Hierarchical watermarking of content that is distributed via a network
First Claim
1. In a system having a content source for distributing a copy of content to a content consumer, a method, comprising the steps of:
- providing an intermediary between the content source and the content consumer;
embedding a second digital watermark in the content, which already has a first digital watermark embedded, at the intermediary; and
forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark embedded to the content consumer from the intermediary.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Content is distributed via a network. Hierarchical watermarks are embedded in the content to prevent unauthorized copying of the content. In particular, a first digital watermark is embedded by a content source prior to distributing content to an intermediary distributor. The first watermark identifies the content source and the distributor. Clients that request copies of the content from the distributor receive copies that have a second digital watermark embedded. The second digital watermark identifies the distributor and the client. This approach alleviates the burden placed on the content source to embed watermarks to each copy of the content that is distributed to clients.
92 Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a system having a content source for distributing a copy of content to a content consumer, a method, comprising the steps of:
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providing an intermediary between the content source and the content consumer;
embedding a second digital watermark in the content, which already has a first digital watermark embedded, at the intermediary; and
forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark embedded to the content consumer from the intermediary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a system having a content source for distributing a copy of content to a first and second content consumer, a method, comprising the steps of:
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providing an intermediary between the content source and the first and second content consumer;
embedding a second digital watermark in the content, which already has a first digital watermark embedded, at the intermediary;
forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark embedded to the first content consumer from the intermediary; and
embedding an additional digital watermark that differs from the second digital watermark in the content which already has the first digital watermark embedded but does not have the second watermark embedded and forwarding the content with the first watermark embedded and the additional watermark embedded to the second content consumer. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of securely distributing content over a computer network, comprising:
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providing a content source for the content;
embedding a first digital watermark in the content at the content source;
forwarding a copy of the content with the first digital watermark to a proxy from the content source for distribution; and
when a customer requests a copy of the content, embedding a second digital watermark in the content and forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark embedded in the customer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a system having a content source for providing content and a distributor for distributing the content to a customer, a method, comprising:
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receiving information at the distributor regarding a secret known to the content source and information containing identification of the distributor;
using the information to generate a digital watermark at the distributor; and
attaching the digital watermark to the content at the distributor, wherein the content has another digital watermark attached to it. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. In a system having a content source for providing content and multiple content distributors for distributing the content to customers, a method, comprising:
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for each of the distributors, (i) identifying a secret for the distributor, said secret being known to the content source;
(ii) calculating a value from the secret and from information identifying the distributor; and
(iii) forwarding the value to the distributor for use in attaching a digital watermark to the content at the distributor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for acting as an intermediary for assisting in distribution of content from a content source to a content consumer, comprising:
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means for attaching a second digital watermark to the content, which already has a first digital watery attached, at the intermediary;
means for forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark to the content consumer from the intermediary; and
means for informing the content source that the second watermark has been attached to the content that has been forwarded to the content consumer.
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32. A computer system for receiving content from a content source and distributing the content to at least one client, comprising:
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an interface with the content source for receiving content from the content source;
a digital watermark facility for attaching a digital watermark to the content received from the content source, wherein the content containing another digital watermark that has been attached by the content source; and
an interface with the client for forwarding the content with the digital watermarks to the client.
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33. A medium for use in a system that has a content source for distributing a copy of content to a content consumer by way of an intermediary, said medium holding instructions for execution by the intermediary to perform a method, comprising the steps of:
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attaching a second digital watermark to the content, which already has a first digital watermark attached, at the intermediary; and
forwarding the content with the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark to the content consumer from the intermediary.
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34. A medium for use in a system having a content source for providing content and a distributor for distributing the content to a customer, said medium holding instructions for performing a method, comprising:
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receiving information at the distributor regarding a secret known to the content source and information containing identification of the distributor;
using the information to generate a digital watermark at the distributor;
attaching the digital watermark to the content at the distributor, wherein the content has another digital watermark attached to it; and
forwarding the content with the digital watermarks attached from the distributor to the customer.
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35. A medium for use in a system having a content source for providing content and multiple content distributors for distributing content to customers, said medium holding instructions for performing a method, comprising:
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for each of the distributors, (i) identifying a secret for the distributor, said secret being known to the content source;
(ii) calculating a hash function value by applying a hash function to the secret and the information identifying the distributor; and
(iii) forwarding the value to the distributor for use in attaching a digital watermark to the content at the distributor.
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Specification