Methods and Apparatus for Robust Embedded Data

• US 20070136597A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant

Abstract

The present invention describes methods and apparatus involving embedding data. Data can be embedded steganographically in content or embedded in, e.g., headers associated with the content. In one implementation, a method of embedding auxiliary information in data is provided. The method includes receiving data and correlated data. The correlated data is related to but independent from the received data. The method further includes receiving auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being independent of the received data and the correlated data; changing the auxiliary information based on at least the correlated data; and embedding the changed auxiliary information in the received data. Other implementations are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of embedding auxiliary information in data, said method comprising:

receiving data and correlated data, the correlated data being related to but independent from the received data;

receiving auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being independent of the received data and the correlated data;

changing the auxiliary information based on at least the correlated data; and

embedding the changed auxiliary information in the received data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said embedding comprises steganographic embedding.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises a plurality of frames, and wherein said embedding includes placing the changed auxiliary information in at least one header associated with one of the plurality of frames.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the embedding places the changed auxiliary information in a global header associated with the received data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises audio or video and the correlated data comprises song lyrics.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the correlated data comprises at least one of a name or address.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the received data comprises a photograph, and the changed auxiliary information is embedded within the photograph.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing the photograph including the embedded changed auxiliary information on or in an identification document and wherein the photograph is associated with a bearer of an identification document.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the correlated data comprises at least one of a name or address.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein after said act of changing, but prior to said act of embedding, said method further comprises encrypting the changed auxiliary information.

11. A method of enabling an action with embedded information, wherein the information is embedded in content data according to the method of claim 1, said method comprising:

decoding embedded information from the content data;

verifying that the embedded information corresponds to the content data; and

enabling the action when both the embedded information corresponds to the original data and the auxiliary information permits the enabling.

12. A method of embedding auxiliary information in content data, said method comprising:

receiving content data;

receiving auxiliary information, the auxiliary information being independent of the content data;

changing the auxiliary information based on the content data; and

embedding the changed auxiliary information in the content data,

wherein once embedded in the content data the changed auxiliary information is detectable from the embedded content data even in the absence of the received auxiliary information.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of changing comprises XORing the auxiliary information with at least a portion of the content data.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of changing comprises changing a pseudo-random (PN) sequence utilized in said act of embedding.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein after said act of changing, but prior to said act of embedding, said method further comprises encrypting the changed auxiliary information.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said content data comprises data selected from a group comprising video, audio and imagery.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of embedding comprises placing the changed auxiliary information in a header associated with the content data.

18. A method comprising:

receiving content data comprising first information embedded therein;

receiving second information separately from the content data, wherein the second information is associated with a first user device and a second user device;

decoding the first information from the content data;

comparing the first information to the second information for correspondence; and

based at least on the correspondence, determining whether to perform an action associated with the content data on either of the first user device or the second user device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the action comprises rendering and said act of determining further considers whether the first information allows the rendering.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the first information is steganographically embedded in the content data.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the second information is shared between the first user device and the second user device.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the first information comprises an encrypted identifier, and wherein the second information comprises the identifier and a decryption key.