Embedding location data in video

• US 7,254,249 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Stewart, Steven W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUHN, JORDAN M
• Application Number:
  US10/371,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/78 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/787 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking

Abstract

Digital watermarking technology is used to convey location data for images or objects depicted in video. A digital watermark may associate geovector information with the video or object and areas depicted in the video. A geovector may include location coordinates such as longitude, latitude, altitude, etc. In one implementation, geovector information is embedded within a video frame so as to correspond with an area depicted in the video frame'"'"'s center or off-center location. In a second implementation, a geovector includes an identifier or indexing protocol for use in a video management system.

Claims

1. A method of steganographically marking video captured from an aerial platform, the video comprising at least a first video frame and a second video frame, the first video frame depicting a first terrestrial area having a first geo-location and the second video frame depicting a second terrestrial area having a second geo-location, said method comprising:

providing a first steganographic signal in the first video frame, the first steganographic signal comprising first location data corresponding to at least the first geo-location; and

providing a second steganographic signal in the second video frame, the second steganographic signal comprising at least a representation of a difference between the first geo-location and the second geo-location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation comprises a pointer to a data record including a difference between the first geo-location and the second geo-location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steganographically marking comprises digital watermarking.

4. A method of digitally watermarking video comprising:

digitally watermarking a first area in a first video frame to include a first payload associated with at least a ground coordinate of the first area; and

digitally watermarking a second area in a second video frame to include a second payload that represents a difference between a ground coordinate of the second area and the first area ground coordinate.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first area and second areas are located in the same spatial frame position with respect to one another.

6. A method of digitally watermarking a video sequence comprising:

inserting first digital watermark data at a first location within the video sequence, the first digital watermark data signaling that the first location corresponds with a geographical location; and

inserting a plurality of digital watermark data throughout the video sequence, wherein each of the plurality of digital watermark data—

except for the first digital watermark data—

comprises or links to a change in geographical coordinates with respect to the first location or to the geographical location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the change comprises a predetermined geographic data.