Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digital data

• US 7,953,981 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Inventors: Moskowitz, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITHERS, MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US12/462,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20100005308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 380/51
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal to be encoded;

attaching a timestamp to the watermark; and

encoding the signal with the timestamp and the watermark.

4. The article of claim 1, wherein the timestamp is independently encoded into the signal.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the timestamp is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the timestamp is independently stored.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the timestamp is robust.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the timestamp is detected independently.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the timestamp enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

14. The article of claim 1, wherein the user identification dependent hash is detected independently.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal;

attaching a user identification dependent hash to the watermark; and

encoding the user identification dependent hash and the watermark into the signal.

10. The article of claim 2, wherein the user identification dependent hash is independently encoded into the signal.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the user identification dependent hash is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

12. The article of claim 2, wherein the user identification dependent hash is independently stored.

13. The article of claim 2, wherein the user identification dependent hash is robust.

15. The article of claim 2, wherein the user identification dependent hash enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal to encode; and

attaching a message digest of watermark data to the watermark said watermark and said message digest of watermark data to be encoded in the signal.

16. The article of claim 3, wherein the message digest of watermark data is independently encoded into the signal.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the message digest of watermark data is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

18. The article of claim 3, wherein the message digest of watermark data is independently stored.

19. The article of claim 3, wherein the message digest of watermark data is robust.

20. The article of claim 3, wherein the message digest of watermark data is detected independently.

21. The article of claim 3, wherein the message digest of watermark data enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

22. A digital watermarking system, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal;

an analyzer for determining locations in the signal comprising candidate bits; and

a watermark message generator for generating at least one watermark message wherein a generated watermark message is associated with at least one candidate bit determined in the analyzing step.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver receives candidate bits for generating at least one unique watermark bit for each candidate bit received.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the analyzer analyzes at least one of signal components and samples.

25. A system comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

receiving content;

generating at least one watermark message comprising unique information; and

embedding the generated watermark message in candidate bits.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said generating comprises verifying or certifying said at least one watermark message.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising a digital signal processor.

28. The system of claim 25, further comprising at least one of a set-top box, a video recorder, and a DVD.

29. The system of 25, wherein said system comprises a device configured to at least one of play and record copyrighted content.