Substituting or Replacing Components in Media Objects Based on Steganographic Encoding

• US 20080196059A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Conwell, William Y., Evans, Douglas B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3263 of a graphical motif or symbol, e.g. Christmas symbol, logo H04N2201/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3267 of motion picture signals, e.g. video clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The application discloses various methods and systems to provide substitute or replacement components for media objects (e.g., audio, video or images). The substitute or replacement components can be substituted for or to replace corresponding components when making copies of media objects. One claim includes: an apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory. The memory includes instructions for execution by said processor. The instructions include instructions to: upon receipt of a copy request, determine whether an object to be copied comprises a steganographic signal hidden within at least one component of the object; if the object comprises a steganographic signal hidden therein, obtain a substitute or replacement component corresponding to the steganographic signal; and execute the copy request of the object to yield a copy object including providing in the copy object the substitute or replacement component for the at least one component of the object. Of course, other apparatus, methods and combinations are provided as well.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input to receive an identifier obtained from a steganographically encoded media object;

an output to communicate;

i) at least a portion of the identifier to a remote data repository, the remote data repository including at least a plurality of substitute media objects corresponding, respectively, to at least one of a plurality of identifiers, and ii) an instruction to the remote data repository, and

a processor to control said apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media object comprises audio or video.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instruction comprises a format for which a substitute media object should be placed in prior to communication of the substitute media object to the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instruction comprises state information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instruction comprises a request for a substitute media object from the plurality of substitute media objects that corresponds to the identifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instruction further comprises a request to provide a substitute media object corresponding to the identifier directly to a remotely located consumer device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory, said memory comprising instructions for execution by said processor, said instructions comprising instructions to;

upon receipt of a copy request, determine whether an object to be copied comprises a steganographic signal hidden within at least one component of the object,

if the object comprises a steganographic signal hidden therein, obtain a substitute or replacement component corresponding to the steganographic signal, and

execute the copy request of the object to yield a copy object including providing in the copy object the substitute or replacement component for the at least one component of the object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus comprises a copy machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apparatus comprises a computer in communication with a printer.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the object comprises audio or video.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the signal comprises a plural-bit identifier.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the steganographic signal is hidden within the at least one component of the object with digital watermarking.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the substitute or replacement component comprises a pristine version of the at least one component of the object.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory, said memory comprising instructions for execution by said processor, said instructions comprising instructions to;

analyze data corresponding to a media object to obtain a first identifier steganographically hidden in a first component of the media object, and to obtain a second identifier steganographically hidden in a second component of the media object,

obtain a substitute or replacement component for the first component using at least the first identifier,

obtain a substitute or replacement component for the second component using at least the second identifier,

provide an altered version of the media object, the altered version of the media object including the substitute or replacement component for the first component and the substitute or replacement component for the second component in place of the first component and the second component.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are each steganographically hidden with digital watermarking.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the media object comprises audio or video.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the substitute or replacement component for the first component comprises audio or video.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the substitute or replacement component for the second component comprises audio or video.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the altered version of the media object comprises a digital copy of the media object.

20. A method comprising:

analyzing data corresponding to a media object to obtain a first identifier steganographically hidden in a first component of the media object, and to obtain a second identifier steganographically hidden in a second component of the media object;

obtaining a substitute or replacement component for the first component using at least the first identifier;

obtaining a substitute or replacement component for the second component using at least the second identifier; and

providing an altered version of the media object, the altered version of the media object including the substitute or replacement component for the first component and the substitute or replacement component for the second component in place of the first component and the second component.

21. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 20.