoder has means for taking a difference signal between two adjacent scanning lines on the main screen, despreading the difference signal with the predetermined spreading code, and demodulating the despread signal to extract identification information. 7. The system for identifying and managing image information according to claim 6, wherein: