METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING DIGITAL CONTENT ITEMS

• US 20100094639A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,953,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 1/32352 Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• 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 21/8358 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 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink

Abstract

Methods and arrangements for identifying content, and employing such identification, are detailed. One method embeds a plural-bit digital watermark into content, but first checks to see if the content is previously watermarked. Another method applies a digital watermark detection procedure to only a sub-portion of a digital content item. Yet another arrangement involves plural-portion content, where one portion is watermarked with first data governing its rights management, and another portion is watermarked with second data governing its rights management. Still another method concerns distribution of content items, where each is watermarked with a unique ID as part of the distribution process. Yet another method concerns deriving an identifier from content, and using the content to access related metadata from a remote computer system. Still other methods concern arrangements for recognizing content, and then providing links to information about the content creator, etc., in response. A variety of other technologies and improvements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A digital watermark detection method for use with a digital content item, including the acts:

through a graphical user interface, receiving an identification of a sub-portion of the digital content item;

applying a digital watermark detection procedure only to said sub-portion;

wherein if the digital content item is a composite of plural digitally watermarked portions, a tendency of a digital watermark in a dominant element of the composite to dominate a digital watermark detection procedure—

to the exclusion of other digital watermarks—

is overcome.

2. A computer readable medium storing digital content comprising plural portions, characterized in that a first portion is digitally watermarked with first data by which rights management of said first portion is governed, and a second portion is digitally watermarked with second data by which rights management of said second portion is governed.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 2 wherein said first and second data refer to data stored in one or more remote computer systems.

4. A method of distributing plural items of digital content, the method including digitally watermarking each of said items of content with a unique plural-bit identifier in the course of distributing said items, wherein said watermarking is automated and proceeds without an operator'"'"'s attention as part of a content distribution process.

5. A metadata method that includes rendering a first item of digital content on a first device, and receiving an input from a user, wherein said user input causes metadata related to said first item of digital content to be identified in a database in a remote computer system, and an action to be taken based thereon.

6. The method of claim 5 that includes presenting a control to the user, and said user input comprises user activation of the control.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said control comprises a graphical feature distinct from the item of digital content.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said input comprises a single click.

9. The method of claim 5 that includes deriving a content identifier from data representing visual or audio information in said item of digital content, and transmitting said content identifier to the remote computer system, wherein the identification of the metadata proceeds with reference to said identifier.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the item of digital content comprises a file with header data, together with image data, and said deriving comprises deriving the content identifier from the image data.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said deriving comprises applying a digital watermark decoding algorithm to said image data.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the item of digital content comprises a file with header data, together with audio data, and said deriving comprises deriving the content identifier from the audio data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said deriving comprises applying a digital watermark decoding algorithm to said audio data.

14. The method of claim 9 that includes rendering a second item of digital content on said first device, and receiving a further input from the user, wherein said further user input causes second metadata related to said second item of content to be identified in the same remote computer system in which the metadata related to the first item of digital content was identified, and wherein action is taken based on said second metadata.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein said action includes transmitting metadata related to said item of digital content from said remote computer system, and displaying information based thereon for viewing by the user.

16. The method of claim 5 wherein said action includes transmitting to said device a name of an artist associated with said item of digital content, and displaying same to the user.

17. The method of claim 5 wherein said action includes transmitting to said device information about an artist associated with said item of digital content, and displaying same to the user.

18. The method of claim 5 that includes:

transmitting metadata related to said item of digital content from said remote computer system; and

presenting said metadata through a user interface on said device;

wherein said user interface also presents a control operable by the user to initiate a search operation.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein said search operation makes use of data stored in said remote computer system.

20. A metadata method that includes:

receiving a first digital content item comprising a file with header data and content data;

deriving first content identification information from the content data of the first digital content item;

transmitting the first content identification information to a remote computer system, and as a consequence, receiving a first set of metadata related to said first content item;

displaying information based on said received first set of metadata to a user;

receiving a second digital content item, also comprising a file with header data and content data, said second digital content item being by an artist different than the first digital content item;

deriving second content identification information from the content data of the second digital content item;

transmitting the second content identification information to the same remote computer system, and as a consequence, receiving a second set of metadata related to said second content item; and

displaying information based on said received second set of metadata to the user;

21. The method of claim 20 that includes displaying said information through a user interface, and also presenting on said user interface a control operable by the user to initiate a search operation.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said search operation makes use of data stored in said same remote computer system.