COMPUTER FOR THE ADDITION OF ELECTRONIC WATERMARKS

Abstract: A computer comprises a data storage device (2) for storing files of information, at least one software application (4, 5, 6), an operating system (3) between the data storage device (2) and the or each application, and encoding means (7) to encode file information delivered to the or each application by the operating system.

Description: COMPUTERFORTHEADDITION OF ELECTRONICWATERMARKS The present invention relates to a computer which marks digital images, particularly for tracing unauthorised use thereof . Many organisations store a bank of images digitally which can be accessed by third parties, for example through the Internet. An example of such organisations are libraries with pictures stored digitally in a data bank which can then be distributed to third parties in digital form through the Internet. Whilst a third party may be made to pay for the use of a digital image, once in the hands of a third party, that third party can sell it on without authority. In recent years it has been known to encode digital images with what is known as a digital "watermark" onto the image. This watermark may include, inter alia, a code which identifies the owner of the picture and/or details of the recipient. If the digital image is converted into a printed form (such as a picture in a brochure), the watermark is not normally visible, but if that printed picture is scanned back into a digital form, the watermark can be located. The picture can thus be marked with the name of its owner and the name and other details about a recipient, and this can help establish if its use is unauthorised. A marking system is described in co-pending application no... (Agent's file P1187pct)... This problem extends beyond misuse of pictures, and applies to all kinds of other digital images such as text, audio, video and the like. Software/hardware systems which create watermarks on digital images normally involve integration with a software application. For example if it is desired to watermark a text image, it may be necessary to integrate the watermark software/hardware system with a word processing application. There are many applications creating digital images and integrating the watermark software/hardware systems with them can be very time consuming for a software engineer. The invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem. According to the present invention there is provided a computer comprising: a) a data storage device storing files of information, b) at least one software application, c) an operating system between the data storage device and the or each application, and d) encoding means to encode file information delivered to the or each application by the operating system. The data storage device may be a hard disc drive or CD, The data storage device may be remote from the computer. Preferably, when file information is called from the data storage device by an application, a copy of the file information is produced which is encoded by the encoding means which encoded copy of file information is delivered to the application. A copy of the file information may be produced by the data storage means. Preferably the encoding means includes an encoding application. Preferably the encoding means includes a device driver between the operating system and the or each application, which instructs the encoding application to encode file information delivered to the or each application system. Preferably the computer includes a memory means to record information relating to information delivered to the or each application from the data storage device. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic diagram. Referring to the drawing there is shown a computer 1, having a data storage device in the form of a hard disc 2 for storing files of information. The hard disc has a main memory 2A for storing most files, a temporary memory 2B, and a memory means in the form of a transfer memory 2C. Disc 2 is controlled by an operating system 3. A number of software applications 4, 5 and 6 access the files in the disc 2, which files are delivered by the operating system 3 to the applications 4, 5 and 6. An encoding means is provided by a device driver 7 with an encoding watermark application 8 to encode file information delivered to each application by the operating system 3. The computer operates as follows. When file information is requested from the main memory 2A by an application, a copy of the file information is produced in temporary file 2B. This copy is encoded by the watermark application, which encoded copy of file information is delivered to the application. Transfer memory 2C records information relating to information delivered to the or each application system from the data storage device. The watermarking of files by the encoding means allows files to be traced. As the watermarking takes place at the operating system level of the computer, no integration of the watermarking software with each application is required. The computer of the invention may be used in a system for marking digital images, such a pictures, as described in application no.. (Agent's file P1187PCT) . In that system the digital images may be transferred to recipients through the internet. The computer may also be used however in other applications where for example the computer is wired to a number of terminals, e.g. at a common site. The transfer memory may be useful not only in keeping a record of all files which have been watermarked, but also in the number of times files are accessed by such terminals. Whilst the storage means shown in the drawing is shown as part of the computer, it could be remote from the operating system and could be other than a disc drive. The applications may be of any type such as those handling text, video, audio, or picture images. The file information may be of any type such as text, video, audio, picture images or software, and the encoding means may perform any operation of which digital watermarking is but one example. The watermark may take any desired form and could be a complex or simple encoding. If desired the device driver could supply the encoding without the need for a separate watermark application.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A computer comprising a data storage device storing files of information, at least one software application, an operating system between the data storage device and the or each application, and encoding means to encode file information delivered to the or each application by the operating system. 2. A computer as claimed in claim 1 , in which the data storage device may be a hard disc drive or CD. 3. A computer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 , in which the data storage device is remote from the computer. 4. A computer as claimed in any preceding claim, in which, when file information is called from the data storage device by an application, a copy of the file information is produced which is encoded by the encoding means which encoded copy of file information is delivered to the application. 5. A computer as claimed in claim 4, in which a copy of the file information is produced by the data storage means. 6. A computer as claimed in any preceding claim 1, in which the encoding means includes an encoding application. 7. A computer as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the encoding means includes a device driver between the operating system and the or each application, which instructs the encoding application to encode file information delivered to the or each application system. 8. A computer as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the computer includes a memory means to record information relating to information delivered to the or each application from the data storage device.

Inventors: HALL MARTIN HAROLD, HALL, MARTIN, HAROLD
Applicants: HALL MARTIN HAROLD, HALL, MARTIN, HAROLD
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06F1
IPC codes: G06F1, G06F21, G06T1