Watermark systems for media

• US 20030012548A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Perry, Burt W., Hannigan, Brett T., Seder, Phillip Andrew, Decker, Stephen K., Stager, Reed R., Aggson, Cynthia K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,843,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• 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

Abstract

A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for selectively incorporating promotional messages into rendered video content, monitoring whether promotional messages are rendered or skipped, permitting payment for content upon rendering rather than receipt, controlling rendering of video to include or omit adult-themed sections, confirming a person'"'"'s age by reference to a watermarked identification document, and watermarking digital cinema projections.

Claims

1. A method of incorporating advertisements into rendered video content, including the steps of sensing watermark data encoded in the video content, and triggering advertisement insertion based thereon.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the inserted advertisement is inserted from a personal video recorder (PVR) storage device.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the inserted advertisement is provided on an optical storage disk sent to a user.

4. The method of claim 1 that includes consulting a rule set to determine which advertisement to insert, based on one or more of the following parameters:

time, zip code data, user demographic data, data indicating advertisements previously shown, and data indicating subject matter of the video content.

5. A method of video content delivery, including providing video content having a digitally watermarked promotional message therein, and sensing same when rendered at a user device, wherein if the promotional message is skipped over, the failed sensing of the watermark serves to change the terms under which the content is provided.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the changed terms include assessing a charge for skipping the promotional message.

7. A method of video content delivery, including providing video content having plural digitally watermarked promotional messages therein, and sensing same when rendered at a user device, wherein sensing of one or more of said watermarked messages entitles a user to access other content or capabilities.

8. A method of video content delivery, including providing video content having a first digital watermark inserted during distribution thereof by a content delivery entity, and a second digital watermark earlier inserted by a different entity, wherein the second digital watermark permits user linking to connected content specified by said different entity, and the first digital watermark permits user linking to connected content specified by said delivery entity.

9. A method comprising:

receiving video content at a user device without paying a proprietor for the content;

rendering the video content for viewing;

detecting a digital watermark in the rendered video content; and

triggering a payment to said proprietor based on detection of the digital watermark during rendering.

10. A method comprising:

rendering video content to a user, the video content including promotional content integrated therein, rather than interrupting same;

receiving a signal from a user interaction device indicating selection of the promotional content;

in response to said selection, providing to said user additional promotional information related to the selected promotional content; and

providing the user a reward for receiving said additional promotional information.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the reward includes promotional points redeemable for premiums.

12. The method of claim 10 in which said additional promotional information is provided to the user through a process that makes use of digital watermark information conveyed in said video content.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the action is not rendering said portion to the user display.

15. The method of claim 13 in which the action is substituting a different portion for said portion and rendering the substitute portion for user display.

18. The system of claim 17 in which the variable transparency is positioned in a focal plane of the system.

13. A method of rendering video content, comprising:

decoding a watermark from a portion of the video not yet rendered to a user display;

determining from said watermark a rating of said portion;

consulting a data store to obtain a desired rating; and

if said portion has a rating not in compliance with the desired rating, triggering a responsive action;

wherein video content not in compliance with the desired rating is not rendered to the user display.

16. A method comprising:

sensing a photo identification document presented to an optical sensor device by a user, the sensor device yielding image data;

decoding a digital watermark from the image data;

confirming the user'"'"'s age by reference to said digital watermark; and

enabling an action based on confirmation of the user'"'"'s age.

17. In a projection system that includes a projector and a screen, the projector projecting light corresponding to a motion picture onto the screen, an improvement comprising interposing into said system a variable transparency, and driving the transparency with signals causing it to impose a digital watermark on the projected motion picture.

19. In a content creation software tool, an improvement comprising a user interface permitting a user to specify digital watermark information, and a software interface permitting the tool to pass said information, together with content data, to an on-line watermarking server, and receive back therefrom a watermarked version of the content data.