Digital Watermarking for User Traceability in Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital watermarking technologies face difficulties in tracing the users of printed materials and electronic data generated by image processing apparatuses, making it challenging to specify information leakage routes effectively.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus connected to multiple information processing devices via a network, equipped with an operation receiver, authentication controller, image processor, communication controller, and storage controller, which adds a digital watermark containing address information to images and allows for the extraction and tracking of this information to identify users and data sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital watermarking is applied to prevent information leakage, then information security is improved, but the ability to specify users and trace information leakage routes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the watermarking function into two distinct parts: embedding digital watermarks containing apparatus identification information into images, and separately storing operation logs that record user identification information. This segmentation allows the watermark to provide security while the log provides user traceability, resolving the contradiction between security and user identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary log storage function that mediates between the watermarking process and user identification. The log acts as a bridge, recording the relationship between watermarked images and user operations, thereby enabling user specification without compromising the security function of the digital watermark.
2Reliability
If encryption and decryption processes are implemented to detect eavesdropping, then communication security is improved, but system complexity and processing time deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the security verification function from complex encryption/decryption processes and implements it through simpler digital watermark embedding and log comparison. Instead of requiring full encryption cycles, the system only needs to embed a watermark and compare log entries, significantly reducing system complexity while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the security verification parameter from complex cryptographic operations to simple watermark presence detection and log matching. This parameter change transforms a computationally intensive security verification process into a lightweight operation that maintains security effectiveness while reducing complexity.
3Reliability
If user authentication is implemented for both connection and operation, then system security is improved, but processing time and operational complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication when users connect to the image processing apparatus, and records this authentication status in advance in operation logs. Subsequent security verification only requires log comparison rather than full re-authentication, reducing processing time while maintaining security through the preliminary authentication action.
Data Source
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AI summary
An image processing apparatus (10) includes: an operation receiver (102), an image processor (106) configured to perform image processing to add a digital watermark containing address information of the image processing apparatus (10) to a first image to thereby generate a second image; a communication controller (104) configured to receive a taking-out request to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image from an information processing device (20a, 20b, 20c); and a storage controller (109) configured to store a log in a storage unit (101). When receiving the taking-out request, the image processor (106) performs image processing to take out the digital watermark contained in the second image to thereby generate the first image. The communication controller (104) transmits the first image generated by the image processor (106) to the information processing device (20a, 20b, 20c). The storage controller (109) stores, in the storage unit (101), the log containing identification information identifying the user of the information processing device (20a, 20b, 20c) from which the taking-out request is transmitted.