Substituting objects based on steganographic encoding

• US 7,362,879 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Conwell, William Y., Evans, Douglas B.
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/739,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/112, 382/232, 382/305, 382/306, 358/1.13, 358/1.18, 358/3.28, 380/203, 380/252, 705/75, 713/176
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/608 Secure printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• 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 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3263 of a graphical motif or symbol, e.g. Christmas symbol, logo H04N2201/3211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3266 of text or character information, e.g. text accompanying an image H04N2201/3226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3267 of motion picture signals, e.g. video clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The application discloses various methods and systems to provide substitute information or objects for, e.g., substitution when making copies of media objects (e.g., audio, video or images). One method includes: receiving i) an identifier obtained from a steganographic encoding encoded in a media object, and ii) state information associated with the steganographic encoding or associated with the media object; obtaining—from a storage location—a substitute media object corresponding to the identifier; adjusting the substitute media object in accordance with the state information; providing the adjusted, substituted media object. Another method includes: receiving an identifier obtained from a steganographically encoded media object; accessing memory associated with at least a portion of the identifier to obtain an address of a remote data repository, the remote data repository including at least a plurality of substitute media objects corresponding respectively to a plurality of identifiers; forwarding: i) at least a portion of the identifier obtained from the steganographic encoding, and ii) an instruction to the remote data repository at the address, wherein the instruction includes a request to provide a substitute media object corresponding to at least a portion of the identifier obtained from the steganographic encoding. Of course, other methods and combinations are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an identifier obtained from a steganographically encoded media object;

accessing memory associated with at least a portion of the identifier to obtain an address of a remote data repository, the remote data repository including at least a plurality of substitute media objects corresponding respectively to a plurality of identifiers;

forwarding;

i) at least a portion of the identifier obtained from the steganographic encoding, and ii) an instruction to the remote data repository at the address,

wherein the instruction includes a request to provide a substitute media object corresponding to at least a portion of the identifier obtained from the steganographic encoding.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the substitute media object from the remote data repository.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising forwarding the substitute media object to a remotely located consumer device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the substitute media object comprises a more pristine media object relative to the steganographically encoded media object.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the instruction further comprises a request to provide the substitute media object directly to a remotely located consumer device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the media object comprises at least audio, video or an image.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the substitute media object comprises at least audio, video or an image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the steganographically encoded media object is encoded with digital watermarking.

9. A method comprising:

receiving;

i) an identifier obtained from a steganographic encoding encoded in a media object, and ii) state information associated with the steganographic encoding or associated with the media object;

obtaining—

from a storage location—

a substitute media object corresponding to the identifier;

adjusting the substitute media object in accordance with the state information;

providing the adjusted, substituted media object.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the state information corresponds to size, synchronization or rotation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the media object comprises at least audio, video or an image.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the substitute media object comprises at least audio, video or an image.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the steganographic encoding comprises digital watermarking.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the substitute media object comprises a more pristine media object relative to the encoded media object.

15. A method comprising:

in a consumer device;

obtaining an identifier from steganographic encoding that is encoded in a media object;

querying a data repository in the consumer device to determine whether substitute information corresponding to the identifier is located therein, the substitute information to be substituted for or in the media object by the consumer device, and if the substitute information is not located therein, querying a data repository remote from the consumer device to determine whether substitute information corresponding to the identifier is located therein, the substitute information to be substituted for or in the media object by the consumer device; and

and once substitute information is obtained, substituting obtained substitute information for or in the media object.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the media object comprises at least audio, video or an image.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the substitute information comprises at least audio, video or an image.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the steganographic encoding comprises digital watermarking.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the substitute information comprises more pristine information relative to information of the media object.

20. A method to provide a substitute object for an original media object, wherein the substitute object is to be provided in a copy of the original media object, and wherein the original media object comprises steganographic encoding including a plural-bit identifier, said method comprising:

decoding the steganographic encoding from the original media object or data representing the original media object to obtain the plural-bit identifier;

using the plural-bit identifier to request the substitute object from a remote location;

receiving the substitute object from the remote location; and

when generating a copy of the original media object, using the substitute object to augment or replace the original media object.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the steganographic encoding comprises digital watermarking.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the original media object comprises audio or video.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the substitute object comprises audio or video.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the substitute object comprises more pristine version relative to the original media object.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the substitute object only replaces a portion of the original media object when making a copy.