PIRACY PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND CONTENT MANAGEMENT

• US 20090158443A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Services Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Archer, Steven T., Pate, Kristopher A., Hubner, Paul V., Dias, Francisco A.
• Application Number:
  US11/957,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20090158443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• 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 computing device is configured to receive media content and determine if the received media content includes a stego message. If the media content includes a stego message, then the computing device is further configured to decode at least a portion of the stego message, and perform a task based in part on the decoded portion of the stego message.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a media content in a computing device;

determining if the media content includes a stego message;

if the media content includes a stego message, then decoding at least a portion of the stego message; and

performing a task based in part on the decoded portion of the stego message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is at least one of a content processing device, a set-top box, a recording device, a video camera, a camcorder, a cellular phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server computer, a digital music player, a digital video disc player, a digital video recorder, a personal video recorder, a video game console, a computer, a hand-held video player, a television, a personal digital assistant, a smart phone, and a portable media player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the media content is at least one of a streaming media signal, a live performance, a movie, a television show, a sound recording, a song, and a sporting event.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising denying access to the media content in a content processing device if the stego message includes a copy protection notice.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating a recording session in a recording device if the stego message includes an instruction to limit recording.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding the stego message in the media content in a stego server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding the stego message in the media content using an infrared emitter at a venue.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising searching a website for media content that includes a stego message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising pulsing infrared light to compose at least a portion of the stego message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding an acoustic signal in the media content to compose at least a portion of the stego message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a message in response to the decoded portion of the stego message.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a copyright holder via a network upon the stego message indicating that the media content is an unauthorized reproduction.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising copying the media content to media sharing server based in part on the decoded portion of the stego message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising segmenting the media content based on the stego message.

15. A system, comprising:

a content processing device configured to selectively receive a streaming media signal, determine whether the streaming media signal includes a stego message, and provide a copy of the stego message to another computing device; and

a stego server configured to selectively receive a stego message from the content processing device, decode at least a portion of the stego message, and provide an instruction to the content processing device based on the decoded portion of the stego message.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the content processing device is a set-top-box that is further configured to receive the instruction from the stego server, and perform a task based at least in part on the received instruction.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a computing device configured to provide the streaming media signal to the content processing device.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a recording device configured to determine whether the streaming media signal includes a stego message, provide a copy of the stego message to the stego server, receive an instruction from the stego server, and selectively performing a task based at least in part on the instruction.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the content processing device is further configured to receive the instruction from the stego server, and selectively denying access to the streaming media signal based on the instruction.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the content processing device is further configured to decode at least a portion of the stego message, and perform a task based at least in part on the decoded portion of the stego message.

21. A system, comprising:

an emitter positioned near a source of media content and configured to embed an encoded stego message in the media content;

a controller in communication with the emitter and configured to provide the encoded stego message to the emitter; and

a computing device configured to receive a streaming media signal that includes the encoded stego message, decode at least a portion of the encoded stego message, and perform a task based at least in part on the decoded portion of the stego message.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the computing device is a set-top-box configured to deny access to the media content if the decoded portion of the stego message indicates that the media content is an unauthorized reproduction.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the computing device is a recording device configured to terminate a recording session if the decoded portion of the stego message indicates that the media content is copyright protected.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the emitter provides infrared light and is at least one of a light emitting diode and a light source with an infrared filter.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the emitter is capable of producing an acoustic signal and is at least one of a speaker, a transducer, and a radio frequency generator.