Additional information transmission method, additional information transmission system, information signal output apparatus, information signal processing apparatus, information signal recording apparatus and information signal recording medium

An information signal output apparatus characterized by comprising:

• pattern generation means for generating a superimposition/non-superimposition pattern consisting of a preset combination of a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal and said period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed on said information signal, for transmitting first additional information on said information signal by said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern;
• indication signal generation means for generating an indication signal for indicating superimposition/non-superimposition for transmitting second additional information on said information signal such that one of values of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal and that the other value of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed on said information signal;
• and
• superimposition means for superimposing the electronic watermark information by generating the period in which the electronic watermark information for transmitting said first additional information is superimposed on said information signal and said period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed on said information signal based on said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern from said pattern generation means, and for superimposing the electronic watermark information by generating the period in which electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information is superimposed on said information signal and the period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed on said information signal based on said indication signal from said indication signal generation means.

An information signal processing apparatus for processing an information signal wherein first additional information on the information signal is transmitted by superimposition/non-superimposition pattern consisting of a preset combination of a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on the information signal and said period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed and second additional information on said information signal is transmitted such that one of values of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal and the other value of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed, characterized by comprising:

• first electronic watermark information detection means for detecting said electronic watermark information superimposed in said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern on said information signal;
• processing apparatus-side pattern generation means for generating said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern;
• pattern discrimination means for discriminating said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern of said electronic watermark information superimposed on said information signal based on detection output from said first electronic watermark detection means and on said superimposition/non-superimposition pattern from said processing apparatus-side pattern generation means;
• second electronic watermark information detection means for detecting the electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information;
• and
• second additional information detection means for discriminating the period in which the electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information superimposed on said information signal is superimposed and the period in which the electronic watermark information is not superimposed on said information signal based on detection output from said second additional information detection means, and for detecting said second additional information.

An information signal output apparatus characterized by comprising:

• pattern generation means for generating a reversal/non-reversal pattern consisting of a preset combination of a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal as it is and said period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal, for transmitting first additional information on said information signal by said reversal/non-reversal pattern;
• indication signal generation means for generating an indication signal for indicating reversal/non-reversal for transmitting second additional information on said information signal such that one of values of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal as it is and that the other value of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal;
• and
• superimposition means for superimposing the electronic watermark information by generating the period in which the electronic watermark information for transmitting said first additional information is superimposed on said information signal as it is and said period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal based on said reversal/non-reversal pattern from said pattern generation means, and for superimposing the electronic watermark information by generating the period in which electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information is superimposed on said information signal as it is and the period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal based on said indication signal from said indication signal generation means.

An information signal processing apparatus for processing an information signal wherein first additional information on an information signal is transmitted by reversal/non-reversal pattern consisting of a preset combination of a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on the information signal as it is and said period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on the information signal, and second additional information on said information signal is transmitted such that one of values of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which electronic watermark information is superimposed on said information signal as it is and another one of values of one-bit information is expressed by a period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal, characterized by comprising:

• first electronic watermark information detection means for detecting said electronic watermark information superimposed in said reversal/non-reversal pattern on said information signal from said information signal output apparatus;
• processing apparatus-side pattern generation means for generating said reversal/non-reversal pattern;
• pattern discrimination means for discriminating said reversal/non-reversal pattern of said electronic watermark information superimposed on said information signal based on detection output from said first electronic watermark detection means and on said reversal/non-reversal pattern from said processing apparatus-side pattern generation means;
• second electronic watermark information detection means for detecting the electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information;
• and
• second additional information detection means for discriminating the period in which the electronic watermark information for transmitting said second additional information superimposed on said information signal is superimposed as it is and the period in which the electronic watermark information is reversed and superimposed on said information signal based on detection output from said second additional information detection means, and for detecting said second additional information.