Steganographic method and device

• US 20090220074A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Inventors: Cooperman, Marc, Moskowitz, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/04 Masking or blinding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/08 Randomization, e.g. dummy operations or using noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/605 Copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0643 Hash functions, e.g. MD5, SHA, HMAC or f9 MAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0656 Pseudorandom key sequence combined element-for-element with data sequence, e.g. one-time-pad [OTP] or Vernam's cipher
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32187 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected frequency coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32245 Random or pseudorandom selection of pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• 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 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 : Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 : Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a stream of digitized samples in an integral manner. The information is encoded using special keys. The information is contained in the samples, not prepended or appended to the sample stream. The method makes it extremely difficult to find the information in the samples if the proper keys are not possessed by the decoder. The method does not cause a significant degradation to the sample stream. The method is used to establish ownership of copyrighted digital multimedia content and provide a disincentive to piracy of such material.

Claims

1-63. -63. (canceled)

64. A method for protecting a digital signal with a steganographic cipher process, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carrier signal; and

(b) encoding additional information into the carrier signal, wherein a key is utilized to encode the additional information.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein the carrier signal includes a sample stream.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the samples in the sample stream are obtained from a sample stream representing sound, music, video, image samples and/or combinations thereof.

67. The method according to claim 64, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

68. The method according to claim 65, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of the title of the content, the artist of the content, terms of distribution of the content, rights ownership identification of the content, publication rights of the content, ownership identification of the content, and an audit trail of the content.

71. The method according to claim 67, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

72. The method according to claim 70, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

73. The method according to claim 67, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

74. The method according to claim 67, wherein the said additional information does not perceptively affect the encoded content.

75. The method according to claim 70, wherein the said additional information does not perceptively affect the encoded content.

76. The method according to claim 71, wherein the said additional information does not perceptively affect the encoded content.

77. The method according to claim 73, wherein the said additional information does not perceptively affect the encoded content.

78. The method according to claim 74, wherein the encoded content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, a digital sample stream, and a compressed copy of the encoded content.

79. The method according to claim 67, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

80. The method according to claim 70, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

81. The method according to claim 71, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

82. The method according to claim 73, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

83. The method according to claim 74, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

84. The method according to claim 78, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

85. The method according to claim 67, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

86. The method according to claim 70, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

87. The method according to claim 71, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

88. The method according to claim 73, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

89. The method according to claim 74, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

90. The method according to claim 78, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash

91. The method according to claim 67, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

92. The method according to claim 70, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

93. The method according to claim 71, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

94. The method according to claim 73, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

95. The method according to claim 74, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

96. The method according to claim 78, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

72-1. The method according to claim 70, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

73-2. The method according to claim 71, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

97. An apparatus for protecting data using a steganographic cipher process, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing at least one of a plurality of keys, and

a digital signal processor capable of encoding said additional information into a carrier signal, wherein the encoding is controlled using at least one of the plurality of keys.

98. The apparatus according to claim 97, wherein the carrier signal includes a stream of digital samples.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the samples are obtained from a sample stream representing sound, music, video, image samples and/or combinations thereof.

100. The apparatus according claim 97, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

101. The apparatus according to claim 98, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

102. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.

103. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of the title of the content, the artist of the content, terms of distribution of the content, rights ownership identification of the content, publication rights of the content, ownership identification of the content, and an audit trail of the content.

104. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

105. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

106. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said at least one key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

107. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said at least one key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

108. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said at least one key to extract said additional information from at least one location of the content.

109. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the said additional information does not perceptually degrade the encoded content.

110. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the said additional information does not perceptually degrade the encoded content.

111. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the said additional information does not perceptually degrade the encoded content.

112. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein the said additional information does not perceptually degrade the encoded content.

113. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the encoded content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, a digital sample stream, and a compressed copy of the encoded content.

114. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the encoded content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, a digital sample stream, and a compressed copy of the encoded content.

115. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the encoded content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, a digital sample stream, and a compressed copy of the encoded content.

116. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein the encoded content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, a digital sample stream, and a compressed copy of the encoded content.

117. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

118. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

119. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

120. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

121. The apparatus according to claim 109, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

122. The apparatus according to claim 113, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

123. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

124. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

125. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

126. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

127. The apparatus according to claim 109, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

128. The apparatus according to claim 113, wherein:

the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information, wherein the encode hash is insensitive to encoding the additional information into the content and further generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the additional information and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

129. The apparatus according to claim 97, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

130. The apparatus according to claim 98, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

131. The apparatus according to claims 99, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

132. The apparatus according to claim 100, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

133. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

134. The apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

135. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

136. The apparatus according to claim 109, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

137. The apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

138. The apparatus according to claim 117, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

139. The apparatus according to claim 117, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark that is insensitive to the encoding process.

140. A process for protecting a digital signal with a steganographic cipher, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carrier signal; and

(b) encoding additional information into the carrier signal, wherein said encoding is controlled by at least one key.

141. The process according to claim 140, wherein the carrier signal includes a stream of digital samples.

142. The process of claim 141, wherein the samples are obtained from a sample stream representing sound, music, video, image samples and/or combinations thereof.

143. The process according claim 140, wherein the additional information identifies individual copies of content.