Digital watermarking and television services
First Claim
1. A method of operating a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder having an input to receive content, said method comprising the steps of:
- decoding a digital watermark embedded in content, the digital watermark comprising an identifier;
communicating the identifier to an interactive television service provider; and
receiving related information in response to communicating the identifier.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital watermark is embedded in video content, like an advertisement. A digital video recorder (“DVR”) includes a digital watermark decoder to decode the digital watermark. Once decoded, an identifier is communicated to an interactive television service provider. The identifier is used to identify information related to the watermarked content (like a message, email, video email, further advertising, etc.). Once identified, the related information is forwarded to the DVR. In a related embodiment, the related information is pushed to the DVR in advance of a request. The related information is activated once a user selects corresponding content. In addition, the digital watermark can be used to control recording, fast-forwarding, skipping, pausing, and/or saving timing limits. Additionally, dynamic skip button usage is enabled for improved consumer experience.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder having an input to receive content, said method comprising the steps of:
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decoding a digital watermark embedded in content, the digital watermark comprising an identifier;
communicating the identifier to an interactive television service provider; and
receiving related information in response to communicating the identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder having an input to receive content and a back channel to receive related information, the digital video recorder further comprising a storage device and digital watermark decoder, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving related information from an interactive network, the related information corresponding to a content item;
storing the related information in the storage device;
receiving the content item after receiving the related information;
upon a user selection, decoding a digital watermark embedded in the content item with the digital watermark decoder, the digital watermark comprising an identifier;
providing the identifier to obtain the related information stored in the storage device; and
rendering the related information for selection or viewing.
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11. A method of operating a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder having an input to receive content and a back channel to receive related information, the digital video recorder further comprising a storage device and a digital watermark decoder, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving content comprising an advertisement, the advertisement including a digital watermark embedded therein, the digital watermark including a timestamp;
decoding the watermark with the digital watermark decoder to obtain the timestamp; and
providing the timestamp to a television service provider.
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12. A method of providing an incentive for viewing content stored on a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder having at least an input to receive content, the digital video recorder further comprising a storage device and a digital watermark detector, said method comprising the steps of:
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decoding a digital watermark embedded in content, the digital watermark comprising an identifier;
communicating the identifier to a television service provider; and
receiving related information in response to communicating the identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method to limit advertisement skipping, the advertisement being provided to a digital video recorder with associated content, the digital video recorder comprising a digital watermark decoder, the content comprising a digital watermark placed in the content at least prior to the advertisement, said method comprising the steps of:
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decoding the digital watermark with the digital watermark decoder; and
based at least in part on the decoded digital watermark inhibiting the digital video recorder from at least one of skipping and fast-forwarding through the advertisement. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method to enable skipping of a section of content, the content being provided to a digital video recorder, the digital video recorder comprising a digital watermark decoder, the content comprising a digital watermark, said method comprising the steps of:
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decoding the digital watermark with the digital watermark decoder; and
based at least in part on the decoded digital watermark, enabling at least one of a skip function and fast-forward through the content. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification