Embedding location data in video

• US 8,045,749 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Stewart, Steven W., Levy, Kenneth L., Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US11/835,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 345/634
• 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 or steganographic data hiding is used to convey location data in video. A digital watermark or steganographic signal may associate geovector or geolocation information with video, video objects or areas depicted in the video. Other implementations and combinations are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining geocoordinates representing several different geo-locations; and

embedding the geocoordinates in video depicting the several different geo-locations with digital watermarking, wherein each of the digital watermarks associated with each geocoordinate is spatially aligned within the video so as to be within a region of a video frame that corresponds to the respective geo-location.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two geocoordinates are embedded in different regions of a video frame.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the geo-locations comprise one or more locations of buildings, roads, and utility company equipment.

2. A method comprising:

selecting a geo-location;

recording video of different geo-locations including the selected geo-location, wherein the video is recorded by an airborne platform;

monitoring a current geo-location of the airborne platform; and

initiating embedding of digital watermarking in the video when the current geo-location corresponds to the selected geo-location, wherein the presence of the digital watermarking without reference to content of the digital watermarking at a particular location in the video identifies the selected geo-location.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising initiating embedding of different digital watermarking in the video captured by an airborne platform to indicate an end of the selected geo-location.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the digital watermarking is limited to portions of the video which correspond to the selected geo-location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an absence of the digital watermarking in some portions of the video indicates that such portions of the video does not depict the selected geo-location.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising

selecting a second geo-location;

initiating embedding of a second digital watermarking in the video when the current geo-location corresponds to the selected second geo-location, wherein the presence of the second digital watermarking at a particular location in the video identifies the selected second geo-location, and wherein the selected second geo-location is identified within the video without reference to content of the digital watermark.

3. A method of digital watermarking video, the method comprising:

steganographically hiding a first, plural-bit payload in data representing a first video portion, wherein the first, plural-bit payload is associated with at least one or more ground coordinates associated with the first video portion; and

steganographically hiding a second, plural-bit payload in data representing a second video portion, wherein the second, plural-bit payload is associated with a difference between one or more ground coordinates associated with the second video portion and the one or more ground coordinates associated with the first video portion.

4. A method to identify video, wherein the video comprises a first video frame captured from an aerial platform, the method comprising:

steganographically embedding data in the first video frame, wherein the data comprises first location data corresponding to at least a first location depicted in the first video frame and second location data corresponding to at least a second location depicted in the first video frame, wherein the first location data differs from the second location data, wherein the steganographic embedding comprises alterations to the video that are generally imperceptible to a human viewer of the video, and wherein the second location data comprises finely referenced location data relative to the first location data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first location data and the second location data each comprise at least longitude and latitude coordinates.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first location data and the second location data each further comprise time data and at least one of altitude of the aerial platform at video capture or video capture angle.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first location data and the second location data respectively correspond to at least one of a first location of the aerial platform or a first aerial platform viewing perspective, and a second location of the aerial platform or a second aerial platform viewing perspective.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein the aerial platform comprises at least one of a satellite, helicopter, unmanned aircraft, space shuttle, or aircraft.