Versatile watermark transport system

• US 20060222203A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guillaume Mercier
• Inventors: Mercier, Guillaume
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• 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 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• 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

Watermark data may be transported by preprocessing one or more elementary data streams. Preprocessing may be achieved by demultiplexing the elementary data stream or by including an extra elementary data stream among the elementary data stream. To insert a watermark in either the elementary data stream or extra elementary data stream, a watermark object may be created by precomputing watermark change data using watermark metadata. Once created, the watermark object may be transported either by packetizing and multiplexing the watermark object into the elementary data stream or overwriting the extra elementary data stream. Afterwards, process takes place. Where packetizing and multiplexing occurs, processing includes demultiplexing the elementary data stream, creating a watermarked elementary data stream and reinserting the watermarked elementary data stream. Where overwriting occurs, processing may include discarding the watermark object upon completing watermarking and may include decoding the watermarked elementary data stream.

Claims

1. A method for transporting watermarked data comprising:

a. preprocessing at least one elementary data stream, said preprocessing consisting of either demultiplexing said elementary data stream or including at least one extra elementary data stream among said at least one elementary data stream; and

b. inserting at least one watermark, said inserting comprising;

i. creating at least one watermark object, said creating including precomputing at least one watermark change data using watermark metadata, said at least one watermark object comprising;

1. said watermark metadata; and

2. said watermark change data; and

ii. transporting said at least one watermark object, said transporting comprising at least one of the following;

1. packetizing and multiplexing said at least one watermark object into said at least one elementary data stream where said demultiplexing occurs; and

2. overwriting said extra elementary data stream with said at least one watermark object where said extra elementary data stream is inserted; and

wherein said packetizing and multiplexing occurs, processing said at least one watermark object, said processing including at least one of the following;

1. demultiplexing at least one packet from said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed;

2. creating a watermarked elementary data stream by using said at least one watermark object to watermark said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed; and

3. reinserting said watermarked elementary data stream into said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed; and

wherein said overwriting occurs, processing said at least one watermark object, said processing including at least one of the following;

1. discarding said at least one watermark object after said creating a watermarked elementary data stream; and

2. decoding said watermarked elementary data stream.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said watermarking is synchronized with said demultiplexing.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said watermark object is stored within said elementary data stream to watermark said elementary data stream.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said elementary data stream is stored separately in a container file, said container file being transmitted to a watermark inserter.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method utilizing at least one of the following buffering models:

a. a basic storage buffering model;

b. a streaming buffering model; and

c. a stolen bits model.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including overwriting at least one of the following:

a. said elementary data stream;

b. said buffer; and

c. said memory.

7. A method according to claim 1, further including introducing supplemental data comprising:

a. user data; and

b. security data.

8. A watermark transport system comprising:

a. an elementary data stream preprocessor configured for preprocessing at least one elementary data stream, said preprocessing consisting of either demultiplexing said elementary data stream or including at least one extra elementary data stream among at least one elementary data stream; and

b. a watermark inserter comprising;

i. a watermark object creator, said watermark object creator configured for creating at least one watermark object, said creating including precomputing at least one watermark change data using watermark metadata, said at least one watermark object comprising;

1. said watermark metadata; and

2. said watermark change data;

ii. a watermark transporter, said watermark transporter configured for transporting said at least one watermark object, said watermark transporter comprising at least one of the following;

1. a packetizer and a multiplexer configured for packetizing and multiplexing said at least one watermark object into said at least one elementary data stream where said demultiplexing occurs; and

2. an overwriter configured for overwriting said extra elementary data stream with said at least one watermark object where said extra elementary data stream is inserted; and

iii. a watermark object processor, said watermark object processor configured for processing said at least one watermark object,

wherein said packetizing and multiplexing occurs, said watermark object processor including at least one of the following;

1. a demultiplexer configured for demultiplexing at least one packet from said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed;

2. a watermarked elementary data stream creator configured for creating a watermarked elementary data stream by using said at least one watermark object to watermark said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed; and

3. a reinserter configured for reinserting said watermarked elementary data stream into said at least one elementary data stream having said at least one watermark object that is packetized and multiplexed; and

wherein said overwriting occurs, said watermark object processor including at least one of the following;

1. a discarder configured for discarding said at least one watermark object after said creating a watermarked elementary data stream; and

2. a decoder configured for decoding said watermarked elementary data stream.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said watermarking is synchronized with said demultiplexing.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein said watermark object is stored within said elementary data stream to watermark said elementary data stream.

11. A system according to claim 8, further including a container file for separately storing each of said elementary data stream, said container file configured to be transmitted to said watermark inserter.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein said system utilizing at least one of the following buffering models:

a. a basic storage buffering model;

b. a streaming buffering model; and

c. a stolen bits model.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein said system overwrites at least one of the following:

a. said elementary data stream;

b. said buffer; and

c. said memory.

14. A system according to claim 8, wherein said system introduces supplemental data comprising:

a. user data; and

b. security data.

15. A watermark object for a watermark transport system comprising:

a. watermark metadata; and

b. watermark change data;

wherein said watermark object is configured to be transported into at least one elementary data stream, said elementary data stream being preprocessed for watermark insertion, and wherein said watermark object is generated by preprocessing multimedia content.

16. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 15, wherein said watermark object is configured to be transported in a container stream, said container stream including said at least one elementary data stream.

17. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 15, wherein said watermark metadata and said watermark change data are located in a group comprising:

a. a header section;

b. a configuration section; and

c. replacement information section.

18. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 17, further including a security section.

19. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 17, further including an auxiliary data section.

20. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 17, wherein said header section of said watermark object comprises at least one a watermark object identifier.

21. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 15, further including a header section, said header section including at least one flag to identify the presence of at least one of the following sections:

a. a configuration section;

b. a security section;

c. a replacement information section; and

d. an auxiliary data section.

22. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 21, further including at least one escape coding flag.

23. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 17, wherein said configuration section of said watermark object comprises:

a. a size data; and

b. a setup data.

24. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 17, wherein said replacement information section of said watermark object comprises at least one of each of the following:

a. a replacement mode;

b. a pre-decompression flag;

c. a post-decompression flag;

d. a physical reference flag;

e. a time stamp reference flag;

f. a compressed bit index flag;

g. a compressed physical reference flag;

h. a compressed time stamp reference flag;

i. a bit index;

j. a physical reference;

k. a time stamp reference; and

l. a replacement data block.

25. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 24, wherein said one replacement data block comprises at least one of each of the following:

a. a replacement block flag;

b. a data replacement checksum flag;

c. a relative replacement offset;

d. a replacement byte quantity; and

e. a new byte quantity.

26. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 25, further including at least one replacement data checksum, said replacement data checksum including at least one digital certificate and at least one digital signature field.

27. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 18, wherein said security section of said watermark object comprises:

a. a size data;

b. a watermark object quantity; and

c. a checksum for each of said watermark object, said checksum including at least one digital certificate and at least one digital signature field.

28. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 19, wherein said auxiliary data section of said watermark object comprises:

a. a size data; and

b. an extension auxiliary data quantity.

29. A watermark object for a watermark transport system according to claim 15, wherein said watermark object is wrapped into an encrypted object, said encrypted object comprising at least one digital certificate and at least one digital signature, wherein each of said “

at least one digital certificate” and

each of said “

at least one digital signature”

validate at least one of the following;

a. said watermark object; and

b. said watermark inserter.