JP2015091102A - Authenticity determination system, digital watermark embedding device, and digital watermark authentication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print the GPS information of a specific node within a circulation route as a digital watermark to a product label as embedded therein, and determine authenticity using the GPS information of the specific node.SOLUTION: A digital watermark embedding device according to the present invention embeds location information about a specific node within a product circulation route as an invisible digital watermark in image information indicated on a product label or product packaging material. A digital watermark authentication device determines product authenticity by acquiring the location information embedded as the digital watermark in the image information and the location information about the specific node and comparing the acquired information. The digital watermark embedding device is used at the source of manufacture, and the digital watermark authentication device is used at the destination of circulation. For example, GPS information at the destination of circulation is used as the GPS information about the specific node. The GPS information at the source of manufacture may also be used.

Description

  The present invention relates to an authenticity determination system, an electronic watermark embedding device, and an electronic watermark authentication device for determining authenticity of a product in a distribution process.

In the product distribution route, after the product is shipped from the manufacturer, it passes through an intermediary such as a distributor, distributor, wholesaler, etc., and reaches the final seller such as a retail store. There are reports of cases in which products are replaced with counterfeit products, pirated products, inferior products, etc., and cases in which counterfeit products are mixed in with genuine products, but it has been very difficult to identify counterfeit products in the distribution process.
In addition, in order to prevent such replacement and mixing as described above, products and logistics are managed by attaching IC tags to products and product labels. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a non-contact IC tag position detection system that can detect the position of a non-contact IC tag. However, it has become widely known that an IC tag is attached to a product or a product label, and the position where the IC tag is attached can be specified from a bump or a trace. If it is noticed that the tag is attached, the IC tag may be diverted or destroyed.

JP 2007-114033 A

It is important that a third party (outsider) does not notice that information or a medium for certifying that the product is genuine is attached to the product label or the like. As one method for realizing this, it is conceivable to use an invisible (invisible) digital watermark.
An object of the present invention is to provide an authentication system using an invisible (invisible) digital watermark.

  In order to solve the above problems, an authenticity determination system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a digital watermark embedding device and a digital watermark authentication device. The digital watermark embedding apparatus embeds position information of a specific node in a product distribution route as an invisible digital watermark in image information displayed on a product label or a product packaging material. The digital watermark authentication apparatus determines the authenticity of the product by acquiring and collating the position information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information and the position information of the specific node.

  According to the present invention, since authentication information (position information) used for verification is embedded as an invisible digital watermark, the fact that authentication information is attached and the attached position, etc., are compared with those of an IC tag or the like. There is no worry of being noticed by outsiders.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the authenticity determination system common to all the embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of the embedding of GPS digital watermark, and a printing process. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of the collation (authentication determination) process of GPS digital watermark. It is a figure for demonstrating the node by which authenticity determination is performed in a distribution route. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark embedding apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark embedding printing processing method which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark authentication processing method which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark embedding apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark embedding printing processing method which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark embedding apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark embedding printing processing method which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark authentication processing method which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark embedding apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark embedding printing processing method which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the digital watermark authentication processing method which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark embedding apparatus which can implement all embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus which can implement all embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[overall structure]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the whole structure of the authenticity determination system common to all embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.
This authenticity determination system includes an embedding information management device 10, a label image management device 20, a digital watermark embedding device 30, a label printing device 40, and a digital watermark authentication device 50.

  The embedded information management device 10 stores and manages embedded information. The embedded information is information that can be confirmed at nodes (start point, intermediate point, end point) in the distribution route of the product. That is, the information can be confirmed by at least one of the product manufacturer, the middleman, and the final seller. Further, the embedded information is internal information whose contents are not disclosed and which cannot be understood by the third party (outsiders). The embedded information is used as authentication information for a digital watermark authenticating device 50 described later. Actually, the embedded information management apparatus 10 may store and manage information that is the basis of the embedded information instead of the embedded information itself. The information that is the basis of the embedded information includes information for searching / acquiring the embedded information, information that can be converted into the embedded information, information used for calculating the embedded information, and the like. For example, address information for obtaining GPS information can be considered. The GPS information is position information (longitude, latitude, altitude, etc.) that can be acquired from GPS (Global Positioning System). Currently, it is also possible to search for GPS information from address information.

  The label image management apparatus 20 stores and manages image information displayed on a product label or product packaging material. Here, the image information of the product label will be described as an example. Actually, the image information itself may not be stored. For example, the label image management apparatus 20 stores an ID (Identifier) or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) associated with image information stored in an external apparatus (not shown), and uses the ID or URL as a key. The image information may be acquired from an external device and provided.

  The electronic watermark embedding device 30 acquires embedding information and product label image information in response to a product label generation instruction or the like, and forms an invisible (invisible) electronic watermark in the product label image information. Embed embedding information. One reason for using an invisible digital watermark is to prevent third parties (outsiders) from noticing that authentication information is embedded in the image information of the product label. The embedded information embedded as the digital watermark is information that can be acquired / confirmed by communication at any node in the distribution route. Actually, the embedded information embedded as a digital watermark is more preferably information that can be acquired / confirmed only at a place where the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 is used. The digital watermark embedding device 30 may embed the embedded information by processing / converting the embedded information as the digital watermark in the image information of the product label.

  The label printing apparatus 40 acquires image information of a product label in which embedded information is embedded as an invisible electronic watermark, and prints the image information of the product label to generate a product label. The material of product labels is mostly paper and synthetic resin. The object on which the image information of the product label is printed is not limited to the material of the product label, but may be the product itself, packing material for packing the product, wrapping paper, storage container, or tag (tag). good. Further, the unit for attaching the product label is not limited to individual products, and may be a box, container, or the like containing the same product group. That is, the product label is not limited to being directly attached to the product, but may be indirectly attached.

  The digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 digitally images a product label attached to a product or its packaging material, analyzes the image information of the digitalized product label, and embeds it as an invisible digital watermark in the product label image information. The embedded information is extracted, and the extracted embedded information is compared with information that can be separately acquired / confirmed to determine the authenticity of the product. The information that can be separately acquired / confirmed by itself is information that can be acquired / confirmed only by the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50, information that can be acquired by the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 from the embedded information management apparatus 10, and the like. For example, GPS information / address information of a specific node can be considered. The specific node may be its own node (current position). Here, in authenticity determination, if a predetermined condition is satisfied, it is determined to be a genuine product (authentic product), and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied, it is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, incorrect shipment, incorrect delivery, etc.) To do. As the predetermined condition, it can be considered that the following first condition and second condition are simultaneously satisfied. First, the first condition is that the embedded information is embedded as an invisible digital watermark in the image information of the product label, and that information that can be separately acquired / confirmed exists normally (not yet). Registration, acquisition / confirmation is not possible). Next, as a second condition, it is conceivable that the collation results match or fall within an allowable range. The determination result is displayed on the display screen of the device or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer. The digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 is assumed to be used mainly at an intermediate point or an end point among nodes in the distribution route.

  Here, as an example of the embedded information, GPS information of a specific node in the distribution route is assumed. When using GPS information of a specific node in the distribution route as the embedding information, as shown in FIG. 2, the digital watermark embedding device 30 and the label printing device 40 include the GPS information of the specific node in the image information of the product label. Is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) and printed to generate a product label. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital watermark authenticating device 50 takes out GPS information of a specific node embedded as digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) in the image information of the product label, and separately extracts the GPS information from itself. The authenticity of the product is determined by collating with the acquired / confirmed GPS information. Separately acquired / confirmed GPS information may be GPS information received from a GPS satellite by the GPS function, or may be GPS information of other nodes registered in advance in a server on the network. . That is, the authenticity of the product is determined by comparing the GPS information acquired by image recognition with the GPS information acquired / confirmed by some communication. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, at the manufacturer (starting point of the distribution route), GPS digital watermark embedding printing is performed using the digital watermark embedding device 30 and the label printing device 40, and sales companies, distributors, wholesalers, etc. Authenticity by GPS digital watermarking is performed using the digital watermark authenticating device 50 at an intermediate trader (intermediate point of distribution route) or a retail store (end point of distribution route) sold to the final customer. The manufacturer may be read as the place where the product label is generated. For example, in the case of imported goods from overseas, it may be possible to replace them with domestic product labels. Moreover, the case where the GPS information of all the nodes (or some main nodes) in a distribution route is used as embedding information is also considered. However, actually, it is not limited to the above example.

[Example of device]
As examples of the embedded information management apparatus 10, the label image management apparatus 20, and the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30, a computer such as a personal computer (PC), an appliance, a workstation, a mainframe, and a supercomputer is assumed. doing. Further, the embedded information management device 10 and the label image management device 20 may be storage devices built in or externally attached to the digital watermark embedding device 30. As an example of the label printing apparatus 40, a printing apparatus such as a printer or a rotary printing machine is assumed. The printing apparatus may be a multifunction machine. In other words, the label printing device 40 may be any device that can generate an article reflecting a product label image. As an example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a handy terminal, other gadgets, and the like equipped with a camera (imaging) function are assumed. Of course, a computer connected / linked with a camera (imaging) device may be used. Also, a scanner or a multifunction machine may be used. That is, the digital watermark authentication device 50 may be any device that can read and collate product label images.

Although not shown, an electronic device such as a computer as described above is based on a processor that is driven based on a program and executes predetermined processing, a memory that stores the program and various data, and an interface used for communication with a network. Realized.
Examples of the processor include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a network processor (NP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller (microcontroller), or a semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI: Large Scale) having a dedicated function. Integration) or the like.

  Examples of the memory include a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a flash memory, and the like. Also, auxiliary storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive) are conceivable. In addition, a removable disk such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a storage medium (media) such as an SD memory card (Secure Digital memory card), and the like are also conceivable. Further, a buffer or a register may be used. Alternatively, DAS (Direct Attached Storage), FC-SAN (Fibre Channel-Storage Area Network), NAS (Network Attached Storage), IP-SAN (IP-Storage Area), etc. may be used.

Note that the processor and the memory may be integrated. For example, in recent years, a single chip such as a microcomputer has been developed. Therefore, a case where a one-chip microcomputer mounted on an electronic device or the like includes the above processor and the above memory can be considered.
Examples of the interfaces include semiconductor integrated circuits such as substrates (motherboards and I / O boards) and chips that support network communication, network adapters such as NIC (Network Interface Card), and similar expansion cards and communication devices such as antennas. A communication port such as a connection port (connector) is conceivable.

  Examples of the network include the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), a wireless LAN (Wireless LAN), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a backbone (Backbone), a cable television (CATV) line, a fixed telephone network, a mobile phone network, WiMAX (IEEE 802.16a), 3G (3rd Generation), dedicated line (lease line), IrDA (Infrared Data Association), Bluetooth (registered trademark), serial communication line, data bus, and the like can be considered.

  Furthermore, the embedding information management device 10, the label image management device 20, the digital watermark embedding device 30, and the label printing device 40 may be physically / virtually integrated as a “product label generation device”. Further, it may be integrated with the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50. When the embedded information management device 10, the label image management device 20, the digital watermark embedding device 30, the label printing device 40, and the digital watermark authentication device 50 are all integrated, one device has all the functions. In addition, it is possible to perform both digital watermark embedded printing and collation (authentication determination).

The internal components of the embedded information management device 10, the label image management device 20, the digital watermark embedding device 30, the label printing device 40, and the digital watermark authentication device 50 are modules, components, or dedicated components. It may be a device or an activation (calling) program thereof.
However, actually, it is not limited to these examples.

[Common effects]
The authenticity determination system as described above (hereinafter, this system) includes a digital watermark embedding device and a digital watermark authentication device. The digital watermark embedding apparatus embeds position information of a specific node in a product distribution route as an invisible digital watermark in image information displayed on a product label or a product packaging material. The digital watermark authentication apparatus determines the authenticity of the product by acquiring and collating the position information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information and the position information of the specific node. The digital watermark embedding device is used by the manufacturer, and the digital watermark authentication device is used by the distribution destination.

(1) In this system, the authentication information used for verification is embedded as an invisible (invisible) digital watermark, so that the embedded position and the embedded method are set to a third party (outsider) compared to an IC tag or the like. ) There is no worry of being noticed. At least, the probability of being noticed is very low.
(2) Also, in this system, when a digital watermark is copied or scanned, the image is significantly deteriorated or embedded information is lost, so that it can be easily distinguished (determined) from a regular digital watermark. .

(3) Also, in this system, as the authentication information used for verification, the location information (GPS information etc.) of a specific node in the distribution route is used instead of the authentication information generally used / assumed. , Difficult to guess by third parties (outsiders).
(4) Therefore, forgery / alteration of the product label is substantially impossible, and the reliability of the collation determination result is increased.

(5) Furthermore, even if an electronic watermark is noticed, the content is position information, and therefore it may not be recognized as authentication information. In addition, since the location information of a specific place is not inherently confidential information, even if it is leaked, the damage is small compared to general authentication information.
<First Embodiment>
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the present embodiment, as the embedded information, GPS information of a distribution destination that actually performs digital watermark verification (authentication determination) is used. A distribution destination is a shipping destination of a product, such as an intermediary such as a sales company, an agency, or a wholesaler, or a retail store that sells to an end customer.
The configuration of the authenticity determination system according to the present embodiment is basically as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 is used as the embedded information management device 10. The distribution destination GPS information management device 11 is one of the embedded information management devices 10, and stores and manages distribution destination GPS information. Actually, the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 may be one of the databases stored in the embedded information management device 10. The distribution destination GPS information is not limited to information indicating a specific position, but may be information indicating a range of a predetermined area. For example, it is preferable that the information indicates the range (inside / institution) of the distribution destination area to be verified. The distribution destination GPS information management device 11 acquires and stores the distribution destination GPS information automatically or periodically acquired from the distribution destination or the distribution destination GPS information registered from the distribution destination. The GPS information of the distribution destination may be registered by the manufacturer upon receiving a notification from the distribution destination, or may be registered by the distribution destination. It is more preferable that the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 updates the distribution destination GPS information automatically / periodically.

[Configuration of digital watermark embedding device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark embedding device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark embedding device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31, a label image acquisition unit 34, and a digital watermark embedding unit 35.
The distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 requests distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 and acquires the distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information management device 11. For example, the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 selects at least one distribution destination from among the distribution destinations displayed in the list, thereby allowing the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 that manages GPS information to have the distribution destination. The GPS information request process is performed, and the corresponding GPS information is received from the GPS information management device 11. In practice, a plurality of distribution destinations may be selected. For example, the respective GPS information of nodes on the same route of the distribution route (intermediaries such as sales companies, agents, wholesalers, and retail stores that sell to final customers) may be acquired. Further, the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 may acquire the distribution destination GPS information automatically / periodically from the distribution destination GPS information management device 11. Further, the digital watermark embedding device 30 may start a series of processes triggered by selecting a distribution destination or acquiring GPS information of the distribution destination. For example, when the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 acquires the GPS information of the distribution destination, the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 specifies a product (or product label) to be shipped to the distribution destination, and the corresponding product label to the label image acquisition unit 34. The image information may be instructed to be acquired.

  The label image acquisition unit 34 requests product label image information from the label image management device 20, and acquires product label image information from the label image management device 20. At this time, the image information of the product label may be acquired simultaneously with / in parallel with the GPS information of the distribution destination, or may be acquired before and after. For example, the label image acquisition unit 34 selects at least one product (or product label) from the list-displayed products (or product labels), thereby performing a request process for image information of the corresponding product label, Relevant image information is received from the label image management apparatus 20 that manages the image information of the product label. In practice, the label image acquisition unit 34 may acquire the image information of the product label automatically / periodically from the label image management apparatus 20. Further, the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 may start a series of processes triggered by selection of a product (or product label) or acquisition of image information of a product label. For example, when the label image acquisition unit 34 acquires the image information of the product label, the label image acquisition unit 34 specifies the distribution destination to which the corresponding product is shipped, and sends the GPS information of the distribution destination to the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31. You may instruct it to get.

  The digital watermark embedding unit 35 acquires the distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31, acquires the product label image information from the label image acquisition unit 34, and adds the distribution destination GPS information to the product label image information. Information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark). At this time, the digital watermark embedding unit 35 may store / temporarily store product label image information in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark). The digital watermark embedding unit 35 outputs image information of a product label in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) to the label printing apparatus 40, and instructs printing. The print instruction may be performed after the GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark), or may be performed when the stored / temporarily stored image information is periodically output together.

[Digital watermark embedded printing]
With reference to FIG. 6, a digital watermark embedding print processing method according to the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Step S101
The distribution destination GPS information management device 11 transmits the distribution destination GPS information to the digital watermark embedding device 30. At this time, the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 transmits the distribution destination GPS information in response to a request from the digital watermark embedding device 30. Alternatively, distribution destination GPS information may be transmitted to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 automatically / periodically.

(2) Step S102
The distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 receives the distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information management apparatus 11. At this time, the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 requests distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 and receives the distribution destination GPS information from the distribution destination GPS information management device 11 as a response. Or you may make it receive the GPS information of a distribution destination from the distribution destination GPS information management apparatus 11 automatically / periodically. The distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 outputs distribution destination GPS information and product label image information to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

(3) Step S103
The label image management apparatus 20 transmits the image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30. At this time, the label image management apparatus 20 transmits the product label image information in response to the request from the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30. Alternatively, product label image information may be transmitted to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 automatically / periodically.

(4) Step S104
The label image acquisition unit 34 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 receives product label image information from the label image management apparatus 20. At this time, the label image acquisition unit 34 requests product label image information from the label image management device 20 and receives product label image information from the label image management device 20 as a response. Alternatively, product label image information may be received from the label image management apparatus 20 automatically / periodically. Further, the label image acquisition unit 34 outputs the image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

(5) Step S105
The digital watermark embedding unit 35 of the digital watermark embedding device 30 acquires GPS information and product label image information, and embeds the GPS information in the product label image information as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark). In this embodiment, the distribution destination GPS information is acquired from the distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31, the product label image information is acquired from the label image acquisition unit 34, and the distribution destination GPS information is electronically stored in the product label image information. Embed as a watermark (GPS digital watermark).

(6) Step S106
The digital watermark embedding unit 35 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 outputs image information of a product label in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) to the label printing apparatus 40, and instructs printing. In practice, the print instruction may be output by outputting the image information of the product label.

(7) Step S107
The label printing device 40 receives from the digital watermark embedding device 30 image information of a product label in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) and a print instruction. Actually, it may be determined that the print instruction has been received when the image information of the product label is received.

(8) Step S108
The label printing apparatus 40 generates product labels by printing image information of product labels in response to printing instructions. At this time, not only the image information of the product label is printed as it is, but also the image information of the product label can be processed / converted and printed.

[Configuration of Digital Watermark Authentication Device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes a current GPS information acquisition unit 51, a label image reading unit 54, and an authenticity determination unit 55.
The current GPS information acquisition unit 51 acquires the current GPS information of the device (own device) from a GPS satellite as a GPS receiver. Further, this GPS information may be registered in the distribution destination GPS information management apparatus 11 as distribution destination GPS information. In addition, the opportunity to register is not limited to once, and may be registered every time the current GPS information is acquired, or may be registered periodically every certain period. However, actually, it is not limited to the above example.

The label image reading unit 54 reads a product label attached to a product by imaging and image recognition using a camera function, converts it into a digital image, detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and detects a digital watermark ( GPS information embedded as GPS digital watermark) is extracted.
The authenticity determination unit 55 compares the current GPS information acquired by the current GPS information acquisition unit 51 with the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54. If the result of the verification satisfies a predetermined condition, the authenticity determination unit 55 If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the product is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, incorrect shipment, incorrect delivery, etc.). When there are a plurality of pieces of GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54, it may be determined as a genuine product if a predetermined condition is satisfied for at least one piece of GPS information among the plurality of pieces of GPS information. . Further, since the authenticity determination unit 55 allows a certain amount of error, the difference between the current GPS information acquired by the current GPS information acquisition unit 51 and the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54 is within an allowable range. For example, it may be determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied. The determination result is displayed on the display screen of the device or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Digital watermark authentication processing]
With reference to FIG. 8, a digital watermark authentication processing method according to the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Step S201
The current GPS information acquisition unit 51 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 acquires current GPS information from a GPS satellite as a GPS receiver.

(2) Step S202
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 reads a product label attached to the product and converts it into a digital image by imaging and image recognition using a camera function.
(3) Step S203
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and extracts GPS information embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark).

(4) Step S204
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 collates the current GPS information acquired by the current GPS information acquisition unit 51 with the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54, and sets a predetermined condition as a result of the collation. If it satisfies the condition, it is determined to be a genuine product, and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied, it is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, incorrect shipment, incorrect delivery, etc.). In the verification, a process for correcting an error in the GPS information may be performed. In addition, when the digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) is not embedded in the image information of the product label, the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54 is blank, so that the non-genuine product ( Forgery, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.).

(5) Step S205
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authentication device 50 displays the determination result on the display screen of the digital watermark authentication device 50 or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment mobile phone, the digital watermark embedding device embeds the distribution destination GPS information as an invisible digital watermark in the image information displayed on the product label or the product packaging material. The digital watermark authentication apparatus determines the authenticity of the product by acquiring and collating the GPS information embedded in the image information as a digital watermark with the GPS information of the distribution destination.

(1) In the present embodiment, the above-described common effects are basically obtained.
(2) In the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the validity of the product distribution destination at the distribution destination.
(3) Further, in the present embodiment, by embedding distribution destination GPS information as an invisible digital watermark, it becomes possible to see through the correction / impersonation of the distribution destination described in the product label.
(4) Further, in the present embodiment, when the GPS information of the distribution destination is the GPS information of the node in another distribution route, it is determined that the product is out of the original distribution route (parallel import, lateral flow, etc.). It becomes possible.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the embedded address information (location information) is acquired as embedded information, and the address information of the distribution destination is converted into GPS information. The distribution destination GPS information is embedded and printed as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) to generate a product label.

  The configuration of the authenticity determination system according to the present embodiment is basically as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a distribution address information management device 12 is used as the embedded information management device 10. The distribution destination address information management device 12 is one of the embedded information management devices 10 and stores and manages distribution destination address information. Actually, the distribution address information management device 12 may be one of the databases stored in the embedded information management device 10. The distribution destination address information management device 12 acquires and stores distribution destination address information acquired automatically or periodically from the distribution destination or distribution destination address information registered from the distribution destination.

[Configuration of digital watermark embedding device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark embedding device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark embedding device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31, a label image acquisition unit 34, and a digital watermark embedding unit 35.
The distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 31 includes a distribution destination address information acquisition unit 311 and an address GPS information conversion unit 312.

  The distribution destination address information acquisition unit 311 requests distribution destination address information from the distribution destination address information management device 12 and acquires the distribution destination address information from the distribution destination address information management device 12. For example, the distribution destination address information acquisition unit 311 selects at least one distribution destination from among the distribution destinations displayed in the list, thereby performing a request process for the address information of the distribution destination and managing the address information. The corresponding address information is received from the address information management device 12.

The address GPS information conversion unit 312 converts the address information of the distribution destination into GPS information of the distribution destination. That is, the distribution destination address information is converted to acquire the distribution destination GPS information. Any method can be used for this conversion. For example, conversion may be performed using a correspondence table, or conversion may be performed based on an algorithm, a conversion rule, or the like. The correspondence table may be managed by an external server or the like (not shown). Further, the GPS information of the distribution destination is not limited to information indicating a specific position, and may be information indicating a range of a predetermined area. Thereafter, the address GPS information conversion unit 312 outputs the distribution destination GPS information to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.
Since the label image acquisition unit 34 and the digital watermark embedding unit 35 are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

[Digital watermark embedded printing]
With reference to FIG. 10, a digital watermark embedding print processing method according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the operations in steps S101 and S102 in the digital watermark embedding print processing method according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are replaced with the operations in steps S111 to S113 described below. Since the operation after step S103 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

(1) Step S111
The distribution address information management device 12 transmits the distribution address information to the digital watermark embedding device 30. At this time, the distribution address information management device 12 transmits the distribution address information in response to a request from the digital watermark embedding device 30. Alternatively, distribution destination address information may be transmitted to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 automatically / periodically.

(2) Step S112
The distribution address information acquisition unit 311 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 receives the distribution address information from the distribution address information management apparatus 12. At this time, the distribution destination address information acquisition unit 311 requests distribution destination address information from the distribution destination address information management device 12 and receives the distribution destination address information from the distribution destination address information management device 12 as a response. Alternatively, distribution address information may be received from the distribution address information management device 12 automatically / periodically.
(3) Step S113
The address GPS information conversion unit 312 of the digital watermark embedding device 30 converts the address information of the distribution destination into GPS information of the distribution destination and outputs it to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment mobile phone, the digital watermark embedding device acquires address information of a specific node and converts the address information of the specific node into position information of the specific node.
(1) In the present embodiment, the above-described common effects are basically obtained.
(2) In this embodiment, since it is only necessary to manage the distribution destination address information instead of the distribution destination GPS information, the distribution destination address information managed by the existing system is used as it is. Can do. It can also be incorporated into existing systems.

  (3) Further, in this embodiment, even if the address information of the distribution destination is leaked, the information (embedded information) embedded as a digital watermark is not immediately revealed. Normally, address information of distribution destinations is managed together with other information, so it is difficult to recognize which information is the basis of information embedded as a digital watermark, and it is converted and used. It is also difficult to recognize what it is and how it is converted.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, as the embedded information, the manufacturer's GPS information is used as opposed to the first embodiment. Since there are a plurality of distribution destinations, depending on the number of distribution destinations, it may be difficult to embed GPS information of all distribution destinations as digital watermarks (GPS digital watermarks). On the other hand, since the manufacturer is generally one place, it is relatively easy to embed GPS information of the manufacturer as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark). It is also conceivable to improve the accuracy of the determination by simultaneously / parallelly performing the authenticity determination by the distribution destination GPS in each of the above embodiments and the manufacturer's GPS information in the present embodiment.

  The configuration of the authenticity determination system according to the present embodiment is basically as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 is used as the embedded information management device 10. The manufacturer GPS information management device 13 is one of the embedded information management devices 10 and stores and manages the manufacturer's GPS information. Actually, the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 may be one of the databases stored in the embedded information management device 10. At this time, the manufacturer's name or address information and the manufacturer's GPS information may be managed in association with each other. The manufacturer GPS information management device 13 acquires and stores GPS information of the manufacturer acquired from the manufacturer automatically / periodically or GPS information of the manufacturer registered from the manufacturer. It is more preferable that manufacturer GPS information management device 13 updates the manufacturer's GPS information automatically / periodically.

[Configuration of digital watermark embedding device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark embedding device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark embedding device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a current GPS information acquisition unit 32, a label image acquisition unit 34, and a digital watermark embedding unit 35.
The current GPS information acquisition unit 32 acquires, as a GPS receiver, current GPS information of the device (own device) from a GPS satellite. Further, this GPS information is registered in the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 as the manufacturer's GPS information. Regarding the timing of registration, the product label generation time is considered. For example, when outputting / providing the current GPS information to the digital watermark embedding unit 35, the GPS information is registered in the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 as GPS information of the manufacturer at the same time / in parallel. However, actually, it is not limited to the above example.

  The label image acquisition unit 34 requests product label image information from the label image management device 20, and acquires product label image information from the label image management device 20. The image information of the product label may be acquired simultaneously with / in parallel with the manufacturer's GPS information, or may be acquired before and after. For example, the label image acquisition unit 34 selects at least one product (or product label) from the list-displayed products (or product labels), thereby performing a request process for image information of the corresponding product label, Relevant image information is received from the label image management apparatus 20 that manages the image information of the product label. In practice, the label image acquisition unit 34 may acquire the image information of the product label automatically / periodically from the label image management apparatus 20. Further, the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 may start a series of processes triggered by selection of a product (or product label) or acquisition of image information of a product label. For example, the label image acquisition unit 34 may instruct the current GPS information acquisition unit 32 to acquire the GPS information of the manufacturer when acquiring the image information of the product label.

  The digital watermark embedding unit 35 acquires the current GPS information from the current GPS information acquisition unit 32, acquires the image information of the product label from the label image acquisition unit 34, and electronically converts the current GPS information to the image information of the product label. Embed as a watermark (GPS digital watermark). At this time, the digital watermark embedding unit 35 may store / temporarily store product label image information in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark). The digital watermark embedding unit 35 outputs image information of a product label in which GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) to the label printing apparatus 40, and instructs printing. The print instruction may be performed after the GPS information is embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark), or may be performed when the stored / temporarily stored image information is periodically output together.

[Digital watermark embedded printing]
With reference to FIG. 12, a digital watermark embedded printing processing method according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the operations in steps S101 and S102 in the digital watermark embedding print processing method according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are replaced with the operations in steps S121 to S123 described below. Since the operation after step S103 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

(1) Step S121
The current GPS information acquisition unit 32 of the digital watermark embedding device 30 acquires the current GPS information of the device (own device) from a GPS satellite as a GPS receiver.
(2) Step S122
The current GPS information acquisition unit 32 of the digital watermark embedding device 30 outputs the current GPS information to the digital watermark embedding unit 35. Further, the current GPS information is transmitted to the manufacturer GPS information management device 13.
(3) Step S123
The manufacturer GPS information management device 13 receives the GPS information from the digital watermark embedding device 30 and registers the received GPS information as the manufacturer GPS information.

[Configuration of Digital Watermark Authentication Device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes a manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52, a label image reading unit 54, and an authenticity determination unit 55.
The manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 requests the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 for the manufacturer GPS information, and acquires the manufacturer GPS information from the manufacturer GPS information management device 13. For example, the manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 specifies a manufacturer corresponding to a product (or product label), performs a request process of the manufacturer's GPS information on the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 that manages GPS information, The corresponding GPS information is received from the GPS information management device 13. At this time, the manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 may designate the manufacturer name or address information and perform the request process of the manufacturer GPS information. The manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 may apply the second embodiment to acquire manufacturer address information, convert the manufacturer address information, and acquire the manufacturer GPS information. The address information of the manufacturer can be obtained from the image information of the manufacturing label.

The label image reading unit 54 reads a product label attached to a product by imaging and image recognition using a camera function, converts it into a digital image, detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and detects a digital watermark ( GPS information embedded as GPS digital watermark) is extracted.
The authenticity determination unit 55 collates the manufacturer's GPS information acquired by the manufacturer's GPS information acquisition unit 52 with the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54. If they do not match, it is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.) In addition, when there are a plurality of GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54, it may be determined as a genuine product if it matches at least one GPS information among the plurality of GPS information. The determination result is displayed on the display screen of the device or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Digital watermark authentication processing]
With reference to FIG. 14, a digital watermark authentication processing method according to the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the operation in step S201 in the digital watermark authentication processing method according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is replaced with the operations in steps S211 and S212 described below. The operations after step S213 are basically the same as the operations after step S202 of the first embodiment.

(1) Step S211
The manufacturer GPS information management device 13 transmits the manufacturer's GPS information to the digital watermark authentication device 50. At this time, the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 transmits GPS information of the manufacturer in response to a request from the digital watermark authentication device 50. Alternatively, the manufacturer's GPS information may be transmitted to the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 automatically / periodically.

(2) Step S212
The manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 receives the manufacturer's GPS information from the manufacturer GPS information management device 13. At this time, the manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 requests the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 for the manufacturer GPS information, and receives the manufacturer GPS information from the manufacturer GPS information management device 13 as a response. Alternatively, the manufacturer's GPS information may be received from the manufacturer's GPS information management device 13 automatically / periodically. The manufacturer GPS information acquisition unit 52 outputs the manufacturer GPS information and the image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

(2) Step S213
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 reads a product label attached to the product and converts it into a digital image by imaging and image recognition using a camera function.
(3) Step S214
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and extracts GPS information embedded as a digital watermark (GPS digital watermark).

(4) Step S215
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authenticating device 50 collates the manufacturer's GPS information acquired by the manufacturer's GPS information acquisition unit 52 with the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54. If it satisfies the condition, it is determined to be a genuine product, and if the predetermined condition is not satisfied, it is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, incorrect shipment, incorrect delivery, etc.). In the verification, a process for correcting an error in the GPS information may be performed. In addition, when the digital watermark (GPS digital watermark) is not embedded in the image information of the product label, the GPS information extracted by the label image reading unit 54 is blank, so that the non-genuine product ( Forgery, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.).

(5) Step S216
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authentication device 50 displays the determination result on the display screen of the digital watermark authentication device 50 or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment mobile phone, the digital watermark embedding apparatus embeds the manufacturer's GPS information as an invisible digital watermark in the image information displayed on the product label or product packaging material. The digital watermark authentication apparatus determines the authenticity of the product by acquiring and collating the GPS information embedded as the digital watermark in the image information and the GPS information of the manufacturer.

(1) In the present embodiment, the above-described common effects are basically obtained.
(2) In the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the validity of the product manufacturer (shipping base) at the distribution destination.
(3) In the present embodiment, the manufacturer's GPS information is embedded as an invisible digital watermark so that the manufacturer / origin correction / disguise described on the product label can be detected.
(4) Furthermore, since the manufacturer is usually one place unlike the distribution destination, the amount of information to be embedded as an invisible electronic watermark can be smaller than in the second and third embodiments.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the present embodiment, unlike the other embodiments, the embedding information is the date and time (year / month / day, time, time zone, etc.) for which collation is permitted to be performed at a distribution destination that actually performs digital watermark verification (authentication determination). Use date and time information to indicate. Note that the date / time information is not limited to both the date and time, and may be only one of the date and time.

  The configuration of the authenticity determination system according to the present embodiment is basically as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the matching date information management device 14 is used as the embedded information management device 10. The collation date / time information management device 14 is one of the embedded information management devices 10, and date / time information indicating the date / time (year / month / day, time, time zone, etc.) permitting collation (authentication determination) at the distribution destination. Store and manage. Actually, the verification date information management device 14 may be one of databases stored in the embedded information management device 10. For example, when requesting the verification at the distribution destination within a predetermined period from the manufacture or shipment of the product, when the sale of the product is for a limited time, or when the product has a expiration date, information indicating the expiration date is provided. Date and time information. Alternatively, information indicating a scheduled arrival date and time (including preceding and following time zones) of the product at the distribution destination may be used as the date and time information. At this time, the name or address information of the distribution destination, the name or identification information of the product (or product label), and the date information may be managed in association with each other. The collation date information management device 14 acquires and stores the date information acquired from the distribution destination automatically or periodically or the date information registered from the distribution destination. It is more preferable that the collation date / time information management device 14 updates the date / time information automatically / periodically.

[Configuration of digital watermark embedding device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark embedding device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 according to this embodiment includes a collation date / time information acquisition unit 33, a label image acquisition unit 34, and a digital watermark embedding unit 35.
The collation date / time information acquisition unit 33 requests date / time information from the collation date / time information management device 14 and acquires the date / time information from the collation date / time information management device 14. For example, the collation date / time information acquisition unit 33 identifies the distribution destination corresponding to the product (or product label), and the date / time information corresponding to the product or the distribution destination with respect to the collation date / time information management device 14 that manages the date / time information. The corresponding date / time information is received from the collation date / time information management apparatus 14. At this time, the name or address information of the distribution destination may be designated, and the date / time information request process corresponding to the product or the distribution destination may be performed.

  The label image acquisition unit 34 requests product label image information from the label image management device 20, and acquires product label image information from the label image management device 20. The image information of the product label may be acquired simultaneously with / in parallel with the date / time information, or may be acquired before or after. For example, the label image acquisition unit 34 selects at least one product (or product label) from the list-displayed products (or product labels), thereby performing a request process for image information of the corresponding product label, Relevant image information is received from the label image management apparatus 20 that manages the image information of the product label. In practice, the label image acquisition unit 34 may acquire the image information of the product label automatically / periodically from the label image management apparatus 20. Further, the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 may start a series of processes triggered by selection of a product (or product label) or acquisition of image information of a product label. For example, when the label image acquisition unit 34 acquires the image information of the product label, the label image acquisition unit 34 may instruct the verification date / time information acquisition unit 33 to acquire the date / time information corresponding to the product (or product label). good.

  The digital watermark embedding unit 35 acquires date / time information from the collation date / time information acquisition unit 33, acquires image information of the product label from the label image acquisition unit 34, and adds the date / time information to the image information of the product label. Embed as watermark. At this time, the digital watermark embedding unit 35 may store / temporarily store the image information of the product label in which the date / time information is embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark). Further, the digital watermark embedding unit 35 outputs image information of the product label in which the date / time information is embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark) to the label printing apparatus 40, and instructs printing. The print instruction may be performed after the date / time information is embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark), or may be performed when the stored / temporarily stored image information is periodically output together.

[Digital watermark embedded printing]
With reference to FIG. 16, a digital watermark embedding print processing method according to the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Step S301
The collation date / time information management device 14 transmits to the digital watermark embedding device 30 date / time information indicating the date / time (year / month / day, time, time zone, etc.) permitting collation (authentication determination) at the distribution destination. At this time, the collation date / time information management device 14 transmits the date / time information in response to the request from the digital watermark embedding device 30. Alternatively, the date / time information may be transmitted to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 automatically / periodically.

(2) Step S302
The collation date / time information acquisition unit 33 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 receives the date / time information from the collation date / time information management apparatus 14. At this time, the collation date / time information acquisition unit 33 requests date / time information from the collation date / time information management device 14 and receives the date / time information from the collation date / time information management device 14 as a response. Alternatively, the date / time information may be received from the verification date / time information management device 14 automatically / periodically. Further, the collation date / time information acquisition unit 33 outputs the date / time information as image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

(3) Step S303
The label image management apparatus 20 transmits the image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30. At this time, the label image management apparatus 20 transmits the product label image information in response to the request from the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30. Alternatively, product label image information may be transmitted to the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 automatically / periodically.

(4) Step S304
The label image acquisition unit 34 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 receives product label image information from the label image management apparatus 20. At this time, the label image acquisition unit 34 requests product label image information from the label image management device 20 and receives product label image information from the label image management device 20 as a response. Alternatively, product label image information may be received from the label image management apparatus 20 automatically / periodically. Further, the label image acquisition unit 34 outputs the image information of the product label to the digital watermark embedding unit 35.

(5) Step S305
The digital watermark embedding unit 35 of the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 acquires date information and product label image information, and embeds the date information in the product label image information as a digital watermark (date digital watermark). In this embodiment, date information is acquired from the collation date information acquisition unit 33, product label image information is acquired from the label image acquisition unit 34, and date information is used as digital watermark (date digital watermark) in the product label image information. Embed.

(6) Step S306
The digital watermark embedding unit 35 of the digital watermark embedding device 30 outputs image information of the product label in which the date / time information is embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark) to the label printing device 40, and instructs printing. In practice, the print instruction may be output by outputting the image information of the product label.

(7) Step S307
The label printing apparatus 40 receives from the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 image information of a product label in which date / time information is embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark) and a print instruction. Actually, it may be determined that the print instruction has been received when the image information of the product label is received.
(8) Step S308
The label printing apparatus 40 generates product labels by printing image information of product labels in response to printing instructions. At this time, not only the image information of the product label is printed as it is, but also the image information of the product label can be processed / converted and printed.

[Configuration of Digital Watermark Authentication Device]
A configuration example of the digital watermark authentication apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment includes a current date / time information acquisition unit 53, a label image reading unit 54, and an authenticity determination unit 55.
The current date and time information acquisition unit 53 acquires date and time information indicating the current date and time from a hardware timer (such as a watchdog timer) or a GPS satellite of the device (own device).

The label image reading unit 54 reads a product label attached to a product by imaging and image recognition using a camera function, converts it into a digital image, detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and detects a digital watermark ( The date / time information embedded as the date / time digital watermark) is extracted.
The authenticity determination unit 55 collates the date and time information acquired by the current date and time information acquisition unit 53 with the date and time information extracted by the label image reading unit 54. If the result of the collation satisfies a predetermined condition, the authenticity determination unit 55 determines that the product is a genuine product. If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the product is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.). For example, if the date and time information acquired by the current date and time information acquisition unit 53 indicates the current date and time and the date and time information extracted by the label image reading unit 54 indicates an expiration date, it is determined that the current date and time is within the expiration date. If the current date and time are not within the expiration date, the product is determined to be a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, discard target, etc.) The determination result is displayed on the display screen of the device or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Digital watermark authentication processing]
With reference to FIG. 18, a digital watermark authentication processing method according to the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Step S401
The current date and time information acquisition unit 53 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 acquires date and time information indicating the current date and time from a hardware timer (such as a watchdog timer) or a GPS satellite.

(2) Step S402
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 reads a product label attached to the product and converts it into a digital image by imaging and image recognition using a camera function.
(3) Step S403
The label image reading unit 54 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 detects a digital watermark embedded in the image information of the product label, and extracts date / time information embedded as a digital watermark (date / time digital watermark).

(4) Step S404
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 collates the date and time information acquired by the current date and time information acquisition unit 53 with the date and time information extracted by the label image reading unit 54, and satisfies a predetermined condition as a result of the collation. If it does not satisfy the predetermined condition, it is determined as a non-genuine product (counterfeit product, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.). In the verification, a process for correcting an error in the date / time information may be performed. In addition, when the digital watermark (date / time digital watermark) is not embedded in the image information of the product label, the date / time information extracted by the label image reading unit 54 is blank, and it is assumed that the predetermined condition is not satisfied. Forgery, wrong shipment, wrong delivery, etc.).

(5) Step S405
The authenticity determination unit 55 of the digital watermark authentication device 50 displays the determination result on the display screen of the digital watermark authentication device 50 or an external display device. Further, the determination result may be transmitted to the printing apparatus for printing. Further, when it is determined that the product is non-genuine, a confirmation inquiry / report may be automatically made to the product manufacturer. Alternatively, the determination result may be automatically notified to the product manufacturer.

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment mobile phone, the digital watermark embedding device embeds date and time information indicating the product expiration date as an invisible digital watermark in the image information displayed on the product label or product packaging material. The digital watermark authenticating device determines the authenticity of the product by acquiring and collating the date and time information embedded in the image information as a digital watermark with the date and time information indicating the expiration date of the product.
(1) In the present embodiment, the above-described common effects are basically obtained.
(2) Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by embedding date and time information as an invisible digital watermark, it is possible to forge a counterfeit product using a used old product label or a date correction / falsification described on a product label It becomes possible.

<Relationship between each embodiment>
The above embodiments can be implemented in combination. For example, the authenticity determination based on the GPS information of the distribution destination in the first and second embodiments and the authenticity determination based on the manufacturer's GPS information in the third embodiment, or the authenticity based on the date and time information in the fourth embodiment. By combining the determination and the authenticity determination based on the GPS information in the first to third embodiments, it is considered that a more accurate authenticity determination can be performed. In each of the above embodiments, it is also conceivable to use a combination of a digital watermark and an IC tag.

  Note that the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 may include all the components shown in the above embodiments as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 may include all the components shown in the above embodiments. At this time, the digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 or the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 may be configured to change the embodiment by switching the operation mode or function. The digital watermark embedding apparatus 30 and the digital watermark authentication apparatus 50 may be realized by causing a computer or the like to execute a digital watermark embedded printing program or a digital watermark authentication program. The digital watermark embedded printing program is a program for causing a computer or the like to execute the digital watermark embedded printing processing method in each of the above embodiments. The digital watermark authentication program is a program for causing a computer or the like to execute the digital watermark authentication processing method in each of the above embodiments. The digital watermark embedded printing program and the digital watermark authentication program can be stored in a storage device or a storage medium.

<Modification>
In said 1st-3rd embodiment, you may use another positional information instead of GPS information as embedding information. For example, relative position information with respect to absolute position information serving as a reference may be used. Moreover, the coordinate information on a map may be sufficient. Further, location information such as a base station in the site / facility or a wireless LAN access point may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the image information of the product label is described as an example. However, the image information is not limited to the image information of the product label. For example, it is possible to embed embedded information as a digital watermark in a product image, a company logo, a character image, or the like that is directly printed on a product packaging material. That is, the image information displayed on the product label or the product packaging material or the like may be any information that can be converted into a digital image by imaging.

Further, the “distribution address information acquisition unit” and “address GPS information conversion unit” described in the second embodiment may be provided not only on the digital watermark embedding apparatus side but also on the digital watermark authentication apparatus side. For example, when GPS information of a specific node is embedded as digital watermark in the image information, the digital watermark authentication apparatus searches for GPS information from the address information of the specific node in order to acquire the GPS information of the specific node. It is also possible.
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, actually, it is not restricted to said embodiment, Even if there is a change of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is included in this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Embedded information management apparatus 11 ... Distribution destination GPS information management apparatus 12 ... Distribution destination address information management apparatus 13 ... Manufacturer GPS information management apparatus 14 ... Verification date information management apparatus 20 ... Label image management apparatus 30 ... Digital watermark embedding apparatus 31 ... Distribution destination GPS information acquisition unit 311 ... Distribution destination address information acquisition unit 312 ... Address GPS information conversion unit 32 ... Current GPS information acquisition unit 33 ... Verification date information acquisition unit 34 ... Label image acquisition unit 35 ... Digital watermark embedding unit DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 40 ... Label printing apparatus 50 ... Digital watermark authentication apparatus 51 ... Current GPS information acquisition part 52 ... Manufacturer GPS information acquisition part 53 ... Current date information acquisition part 54 ... Label image reading part 55 ... Authenticity determination part

Claims (5)

A digital watermark embedding device for embedding position information of a specific node in the distribution route of the product as an invisible digital watermark in image information displayed on a product label or product packaging material;
A digital watermark authenticating device that determines the authenticity of a product by acquiring and collating the position information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information and the position information of the specific node;
An authentication system characterized by comprising:   2. The digital watermark embedding apparatus and the digital watermark authentication apparatus have a function of acquiring address information of the specific node and converting the address information of the specific node into position information of the specific node. Authentication system described in 1. The digital watermark embedding device embeds date and time information indicating the expiration date of the product as an invisible digital watermark in image information displayed on a product label or product packaging material,
The digital watermark authentication apparatus performs product authenticity determination by acquiring and collating date information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information with date information indicating the current date and time. The authenticity determination system according to claim 1 or 2. A label image acquisition unit for acquiring image information displayed on a product label or product packaging material;
A position information acquisition unit for acquiring position information of a specific node in the distribution route of the product;
A digital watermark embedding unit that embeds the position information of the specific node in the image information as an invisible digital watermark;
An electronic watermark embedding apparatus comprising: A label image reading unit that digitizes the product label and obtains position information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information;
A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information of a specific node in the distribution route;
An authenticity determination unit that determines the authenticity of a product by comparing the position information embedded as a digital watermark in the image information with the position information of the specific node;
An electronic watermark authentication apparatus comprising:

Images