Method for monitoring internet dissemination of image, video, and/or audio files

• US 20020186887A1
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/232
• 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 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 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• 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 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0057 Compression invariant watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• 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 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 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• 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 1/32149 : Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32154 : Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• 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 1/32229 : with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence
• 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 1/32299 : using more than one embedding method
• 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 1/34 : for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• 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 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44236 : Monitoring of piracy processes or activities protecting computer platforms against harmful, malicious or unexpected behaviour or activities using intrusion detection and counter measures G06F21/566; computer virus detection and handling G06F21/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• 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 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• 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 2201/323 : for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• 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 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3284 : for error correction
• 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

Abstract

An automated monitoring service downloads image files (including, e.g, graphic and video files) and audio files from various Internet sites, and checks these files for the presence of embedded digital watermark data. When found, such data is decoded and used to identify the proprietor of each watermarked file. The proprietors are alerted to the results of the monitoring operation, often apprising such proprietors of unknown distribution of their image/video/audio properties. Digital watermarks carry control flags used to control viewing or playback depending on content classification.

Claims

1. A controller for controlling displaying on a display means of received video or image data which has been encoded with invisible digital watermarks integrated within the received video or image data and representing a content classification for the video or image data, the controller having connections for connecting to a display means and for connecting to a data receiver or data reading apparatus, the controller comprising:

means for detecting digital watermarks integrated within the received video or image data, said received video or image data representing content for display,

means for decoding the digital watermarks to obtain content classification information, and

means for controlling the displaying of said video or image data in response to the content classification information obtained from the watermarks.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the displaying of said video or image data includes means for comparing the decoded content classification information with codes stored at the controller representing classes of video or image data which are not to be displayed, and means for automatically preventing display of said video or image data in a viewable form in response to identifying a match between the decoded content classification information and one of said stored codes.

3. A controller according to claim 2, including means for end user selection of the codes which the controller is responsive to for preventing display of video or image data

4. A controller according to claim 2, wherein said means for preventing display includes an overlay buffer connectable to a display buffer of the display means in response to identifying said data as being of a class prohibited from display, and means for setting said overlay buffer with data for producing a blank image on the display means.

5. A controller according to claim 1, which is adapted for connection as an integral component of a television set and/or a personal computer.

6. A method of controlling displaying on a display means of video or image data received by a controller connected to the display means and connected for receiving data from a data receiver apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

in response to video or image data being transmitted to the data receiver apparatus from a data transmission apparatus, said video or image data representing content for display, said video or image data having been encoded with an invisible digital watermark integrated within the video or image data, the digital watermark representing a content classification for said video or image data, providing said video or image data as an input to the controller;

decoding the digital watermark and comparing content classification information obtained thereby with stored classification information identifying classes of video or image data which are not to be displayed; and

controlling displaying on a display means of the video or image data in dependence on the content classification information obtained from the digital watermark.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said controlling of displaying comprises automatically preventing displaying when said content classification data identifies the data as being of a class which is not to be displayed.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said encoding includes the step of generating a decoder key for use in said decoding, the decoder key being transmitted to the data receiver apparatus in association with said video or image data.

9. A method of encoding video or image material with content classification information, comprising:

analyzing the video or image material to determine a content classification;

encoding an invisible digital watermark within a displayable data portion of the video or image material, the invisible digital watermark integrated within the video or image data and representative of said content classification, for use by a video or image display controller having means for detecting said watermarks integrated within said displayable data portion of the video or image material, means for decoding said digital watermarks to obtain content classification information, and means for controlling displaying of said video or image material in response to the obtained content classification information.

10. A video and/or image data display system for controlled display of video or image data which has been encoded with invisible digital watermarks integrated within the video or image data and representing a content classification for the video or image data, comprising:

a receiver for receiving transmitted video or image data;

a display means for displaying the video or image data; and

a controller connected between said receiver and said display means, including means for detecting digital watermarks integrated within displayable content of received video or image data, means for decoding the watermarks to obtain content classification information, and means for controlling displaying of the video or image data in response to the content classification information obtained from the watermarks

11. A computer system having integrated therein a controller for controlling displaying on a display means connected to the computer of received video or image data which has been encoded with invisible digital watermarks integrated within the received video or image data and representing a content classification for the video or image data, the controller comprising.

means for detecting said digital watermarks integrated within displayable content of the received video or image data;

means for decoding said watermarks to obtain content classification information; and

means for controlling the displaying of said video or image data on said display means in response to the content classification information obtained from said watermarks.