Watermarking to set video usage permissions

• US 20030007664A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F., Davis, Bruce L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking

Abstract

A digital watermark in video includes a plural-bit payload that sets different permissions governing usage of the video. One bit, for example, may flag whether fast-forwarding of the video is permitted. Another may flag whether storage in non-encrypted form is permitted. A compliant video appliance governs its actions in accordance with such flag data provided by a video watermark detector.

Claims

1. A method of controlling use of video, comprising:

sensing an in-band video watermark in the video;

if the watermark includes a first flag, permitting pausing of the video, and if the watermark does not includes said first flag, not permitting pausing of the video.

2. The method of claim 1 that includes checking out-of-band data sent with the video to determine whether pausing should be permitted, and relying on said in-band video watermark flag secondarily.

3. A method of controlling use of video, comprising:

sensing an in-band video watermark in the video;

if the watermark includes a first flag, permitting rewinding of the video, and if the watermark does not includes said first flag, not permitting rewinding of the video.

4. The method of claim 3 that includes checking out-of-band data sent with the video to determine whether rewinding should be permitted, and relying on said in-band video watermark flag secondarily.

5. A method of controlling use of video, comprising:

sensing an in-band video watermark in the video;

if the watermark includes a first flag, permitting fast-forwarding of the video, and if the watermark does not includes said first flag, not permitting fast-forwarding of the video.

6. The method of claim 5 that includes checking out-of-band data sent with the video to determine whether fast-forwarding should be permitted, and relying on said in-band video watermark flag secondarily.

7. The method of claim 5 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting non-encrypted storage of the video, and if the watermark does not include said second flag, not permitting non-encrypted storage of the video.

8. The method of claim 5 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting storage of the video only on a first type of medium, and if the watermark does not includes said second flag, not limiting storage of the video to said first type of medium.

9. A method of controlling use of video, comprising:

sensing an in-band video watermark in the video;

if the watermark includes a first flag, permitting non-encrypted storage of the video, and if the watermark does not includes said first flag, not permitting non-encrypted storage of the video.

10. The method of claim 9 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting fast-forwarding of the video, and if the watermark does not include said second flag, not permitting fast-forwarding of the video.

11. The method of claim 9 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting storage of the video only on a first type of medium, and if the watermark does not includes said second flag, not limiting storage of the video to said first type of medium.

13. The method of claim 12 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting fast-forwarding of the video, and if the watermark does not include said second flag, not permitting fast-forwarding of the video.

14. The method of claim 12 that includes:

if the watermark includes a second flag, permitting non-encrypted storage of the video, and if the watermark does not include said second flag, not permitting non-encrypted storage of the video.

12. A method of controlling use of video, comprising:

sensing an in-band video watermark in the video;

if the watermark includes a first flag, permitting storage of the video only on a first type of medium, and if the watermark does not includes said first flag, not limiting storage of the video to said first type of medium.