OBJECT-BASED WATERMARKING

• US 20170316189A1
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Original Assignee: Verance Corporation
• Inventors: Winograd, Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US15/523,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant

Abstract

Methods, devices, systems and computer program products are provided for embedding and detection of a watermark message to and from an object-based composite content. One exemplary method includes for embedding a watermark message in an object-based composite content includes designating a plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in the composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme. The method also includes obtaining a mapping of each watermark symbol to a temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content, and embedding each watermark symbol by including each of the one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the mapping.

Claims

1. A method for embedding a watermark message in an object-based composite content, comprising:

designating a plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in the composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

obtaining a mapping of each watermark symbol to a temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content; and

embedding each watermark symbol by including each of the one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the mapping.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping provides a mapping of a starting point of the one or more designated content objects for each of the watermark symbols.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping provides a mapping of a relative temporal or spatial distance between two or more of the designated content objects for each of the watermark symbols.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping provides a mapping for each possible watermark symbol value to a distinct temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

designating the plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message includes embedding an identification watermark into each of the plurality of content objects that are used to carry at least part of the watermark message; and

upon detection of the identification watermark at a watermark detector device, content objects that are used to carry at least part of the watermark message are identified so as to enable detection of the watermark message based on the identified content objects and the mapping of each watermark symbol to the temporal or spatial position of one or more of the identified content objects.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping is provided as an algorithm.

5. The method of claim I, wherein designating the plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message includes identifying the plurality of content objects that carry at least part of the watermark message, and wherein the identified plurality of content objects are required for enabling detection of the embedded watermark message at a watermark detector device.

7. The method of claim , wherein the mapping is provided as a mapping table.

9. A method for embedding a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in a content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme, the method comprising:

identifying a plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message in a composite object-based content;

for each identified content object, generating at least one alternate version of the identified content object so as to allow all values of a watermark symbol to be represented by each of the identified content objects or an alternate version thereof; and

embedding each water/mark symbol by choosing one, but not both, of a particular content object or an alternate version of the particular content object, and including the chosen one of the content object or the alternate version in the composite content.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the watermark symbols are binary symbols and choosing one, but not both, of the particular content object or the alternate version includes one, but not both, of:

(a) choosing the particular content object to represent a binary value of zero and choosing the alternate version of the particular content object to represent a binary value of one;

or

(b) choosing the particular content object to represent a binary value of one and choosing the alternate version of the particular content object to represent a binary value of zero.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a first alternate version is generated by embedding a first watermark in the particular content object, and a second alternate object is generated by embedding a second watermark that is different from the first watermark in the particular content object.

12. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program code, the program code when executed by the processor, causes the device to;

designate a plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in a composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

obtain a flapping of each watermark symbol to a temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content; and

embed each watermark symbol by including each of the one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the mapping.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the mapping provides a mapping of a starting point of the one or more designated content objects for each of the watermark symbols.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the mapping provides a mapping of a relative temporal or spatial distance between two or more of the designated content objects for each of the watermark symbols.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the mapping provides a mapping for each possible watermark symbol value to a distinct temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the program code when executed by the processor, causes the device to designate the plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message by at least in-part identification of the plurality of content objects that carry at least part of the watermark message, wherein the identified plurality of content objects are required for enabling detection of the embedded watermark message at a watermark detector device.

17. The device of claim 12, the program code when executed by the processor, causes the device to designate the plurality of content objects for carrying the watermark message by at least in-part embedding an identification watermark into each of the plurality of content objects that are used to carry at least part of the watermark message, wherein upon detection of the identification watermark at a watermark detector device, content objects that are used to carry at least part of the watermark message are identified so as to enable detection of the watermark message based on the identified content objects and the mapping of each watermark symbol to the temporal or spatial position of one or more of the identified content objects.

18. The device of claim 12. Therein the memory includes a mapping table that provides the mapping.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the mapping is provided as an algorithm that is executed by the processor.

20. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program code, the program code when executed by the processor, causes the device to;

identify a plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in a composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

for each identified content object, generate at least one alternate version of the identified content object so as to allow all values of a watermark symbol to be represented by each of the identified content objects or an alternate version thereof;

embed each watermark symbol by choosing one, but not both, of a particular content object or an alternate version of the particular content object, and include the chosen one of the content object or the alternate version in the composite content.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the watermark symbols are binary symbols and choosing one, but not both, of the particular content object or the alternate version includes one, but not both, of:

(a) choosing the particular content object to represent a binary value of zero and choosing the alternate version of the particular content object to represent a binary value of one;

or

(b) choosing the particular content object to represent a binary value of one and choosing the alternate version of the particular content object to represent a binary value of zero.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the program code when executed by the processor, causes the device to generate a first alternate version by embedding a first watermark in the particular content object, and generate a second alternate object by embedding a second watermark that is different from the first watermark in the particular content object.

23. A computer program product,embodied on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, comprising:

program code for designating a plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in a composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

program code for obtaining a mapping of each watermark symbol to a temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content; and

program code for embedding each watermark symbol by including each of the one or more of the designated content objects in the composite content in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the mapping.

24. A computer program product, embodied on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, comprising:

program code for identifying plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols in a composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

program code for, for each identified content object, generating at least one alternate version of the identified content object so as to allow all values of a watermark symbol to be represented by each of the identified content objects or an alternate version thereof;

program code for embedding each watermark symbol by choosing one, but not both, of a particular content object or an alternate version of the particular content object, and including the chosen one of the content object or the alternate version in the composite content.

25. A method for detecting a watermark message from a composite content, the method comprising:

receiving the composite content that includes the watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

obtaining a plurality of content objects, each of the plurality of content objects designated as including at least part of the watermark message that is embedded in the composite content;

obtaining a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

using the mapping and the plurality of content objects to discern one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein using the mapping and the plurality of content objects to discern the one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message includes:

correlating a first of the plurality of content objects with the composite content to locate the position of the first of the plurality of content objects in the composite content; and

using the mapping to determine the value of a first watermark symbol embedded in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial position of the first of the plurality of content objects in the composite content.

27. A method for detecting a watermark message from a composite content, the method comprising:

receiving the composite content that includes the watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme and including a plurality of content objects;

detecting identification watermarks from the received composite content, each identification watermark identifying (a) a content object that is used to carry at least part of the embedded watermark message in the composite content, and (b) a temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content;

obtaining a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or More/, of the plurality of content objects; and

using the mapping to discern one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects and the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects in the composite content.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein identifying the temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content includes identifying a starting location of the content object in the composite content.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein identifying the temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content includes identifying a relative location of the of the content object with respect to another content object in the composite content.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the identification information conveys information regarding a sequential order of watermark symbols of the watermark message.

31. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program code, the program code when executed by the processor causes the device to;

receive a composite content, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

obtain a plurality of content objects, each of the plurality of content objects designated as including at least part of a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols embedded in the composite content;

obtain a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

discern the watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content using the mapping and the plurality of content objects and based on the temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein to discern the watermark symbols of the watermark message, the program code when executed by the processor causes the device to at least:

correlate a first of the plurality of content objects with the composite content to locate the position of the first of the plurality of content objects in the composite content; and

use the mapping to determine the value of a first watermark symbol embedded in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial position of the first of the plurality of content objects in the composite content.

33. A device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program code, the program code when executed by the processor causes the device to;

receive a composite content that includes a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme and including a plurality of content objects;

detect identification watermarks from the received composite content, each identification watermark identifying (a) a content object that is used to carry at least part of the embedded watermark message in the composite content, and (b) a temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content;

obtain a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

use the mapping to discern the one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects and the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects in the composite content.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein o identify the temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content, the program code when executed by the processor causes the device to at least identify a starting location of the content object in the composite content.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein to identify the temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content, the program code when executed by the processor causes the device to at least identify a relative location of the of the content object with respect to another content object in the composite content.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the identification information conveys information regarding a sequential order of watermark symbols of the watermark message.

37. A computer program product, embodied on one or more non-transitor computer readable media, comprising:

program code for receiving the composite content that includes a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

program code for obtaining a plurality of content objects, each of the plurality of content objects designated as including at least part of the watermark message that is embedded in the composite content;

program code for obtaining a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

program code for using the mapping and the plurality of content objects to discern the one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content.

38. A computer program product, embodied on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, comprising:

program code for receiving the composite content that includes a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme and including a plurality of content objects;

program code for detecting identification watermarks from the received composite content, each identification watermark identifying (a) a content object that is used to carry at least part of the embedded watermark message in the composite content, and (h) a temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content;

program code for obtaining a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a. mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

program code for using the mapping to discern the one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects and the temporal or spatial positions of the identified content objects in the composite content.

39. A device, implemented at least partially in hardware, comprising:

a content object selector to receive a plurality of content objects and to designate a subset of the plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols;

a watermark symbol flapping generator to obtain a mapping of each watermark symbol to a temporal or spatial position of one or more of the designated content objects in a composite object-based content that is generated according to an object-based encoding scheme;

a watermark symbol generator to generate the plurality of watermark symbols for embedding into the composite object-based content; and

a renderer coupled to the content object selector, the watermark symbol mapping generator and the watermark symbol generator to embed the watermark symbols provided by the watermark symbol generator by including each of the one or more of the designated content objects identified by the content object selector in the composite object-based content output by the renderer in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the watermark symbol mapping generator.

40. A device, implemented at least partially in hardware, comprising:

a content object selector to receive a plurality of content objects and to designate a. subset of the plurality of content objects for carrying a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols;

a watermark symbol generator to generate the plurality of watermark symbols for embedding into the composite object-based. content;

a watermark embedder coupled to the content object selector to receive each of the designated content objects and to generate at least one alternate version of the designated content object so as to allow all values of a watermark symbol to be represented by each of the identified content objects or an alternate version thereof; and

a renderer coupled to the watermark embedder, the watermark symbol mapping generator and the watermark symbol generator to embed the watermark symbols provided by the watermark symbol generator by choosing one, but not both, of designated content objects or alternate versions thereof provided by the watermark embedder in the composite object-based content output by the renderer in conformance with the temporal or spatial relationship provided by the watermark symbol mapping generator.

41. A device, implemented at least partially in hardware, comprising:

a receiver to receive (a) a composite content that includes a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according lo an object-based encoding scheme, (b) a plurality of content objects, each of the plurality of content objects designated as including at least part of the watermark message that is embedded in the composite content, and (c) a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

a content object identifier coupled to the receiver to use the mapping and the plurality of content objects to identify temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the received composite content; and

a watermark symbol detector coupled to the content object identifier to discern one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content in accordance with the mapping.

42. A device, implemented at least partially in hardware, comprising:

a receiver to receive (a) a composite content that includes a watermark message comprising one or more watermark symbols, the composite content having been generated according to an object-based encoding scheme and including a plurality of content objects, and (b) a mapping of watermark symbols to temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content, the mapping including a mapping of each watermark symbol value to a particular temporal or spatial position of one or more of the plurality of content objects; and

an identification watermark extractor coupled to the receiver to detect identification watermarks from the received composite content, each identification watermark identifying (a) a content object that is used to carry at least part of the embedded watermark message in the composite content, and (b) a temporal or a spatial position of the content object in the composite content;

a watermark symbol detector coupled to the content object identifier and to the receiver to discern one or more watermark symbols of the watermark message included in the composite content based on the temporal or spatial positions of the plurality of content objects in the composite content in accordance with the mapping.