KR100467927B1 - Watermark embedding and verifying method using bar-code for preventing forgery of document or goods and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a watermark insertion and detection method using a bar code and an apparatus thereof to prevent forgery of a document or an article.

When the watermark is inserted, the barcode is read to convert the barcode information into a watermark key value, a watermark is generated by the converted watermark key, and the generated watermark is inserted into the barcode. When the watermark is detected, the barcode is read to convert the barcode information into a watermark key value, and the converted watermark key value is compared with the watermark key value inserted into the barcode to determine whether the forgery is forged.

In addition, a watermark generated from barcode information may be inserted into the article itself, or a method of embedding both the barcode and the article may be used.

According to the present invention, by inserting a watermark into a symbol structure such as a barcode or a logo, it is possible to prevent leakage or forgery of a document or article, and to prevent forgery of the barcode itself, and by generating a watermark key using information of the barcode. There is no need to use a separate watermark key.

Description

WATERMARK EMBEDDING AND VERIFYING METHOD USING BAR-CODE FOR PREVENTING FORGERY OF DOCUMENT OR GOODS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR}

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inserting and detecting a watermark using a barcode to prevent forgery of a document or article, and more particularly, to generate and generate a watermark key using a symbol structure such as a barcode or a logo. A watermark insertion and detection method for preventing forgery and alteration by inserting a watermark into a document or article.

All digital works can easily make the same copy or modified version without the permission of the copyright holder, and various techniques are being tried to prevent illegal copying and distribution of digital works.

One of these technologies, watermarking technology, inserts information that can be identified only by the copyright holder into various digital works such as images, audio, and video, and extracts the copyright holder hidden in the copyrighted work when unauthorized use or distribution is performed without the permission of the copyright holder. It is a technique to determine the authenticity.

Existing watermarking technologies have the advantage of protecting copyright information by concealing and inserting information about the content without the user's knowledge, but only if the user knows his own key about watermarking. The certification of contents or documents was possible, and the scope of use was limited to digital contents or similar documents, tickets, coupons and gift certificates, or passports and cards, and it was difficult to apply them to various kinds of goods.

In addition, the conventional barcode is a system that is widely used in all industries, the advantage of improving the management efficiency and easily know the information about the goods by inserting the symbol using a simple symbol structure, but the barcode is visually exposed Since the method of attaching or printing on the article has a problem that it is difficult to check the forgery of the barcode.

In addition, as the use range of barcodes increases, barcodes are used to classify not only existing articles but also items that need safety or security such as important documents or nuclear wastes used in public offices. Therefore, forgery of the barcode may cause a serious problem as the range of use of the barcode is extended. This is possible because simply swapping with another barcode results in the contents of the barcode being tampered with.

For example, if someone changes the barcode of an item to tamper with relevant information such as price, or if someone wants to forge a barcode with a Class 5 secret document or information and falsifies the barcode, Could only be verified by the experience of the person in charge or the worker or by comparison with the account book.

The present invention is to solve the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to prevent leakage or forgery of the document or article by inserting a watermark in a symbol structure such as a barcode or a logo.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent forgery of the barcode or document itself as well as forgery of the document or article.

Another object of the present invention is to generate a watermark key using the information of the bar code so that it is not necessary to use a separate watermark key.

1 is a diagram illustrating a watermark embedding process using a barcode according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view for explaining a watermark detection process using a barcode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a watermark embedding process using a barcode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating a watermark detection process using a barcode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating a watermark embedding process using a barcode according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view for explaining a watermark detection process using a barcode according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: watermark insertion device 102: watermark detection device

110: Document 120: Barcode Generator

130: barcode 140: barcode reader

150a, 150b: key converter 160: watermark insertion unit

170: barcode with watermark 180: document with barcode

190: watermark detection unit

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of inserting a watermark using a symbol structure to be attached to an article in order to prevent forgery of the article, the method comprising: (a) generating a symbol structure according to the information of the article; step; (b) reading the symbol structure and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And (c) generating a watermark from the watermark key and inserting the generated watermark into a symbol structure.

In order to achieve another object of the present invention, the present invention provides a method for inserting a watermark using a symbol structure attached to the article to prevent forgery of the article, by reading the symbol structure attached to the article symbol information Converting to a watermark key value; And generating a watermark by using the watermark key, and inserting the generated watermark into an article.

In order to achieve another object of the present invention, the present invention is a watermark detection method for detecting whether the forgery of the article with a watermark embedded symbol structure, the watermark embedded symbol structure to read and read Converting the extracted symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And by detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the symbol structure match, if the match is found, the symbol structure is not forged, and if it does not match, the symbol structure is forged. It provides a watermark detection method comprising the step of.

In order to achieve another object of the present invention, the present invention provides a watermark detection method for detecting the forgery of an article having a watermark inserted therein, the symbol structure information is read by reading the symbol structure attached to the article Converting to a mark key value; And determining whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information coincides with the key value of the watermark inserted in the item, and if not, determining that the item is not forged, and if not, determining that the item is forged. It provides a watermark detection method comprising.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The first embodiment is characterized by embedding a watermark in the barcode itself.

1 is a diagram illustrating a watermark embedding process using a barcode according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the watermark inserting apparatus 100 includes a barcode generator 120 for generating a barcode according to information of a document, and a barcode reader 140 for reading a barcode and converting the barcode into information such as a series of numbers or letters. And a key converter 150a for converting the information converted from the barcode into a watermark key, and a watermark inserting unit 160 for inserting the watermark into the barcode by the watermark key.

The barcode generator 120 generates a barcode 130 according to the information content and the grade of the input document 110. The barcode 130 may be a one-dimensional barcode, a two-dimensional barcode, a color code, a continuous or discontinuous barcode, or the like.

The barcode reader 140 reads the barcode 130 and converts the barcode information into information such as a series of numbers or letters. The converted barcode information is converted into a watermark key by the key converter 150a.

The watermark inserting unit 160 generates a watermark by the watermark key input from the key converter 150a, and inserts the generated watermark into the barcode 130. As a result, a barcode 170 in which a watermark is inserted is made, and the barcode 170 in which the watermark is inserted is inserted into a document, thereby creating a document 180 having a barcode in which a watermark is inserted for preventing forgery and alteration. Thus, the process of embedding the watermark in the barcode is terminated.

2 is a view for explaining a watermark detection process using a barcode according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the watermark detection apparatus 120 converts the information obtained by reading the barcode into a watermark key value and a watermark key value input from the key converter 150b to the barcode. And a watermark detection unit 190 for detecting whether or not the key value of the inserted watermark matches.

The key converter 150b reads the barcode 170 with the watermark embedded therein and converts it to the watermark key value through the read information. This process is the same as the watermark key conversion process in the key converter 150a in FIG. 1 and is independent of the watermark embedded in the barcode 170.

The watermark detection unit 190 detects whether the watermark key value input from the key converter 150b matches the key value of the watermark inserted into the barcode 170. If they coincide with each other, the barcode 170 is judged not to be forged, and if they are inconsistent with each other, the barcode 170 is judged to be forged or modulated, whereby the process of detecting the forgery of the barcode from the barcode with the watermark inserted is Quit.

As described above, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect whether the barcode is forged in the document. In addition, the watermark key used in the watermark insertion and detection process uses the information of the barcode, so that the original watermark or the unique watermark value should be known in the watermark detection process as in the conventional watermarking method. There is no need.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment is characterized by embedding a watermark in the document itself.

Referring to FIG. 3, the watermark embedding apparatus 200 inserts a watermark into a document by means of a key converter 230a for converting information obtained by reading a barcode into a watermark key value and a watermark key. The unit 160 is configured.

The key converter 230a reads the bar code 220 from the document 210 including the bar code, converts the bar code information into a series of numbers or letters, and converts the bar code information into a watermark key.

The watermark inserting unit 240 generates a watermark by the watermark key input from the key converter 230a, and inserts the generated watermark into the document 210 itself. Therefore, unlike the first embodiment, a forgery prevention document in which a watermark is inserted into the document 210, which is not a barcode, is created, thereby ending the process of inserting the watermark into the document.

4 is a diagram illustrating a watermark detection process using a barcode according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 4, the watermark detection device 202 converts the information obtained by reading the barcode into a watermark key value and a watermark key value input from the key converter 230b to the document. The watermark detection unit 190 detects whether or not the key value of the inserted watermark matches.

The key converter 230b reads the barcode 170 and converts it into a watermark key value through the read information. This process is the same as the watermark key conversion process in the key converter 230a in FIG.

The watermark detection unit 190 detects whether the watermark key value input from the key converter 230b matches the key value of the watermark inserted into the document 250. If they coincide with each other, the document 170 is judged not to be forged, and if they are inconsistent with each other, the document 170 is judged to be forged or forged, and thus the process of detecting forgery of the document in which the watermark is inserted is terminated. .

As described above, in the second embodiment, whether the document itself is forged or not can be detected. In addition, as in the first embodiment, the watermark key used in the insertion and detection of the watermark uses information of a barcode, so that the original watermark or the original watermark is unique as in the conventional watermarking method in the watermark detection process. There is no need to know the watermark value.

Finally, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment includes both the methods of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and is characterized by embedding a watermark in both the document and the barcode. In the description of the third embodiment, portions overlapping with those of the first and second embodiments will be briefly described.

5 is a diagram illustrating a watermark embedding process using a barcode according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The barcode generator 320 generates a barcode 330 according to the information content and grade of the input document 310. The barcode reader 340 reads the barcode 330 and converts the barcode information into a series of numbers or letters, and the converted barcode information is converted into a watermark key by the key converter 350a.

The watermark inserting unit 360 generates a watermark by the watermark key input from the key converter 350a, and inserts the generated watermark into the barcode 330. As a result, a barcode 370 having a watermark embedded therein is created, and the barcode 370 having the watermark embedded therein is inserted into a document, thereby inserting a watermark for the barcode.

Next, the key converter 350b reads the barcode 370 in which the watermark is inserted from the document 380, converts the barcode information into information such as a series of numbers or letters, and converts it into a watermark key.

The watermark inserting unit 360b generates a watermark by the watermark key input from the key converter 350b, and inserts the generated watermark into the document 380 itself, thereby inserting a watermark for the document. .

Thus, the watermark embedding process of embedding the watermark in both the barcode and the document is finished.

6 is a view for explaining a watermark detection process using a barcode according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The key converter 350c reads the barcode 370 in which the watermark is inserted and converts it into a watermark key value through the read information. The watermark key generated by the key converter 350c is input to both the first watermark detection unit 392a and the second watermark detection unit 392b.

The first watermark detection unit 392a detects whether the watermark key value input from the key converter 350c matches the key value of the watermark inserted in the barcode 370. If they coincide with each other, the barcode 170 is determined not to be forged, and if they are inconsistent with each other, the barcode 170 is determined to be forged or modulated.

The second watermark detection unit 190 detects whether the watermark key value input from the key converter 350c matches the key value of the watermark inserted in the document 390. If they coincide with each other, the document 390 is determined not to be forged, and if they are inconsistent with each other, the document 390 is determined to be forged or forged.

As a result, the watermark is inserted into both the barcode and the document, and the process of detecting forgery and alteration of both the barcode and the document is finished. Thus, according to the third embodiment, by using both the methods of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a stronger document for preventing forgery and alteration can be produced.

In the above embodiments, the document has been described as an example of preventing forgery and alteration, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to all articles containing information that can be converted into a watermark key.

In addition, although the bar code is used as a source for generating a watermark key in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to any symbol structure that can be converted into a watermark key such as a logo other than the bar code.

Accordingly, the above embodiments are used for illustration and those skilled in the art may make various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, by inserting a watermark into a symbol structure such as a barcode or a logo, it is possible to prevent leakage or forgery of a document or an article and to prevent forgery of the barcode itself.

In addition, it is not necessary to use a separate watermark key by generating a watermark key using information of a barcode.

Claims (19)

A method of inserting a watermark using a symbol structure to be attached to an article to prevent forgery of the article, (a) generating the symbol structure according to the information possessed by the article; (b) reading the symbol structure and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And (c) generating a watermark using the watermark key, and inserting the generated watermark into the symbol structure. The method of claim 1, And (b) reading the symbol structure, converting the symbol structure information into a series of numbers or letters, and converting the converted information into a watermark key value. The method of claim 1, After step (c), (d) attaching the symbol structure containing the watermark to the article; (e) reading the symbol structure attached to the article and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And (f) generating a watermark using the watermark key, and inserting the generated watermark into the article. A method of inserting a watermark using a symbol structure attached to an article to prevent forgery of the article, Reading a symbol structure attached to the article and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And Generating a watermark using the watermark key, and inserting the generated watermark into the article. A watermark detection method for detecting whether a forgery of an article having a symbol structure having a watermark inserted therein is provided. Reading the symbol structure embedded with the watermark and converting the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the symbol structure coincide, it is determined that the symbol structure is not forged if matched, and the symbol structure is forgery if it does not match. Watermark detection method comprising the step of determining that the. In the watermark detection method for detecting whether the forgery of the watermark inserted article, Reading a symbol structure attached to the article and converting the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the article coincide, it is determined that the article is not forged if it matches, and the article is forged if it does not match. Watermark detection method comprising the step of. In the watermark detection method for detecting whether the forgery of the article and the symbol structure after the watermark is inserted into the article and the symbol structure attached to the article, respectively, Reading the symbol structure embedded with the watermark and converting the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the symbol structure coincide, it is determined that the symbol structure is not forged if matched, and the symbol structure is forgery if it does not match. Determining that it has been done; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the article coincide, it is determined that the article is not forged if it matches, and the article is forged if it does not match. Watermark detection method comprising the step of. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The symbol structure is a watermark embedding method, characterized in that the barcode. The method of claim 8, The barcode is a watermark embedding method, characterized in that one of the one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional barcode, color code, continuous barcode and discontinuous barcode. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, And the article is a document. A symbol structure generator for generating a symbol structure according to the information possessed by the article; A key converter for reading the symbol structure and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And And a first watermark inserting unit generating a watermark by the watermark key and inserting the generated watermark into the symbol structure. The method of claim 11, wherein And a second watermark inserting unit for generating a watermark by the watermark key and inserting the generated watermark into the article. A key converter for reading a symbol structure attached to an article and converting the symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And And a watermark inserting unit for generating a watermark by using the watermark key and inserting the generated watermark into the article. A watermark detection apparatus for detecting whether a forgery of an article having a symbol structure having a watermark inserted therein is provided. A key converter which reads the symbol structure into which the watermark is inserted and converts the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the symbol structure coincide, it is determined that the symbol structure is not forged if matched, and the symbol structure is forgery if it does not match. A watermark detection apparatus comprising a watermark detection unit judged to be. In the watermark detection device for detecting whether the forgery of the watermark inserted article, A key converter for reading a symbol structure attached to the article and converting the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the article coincide, it is determined that the article is not forged if it matches, and the article is forged if it does not match. Watermark detection device comprising a watermark detection unit. In the watermark detection apparatus for detecting whether the forgery of the article and the symbol structure after the watermark is inserted into the article and the symbol structure attached to the article, respectively, A key converter which reads the symbol structure into which the watermark is inserted and converts the read symbol structure information into a watermark key value; By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the symbol structure coincide, it is determined that the symbol structure is not forged if matched, and the symbol structure is forgery if it does not match. A first watermark detection unit that judges that it has been made; And By detecting whether the watermark key value converted from the symbol structure information and the key value of the watermark inserted into the article coincide, it is determined that the article is not forged if it matches, and the article is forged if it does not match. And a second watermark detection unit. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, And said symbol structure is a barcode. The method of claim 17, The barcode is a watermark embedding apparatus, characterized in that one of the one-dimensional barcode, two-dimensional barcode, color code, continuous barcode and discontinuous barcode. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, And the article is a document.