Watermark communication and control systems

• US 20020066111A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Application Number:
  US10/002,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20020066111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0085 Time domain based watermarking, e.g. watermarks spread over several images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence

Abstract

An enhanced television system (e.g., ATVEF-based) conveys enhancement data using an in-band, video watermark, channel. The system desirably is implemented using a layered architecture, so that the watermark nature of the communications channel is transparent to other layers that employ the enhancement data. Due to the in-picture nature of the communications channel, systems employing the detailed technology are not subject to some of the compatibility issues that are present with prior art techniques.

Claims

1. An interactive video origination system employing a layered architecture, such system enhancing video content through associated computer data, one of said layers including a watermark encoder for in-band watermarking of the video content with said associated computer data.

2. An ATVEF-compliant system according to claim 1.

3. An interactive video consumer system employing a layered architecture, such system providing enhanced consumer experience through computer data associated with video content, one of said layers including a watermark decoder for decoding said computer data from in-band video content.

4. An ATVEF-compliant system according to claim 3.