Method and apparatus for embedding auxiliary information within original data
First Claim
1. A method of embedding auxiliary data within original data, the original data being divided into a series of groups, each group in the series of groups characterized by a value, the method comprising:
- a. investigating a first group to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity, including determining using a processor whether the first group exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and whether a value associated with a second group differs from a value associated with a first group by a second predetermined threshold;
b. if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, embedding using a processor auxiliary data in the original data by setting a value of one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, the neighborhood including the first group, in accordance with a value associated with at least a portion of the auxiliary data.
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Abstract
This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. In one implementation, a method of embedding auxiliary information within original data is provided. The original data is divided into a series of groups, with each group in the series of groups associated with a value. The method includes: investigating a first group to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity; and if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, embedding data by setting a value of one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, including the first group, in accordance with a value associated with at least a portion of the auxiliary data. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of embedding auxiliary data within original data, the original data being divided into a series of groups, each group in the series of groups characterized by a value, the method comprising:
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a. investigating a first group to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity, including determining using a processor whether the first group exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and whether a value associated with a second group differs from a value associated with a first group by a second predetermined threshold; b. if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, embedding using a processor auxiliary data in the original data by setting a value of one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, the neighborhood including the first group, in accordance with a value associated with at least a portion of the auxiliary data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of retrieving auxiliary information from within host data, the host data being divided into a series of groups, each group in the series of groups being characterized by a numerical value, the method comprising:
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(a) investigating a first group in the series of groups to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity including determining using a processor whether the first group exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and whether a value associated with a second group differs from a value associated with the first group by a second predetermined threshold; (b) if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, retrieving information by measuring using a processor a value associated with one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, the neighborhood including the first group. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus to embedding auxiliary information comprising:
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a. a logic processor; and b. a storage unit, wherein the logic processor or storage unit includes; (i) a comparer to compare a value associated with a first group in a series of groups with first predetermined data and with at least one other value associated with a second group in the series of groups to determine whether the other value and the value associated with a first group differ by second predetermined data, a result of which is used to determine whether the value associated with the first group represents a local masking opportunity; (ii) a data writer to store the original data and auxiliary information onto a storage media, the data writer changing a group value of the original data in a vicinity of a local masking opportunity to embed the auxiliary information in the original data to produce combined data, the local masking opportunity reducing a likelihood of perceptibility of the auxiliary data when the combined data is presented to a user, and wherein said comparer determines additional local masking opportunities and the data writer changes corresponding group values in a vicinity of the additional local masking opportunities until all the auxiliary information is embedded in the original data or until no additional local masking opportunities are located or required.
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28. An apparatus to embedding auxiliary data comprising:
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a. a logic processor; and b. a storage unit, wherein the logic processor or storage unit includes; a comparer to compare a group value associated with a first group in a series of groups with first predetermined data and with at least one other value associated with a second, nearby group in the series of groups to determine whether the other value and the value associated with a first group differ by second predetermined data, a result of which is used to determine whether the value associated with the first group represents a local masking opportunity, said comparer providing auxiliary data determined from the local masking opportunity, and said comparer determining additional local masking opportunities and determining auxiliary data bits there from. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of preventing unauthorized copying of an audio data file, the audio data file being divided into a series of samples, each sample in the series being associated with a value, the method comprising:
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a. determining using a processor whether a first sample of the series of samples represents a local masking opportunity by examining a first value associated with the first sample and a second value associated with at least one other sample, and comparing the first value to first predetermined data and determining whether the first value and the second value differ in a predetermined manner; b. if the first sample represents a local masking opportunity, embedding using a processor a portion of unauthorized copy prevention data by setting a value associated with a second sample in accordance with a value of at least a portion of the copy prevention data, the local masking opportunity allowing the at least a portion of the unauthorized copy prevention data to be embedded in the audio file with minimal perceptibility by a user of the audio file; and c. locating additional local masking opportunities in the audio data file to embed additional portions of the unauthorized copy prevention data therein. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A method of retrieving auxiliary information from within host data, the host data being divided into a series of groups, each group in the series of groups being characterized by a numerical value, the method comprising:
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(a) obtaining host data over a transmission channel, obtained host data including the auxiliary information; (b) investigating a first group in the series of groups to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity including determining using a processor whether the first group exceeds a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold being associated with non-transformed host data; (c) if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, retrieving information by measuring using a processor a value associated with one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, the neighborhood including the first group, said retrieving utilizing only the obtained host data.
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Specification