Content providing method and system

Abstract

To provide a content providing method and system for copyright protection of a content to provide as an image.SOLUTION: The content providing method may include the steps of: receiving a viewing request for a content from a user terminal; identifying user information about a user account having logged into the user terminal; editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content on the basis of the user information; and providing the content including the plurality of edited scene images to the user terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and system for providing content into which user information is inserted for copyright protection of the content. [Background technology]

[0002] As technology advances, the use of digital devices is increasing. Electronic devices (e.g., smartphones, tablet PCs, etc.) in particular have a variety of functions, including not only communication functions such as phone calls and text messages, but also the ability to surf the Internet, listen to music, and watch video content.

[0003] With the popularization of electronic devices, content consumption has increased dramatically, and a representative example of such content is content made up of visualized images (e.g., webtoon content).

[0004] As the consumption of such content increases, various methods for protecting the copyright of content are being actively researched, and a representative method for protecting the copyright of content is known, which is to provide content using digital watermarks and fingerprints.

[0005] Meanwhile, recently, there have been many cases of copyright infringement of content by illegally capturing or filming content, editing it into videos or images, and distributing them.

[0006] Therefore, in order to protect the copyright of content consisting of visual information (eg, images), there is a need for a method for inserting information about a user into the content. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention relates to a content providing method and system for protecting the copyright of content provided in the form of images.

[0008] The present invention also relates to a content providing method and system that can protect copyrights in response to various illegal copying and distribution methods.

[0009] Thus, the present invention can be implemented so that information about a user can be inferred from content provided to the user terminal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The content providing method according to the present invention may include the steps of receiving a request to view content from a user terminal, confirming user information related to a user account logged into the user terminal, editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content based on the user information, and providing the content including the edited plurality of scene images to the user terminal.

[0011] Meanwhile, a content providing system according to the present invention includes a communication unit that receives a request to view content from a user terminal, and a control unit that checks user information related to a user account logged into the user terminal, and the control unit can edit a plurality of scene images that constitute the content based on the user information, and provide the content including the edited plurality of scene images to the user terminal.

[0012] Meanwhile, a program according to the present invention is a program executed by one or more processors in an electronic device and stored on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program includes commands for executing the steps of receiving a request to view content from a user terminal, confirming user information related to a user account logged in to the user terminal, editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content based on the user information, and providing the content including the edited plurality of scene images to the user terminal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The content providing method and system according to the present invention edits and provides images based on user information, thereby making it possible to insert user information into images that constitute content.

[0014] Here, in the present invention, user information can be inserted into content simply by deleting or editing images, and various types of illegal duplication and distribution of content (such as screen captures and camera shots) can be detected.

[0015] On the other hand, various embodiments of the present invention allow for the important content of the content to be prevented from being distorted by preserving the areas of the image that contain the important content and only editing the other areas. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a content providing system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram for explaining that content that has been edited differently depending on user information is provided. [Figure 4] 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a content editing method according to the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a content editing method according to the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a content editing method according to the present invention; [Figure 7] 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a content editing method according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless of the drawing number, identical or similar components will be designated by the same or similar reference numerals, and their description will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "section" used in the following description are added or used interchangeably to facilitate the preparation of the specification and do not have any significance or utility in themselves. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if a detailed description of related publicly known technology is deemed to obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, that detailed description will be omitted. The accompanying drawings are merely intended to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the technical concepts disclosed herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the present invention encompasses all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0018] Terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0019] When a component is said to be "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the component may be directly coupled or connected to the other component, and that there may be other components in between. Conversely, when a component is said to be "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0020] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless otherwise specified.

[0021] As used herein, the terms "comprise" and "have" are intended to specify the presence of a stated feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof, but should be understood as not precluding the presence or possible addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0022] The present invention relates to a content provision method and system that can provide original content by editing it differently based on content information, so that leakers who copy (e.g., photograph, record, capture, etc.) content and illegally leak (distribute) it can be identified.

[0023] As content consumption increases, there are a growing number of cases of illegal distribution of content (particularly paid content, such as viewing tickets or electronic money (e.g., cookies)).

[0024] There has been active research into technology (e.g., watermarks) that inserts the ID information of illegally distributed users into content (e.g., images that make up the content) to identify the leaker, but leakers are aware of the existence of watermarks and continue to try to circumvent them.

[0025] In particular, if the content is leaked as "video" by being photographed, recorded, or captured, it is difficult to extract complete information from the watermark if video manipulation attacks using a camera (e.g., various signal attacks or geometric deformations) are applied to the content.

[0026] Therefore, the present invention proposes a technique for editing and providing content based on user information.

[0027] More specifically, in the present invention, different edits can be made to the original content based on the different user information of the users viewing (or using) the content, and each user terminal can display content with a different visual appearance (e.g., resolution or width x height ratio) based on the different edits made to the original content.

[0028] Therefore, if the content provided in the present invention is leaked, the user who leaked the content can be found by comparing the leaked content with the original content and extracting the user information reflected in the leaked content.

[0029] Hereinafter, a method and system for providing content according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a content providing system according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a content providing method according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating that differently edited content is provided according to user information. Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are conceptual diagrams illustrating a content editing method according to the present invention.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, a content providing system 100 according to the present invention may include at least one of a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit .

[0031] The communication unit 110 may be configured to communicate with at least one of the user terminal 1 and the content server 2.

[0032] Upon receiving a content viewing request from the user terminal 1, the communication unit 110 can edit the content based on the user information and provide it to the user terminal 1.

[0033] The user terminal 1 is an electronic device capable of using content, and there is no limitation on the type thereof. For example, the user terminal 1 may be a mobile phone, a smartphone, a notebook computer, a laptop computer, a slate PC, a tablet PC, an ultrabook, a desktop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, smart glasses, or a head-mounted display (HMD)), etc.

[0034] The communication unit 110 can receive content from the content server 2 in order to provide the content to the user terminal 1.

[0035] The content server 2 can be understood as a server that provides content services. The content server 2 may include at least one of a cloud server 2a that executes a series of functions for controlling the content service and a database (DB) 2b in which multiple contents are stored.

[0036] In the present invention, the content stored in the database 2b is referred to as “original content.” Original content can be understood as content that has not been edited based on user information.

[0037] In contrast, in the present invention, the content provided to the user terminal 1 will be described as "edited content 3."

[0038] The content described in this invention is made up of "multiple scene images." The scene images constitute an episode or story of the content, and the order of the scene images may correspond to the order in which the episodes are made up. The order of the scene images constituting the first story of an episode may correspond to the first order, the order of the scene images constituting the next story may correspond to the second order, and the order of the scene images constituting the next story may correspond to the third order.

[0039] In the present invention, at least some of the multiple scene images constituting the original content can be edited and provided to the user terminal 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the user terminal 1 may sequentially display the multiple edited scene images 3a and 3b in accordance with the scene order.

[0040] Meanwhile, the content server 2 can execute a function of editing original content based on user information and providing the edited content 3 to the user terminal 1. That is, the content providing system 100 according to the present invention can correspond to one function of the content server 2. Therefore, the storage unit 120 described below can be used in conjunction with the database 2b of the content server 2, and the control unit 130 can be used in conjunction with the cloud server 2a.

[0041] The storage unit 120 may store various information for providing the edited content 3. The storage unit 120 may store user accounts and user information matched to the user accounts.

[0042] A user account can be understood as a user account subscribed to a content service (or a content providing system). The user information matched to each user account may include at least one of user account information (e.g., ID), a user name, a nickname, identification code information (e.g., a hash code generated by a hash function), and unique information that can identify the user.

[0043] Furthermore, the storage unit 120 may also store edit code information (see FIG. 4) that serves as a basis for editing content based on user information.

[0044] In the edit code information, different edit codes may be matched for each character constituting the user information. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, assume that 26 lowercase letters of the alphabet are set as characters constituting the user information. In the edit code information, different edit codes may be matched for each lowercase letter of the alphabet (from a to z).

[0045] Here, the editing code can be understood as information that defines an editing style for the original content. More specifically, the editing code can be understood as information that defines which scene image, among the multiple scene images that make up the original content, is to be edited in which editing style. For example, the editing code "{0,1,-1}" that matches the lowercase letter "h" can be understood as being defined to perform an edit corresponding to "0" (e.g., maintain, nothing) on ​​the first scene image, an edit corresponding to "1" (e.g., pixel insertion, insertion) on the second scene image, and an edit corresponding to "-1" (e.g., pixel removal, removal) on the third scene image.

[0046] Furthermore, as described above, at least a part of the storage unit 120 may refer to the database 2b of the content server 2. That is, in the present invention, the storage unit 120 may be understood to be a space in which the information according to the present invention is stored, and there is no restriction on the physical space.

[0047] Meanwhile, the storage unit 120 may be configured to control the overall operation of the content providing system 100 according to the present invention. The communication unit 110 and the storage unit 120 can be understood to be controlled by the control unit 130. Hereinafter, a method for editing and providing original content based on user information will be described in detail.

[0048] In the present invention, a process of receiving a request to view content from a user terminal can be performed (S210, see FIG. 2).

[0049] The control unit 130 can receive from the user terminal 1 a request to view a specific piece of content among a plurality of pieces of content provided by the content service.

[0050] A variety of requests for viewing content are made from the user terminal 1.

[0051] As an example, based on the selection of information (e.g., a thumbnail) about a specific piece of content on a service page that includes information about each of multiple pieces of content (e.g., a thumbnail, a title, etc.), the communication unit 110 can receive a request to view the specific piece of content from the user terminal 1.

[0052] As another example, based on the selection of one of multiple episodes that make up a specific content on a service page related to the specific content, the communication unit 110 can receive a request to view the specific episode from the user terminal 1.

[0053] In the present invention, a request to view an episode that constitutes a particular piece of content can be explained as a request to view content.

[0054] In addition, in the present invention, a process of checking user information related to a user account logged into the user terminal can be performed (S220, see FIG. 2).

[0055] The control unit 130 can check the user information of the user account that has logged in to the user terminal 1 based on receiving a request from the user terminal 1 to view specific content.

[0056] If the user terminal 1 is not logged in, the control unit 130 provides a login page to the user terminal 1, allowing the user to proceed with logging in.

[0057] As mentioned above, the user information may include at least one of user account information (e.g., ID), username, nickname, identification code information (e.g., hash code generated by a hash function), and unique information that can identify the user.

[0058] In the present invention, a process of editing a plurality of scene images that constitute the content requested for viewing can be performed based on user information (S230, see FIG. 2).

[0059] The editing process can be understood as a process of inserting the user information into the content by editing the plurality of scene images. The control unit 130 can insert the user information into the plurality of scene images by editing the plurality of scene images using an editing code that matches characters that constitute the user information.

[0060] The control unit 130 can identify the editing style of each of the identified scene images based on the editing code matched to the characters that make up the user information.

[0061] The editing code is information that defines the editing style for editing each of a plurality of scene images, and different editing styles may exist that are matched to each code value that constitutes the editing code.

[0062] Furthermore, in the present invention, each of the plurality of scene images can be edited using one of different first to third editing styles. The first editing style may be an editing style for inserting additional pixels into a scene image to be edited among the plurality of scene images, the second editing style may be an editing style for deleting some pixels from the scene image to be edited among the plurality of scene images, and the third editing style may be an editing style for maintaining the scene image to be edited among the plurality of scene images.

[0063] For example, in the present invention, the first editing style may be matched with a code value of "1", the second editing style may be matched with a code value of "-1", and the third editing style may be matched with a code value of "0".

[0064] Here, the scene image can be edited using one of the following editing styles: i) editing that adds pixels to the scene image (first editing style), ii) editing that deletes pixels that make up a specific area of ​​the scene image from the scene image (second editing style), and iii) editing that leaves the scene image as it is without editing it (third editing style).

[0065] The editing of adding pixels in the first editing style may be editing of adding a pixel line to the scene image in the horizontal direction of the scene image, or editing of adding a pixel line to the scene image in the vertical direction of the scene image.

[0066] Here, a pixel line may be composed of a plurality of pixels. As an example, if a first editing style in which 10 pixel lines are added horizontally is applied to a specific scene image composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels, the specific scene image will be composed of 260 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels. In this case, the horizontal x vertical ratio of the scene image before editing is changed from 5:8 before editing to 13:20 after editing. In other words, the horizontal x vertical ratio of the scene image (or the ratio of the scene image, the ratio of the size of the scene image) is changed by the first editing. As another example, if a first editing style in which 10 pixel lines are added vertically is applied to a specific scene image composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels, the specific scene image will be composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 410 vertical pixels. In this case, the horizontal x vertical ratio of the scene image before editing (or the ratio of the scene image, the ratio of the size of the scene image) is changed from 5:8 before editing to 25:41 after editing.

[0067] Meanwhile, when editing to add pixels is performed using the first editing style, the control unit 130 may generate the added pixels using pixels in an area adjacent to the area where the pixels are to be added. The control unit 130 may add pixels of the same or similar color to the color of the pixels in the area adjacent to the area where the pixels are to be added to the scene image.

[0068] Meanwhile, the pixel deletion editing using the second editing style may be editing that deletes some pixel lines from the scene image horizontally or vertically. As described above, the pixel lines may be composed of a plurality of pixels. For example, if a second editing style that deletes 10 pixel lines horizontally is applied to a specific scene image composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels, the specific scene image will be composed of 240 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels. In this case, the horizontal x vertical ratio of the scene image before editing is changed from 5:8 before editing to 3:5 after editing. In other words, the horizontal x vertical ratio of the scene image (or the ratio of the scene image, the ratio of the size of the scene image) is changed by the second editing. For another example, if a second editing style that deletes 10 pixel lines vertically is applied to a specific scene image composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 400 vertical pixels, the specific scene image will be composed of 250 horizontal pixels and 390 vertical pixels. In this case, the width x height ratio of the scene image before editing (or the ratio of the scene image, the ratio of the size of the scene image) is changed from 5:8 before editing to 25 x 39 after editing.

[0069] In the third editing style, scene images are left unchanged, and the scene images before and after editing are the same. In this case, the number and ratio of the scene images before and after editing are all the same.

[0070] In this way, when editing is performed on multiple scene images to be edited, the aspect ratio of at least some of the multiple scene images after editing can be made different from the aspect ratio of at least some of the scene images before editing.

[0071] On the other hand, which of the plurality of scene images has its aspect ratio changed can be made different depending on the user information.

[0072] In this way, in the present invention, the aspect ratio of at least some of the multiple scene images is changed, and as a result, the size of at least some of the multiple scene images is changed. In the present invention, this is expressed as resizing the scene images. In the present invention, editing of the scene images can also be understood as resizing of the scene images. The term "editing" can be used interchangeably with terms such as "resizing" and "retargeting."

[0073] The control unit 130 can edit each of the plurality of scene images by combining the first to third editing styles described above based on the user information, as will be explained in more detail later.

[0074] By such editing, a plurality of edited scene images are provided to the user terminal, and the plurality of scene images provided to the user terminal are configured to include user information.

[0075] Meanwhile, for each edit code, the degree of pixels (or pixel lines) to be deleted or inserted may be predefined. For example, when the code values ​​are 0, 1, and -1, the code value 1 indicating pixel insertion and the code value -1 indicating pixel deletion may be predefined and predefined to correspond to the degree (amount or number) of pixels to be deleted or inserted according to each code value. For example, the code value 1 corresponds to the addition of 10 pixel lines, and the code value -1 corresponds to the deletion of 10 pixel lines.

[0076] Furthermore, when the types of code values ​​are diversified, the degree of pixel line addition or deletion can be further diversified. For example, when the types of code values ​​are -2, -1, 0, 1, and 2, the code value 2 corresponds to adding 20 pixel lines, the code value 1 corresponds to adding 10 pixel lines, the code value -1 corresponds to deleting 10 pixel lines, and the code value -2 corresponds to deleting 20 pixel lines.

[0077] In this way, each code value determines an editing level relating to how and to what extent a scene image is edited (how many pixels are added or deleted), and the control unit 130 can edit a plurality of scene images that make up the content based on a preset editing level matched to each code value. Meanwhile, the editing level can also be understood as the number of lines of pixels that make up the area to be edited in the scene image.

[0078] Furthermore, even if the control unit 130 receives a viewing request for the same content, it can edit multiple scene images that make up the original content using editing codes that match each piece of user information based on the fact that the user information is different.

[0079] As an example, assume that the first user information (ex: ID) is "honggd" as shown in (b) of FIG. 3. The control unit 130 may edit the scene image 310 using an editing style (second editing style) that removes some pixels from the scene image 310 constituting the original content based on the first user information. The edited scene image 320 may have a visual appearance in which the areas corresponding to the removed pixels are reduced compared to the original scene image 310 (the area corresponding to L2 is smaller than the area corresponding to L1).

[0080] As another example, assume that the second user information (e.g., ID) is "kimstar" as shown in (c) of FIG. 3. The control unit 130 may edit the scene image 310 using an editing style (second editing style) that inserts some pixels of the scene image 310 constituting the original content into the scene image 310 based on the second user information. That is, the control unit 130 may perform an editing process on the original content that is different from the editing process that removes the original content based on the first user information. In this case, the edited scene image 330 may have a visual appearance with an increased area (the area corresponding to L3 is larger than the areas corresponding to L1 and L2) compared to the original scene image 310 and the pixel-deleted scene image 320.

[0081] In addition, in the present invention, a process of providing edited content to a user terminal can be performed (S240, see FIG. 2).

[0082] The control unit 130 can provide the user terminal 1 with content made up of edited scene images based on the fact that at least some of the plurality of scene images have been edited based on the user information.

[0083] In the present invention, even if the same content is requested to be viewed, different edited content can be provided to each user terminal 1 based on different user information. The differently edited content may be displayed with different visual appearances (e.g., different resolutions, different aspect ratios, different width x height ratios) on the user terminal 1.

[0084] For example, when original content 310 that has not been edited based on user information is provided (see (a) of FIG. 3), when content 320 that has been edited to remove pixels based on first user information (e.g., "ID:honggd") is provided (see (b) of FIG. 3), and when content 330 that has been edited to insert pixels based on second user information (e.g., "ID:kimstar") is provided (see (c) of FIG. 3), the contents 310, 320, and 330 having different visual appearances are displayed on the user terminal, respectively.

[0085] In this way, in the present invention, content having different visual appearances is provided depending on the information of the user viewing the content, and if content is illegally copied (e.g., captured or photographed) and leaked and distributed, the leaker can be located based on the degree of editing of the leaked content.

[0086] Meanwhile, the control unit 130 can edit a plurality of scene images constituting the content by combining the first editing style, the second editing style, and the third editing style based on user information. As a result, content having different visual appearances can be provided to the user terminal. It can be determined based on the user information which of the first to third editing styles to use for editing each of the plurality of scene images constituting the content.

[0087] The user information may be composed of at least one character, and a content providing system (or storage unit) that provides the content may store first matching information in which different codes are matched for each different character, and second matching information in which one of the first editing style, the second editing style, and the third editing style is matched for each different code value that constitutes the code. Here, different editing styles may be matched for different code values. At least one of the first matching information and the second matching information may exist as table-type information. The control unit 130 may edit a plurality of scene images to reflect the user information by referring to at least one of the first matching information and the second matching information.

[0088] The control unit 130 can check a specific editing code corresponding to the user information based on the first matching information, and edit the plurality of scene images according to an editing style that matches each code value constituting the specific editing code. The control unit 130 can edit the plurality of scene images by referring to the editing code corresponding to the user information.

[0089] In this way, the control unit 130 can provide the user terminal with content consisting of multiple scene images with different visual appearances based on differences in at least one of the following: i) the character type of the characters that make up the user information, ii) the number of characters (or the length of the string), iii) the editing code matched to the characters, and iv) the number of digits (number) of the editing code.

[0090] On the other hand, the edit code shown in FIG. 4 can be set by the administrator of the system 100 or by the control unit 130.

[0091] The editing code can be understood as information defining which of the above-mentioned first to third editing styles should be used to edit the original content. The editing code can also be understood as information defining which editing style should be used to edit the scene image in which order among the multiple scene images that make up the content requested to be viewed.

[0092] The control unit 130 can perform editing on consecutive scene images, the number of which corresponds to the number of digits constituting the editing code, in an editing style that matches the code value constituting each digit.

[0093] For example, if the editing code consists of three digits as shown in Fig. 4, the control unit 130 can perform editing on three consecutive scene images (e.g., a first scene image, a second scene image, and a third scene image). In this case, the control unit 130 can edit the first scene image in an editing style matched to the first code value, edit the second scene image in an editing style matched to the second code value, and edit the third scene image in an editing style matched to the third code value.

[0094] Each of the code values ​​(e.g., "0," "1," and "-1") constituting the edit code may be matched with one of a plurality of edit styles. For example, the code value "1" may be matched with an edit style (or a first edit style) in which pixels constituting a specific region in the scene image are added to and inserted into the scene image, the code value "-1" may be matched with an edit style (or a second edit style) in which pixels constituting a specific region in the scene image are deleted from the scene image, and the code value "0" may be matched with an edit style (or a third edit style) in which the scene image is left as is without being edited.

[0095] Meanwhile, the control unit 130 may determine the number of digits (scenes) of the edit code based on the number of characters (characters) available for configuring the user information and the number of editing styles (stages) as shown in the following formula. In the present invention, the determination of the number of digits of the edit code may be understood as the number of scene images to be edited to reflect one character. That is, the control unit 130 may determine the minimum number of scene images required to express all characters available for configuring the user information.

[0096]

number

[0097] For example, if the user information is the English alphabet, the number of letters is 26. The control unit 130 may determine at least one of the types of code values ​​and the number of scene images that can represent all of the 26 letters of the alphabet based on the above formula. Here, the types (e.g., 1, -1, 0) (or the number of types) of code values ​​that match the editing style correspond to "stage" in the above formula, and the number of scene images required to represent the user information corresponds to "scenes." If the types of code values ​​are specified, the control unit 130 may determine the number of scene images that can represent all of the user information by referring to the above formula. For example, if the code values ​​are specified as three types (1, -1, 0), a minimum of three scene images are required to represent the 26 letters of the alphabet (3^3=27). On the other hand, if the number of scene images is specified, the control unit 130 may determine the types (or the number of types) of code values ​​that can represent all of the user information by referring to the above formula. For example, if the number of scene images is specified as three, a minimum of three code value types are required to represent the 26 letters of the alphabet (3^3=27).

[0098] The control unit 130 can determine at least one of the number of code value types (stage) and the number of scene images (scenes) so that the number of characters configured to express user information is within the number of code value types (stage)^number of scene images (scenes) derived by the above formula.

[0099] For example, if there are three types of code values, 0, 1, and -1, a minimum of three scene images are required to represent "a" among the user information that can be represented by the alphabet. Here, the number of scene images can be understood as the number of code values ​​(number of digits) that make up the edit code. In this case, the edit code may be composed of three digits. Each digit of a three-digit edit code is either 0, 1, or -1, and a total of 27 edit codes can be combined, in which case all 26 alphabets can be represented.

[0100] In the above example, 26 characters are represented. As another example, to represent 45 characters, three code values ​​(for example, 0, 1, -1) and four scene images (four-digit editing code) are needed to represent each of the 45 characters (3^4=81).

[0101] As described above, the control unit 130 inserts the user information into the plurality of scene images that constitute the content by editing the plurality of scene images, where the number of the plurality of scene images is determined based on the number of characters that constitute the user information.

[0102] That is, the number of scene images required for inserting user information varies depending on the number of characters that make up the user information.

[0103] For example, if the number of code values ​​(number of digits in the editing code) required to express different characters (unit characters) is three (or three digits), and the number of characters that make up the user information is four (for example, ID: abcd corresponding to the user information), the number of the plurality of scene images required to insert the user information is 12. That is, to express each character (unit character), "three scene images" are required, and therefore, to express a four-digit character, 12 scene images are required, which corresponds to "3" scene images required to express the unit character multiplied by "4", the number of characters that make up the user information.

[0104] In this way, the number of digits in the editing code (the number of code values) is the minimum number of scene images required to represent one character; for example, three scene images are required to represent one alphabetic character, and nine scene images are required to represent three alphabetic characters.

[0105] On the other hand, the number of types of code values ​​and the number of scene images (number of digits of edit code, number of code values) differ depending on the number of characters that can be used to configure the user information.

[0106] The control unit 130 can identify the number of scene images required to insert the user information based on the number of characters that make up the user information, and can perform editing to insert the user information into the scene images that correspond to the number of scene images that make up the content requested to be viewed.

[0107] Furthermore, the control unit 130 can specify the editing style to be applied to each of the plurality of scene images based on the code values ​​constituting the editing code corresponding to the user information.

[0108] The control unit 130 can edit each of the plurality of scene images identified as the target of editing, based on the editing style of the code values ​​constituting the editing code corresponding to the user information.

[0109] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, assume that the user information is "honggd" consisting of six characters. As described above, in the case of six characters, 18 scene images are required to express the user information once. The control unit 130 can insert the user information using 18 consecutive scene images. Here, three scene images are required to express one character, and the user information is six characters, so a total of 18 scene images are required. Therefore, the control unit 130 can edit a total of 18 scene images to express the user information "honggd".

[0110] The control unit 130 may check the edit code matched to each character based on at least one of the first matching information and the second matching information, and edit the scene images according to the edit style matched to the code value of the edit code, where each digit of the edit code may correspond to the arrangement order of the scene images to be edited.

[0111] For example, if the editing code 81 of the first character 31, "h," is {0, 1, -1}, the control unit 130 can edit the first scene image (first scene image) 21 of three consecutive scene images using an editing style that matches the code value "0" placed in the first digit (e.g., the third editing style, Nothing, which leaves the scene image as is), edit the second scene image (second scene image) 22 using an editing style that matches the code value "1" (e.g., the first editing style, which inserts a specific pixel into the scene image), and edit the third scene image (third scene image) 23 using an editing style that matches the code value "-1" (e.g., the second editing style, which deletes a specific pixel from the scene image). Further, based on the fact that the editing code of the second character 32, "o," is {-1, -1, 1}, the control unit 130 can edit the fourth scene image 24 in an editing style (second editing style for deleting pixels) matching the code value "-1," edit the fifth scene image (not shown) in an editing style (second editing style for deleting pixels) matching the code value "-1," and edit the sixth scene image (not shown) in an editing style (first editing style for inserting pixels) matching the code value "1." In this manner, the control unit 130 can edit a total of 18 scene images to express the user information "honggd." Meanwhile, the control unit 130 can insert user information into the content, either entirely or partially, by repeatedly editing the scene images constituting the content in units of the number of scene images required to express the user information (e.g., 18 images).

[0112] On the other hand, the control unit 130 can select and edit areas of the scene image that are relatively less important so as not to interfere with the user's use of the content and so as not to prevent the user from noticing that the content has been edited. The control unit 130 can prevent editing from being performed on areas of the scene image that contain content (or graphic objects) of high importance (also referred to as "edit-restricted areas"), and can allow editing to be performed on areas that contain objects of low importance (also referred to as "edit-target areas").

[0113] Areas of low importance or high importance in a scene image can be determined based on various criteria. For example, the control unit 130 can identify an area to be edited based on user information, using the pixel energy of each of the pixels constituting the scene image as a criterion. In the present invention, energy can also be referred to as energy level. The control unit 130 can identify areas of low energy level in each scene image using a content transformation-based retargeting technique, such as seam carving, and identify the area as an area to be edited.

[0114] Here, the "pixel energy" can be understood as the complexity of a pixel. For example, the control unit 130 can obtain (calculate or calculate) the pixel energy based on at least one of the magnitude of the pixel's gradient, entropy, visual saliency, and gaze movement.

[0115] The control unit 130 can calculate the sum of pixel energies of pixels forming a line in one direction in the scene image and detect the line with the smallest sum of pixel energies. The control unit 130 can identify the region (or pixel) corresponding to the line with the smallest sum of detected pixel energies as the region (or pixel) to be edited.

[0116] 6, a specific line 510 having the smallest sum of pixel energy of pixels forming a horizontal line can be detected in the scene image 410. The control unit 130 can specify the area (or pixels) corresponding to the detected line 510 as the area (pixels) to be edited.

[0117] As another example, areas of low importance (areas to be edited) or areas of high importance (areas restricted from editing) in a scene image can be determined based on at least one of the types of graphic objects contained in the scene image or the content (or meaning) of the graphic objects.

[0118] The control unit 130 may prevent editing of an area including an important graphic object or an area including a graphic object corresponding to important content (or meaning), i.e., an object with high importance. The type of an important graphic object or the content (or meaning) of the graphic object may be based on a preset criterion.

[0119] The control unit 130 can identify an area in a scene image that includes an important graphic object (or an important graphic object) as an editing restricted area based on a preset criterion, and can perform editing on other areas (edit target areas). The control unit 130 can control so that pixels that include an important graphic object are not detected (identified) as an area (or line) that is to be edited. That is, pixels that include an important graphic object can become an editing restricted area.

[0120] 6, when the preset criteria are set for important objects such as objects corresponding to a speech bubble 412, text 413, and a face 414, the control unit 130 can set the area including the objects 412, 413, and 414 as an editing restricted area, and set other areas as areas to be edited. The control unit 130 can perform editing on areas that do not include the objects 412, 413, and 414. In this way, when a scene image 410 includes a tree image 411, a speech bubble 412, text 413, and a face 414, the control unit 130 can set the area to be edited based on the important objects based on the energy level or the preset criteria.

[0121] Furthermore, the control unit 130 can edit regions of the scene image with low pixel energy (ie, regions to be edited) using editing codes matched to the user information.

[0122] If an editing code for "deleting" low-energy pixels is matched to the user information, the control unit 130 can perform editing to delete low-energy pixels 510. For example, as shown in (a) of Figure 7, an edited scene image 420 can include a shortened tree trunk 421 in which low-energy pixels have been deleted.

[0123] If an editing code for "inserting" low-energy pixels into a scene image is matched to the user information, the control unit 130 can perform editing by copying (duplicating) the low-energy pixels and inserting them into the scene image. For example, as shown in (b) of FIG. 7, a plurality of copied low-energy pixels 530 can be inserted into the edited scene image 430. The edited scene image 430 can include a tree trunk 431 that has been lengthened by inserting low-energy pixels.

[0124] As described above, the content providing method and system according to various embodiments of the present invention can insert user information into images constituting content by editing and providing images based on user information.

[0125] Here, in the present invention, user information can be inserted into content simply by deleting or editing images, and various types of illegal duplication and distribution of content (such as screen captures and camera shots) can be detected.

[0126] On the other hand, various embodiments of the present invention allow for the important content of the content to be prevented from being distorted by preserving the areas of the image that contain the important content and only editing the other areas.

[0127] The present invention described above can be realized as computer-readable codes or commands on a program recording medium, that is, the present invention can be provided in the form of a program.

[0128] The computer-readable medium includes any type of recording device that stores data read by a computer system, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD), a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, and an optical data storage device.

[0129] The computer-readable medium also includes a storage location, such as a server or cloud storage location that can be accessed by an electronic device via communication, in which case the computer can download the program according to the present invention from the server or cloud storage location via wired or wireless communication.

[0130] Furthermore, in the present invention, the computer described above is an electronic device equipped with a processor, that is, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and may be of any type.

[0131] The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any respect, but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the claims, and all modifications within the scope of the equivalents of the present invention are included in the present invention.

Claims

1. receiving a request to view content from a user terminal; confirming user information related to a user account logged into the user terminal; editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content based on the user information; providing the content including the edited scene images to the user terminal; A content provision method characterized in that when the plurality of scene images are edited, at least one of the aspect ratio and resolution of at least some of the plurality of scene images after editing is different from that of the at least some of the scene images before editing.

2. 2. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of one of the plurality of scene images to be changed varies depending on the user information.

3. each of the plurality of scene images is edited in any one of a first editing style, a second editing style, and a third editing style, the first editing style is an editing style for inserting pixels into a scene image to be edited among the plurality of scene images; the second editing style is an editing style for deleting some pixels of a scene image to be edited from among the plurality of scene images; 2. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the third editing style is an editing style that maintains the scene image that is the subject of editing among the plurality of scene images.

4. The content providing method according to claim 3, characterized in that in the step of editing the plurality of scene images, the plurality of scene images are edited by combining the first editing style, the second editing style, and the third editing style based on the user information.

5. The content providing method according to claim 4, characterized in that the editing style to be used for each of the plurality of scene images, among the first editing style, the second editing style, and the third editing style, is determined based on the user information.

6. The content providing system for providing the content includes: First matching information in which different editing codes are matched for each different character that can be set as the user information; and There is second matching information in which any one of the first editing style, the second editing style, and the third editing style is matched for each different code value constituting the editing code, The method of claim 5, wherein different editing styles are matched to the different code values.

7. the edit code includes a plurality of code values ​​arranged in different digits; The content providing method according to claim 6 , wherein the number of the plurality of code values ​​constituting the edit code is determined according to the number of different characters.

8. 8. The content providing method according to claim 7, wherein the number of the plurality of code values ​​is the minimum number of scene images required to express each of the different characters.

9. In the step of editing the plurality of scene images, Identifying a specific edit code corresponding to the user information based on the first matching information; The content providing method according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of scene images are edited in accordance with editing styles that match the code values ​​that constitute the specific editing code.

10. In the step of editing the plurality of scene images, 2. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the user information is inserted into the plurality of scene images by editing the plurality of scene images.

11. The content providing method according to claim 1 , wherein the number of the plurality of scene images varies depending on the number of characters constituting the user information.

12. In the step of editing the plurality of scene images, Identifying an editing target area for editing each of the plurality of scene images based on a preset criterion; The content providing method according to claim 1 , wherein editing is performed so that the user information is included in the edit target area.

13. the predetermined criteria correspond to types of graphic objects included in the plurality of scene images; In the step of editing the plurality of scene images, The content providing method according to claim 12, wherein editing is performed on an area other than an area including an important object according to the preset criterion in each of the plurality of scene images.

14. In the step of editing the plurality of scene images, The content providing method according to claim 12, wherein the region to be edited is identified based on pixel energy of a plurality of pixels that constitute each of the plurality of scene images.

15. a communication unit that receives a request to view content from a user terminal; a control unit that checks user information related to a user account that has logged in to the user terminal; The control unit Editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content based on the user information; providing the content including the edited scene images to the user terminal; A content provision system characterized in that when the plurality of scene images are edited, at least one of the aspect ratio and resolution of at least some of the plurality of scene images after editing is different from that of the at least some of the scene images before editing.

16. A program executed by one or more processors in an electronic device and stored on a computer-readable recording medium, The program is receiving a request to view content from a user terminal; confirming user information related to a user account logged into the user terminal; editing a plurality of scene images constituting the content based on the user information; and providing the content including the edited plurality of scene images to the user terminal, A program characterized in that, when the plurality of scene images are edited, at least one of the aspect ratio and resolution of at least some of the plurality of scene images after editing is different from that of the at least some of the scene images before editing.

Images