Watermarking Encoded Content

• US 20090080689A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ContentArmor
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Koch, Eckhard, Zhao, Jian
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0035 Output size adaptive watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• 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 1/32165 using cosine transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3217 using wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32192 according to calculated or estimated visibility of the additional information in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32277 Compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32336 Informed embedding, i.e. the original image being known for the encoding or decoding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/129 Scanning of coding units, e.g. zig-zag scan of transform coefficients or flexible macroblock ordering [FMO]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/154 Measured or subjectively estimated visual quality after decoding, e.g. measurement of distortion use of rate-distortion criteria H04N19/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/176 the region being a block, e.g. a macroblock
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/18 the unit being a set of transform coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/48 using compressed domain processing techniques other than decoding, e.g. modification of transform coefficients, variable length coding [VLC] data or run-length data motion estimation in a transform domain H04N19/547; processing of decoded motion vectors H04N19/513
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/91 Entropy coding, e.g. variable length coding [VLC] or arithmetic coding

Abstract

A system and method are described for inserting a watermark in encoded content, including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit, and replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with an alternative value, wherein the alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein the alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in the at least one said watermark unit. An apparatus and method for generating watermark units are also described including selecting a position where a value in encoded content is to be replaced by an alternative value and calculating the alternative value a plurality of alternative values for each selected position. Further a system and method for replacing a watermark in encoded content are also described including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit and replacing a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with a value, wherein the value is specified in the at least one watermark unit.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a watermark in encoded content, said method comprising:

receiving encoded content;

receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit; and

replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position with an alternative value, wherein said alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein said alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said at least one said watermark unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said number of bits is specified in said at least one watermark unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said position is specified in said at least one watermark unit.

4. (canceled)

5. A system for inserting a watermark in encoded content, comprising:

means for receiving encoded content;

means for receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit; and

means for replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position with an alternative value, wherein said alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein said alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said at least one said watermark unit.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said number of bits is specified in said at least one watermark unit.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said position is specified in said at least one watermark unit.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein said system is a playback device, said playback device receiving encoded content and said at least one watermark unit, wherein said encoded content and said at least one watermark unit are one of stored as part of said encoded content, stored as metadata and stored in a directory.

8. (canceled)

10. A method for inserting a watermark in encoded content, said method comprising:

receiving encoded content;

receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit;

receiving a sequence of bits, wherein said sequence of bits comprises watermark payload information; and

performing one of replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position with an alternative value and leaving unchanged said number of bits starting at said position based on bit values of said sequence of bits of said watermark payload information and wherein said alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein said alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said at least one said watermark unit.

11. A system for inserting a watermark in encoded content, comprising:

means for receiving encoded content;

means for receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit;

means for receiving a sequence of bits, wherein said sequence of bits comprises watermark payload information; and

means for performing one of replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position with an alternative value and leaving unchanged said number of bits starting at said position based on bit values of said sequence of bits of said watermark payload information and wherein said alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein said alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said at least one said watermark unit.

12. A method for replacing a watermark in encoded content, said method comprising:

receiving encoded content;

receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit; and

replacing a number of bits starting at a position in said encoded content with a value, wherein said value is specified in said at least one watermark unit and further wherein said position is specified in said at least one watermark unit, wherein said value is an alternative value selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said watermark unit, wherein said selected alternative value forms a different watermark from that watermark which is being replaced.

13. (canceled)

14. A system for replacing a watermark in encoded content, said method comprising:

means for receiving encoded content;

means for receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit; and

means for replacing a number of bits starting at a position in said encoded content with a value, wherein said value is specified in said at least one watermark unit, wherein said number of bits is specified in said at least one watermark unit and further wherein said position is specified in said at least one watermark unit, wherein said value is an alternative value selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in said watermark unit, wherein said selected alternative value forms a different watermark from that watermark which is being replaced.

15. (canceled)

16. A method for watermark detection, said method comprising:

receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit;

receiving watermarked content;

retrieving a plurality of coefficient values from the watermarked content; and

retrieving bit values of said watermark from said coefficient values, wherein said bit values are retrieved by correlating a current coefficient to a plurality of coefficient values coded in said at least one watermark unit to determine a best match.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said bit values are retrieved from said plurality of coefficient values according to relationships between/among said coefficient values.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said relationships are weak and a current coefficient is correlated to determine a match from among said plurality of coefficient values coded in said at least one watermark unit.

17. (canceled)

20. A system for watermark detection, comprising:

means for receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit;

means for receiving watermarked content;

means for retrieving a plurality of coefficient values from the watermarked encoded; and

means for retrieving bit values of said watermark from said coefficient values, wherein said bit values are retrieved by correlating a current coefficient to a plurality of coefficient values coded in said at least one watermark unit to determine a best match.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein said bit values are retrieved from said plurality of coefficient values according to relationships between/among said coefficient values.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said relationships are weak and a current coefficient is correlated to determine a match from among said plurality of coefficient values coded in said at least one watermark unit.

21. (canceled)

24. A method for generating watermark units, said method comprising:

selecting a position where a value in encoded content is to be replaced by an alternative value; and

calculating a plurality of alternative values for each selected position, wherein each of said alternative values contains a watermark signal, further wherein each of said alternative values has a same number of bits as said value that a selected one of said plurality of alternative value replaces, further wherein said replacement does not result in perceptual changes to said encoded content, further wherein said replacement does not result in non-compliant format of said encoded content and wherein said method is performed by a pre-processor.

36. The method according to claim 24, wherein said selected alternative value is an alternative value causing least perceptual change.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. An apparatus for generating watermark units, comprising:

means for selecting a position where a value in encoded content is to be replaced by an alternative value; and

means for calculating a plurality of alternative values for each selected position, wherein each of said alternative value contains a watermark signal, further wherein each of said alternative values has a same number of bits as said value that a selected one of said plurality of alternative values replaces, further wherein said replacement does not result in perceptual changes to said encoded content, further wherein said replacement does not result in non-compliant format of said encoded content and wherein said apparatus is a pre-processor.

37. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said selected alternative value is an alternative value causing least perceptual change.

31. (canceled)

32. (cancelled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

38. An apparatus, comprising:

means for storing encoded content; and

means for storing watermark units.

39. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said watermark units are encrypted.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said watermark units are meta data of said encoded content.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said watermark units are steganographic data hidden in one of syntax elements and said encoded content.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein access to said watermark units is controlled by a key.

43. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said watermark units are stored as a separate file.

44. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said apparatus is one of an optical disc, a tape, and a hard drive.

46. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said watermark units are encrypted.

47. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said watermark units are meta data of said encoded content.

48. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said watermark units are steganographic data hidden in one of syntax elements and said encoded content.

49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein access to said watermark units is controlled by a key.

50. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said watermark units are transmitted as a separate file multiplexed with said encoded content.

51. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said watermark units are encrypted and transmitted over a separate channel.

45. An apparatus, comprising:

means for transmitting encoded content; and

means for transmitting watermark units.