Content serialization by varying content properties, including varying master copy watermark properties

• US 10,129,429 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Samtani, Rajan, Meyer, Joel R., Sharma, Ravi K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang, Tsan-Yu J
• Application Number:
  US12/245,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20090116686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,693 Days
• Field of Search: 705 51, 726 26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00869 wherein the remote server can deliver the content to a receiving device
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32299 using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

This disclosure describes novel methods for generating unique copies of content. One method combines the functions of the master copy and unique copy watermarks. In particular, the method generates a unique copy by varying the manner in which the master copy watermark is embedded in unique copies of a content item. In one embodiment, the master copy watermark is repeated within the content item and its location is varied in a unique pattern that comprises the unique copy watermark. The unique copy is generated by producing a copy in which master copy watermarks are embedded in a unique pattern. For instance in one embodiment, the locations of the master copy watermarks in the content item are represented as a vector of delta values in which each delta value corresponds to the distance between a corresponding instance of the master copy watermark, and a neighboring instance of the master copy watermark. This vector is stored in a transaction record in association with transaction information, such as information identifying the master copy and information associated with the unique copy. Other ways of representing the unique pattern of attributes of the master copy watermark are also possible. In other embodiments, properties of the master copy watermark other than its location are varied through the content. The unique copy watermark is conveyed in the vector of deltas in these properties of the master copy watermark. Some examples of these properties of the master copy watermark signal include phase characteristics (e.g., the phase shift of a watermark carrier signal), frequency magnitude characteristics, etc. These properties are varied in a manner that does not alter the information carried in the master copy watermark. However, it does provide a variation that creates a unique copy, and the unique copy watermark is conveyed in this variation. The variation in location of the instances of the master copy watermark can be in different domains, such as a spatial domain, a time domain, a time-space domain, a transform domain (including frequency transform domains), a compressed domain, etc.

Claims

1. A method of serializing a content item comprising:

analyzing a master copy of the content item stored in an electronic memory to determine parameters for embedding a master copy watermark in the content item, the master copy watermark conveying digital information within the content item that is common for copies of the content item; and

from a master copy of the content item stored in an electronic memory, generating a unique copy of the content item by altering the master copy watermark, the alterations forming a pattern that comprises a unique copy watermark, wherein the alterations comprise variations in embedding the master copy watermark; and

storing the unique copy in an electronic memory, the unique copy including the master copy watermark and the pattern comprising the unique copy watermark.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alterations comprise variations in a property of the master copy watermark that is embedded at locations in the content item.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the locations comprise frequency locations.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the locations comprise temporal locations.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the variations comprise removal of a component of the master copy watermark.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions, which, when executed by a computer, perform a method of serializing a content item comprising:

analyzing a master copy of the content item to determine parameters for embedding a master copy watermark, the master copy watermark conveying digital information that is common for copies of the content item; and

generating a unique copy of the content item from a master copy by altering the master copy watermark, the alterations forming a pattern that comprises a unique copy watermark, wherein the alterations comprise variations in embedding the master copy watermark.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6 wherein the alterations comprise variations in a property of the master copy watermark that is embedded at locations determined through analysis of the master copy of the content item.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the locations comprise frequency locations.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the locations comprise temporal locations.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the variations comprise removal of a component of the master copy watermark.