JP2003333316A - Imaging apparatus and image data delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of surely excluding discretion of reading the electronic watermark information and application of falsification or the like to the electronic watermark information by embedding electronic watermark information to image data just after imaging and applying encryption to the embedded image data and simplifying the encryption. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus being a digital camera 10 embeds copyright information as electronic watermark information to imaged image data, applying correction information particularizing defective pixels to electronic watermark information to encrypt the electronic watermark information, and the electronic watermark information embedded in the image data is displayed while being superimposed on the image so long as the digital camera 10 generating selected image data is not connected to a PC 120. When the digital camera 10 generating selected image data is connected to the PC 120, the digital camera 10 automatically decodes the encrypted electronic watermark information to make the electronic watermark information invisible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup unit for picking up an image by a solid-state image pickup device and photoelectrically converting it to obtain analog image data, and an analog-digital conversion of the analog image data to create digital image data, and a recording medium. The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus configured by a digital image data recording unit for recording in, and an image data transfer method between the image pickup apparatus and an external image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image pickup device, particularly a digital camera, when a still image or the like is photographed using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), the image data is analog-digital converted and then set in a preset compression format ( For example, JP
It is recorded and saved in a recording medium such as a memory card in a state of being compressed by EG).

In a digital camera, an image recorded on a recording medium is an LC provided on the back surface of the digital camera.
D (liquid crystal display) has a playback function to play,
The captured image can be confirmed on the spot.

On the other hand, the digital camera is provided with a connection interface with a personal computer (PC) such as a USB terminal, and the digital image data recorded in the recording medium of the digital camera by an image processing application installed in the PC is stored in the digital camera. It is also possible to import, reproduce and display on a PC, and edit images. The same function can be provided by connecting the digital camera itself to the PC without taking out the recording medium and loading it into the dedicated slot on the PC side.

In the above system, there is no limitation on the picked-up image, and it can be viewed and edited by anyone. However, there are copyrighted images among the captured images. Of course, plagiarism or tampering is prohibited with respect to this copyright protected image, but if it has been tampered with, it is determined whether the original image is a copyright protected image or not. Is difficult.

Therefore, conventionally, it has been proposed to embed distance information at the time of shooting as a key in each image data to prevent tampering (as one example, JP-A-11-1642).
See Japanese Patent Publication No. 46 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 1).

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-86449 (hereinafter referred to as Prior Art 2) discloses that information is embedded by a digital watermark.

By combining the above-mentioned Prior Art 1 and Prior Art 2 and embedding copyright information as electronic information unique to the image data with a digital watermark, it is possible to prevent tampering for each image data. In addition, the electronic watermark information such as the copyright is encrypted so that editing cannot be performed without using an encryption key (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-31).
Reference 5998 (hereinafter referred to as prior art 3)).

[0009]

However, in the prior art 1 and the prior art 2 described above, the distance information may not be unique to the image data. That is, the distance information has a high probability of coincidence with the information to be embedded in another image data, and the copyright cannot be managed for each image data. In addition, it is relatively easy for the PC to read the digital watermark information, and the digital watermark information itself is not protected from being tampered with.

Furthermore, when information such as copyright is embedded as digital watermark information, the image read from the digital camera is not a target of security, and the security of the image data transferred from the digital camera to the PC is improved. It has not been resolved.

Further, in the prior art 3, it is necessary to separately perform the work of encrypting the digital watermark information in addition to the photographing to set the encryption key. Further, after the image is encrypted, management such as memorizing the encryption key, writing it down, and preventing it from being seen by others is complicated and complicated.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention ensures that there is room for reading, tampering, etc. with respect to the digital watermark information by embedding the digital watermark information in the image data immediately after image pickup and by encrypting it. An object of the present invention is to obtain an imaging device and an image data delivery method that can be eliminated and can simplify the encryption work.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup section for picking up an image by a solid-state image pickup element and photoelectrically converting the image to obtain analog image data. A digital image data recording unit that creates image data and records it on a recording medium,
A digital image information embedding unit that embeds information, which is usually a visible image, with a digital watermark for each digital image data when recording the digital image data on a recording medium. Storage means in which a unique encryption key for visualization or invisibility of the electronic watermark information embedded by the electronic watermark information embedding means in the external control device is stored in advance, and the encryption key for each image captured by the image capturing unit And an encryption means for encrypting the digital watermark information using the above, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the above-mentioned necessary for invisible digital watermark information stored in the storage means according to an instruction from the external image processing device side. Sending means for sending the encryption key.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the encryption key is stored in advance in the storage means. This encryption key is
The digital watermark information embedded in the digital image data captured by the image capturing unit and recorded in the recording medium is set to be visualized or invisible for browsing by the external control device. Digital watermark information, which is usually a visible image, embedded in digital image data is encrypted.

As a result, when the external image processing apparatus browses, the digital watermark information is in a visible state, so that it is possible to prevent illegal acts such as copying or diversion without permission.

Further, when there is a cryptographic key request instruction from the external image processing device side that fetches and browses this image data, the sending means can cancel the encryption only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The encryption key is sent to the external image processing device side.

That is, the digital watermark information embedded in the image data can be encrypted immediately after the image pickup in the image pickup device, and the image data is automatically encrypted by the external image processing device side under the predetermined condition. Since the encryption key for canceling the encryption can be received from the imaging device side and the encryption can be canceled, the work for canceling the encryption is unnecessary and the digital watermark information can be made invisible.

Therefore, for example, by embedding information for protecting the copyright as digital watermark information, even if the image itself is viewed or edited, the digital watermark information is a visible image, so that the original The copyright of the image can be protected. On the other hand, when the copyright holder or the like edits the image using the image, the digital watermark information can be easily made invisible, so that the editing work is not affected.

Further, since the encryption and the decryption are automatically performed, it is not necessary to memorize the encryption key, write it down, or manage it so that it cannot be seen by others.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the predetermined condition is that the image pickup device is connected to an external image processing device, or the digital image data is recorded. It is characterized in that the medium is loaded into a predetermined loading port of the external image processing apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that the image pickup device for picking up an image and the external image processing device are connected (electrically connected), or the recording medium is picked up. Either of the case where it is removed from the apparatus and loaded into a predetermined loading port of the external image processing apparatus. As a result, when connected to an external image processing device that has only an image capturing device or a recording medium and does not have a function (application) for acquiring and decrypting encryption, the encryption cannot be released and the image cannot be browsed. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, the encryption key identifies a defective pixel at the time of shipment of the solid-state image pickup device and corrects the defective pixel. It is characterized by being correction information for

According to the third aspect of the invention, the encryption key needs to be unique to the image pickup device. For example, a new identification code or the like may be added at the time of shipment, but the existing identification There is correction information as an object that can be a code. This correction information is used to identify defective pixels of the solid-state image pickup device provided in the image pickup unit in advance before shipment, and to interpolate defective pixel data from data of surrounding pixels, for example. Such a defective pixel, for example, in an image pickup apparatus having a solid-state image pickup element of 5 million pixels, if one location is selected for each, only 1/5 match.
The probability is, 000,000. If there are two locations, 1 / (5 million x
5 million), which can be unique information.

The invention described in claim 4 is a method for delivering an image between an image pickup device and an external image processing device, wherein the image data picked up by the image pickup device is usually a visible image. The electronic watermark information is embedded, the embedded electronic watermark information is encrypted by an encryption key unique to the image pickup apparatus, and the encryption key is stored, and the encrypted image pickup apparatus or the image pickup apparatus concerned is encrypted. To make the digital watermark information invisible by acquiring and decrypting an encryption key according to an instruction from the external image processing device, provided that the loaded recording medium is electrically connected. Is characterized by.

According to the invention described in claim 4, when the image pickup by the image pickup device is completed, the digital watermark information of the normally visible image embedded in the image data is encrypted by using the encryption key unique to the image pickup device. Give. As a result, the encryption is completed before being imaged and output to the outside.

The encryption key is stored and the image pickup apparatus itself is electrically connected to the external image processing apparatus, or the recording medium on which the image data is recorded is detachably loaded into the image pickup apparatus and the external image processing apparatus is removed. On the condition that the card is reloaded into a predetermined slot on the side and is in an electrically connected state, the external image processing apparatus side issues a request for an encryption key to the imaging apparatus. As a result, the encryption key is passed from the imaging device side to the external image processing device side, and the encrypted electronic watermark information can be decrypted, and the external image processing device can make the electronic watermark information invisible. Become. In other words, it is usually possible to view and edit the image situation, but if digital watermark information, such as copyright protection information, is embedded, this digital watermark information is displayed, for example, so as to overlap the image. Therefore, it cannot be duplicated or diverted, and the original image can be protected.

[0027]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a control system in a digital camera 10 according to this embodiment. The digital camera 10 is provided with an image pickup section 18. The imaging unit 18 is provided with a lens 18A, a mechanical shutter, and a diaphragm (not shown), and makes light incident from the lens 18A enter the CCD 18B through the diaphragm when the mechanical shutter is open. It is a composition.

Further, the digital camera 10 has a strobe 1
2 is provided, and if necessary, the flash control unit 14 controls the light to be emitted manually or automatically.

The respective control devices including the image pickup section 18 and the strobe control section 14 of the digital camera 10 are connected by a bus 16 and their operations are controlled by the CPU 20. Each control device is a battery 2
Power is supplied from 2 and it is operable.

The bus 16 has a system memory (RAM or ROM) 24 and a non-volatile memory 2 as control devices.
6, a timer function unit 28, and a calendar / clock function unit 30 are connected to each other.

An I / O port 32 is connected to the bus 16, and an I / O port 32 from an operation / display system 36 attached to a housing 34 (see FIG. 2) of the digital camera 10 is connected to the I / O port 32. Signals are input and output.

As shown in FIG. 2A, a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) 38 is arranged on the back side of the housing 34 of the digital camera 10 (the side opposite to the side on which the image pickup section 18 is arranged). It is set up.

Further, as an operation / display system, on the right side of the LCD 38 on the back side of the housing 34, there are circular up / down / left / right keys 42 applied to frame switching of images displayed on the LCD 38, item selection, and the like. It is arranged. By tilting the axis of the circular up / down / left / right key 42 up / down / left / right, contact points of different switches are switched when tilted, and the switching signal is input to the I / O 32 (see FIG. 1). It has become.

Below the up / down / left / right keys 42, a menu button 44, an execute button 46, and a cancel button 48 are arranged vertically from the top. A release button 50 and a mode setting dial 52 are provided on the upper surface of the housing 34.

When the mode setting dial 52 and the menu button 44 are operated, for example, a setup screen for making various settings is displayed on the LCD 38.

The execute button 46 is operated when the function is selected by the up / down / left / right keys 42 on the setup screen, and the cancel button 48 is operated at the time of canceling the determined function.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, an opening 60 through which the lens 18A of the image pickup section 18 can be exposed is provided on the front surface of the housing 34 of the digital camera 10. A disc-shaped shutter 62 is attached to the opening 60. The shutter 62 can move to a position where the opening 60 is closed and a position where the opening is opened in association with the operation of a power switch 64 (see FIG. 2A) of the digital camera 10 (arrow in FIG. 2B). (See A)).

That is, when the power source is off, the shutter 62 closes the opening 60, so that the lens 18A is closed.
When the power is on and the shutter 62 is retracted from the opening 60, it becomes possible to take a picture.

As shown in FIG. 1, a memory card slot 60 to which a memory card 58 as a recording medium can be attached / detached is connected to the bus 16 via a card I / F 56. The image data taken by the image pickup unit 18 is recorded in the memory card 58 loaded in the memory card slot 60.

The signal input to the image pickup section 18 is sent to the signal processing section 104, subjected to noise reduction processing, gain control, and A / D conversion section 10.
6 is sent.

The image data A / D converted by the A / D conversion unit 106 is sent to the compression / decompression unit 108 and subjected to compression processing (JPEG) in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 20, or is left as it is. In this state, it is sent to the memory card slot 60 via the card I / F 56.

The image data recorded in the memory card 58 is read out based on a reproduction display instruction from the CPU 20, stored in the frame memory 110, and the LCD control unit 1
It is displayed on the LCD 12 under the control of 12. At this time, on the LCD 112, characters, character data, and the like are superimposed and displayed together with the image display based on the image data controlled by the OSD (on-screen display unit 114).

An external I / F 116 is connected to the bus 16 and can be directly connected to an external control device (hereinafter referred to as PC 120) such as a personal computer via a connector 118. The image data recorded in the memory card 58 can be transmitted.

The digital camera 10 is provided with an optical viewfinder 66 in addition to the LCD 112 as a monitor for image confirmation.

Here, in the digital camera 10, the image data recorded in the memory card 58 after the photographing is finished is
The playback function of the digital camera 10 enables display on the LCD 38.

This reproducing function is executed by operating the mode setting dial 52 shown in FIG. 2 to switch from the photographing mode to the reproducing mode.

In the reproduction mode, normally, the order of shooting and recording is
That is, the ascending order reproduction is automatically started, and the reproduction instruction frame number can be incremented or decremented each time the left and right arrow portions of the up, down, left, and right keys 42 shown in FIG. 2 are operated. For example, the frame number currently displayed on the LCD is No. If it is n, pressing the left arrow portion of the up, down, left and right keys 42 displays the n-1th frame, and pressing the right arrow portion displays the n + 1th frame.

Here, in the present embodiment, when an image is recorded on the memory card 58 as described above, the electronic watermark information adding section 151 embeds the electronic watermark information in the image data, and the encryption / decryption is performed. The processing unit 150 records the digital watermark information after the digital watermark information is encrypted.

The digital watermark information in this embodiment is
This is a visible image for managing copyright, and as shown in FIG. 7A, the character information M is displayed so as to be superimposed on the captured image G.

When an image is displayed (reproduced) on the LCD 38, the encrypted image data read from the memory card 58 is decrypted again by the encryption / decryption processing unit 150, so that the LCD 38 is displayed. It is possible to make the digital watermark information invisible (see FIG. 7B). Visualization and invisibility of digital watermark information may be set in advance by mode setting.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, external communication I /
Cable 1 connected to F11 and connector 118
When an image is sent to the PC 120 via 52, the encrypted digital watermark information is sent. Therefore, in the PC 120 that does not have the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted digital watermark information, the image When the image based on the data is browsed, the electronic watermark information which is a visible image is always displayed so as to overlap the image (see FIG. 7A).

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing details of the digital watermark information adding section 151 and the encryption / decryption processing section 150.

An image data input / output unit 170 is provided in the digital watermark information adding unit 151 and is connected to the bus 16. For this reason, image data that has been imaged and compressed has been input from the bus 16.

The image data input to the image data input / output unit 170 is sent to the digital watermark embedding unit 172. The digital watermark embedding unit 172 is connected to the copyright information memory 174 in which the copyright information which is the digital watermark information of the present embodiment is stored.

That is, in the digital watermark embedding unit 172, copyright information is embedded in the image data as digital watermark information, and the image data in which the digital watermark information is embedded is returned to the image data input / output unit 170. There is. The image data in which the digital watermark information is embedded is sent to the encryption / decryption processing unit 150 via the bus 16.

In the encryption / decryption processing unit 150, the bus 1
6, an image data input / output unit 154 is connected, and the image data after the image pickup or the image data recorded in the memory card 58 is input to the image data input / output unit 1554.

Is the input image data sent from the image data input / output unit 154 to the image data state determination unit 156, and is the image data embedded with the unencrypted electronic watermark information after the image pickup (non (Encrypted state), it is determined whether or not there is image data recorded in the memory card 58 and whose digital watermark information has already been encrypted (encrypted state).

The image data in the non-encrypted state is stored in the encryption unit 1.
The encryption key is sent from the encryption key memory 160 in which the encryption key is stored in advance, and the digital watermark information is encrypted based on this encryption key and returned to the image data input / output unit 154. .

The image data in which the encrypted digital watermark information is embedded, which is returned to the image data input / output unit 154 in the above system, is stored in the memory card 58 via the bus 16.

Here, it is a condition that the encryption key is information unique to the digital camera 10, and in this embodiment, the correction information for specifying the defective pixel of the CCD 18B is applied. This correction information is obtained by preliminarily inspecting and specifying a defective pixel that does not react to light in the CCD 18B composed of several million pixels at the shipping stage, and at the time of actual image pickup, the defective pixel is surrounded. The information is information for creating apparent data by performing interpolation based on the read data of the pixels of, and is probabilistically applicable as unique information of the digital camera 10.

On the other hand, when the image data in the encrypted state is input to the input / output unit 154, this image data is sent to the decryption unit 162 by the image data state determination unit 156,
The encryption key is read out from the encryption key memory 160, the electronic watermark information is decrypted based on the encryption key, and is returned to the image data input / output unit 154.

The image data obtained by decoding the digital watermark information returned to the image data input / output unit 154 in the above system is sent to the frame memory 110 via the bus 16 and displayed on the LCD 38 by the LCD control unit 112. It has become. As described above, in the mode setting, when it is not necessary to make the digital watermark information invisible, the image data does not need to pass through the encryption / decryption processing unit 150.

On the other hand, the encryption key memory 160 is connected to the encryption key reading section 164. The cryptographic key reading unit 164 receives the cryptographic key request signal from an external viewer such as the PC 120 or the like, and only when the cryptographic key request signal matches the request signal preset on the digital camera 10 side, Can be read and the encryption key can be sent to the PC 120 via, for example, a USB terminal (not shown).

That is, the PC 120 that permits the browsing in advance.
In order to make the digital watermark information encrypted and embedded in the image data captured by the digital camera 10 invisible, the encryption is automatically encrypted. The key request signal is sent to the digital camera 10. As a result, the encrypted digital watermark information is automatically decrypted on the specific PC 120.
It becomes possible to make the digital watermark information invisible by omitting operations such as decryption processing by the operator.
It is possible to achieve both security and simplification of work, in which encrypted digital watermark information is always displayed as a visible image.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

Before taking a picture with the digital camera 10,
The mode setting dial 52 is operated to display the setup screen on the LCD 38.

On the setup screen, items such as the recording mode, the number of pixels, the sharpness, and the beep sound are selected as necessary, and the photographing conditions are set.

In the photographing mode, the image pickup unit 1 is displayed on the LCD 38.
The preview taken in 8 is displayed, and when the predetermined angle of view is determined, the release button 50 is operated and the shooting is executed.

In this case, the data picked up by the image pickup section 18 is sent to the signal processing section 104, subjected to processing such as noise reduction processing and gain control, and then A / D converted to generate digital image data. To do.

Thereafter, the compression / expansion unit 108 compresses the digital image data, and the digital watermark information addition unit 15
1, the copyright information as the digital watermark information is embedded, and the digital watermark information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption processing unit 150 with a predetermined encryption key and then recorded in the memory card 58.

In the reproduction mode, when the index mode is selected, the thumbnail image is read from the digital image data recorded in the memory card 58, and the LCD is displayed.
As the index image, the captured image is displayed in a matrix.

When the single image reproduction mode is selected, the compressed image data is read from the memory card 58, expanded in the compression / expansion unit 108, expanded in the frame memory 110, and then displayed in the LCD 38. Is displayed. At this time, if invisibleization of the digital watermark information is designated in the mode setting, after the digital watermark information is decrypted by the encryption / decryption processing unit 150, the LC
Since it is displayed on D38, only the image is displayed on LCD38.

The above shows the flow of the image data inside the digital camera 10. The image data in which the electronic watermark information is encrypted is automatically decrypted and displayed on the LCD 38, so that the user is The playback mode can be used without any discomfort. However, this digital camera 1
When 0 is connected to the PC 120, image data is read from the digital camera 10 and viewed on the PC 120, the image data recorded in the memory card 58 is sent to the PC 120 in a state where the electronic watermark information remains encrypted. .
Therefore, in the PC 120, if the encryption key is not acquired, the electronic watermark information based on this image data is displayed as a visible image overlapping with the image (see FIG. 7A). As a result, even if the image data is diverted or tampered with, the information for protecting the copyright is always displayed. Therefore, it is possible to confirm whether the copyright is copied or diverted to the original image at any time. Further, the digital watermark information based on the image data can be made invisible only when the specific digital camera 10 and the PC 120 are connected.

The flow regarding whether or not the digital watermark information embedded in the image based on the image data can be browsed in the state where the digital camera 10 and the PC 120 are connected will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The PC 120
It is assumed that necessary image data has already been captured from the digital camera 10 and viewer software for browsing has been started up.

In step 200, the user
Select the image you want to browse from the thumbnail images displayed in the index. In the next step 202, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to make the digital watermark information invisible for the selected image data. This is done by a key operation by the user. If it is determined in step 202 that the digital watermark information does not need to be invisible, the process proceeds to step 204 to display the image by superimposing the visualized copyright information (see FIG. 7A). ).

If it is determined in step 202 that the digital watermark information needs to be invisible, step 206 is performed.
Then, in order to obtain the encryption key from the connected digital camera 10, the encryption key request signal is sent to the digital camera 10. When the selected image data is captured by the digital camera 10 by the transmission of the encryption key request signal,
The encryption key is sent to the PC 120 in response to this encryption key request signal.

In step 208, it is judged whether or not the encryption key has been received. If a negative judgment is made, it is judged that the connected digital camera 10 is different from the digital camera that picked up the image, and the process proceeds to step 204. The display processing is executed in a state where the copyright information visualized as described above is superimposed on the image (see FIG. 7A).

If an affirmative decision is made in step 208, the process proceeds to step 210, in which the electronic watermark information is decoded, then in step 212 the electronic watermark information is made invisible and only the image display processing is executed (Fig. 7 (B)).

As described above, in the present embodiment,
The copyright information is embedded in the captured image data as digital watermark information, and the correction information for identifying the defective pixel is applied as the information unique to the digital camera, which is the encryption key, to encrypt the digital watermark information and select it. Unless the digital camera 10 in which the image data is generated is connected to the PC 120, the electronic watermark information embedded in the image data is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image. On the other hand, when the digital camera 10 in which the selected image data is generated is connected to the PC 120, the encrypted electronic watermark information is automatically decrypted to make the electronic watermark information invisible. It is possible to achieve both the confirmation of copyright by the copyright holder and its related parties, the detection of illegal use, and the improvement of operability.

In this embodiment, the correction information (position information of defective pixel of CCD 18B) is used as the unique information of the digital camera 10. However, USBID, IEEE13
The ID may be a 94 ID or a media ID, and the identification information may be additionally provided to each digital camera 10.

Although the copyright information is used as the digital watermark information in the above description, it is not limited to the copyright information and may be other important information.

Further, in the present embodiment, the digital camera 10 and the PC 120 are directly connected by the cable 152 (see FIG. 3). However, as shown in FIG. 6, the memory card 58 is removed from the digital camera 10 and the memory is removed. The card 58 may be loaded in the card slot 166 connected to the PC 120. In this case, it is necessary to prepare an area for storing the encryption key in the memory card 58.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, by embedding the digital watermark information in the image data immediately after the image pickup and by encrypting the digital watermark information, there is a certain possibility that the digital watermark information can be read and falsified. It has an excellent effect that it can be eliminated and the encryption work can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the external appearance of the digital camera as seen from the back side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view as seen from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a connection state between a digital camera and a PC according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital watermark information addition unit and an encryption / decryption processing unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart showing a process for compounding digital watermark information by an encryption key in a PC.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a modified example in which a memory card is taken out from a digital camera and loaded into a PC side.

FIG. 7A is a front view of an image in which electronic watermark information is displayed (visualized), and FIG. 7B is a front view of an image in which electronic watermark information is not displayed (invisible).

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Digital camera (imaging device) 16 bus 18 Imaging unit 18B CCD (imaging unit) 20 CPU 22 Battery 26 Non-volatile memory 38 LCD (display device) 120 PC (external control device) 150 Encryption / encoding processing unit 151 Digital Watermark Information Adding Unit 154 Image data input / output unit 156 Image data status determination unit 158 encryption unit 160 encryption memory (storage means) 162 decoding unit 164 Cryptographic key reading unit (sending means) 170 Image data input / output unit 172 Digital Watermark Embedding Unit 174 Copyright Information Memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/91 H04N 5/91 P H04L 9/00 621A F term (reference) 5B057 BA02 CB19 CE08 CG07 CH12 CH18 5C052 AA17 AB02 AB03 CC06 DD02 EE02 GA02 GA03 GA09 GB09 GE06 GE08 5C053 FA08 FA13 FA27 GA11 GB06 GB21 GB36 GB40 JA21 JA30 KA24 LA01 LA11 5C076 AA14 BA06 5J104 AA14 AA15 AA16 NA41 PA14

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup unit for picking up an image by a solid-state image pickup device, photoelectrically converting the analog image data to obtain analog image data, and digital image data for analog-digital converting the analog image data to create digital image data and recording the digital image data on a recording medium. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a recording unit, wherein when recording the digital image data on a recording medium, information that is usually a visible image is embedded in each digital image data with a digital watermark Means, storage means in which a unique encryption key relating to visualization or invisibility of the digital watermark information embedded by the digital watermark information embedding means in an external control device is stored in advance, and each image captured by the image capturing unit An encryption means for encrypting the electronic watermark information using the encryption key, and an external image processing device when a predetermined condition is satisfied. And sending means for sending the encryption key needed to invisible electronic watermark information stored in said storage means in response to an instruction from the image pickup apparatus having a. 2. The predetermined condition is connection between the image pickup device and an external image processing device, or loading of a recording medium on which the digital image data is recorded into a predetermined loading port of the external image processing device. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The imaging according to claim 1, wherein the encryption key is correction information for identifying a defective pixel at the time of shipment of the solid-state image sensor and correcting the defective pixel. apparatus. 4. A method for delivering an image between an image pickup device and an external image processing device, comprising embedding electronic watermark information, which is usually a visible image, in image data picked up by the image pickup device, The embedded digital watermark information is encrypted by an encryption key unique to the imaging device, and the encryption key is stored, and the encrypted imaging device or the recording medium loaded in the imaging device is An image data delivery method, wherein the electronic watermark information is made invisible by acquiring and decrypting an encryption key in accordance with an instruction from the external image processing device, provided that the electronic watermark is electrically connected. .