JPH10303888A - Information receiver and information embedding processing method applied to the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To construct an information providing service system which surely protects a right to multimedia information such as a copyright and resultantly enables efficient distribution by realizing an FP function which corresponds to a CODEC system and an FP processing system which are adopted to a system of information providing service in an information receiver that is equipped with an FP function. SOLUTION: This device has an information separation processing part 6 which extracts an FP program from an information stream of multimedia information that is externally sent and an FP processing part 7 which loads the FP program and carries out FP processing of content information of multimedia information. In such cases, the part 7 down loads an external FP program and executes effective FP processing of the content information which corresponds to a CODEC system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information reception for receiving multimedia information provided via, for example, a computer network or a digital broadcasting network, and outputting and reproducing the information to, for example, a personal computer or a television receiver. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, multi-media provided via a computer network (Internet), a digital broadcasting network such as digital satellite broadcasting, or a package medium (individual recording medium) such as a DVD (digital video disk) has been proposed. An information receiving device for receiving media information and outputting it to a personal computer or a television receiver has been proposed. Here, the multimedia information means information that combines video (moving image), audio, data, and the like.

[0003] An information receiving apparatus is a set top box or an IRD (integer).
It corresponds to a user home device (home server) called a “great receiver decoder”. Further, a specific device includes an information receiving function provided in a personal computer or the like.

[0004] By arranging such an information receiving apparatus in a user at each home or the like, an information service system (a broad concept including digital broadcasting and cable television broadcasting) that provides multimedia information usable by the user is provided. Can be built. As a specific example, there is a video-on-demand service using a computer network or a cable television network.

When constructing the above information service system, it is important to protect the copyright and other rights of the creator of multimedia information and the information provider (individual or trader). Since multimedia information is provided in the form of digital information, it can be easily copied or modified by a personal computer or the like, and rights infringement is likely to occur.

Therefore, as a technique for protecting the rights such as the copyright of multimedia information which is a digital work, a data embedding technique of concealingly embedding specific information in multimedia information has attracted attention. This data embedding technique includes digital finger printing, digital watermarking, and digital watermarking.
This is a kind of data processing technique called "termmarking", digital watermarking method, or data hiding. Hereinafter, "FP technology" or "FP"
Processing ".

[0007] The FP process is basically a process of concealing embedding specific information (marks) in digital information such as video to be protected. The specific information is, for example, information indicating a copyright or identification information for identifying a providing destination, and usually includes character data or graphic data. Although the specific information cannot be confirmed in a hidden state even when the original digital information to be protected (for example, video information such as a movie) is normally reproduced, it can be reproduced by a specific restoration process. it can.

[0008]

As described above, FP
The technology makes it possible to protect the copyright and other rights of multimedia information, and facilitates the realization of an information providing service system. The multimedia information is usually communicated as an information stream in which video information and audio information according to, for example, MPEG2 system specifications are multiplexed. The information stream is expressed in a syntax (sy) according to the adopted encoding / decoding (CODEC) scheme.
ntx: rules of the encoded data string)
When embedding the specific information by the processing, the effect on the content information (user information which is the multimedia information body used by the user) also differs. Specifically, the image quality of the content information is degraded by the FP process, and there are some positions in the stream where the information cannot be embedded by the FP process due to the syntax.

In short, there is no FP processing method effective for all CODEC systems. An FP processing method in which specific information is embedded not in content information such as video (including still images) or audio but in header information in a stream is also conceivable. However, the insertion position of specific information can be easily specified. This is not a desirable method because it is easy to remove or modify the embedded specific information.

Incidentally, it is desirable that the FP process is performed in the above-described information receiving device provided on the user side. That is, when the provided information is used on the user side, the specific information is embedded in the content by FP processing. However, providing the function for executing the FP process corresponding to the CODEC method of the content to be used in advance in the information receiving apparatus in advance limits the FP method. Therefore, it is impossible to cope with the content by another CODEC method. In addition, it naturally prevents a flexible response to contents based on the new CODEC method and a new FP processing method.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information receiving apparatus having an FP function so as to realize an FP function capable of coping with a CODEC system and an FP processing system employed in an information providing service system, thereby realizing a multimedia system. It is an object of the present invention to surely protect copyrights and other rights of information and to construct an information providing service system capable of efficient distribution as a result.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus for receiving multimedia information provided over a digital broadcast network, such as a computer network or digital satellite broadcast, and more particularly, a set top box. Alternatively, it is an information receiving device applied to a user home device such as an IRD.

This apparatus comprises an extracting means for extracting an FP processing program (FP program) from an information stream of multimedia information transmitted from the outside, and data for executing the FP processing using the FP program. An embedding processing unit and an output unit for performing a predetermined output process on the information subjected to the FP process are provided.

The data embedding processing means loads (so-called download) the FP program extracted by the extracting means, and executes the FP program to provide predetermined specific information (such as a mark for protecting rights).
Is executed at a predetermined position in the provided information stream.

That is, the present invention is a method in which data embedding processing means provided in advance in the information receiving apparatus is provided with an FP program for executing FP processing from the outside. For this reason, the present apparatus is provided with an extracting means for extracting the FP program from the information transmitted from the outside and setting the FP program in the data embedding processing means. FP
The program is information added to an information stream including content or information included in an information stream (another packet) different from the content.

With such a configuration, the information provider side:
By transmitting an appropriate FP program corresponding to the CODEC method of the content to be provided to the information receiving apparatus,
It is possible to reliably protect the right of the content and to prevent adverse effects such as deterioration of the image quality of the content. Further, even when the conventional FP processing method is changed, the shift to the new FP processing method can be easily realized only by changing the FP program transmitted to the user. Therefore, in the information receiving apparatus, the FP that can flexibly cope with the old and new CODEC methods and the new FP processing method of the contents of the multimedia information to be provided.
Function can be realized.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an information receiving apparatus related to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information separation processing section and an FP processing section related to the present embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present embodiment. (Configuration of Information Receiving Apparatus) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, an information transmitting system 2 and information receiving apparatus 1 are connected via a communication medium 3 of a computer network or a digital broadcasting network. Assume a service system. The information transmission system 2 is an information provider having an information transmission device for transmitting multimedia information in which video, audio, data, and the like are multiplexed in response to a request from a user or contract contents (hereinafter, information provision). May be expressed as a concept that includes people). On the other hand, the information receiving device 1 assumes a user premises device (corresponding to a set top box or an IRD) arranged on the user side, and executes a process described below on the received multimedia information, This is a device for reproducing and outputting content information included in multimedia information (hereinafter, may be expressed as a concept including a user).

As shown in FIG. 1, the information receiving apparatus 1 includes a receiving interface 4, a descrambler 5, an information separation processing unit 6, an FP processing unit 7, a decoding unit 8, and an output unit 9. Have. The receiving interface 4 is a communication medium 3
Receive the information stream SD transmitted via the. The descrambler 5 executes a descrambling process (a type of decryption process) for restoring information that has been subjected to a predetermined scramble (a type of encryption) to an original state. Although there are various types of the descrambler 5, the description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention. The descrambler 5 may not be provided when receiving unscrambled information or when performing descrambling by another device.

The information separation processing section 6 and the FP processing section 7 are constituent elements that constitute the gist of the present invention. The information separation processing unit 6 is a type of filter device for extracting an FP program FP for FP processing described later from the information stream SD. Information stream SD is content information SDc and FP
When the program includes the program SDp, the information separation processing unit 6 executes a process of separating and outputting the two. When the information stream SD includes only the FP program SDp, the information separation processing unit 6 extracts the FP program SDp. The information separation processing unit 6 is a specific example shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), it has a logic circuit 20 for performing information separation processing and an identification information memory 21. The identification information memory 21 is a memory that stores identification information for identifying the FP program SDp included in, for example, the user information area of the information stream SD. The identification information memory 21 also stores identification information for identifying the FP program SDp associated with the provided content information.

As described above, the FP processor 7 embeds predetermined specific information (a mark for protecting a right such as a copyright) in the provided content information based on a predetermined algorithm. Execute the process. here,
The mark is information for identifying the user. The algorithm is, as described above, digital watermarking.
ng), a digital watermarking method, or a method for implementing data embedding processing such as data hiding.

As shown in FIG. 2, the FP processing section 7 of this embodiment includes a memory 23 for loading the FP program SDp and a microprocessor (CPU) 22 for executing FP processing using the FP program SDp. Have. The memory 23 stores the FP program SDp extracted by the information separation processing unit 6. The FP processing unit 7 embeds the specific information in the content information SDc of the information stream SD and processes the information (content information) P
D is output to the decoding unit 8.

The decoding unit 8 encodes (including compression) according to, for example, the MPEG2 system specification (CODEC system).
This is a component for decoding (including decompressing) the information stream PD thus obtained. The output unit 9 is a signal conversion processing unit for converting the decoded information stream RD into a signal according to the specifications of the reproduction / output device. The reproduction / output device is specifically a personal computer or a television receiver (TV) having a display device, for example.
Means The output unit 9 includes a D / A conversion circuit for converting digital information into an analog signal or a CVS conversion circuit for converting the digital information into a composite video signal (CVS) for a television receiver. The playback / output device also includes an output device such as a DVD (Digital Video Disk) drive, in addition to the display device. The DVD drive receives the digital information output from the output unit 9 and records the digital information on a DVD serving as a recording medium.

As described above, the information receiving apparatus of the present embodiment is assumed to be an apparatus for reproducing / outputting the content information included in the multimedia information. It may be an intermediate device between the receiving side and the receiving side. That is, for example, the user uses a personal computer as the information receiving device, and the relay device having the information separation processing unit 6 and the FP processing unit 7 of the present embodiment executes the FP process on the information from the transmitting side. Later, the data is transferred to the user's personal computer. (Specific Configuration of Information Separation Processing Unit 6) Information Separation Processing Unit 6
Has the logic circuit 20 and the identification information memory 21 as described above, and has a specific configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the logic circuit 20 includes the stream identification information reading unit 70 and the stream output destination selecting unit 71. The stream identification information reading unit 70 extracts the stream identification information from the received packet and stores it in the identification information memory 21. Here, the entire information stream SD is composed of a packet sequence.

The stream identification information refers to the content information S from the information stream SD transmitted from the information provider.
This is the identification information for separating Dc from the associated FP program SDp. As shown in FIG. 7, the stream identification information is roughly divided into a stream identifier and a content type (for example, the type of the CODEC system,
PID, etc.), and a table 72 including information on output destinations.

The stream output destination selection unit 71 refers to the table 72 stored in the identification information memory 21, identifies the content type based on the identifier of the received information stream SD, and further determines the content information based on the content type. SDc and FP program SDp are output separately. Here, the identification information memory 21 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile EEPROM, and is added and updated every time new stream identification information is transmitted. (Operation and effect of this embodiment) The operation and effect of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

This embodiment assumes an information providing service system in which multimedia information such as a movie is provided to a user 1 who has contracted from an information provider 2 via, for example, a digital broadcasting network. The information transmission system 2 transmits an information stream SD including content information (combined information of video and audio) SDc such as a movie and an FP program SDp (step S1). The information stream SD is, for example, a data string encoded according to the syntax of the MPEG2 system specification. The FP program SDp is a program including an algorithm for executing an FP process adapted to the syntax.

The information receiving apparatus 1 receives the information stream SD transmitted by the receiving interface 4 and performs descrambling by the descrambler 5 (steps S2 and S3). Next, in the present embodiment, the information separation processing unit 6 converts the FP program S from the information stream SD.
A separation process for separating Dp and content information SDc is performed (step S4). Here, in the present embodiment, when the information stream SD does not include the FP program SDp, the FP processing described later cannot be executed, so that the information reproduction / output processing is stopped as the error processing (step S5). NO, S10). In the error processing, for example, the information provider 2 sends the FP program SDp
May be included.

As shown in FIG. 2, the FP processing unit 7 loads the FP program SDp extracted by the information separation processing unit 6 into the memory 23 (YES in step S5, S
6). The FP processing unit 7 loads the FP program SD
Using p, an FP process for embedding specific information in the content information SDc separated by the information separation processing unit 6 is executed (step S7). Here, the FP processing unit 7
Has a function of determining whether or not the FP program SDp corresponding to the memory 23 has already been loaded. If the FP program SDp has been loaded, the processing for loading the FP program SDp is omitted, and the loaded FP program SDp is omitted. Program SD
p may be used.

The decoding unit 8 executes a decoding process (including a decompression process) on the content information PD that has been subjected to the FP process, and outputs the result to the output unit 9 (step S8). Output unit 9
Performs a signal conversion process for converting into a signal in accordance with the specifications of the reproduction / output device connected to the information receiving device 1 (step S9). Specifically, if the playback / output device is, for example, a personal computer having a display device, the decoded information stream (here, content information such as a movie) RD is converted into an analog signal, or a digital signal is output. I do.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the information receiving apparatus 1 having the FP processing function, the FP processing section 7 for executing the FP processing is provided with the information stream SD transmitted from the information provider 2 side. Program SDp included in
Is loaded (so-called downloaded). FP
The processing unit 7 performs the FP process on the content information transmitted from the information provider 2 using the provided FP program SDp. Therefore, the FP processing unit 7 can execute an effective FP process corresponding to the syntax of the content information to be provided by the FP program SDp from the information provider 2 side. In other words, the information provider 2 can arbitrarily set an effective FP process corresponding to the syntax of the content information to be provided. Therefore, FP processing method and COD of content information
It is possible to flexibly cope with new and old changes of the EC system. As a result, the information provider 2 can reliably protect the rights such as the copyright of the multimedia information provided by the FP function without being restricted by the CODEC method of the content information. (First Modification of the Present Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a first modification of the present embodiment.
FIG. The first modification has a configuration in which the decoding unit 8 in the present embodiment is separated into a syntax analysis unit 80A and a decoding unit (decompression decoding, etc.) 80B in a narrow sense. Syntax analyzer 8
0A executes syntax analysis (syntax analysis) processing of the content information SDc separated and output by the information separation processing unit 6, and encodes the data structure of the content information (such as the hierarchical structure and the order and position of data elements). It analyzes the rules of the bit string, etc., and outputs the result to the FP processing unit 7.

The FP processing unit 7 uses the FP program SDp separated and output by the information separation processing unit 6 and refers to the data structure and the like output from the syntax analysis unit 80A to determine the proper position in the content information SDc. FP processing for embedding specific information such as a mark in the. Therefore, the FP processing unit 7 can embed the specific information at an appropriate position or an arbitrary position (excluding the position of insertion addition) in the content information SDc. (Modification 2 of the present embodiment) FIGS. 3 and 5 are views showing Modification 2 of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the FP program SDp provided by the information provider 2 includes, as information added to the content information SDc, for example, a PES (Packetized Element) of the MPEG2 system specification.
(entry Stream) packet is assumed to be transmitted by the same packet.

On the other hand, a second modification of the present embodiment is
A plurality of FP programs SDp transmitted by the FP program SDp as PES packets different from the content information SDc and corresponding to a plurality of types of content information SDc
For example, the MPEG2-TS of the MPEG2 system specification
(Transport Stream) packet.

As shown in FIG. 3, the FP processing unit 7 of the second modification includes a program 23 including a plurality of FP programs separated by the information separation processing unit 6 in a memory 23 for loading the FP program SDp. Generate a table. Each FP program in the program table has identification information (# 0 to # 0) for identifying corresponding content information.
#N) is added. This identification information corresponds to the PID (Packet) of the information stream containing the target content information.
t Identification), stream ID information, or both.

The operation and effect of this modification will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the FP processing unit 7 stores a program table including a plurality of FP programs transmitted from the information provider 2 side in the memory 2.
3 The FP processing unit 7 outputs the stream ID of the information stream SD from the information provider 2 side.
When (or PID) is detected, the program table is searched for an FP program corresponding to the stream ID (steps S11 and S12). Here, in the information receiving device 1, the information stream S is sent from the information provider 2 side.
A series of processing after receiving D is the same as in the present embodiment.

When the program table cannot find the corresponding FP program, the FP processing section 7 stops the reproduction / output processing of the information because no effective FP processing is possible (NO in step S13). S17). In addition,
Here, even if there is an FP program corresponding to content information of the same type (the same CODEC method), if they are provided as different information streams, the right holders (creator and information provider) of those content information ) Are not necessarily the same. Therefore, it is necessary to execute FP processing with different specific information or different algorithms by different FP programs for the content information.

The FP processing section 7 dispatches the corresponding FP program and executes an effective FP process on the target content information (step S14). Similarly, the decoding unit 8 executes the decoding process (including the decompression process) on the content information PD that has been subjected to the FP process, and outputs the result to the output unit 9 (step S15). Output unit 9
Performs a signal conversion process for converting into a signal in accordance with the specifications of the reproduction / output device connected to the information receiving device 1 (step S16).

As described above, according to the present modification, even when information streams including a plurality of types of content information are provided in parallel, it is possible to load the FP programs corresponding to each type into the information receiving apparatus 1. By
An effective FP process can be executed for each piece of content information. Also, the FP program can be provided as a packet different from the content information.
As an application example of this modified example, it is possible to realize a system in which a plurality of types of content information are interleaved and provided, and FP processing is executed in a time-division manner by respective FP programs.

In the second modification, for a plurality of types of content information (that is, different codecs), FP programs corresponding to the respective types are required. FP processing can be performed by the same FP program. Therefore, when a plurality of pieces of content information are received and the same type is used, the FP processing unit 7 may execute the FP process using a common FP program. FIG. 6 shows a third modification of the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information receiving apparatus 1 related to the above. In this modification, the information separation processing unit 6 includes a program separation unit 60 for separating the FP program SDp from the information stream, and data for separating the video data SDv and the audio data SDo from the multiplexed content information. The configuration includes a separation unit 61.

Further, the FP processing unit 7 includes a data separation unit 6
1 has a function of executing an FP process on each of the video data SDv and the audio data SDo separated by 1. The decoding unit 8 outputs the FP
It includes a video decoder 62 for decoding (including decompression) the processed video data PDv, and an audio decoder 63 for decoding the FP processed audio data PDo. The output unit 9 includes a video output unit 64 for outputting video information from the video decoder 62 as a video signal, and an audio output unit 65 for outputting audio information from the audio decoder 63 as an audio signal.

With such a configuration, the information receiving apparatus 1
Can receive a multiplexed information stream of video and audio, and can execute FP processing on each piece of information of video and audio. Therefore, for example, even when either video or audio information is cut out from the multimedia information received by the user and recorded on a DVD or the like, it is possible to perform FP processing on each information. It is possible to protect the right.

In the third modification, the video decoder 62 and the audio decoder 63 are individually
A configuration including a processing unit may be used. In this case, the information separation processing unit 6 includes the video data SDv and the audio data SDv.
The FP program corresponding to each of o is separated and supplied to each of the decoders 62 and 63. Video decoder 62
Is the video data S separated by the data separation unit 61.
Dv with respect to the F supplied from the information separation processing unit 6
The FP process is executed using the P program. Further, the audio decoder 63 executes the FP process on the audio data SDo separated by the data separation unit 61 by using the FP program supplied from the information separation processing unit 6.

[0042]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, F
An information receiving apparatus having a P function can realize an FP function that can cope with a CODEC method and an FP processing method adopted in an information providing service system.
An FP function that can flexibly cope with the C method or a new FP processing method can be realized. Therefore, it is possible to reliably protect the rights such as the copyright to the multimedia information in the information providing service, and to construct an information providing service system capable of efficient distribution as a result.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an information receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information separation processing unit and an FP processing unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an FP processing unit related to a second modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation related to a second modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information receiving apparatus 1 according to a third modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an information separation processing unit related to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an FP processing unit and a decoding unit according to a first modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information receiving apparatus (user) 2 ... Information transmission system (information provider) 3 ... Communication medium (computer network, digital broadcasting network) 4 ... Receiving interface 5 ... Descrambler 6 ... Information separation processing part (filter apparatus, extraction means) 7: FP processing unit (data embedding processing unit) 8: decoding unit 9: output unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An information receiving apparatus for receiving information transmitted from the outside, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the information transmitted from the outside; and a program included in the information received by the receiving unit. Extracting means for extracting a program used for concealing and embedding reproducible specific information in designated information; and receiving means using the program extracted by the extracting means. And a data embedding means for embedding the specific information in specified information included in the information received by the method and outputting the information. 2. An information receiving apparatus for receiving information transmitted from the outside, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving the information transmitted from the outside; and a program included in the information received by the receiving unit. Extracting means for extracting a program used for concealing and embedding reproducible specific information in designated information; and receiving means using the program extracted by the extracting means. Data embedding processing means for embedding the specific information in specified information included in the information received by and outputting the information, and output means for executing predetermined output processing on the information output from the data embedding processing means. An information receiving device comprising: 3. The information transmitted from the outside includes content information that can be reproduced and output, and the program, and the extracting unit is configured to determine the content information based on identification information for identifying the content information. 3. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to output a program associated with the content information separately from information received by the receiving unit. 4. The data embedding processing means has a memory means for loading a program extracted by the extracting means, and the content information included in the information received by the receiving means based on an algorithm of the program. inside,
3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising means for executing data hiding processing, watermarking processing, or finger print processing for concealing embedding of reproducible and identifiable specific information. Item 5. The information receiving device according to any one of Items 3. 5. The data embedding processing means has a memory means for storing a plurality of types of programs transmitted from the outside, and identification information for identifying content information included in information received by the receiving means. 3. The information according to claim 1, further comprising means for embedding the specific information by retrieving and using a program associated with the content information from the memory means based on the information. Receiver. 6. The information transmitted from the outside includes content information which can be used by an image output and an audio output and is encoded by a predetermined multimedia encoding method. Means for executing a decoding process based on the multimedia encoding method on the content information output from the means, and executing signal processing required for image output or audio output on the decoded content information. 6. The information receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information receiving apparatus has: 7. The information transmitted from the outside is an information stream according to a predetermined synchronization and multiplexing specification transmitted through a computer network, a digital communication line or a digital broadcasting network, and the receiving means is a computer network. And an interface for connecting to a digital communication line or a digital broadcasting network.
The information receiving device according to any one of claims 3, 4, 5, and 6. 8. An externally transmitted information is received, and available content information included in the information is output-processed according to a reproduction output form, and reproducible and identifiable specific information is included in the content information. An information embedding method applied to an information receiving apparatus having a function of performing concealment embedding processing, comprising: an extraction process for extracting a program used for the embedding process from information transmitted from outside; A storage process in which the program extracted by the above is stored in a memory unit in association with identification information for identifying the content information; and the content information is stored in the memory unit by using the program stored in the memory unit by the storage process. Embedded embedding processing for concealingly embedding the specific information in the information. Inset processing method. 9. Receiving information transmitted from the outside, outputs available content information included in the information in accordance with a reproduction output form, and includes reproducible and identifiable specific information in the content information. An information embedding method applied to an information receiving apparatus having a function of performing concealment embedding processing, comprising: an extraction process for extracting a program used for the embedding process from information transmitted from outside; A storage process of storing a plurality of types of programs extracted in accordance with identification information for identifying content information in a memory unit, and storing a program associated with content information based on the identification information in the memory Using a program retrieved from the memory means by the retrieval process. To, information embedding processing method characterized by comprising the concealment manner embedding process for embedding the specified information into the content information.