Watermark enabled video objects

• US 20020090114A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., McKinley, Tyler J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,050,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/333 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• 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: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0053 Embedding of the watermark in the coding stream, possibly without decoding; Embedding of the watermark in the compressed domain
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 : using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• 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 20/00884 : involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/20 : using video object coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 : characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• 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 21/8358 : 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 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 : of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Watermarks in video signals or the accompanying audio track are used to associate video objects in a video sequence with object specific actions or information. A video object refers to a spatial and temporal portion of a video signal that depicts a recognizable object, such as a character, prop, graphic, etc. Each frame of a video signal may have one or more video objects. The auxiliary information is embedded in video or audio signals using “steganographic” methods, such as digital watermarks. By encoding object specific information into video or an accompanying audio track, the watermarks transform video objects into “watermark enabled” video objects that provide information, actions or links to additional information or actions during playback of a video or audiovisual program. A similar concept may be applied to audio objects, i.e. portions of audio that are attributable to a particular speaker, character, instrument, artist, etc.

Claims

1. A method of encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising:

steganographically encoding object information about the video object into the video signal; and

associating the object information with an action, where the action is performed in response to user selection of the video object through a user interface while the video signal is playing.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the video signal is steganographically encoded with at least two identifiers, each identifier corresponding to distinct video objects in frames of the video signal, and each identifier being associated with actions relating to the corresponding video objects.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the object information is encoded in a watermark signal that covers a portion of screen area of frames in the video signal where the video object is located.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein object information for at least two different video objects in the video signal is steganographically encoded in different portions of frames of the video signals where the corresponding video objects are located.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the object information includes a screen location information indicating where the video object is located in the video signal.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein object information is encoded for at least two different video objects in the video signal, and the object information includes location information indicating where the video objects are located in the video signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the object information is encoded in a prerecorded video object, which forms part of the video signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the pre-recorded video object is composited with video frames to form the video signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the pre-recorded video object is composited with at least one other video object to form the video signal, where the video objects are each steganographically encoded with object specific information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the video object is encoded with the object information as part of a process of capturing the video signal of physical objects, and the object information pertains to the physical objects captured in the video signal.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the object information is encoded as part of a process of capturing the video signal during a live broadcast or transmission of the video signal.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein object information is encoded for at least two different video objects depicted in frames of the video signal.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein object information is encoded for at least two different video objects such that the object information is synchronized with corresponding video objects depicted in the video signal during playback.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the video signal includes watermark information for at least two different video objects in the video signal, and the watermark information associates the video objects with object actions or information.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the audio track includes watermark information for at least two different video objects appearing in the same frames of the video signal, and the watermark information associates the video objects with object specific actions or information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the watermark is operable to link a corresponding video object to an action or information when a user selects the video object during playback of the video sequence.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the encoder encodes a video object with a watermark and composites the encoded video object with another video signal to create the video sequence.

14. A method for using a watermark encoded into a video signal or in an audio track accompanying the video signal, where the watermark comprises information regarding a video object in the video signal, the method comprising:

decoding the watermark information;

receiving a user selection of the video object; and

executing an action associated with the video object information.

17. A system for creating watermark enabled video objects comprising:

an encoder for encoding a watermark in a video sequence or accompanying audio track corresponding to a video object or objects in the video sequence; and

a database system for associating the watermark with an action or information such that the watermark is operable to link the video object or objects to a related action or information during playback of the video sequence.

20. A system for processing a watermark enabled video object in a video signal comprising:

a watermark decoder for decoding a watermark carrying object specific information from the video signal and linking object specific information to an action or information; and

a rendering system for rendering the action or information.

21. The system of claim 20 including a user interface for enabling a user to select a watermark enabled video object during playback of the video signal.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the user interface includes the rendering system for rendering the action or information of the selected video object.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the user interface is in a separate device from the watermark decoder.

24. The system of claim 20 including a network interface for communicating information decoded from a watermark to a remote device, which in response to the information, links the information to an action or additional information about a video object.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the object specific information includes an identifier and screen location of the video object.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the object specific information includes information for at least two different video objects.

25. A method for encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into an audio track of a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising:

steganographically encoding object specific information about the video object into the audio track; and

associating the object specific information with an action, where the action is performed in response to user selection of the video object through a user interface while the video signal is playing.