Secure tracking system and method for video program content

• US 20040009763A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Acquisitions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Inventors: Stone, Chris L., Garen, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,601,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/14 for monitoring programmes
• 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 secure tracking system for video program content places a special code (watermark) within the broadcast program, preferably via the user bits of the SMPTE time code already used on virtually all film and video production systems. A registering authority provides proof of a program broadcast by detecting watermarking and fingerprinting on various broadcast media around the world and reporting it back to a central database.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a broadcast program, comprising:

registering the program by adding a registration number to the program;

broadcasting the program; and

detecting a broadcast signal and recording the registration number from the broadcast signal.

2. A method of tracking a broadcast program, comprising:

inserting a unique watermark value into a program to be broadcast;

deriving a fingerprint value based on said program'"'"'s content;

storing said program'"'"'s watermark value and associated fingerprint value;

detecting any watermark value inserted in a given broadcast program;

deriving a fingerprint value based on said given broadcast program'"'"'s content; and

comparing any detected watermark value and derived fingerprint value from said given broadcast program with said stored watermark and associated fingerprint values.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said unique watermark value is written into the user bits of said program'"'"'s SMPTE time code.