Steganographic method and device

• US 8,046,841 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wistaria Trading Inc.
• Inventors: Cooperman, Marc, Moskowitz, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smithers; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALLAHAN, PAUL E
• Application Number:
  US11/894,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 380/203, 380/231, 380/230, 705/57, 713/176, 726/32
• US Class Current: 726/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/04 Masking or blinding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/08 Randomization, e.g. dummy operations or using noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/605 Copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/608 Watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0643 Hash functions, e.g. MD5, SHA, HMAC or f9 MAC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0656 Pseudorandom key sequence combined element-for-element with data sequence, e.g. one-time-pad [OTP] or Vernam's cipher
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/12 Transmitting and receiving encryption devices synchronised or initially set up in a particular manner
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32187 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected frequency coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32245 Random or pseudorandom selection of pixels
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 : Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/835 : Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 : involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 : Encryption; Ciphering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a stream of digitized samples in an integral manner. The information is encoded using special keys. The information is contained in the samples, not prepended or appended to the sample stream. The method makes it extremely difficult to find the information in the samples if the proper keys are not possessed by the decoder. The method does not cause a significant degradation to the sample stream. The method is used to establish ownership of copyrighted digital multimedia content and provide a disincentive to piracy of such material.

Claims

1. A computer-based method for identifying digital content, the method comprising:

receiving encoded digital content, wherein encoding of said encoded digital content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

decoding additional information from the encoded digital content using at least one of the plurality of keys, and wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the key locates and extracts the additional information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the key is derived from the content.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content was encoded by a process comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic process, an imperceptible encoding process, a watermarking process, a steganographic cipher process, and an information hiding process.

10. A computer-based method for identifying digital content, the method comprising:

receiving encoded digital content, wherein encoding of said encoded digital content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

decoding additional information from the encoded digital content using at least one of the plurality of keys, and wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

wherein the one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

13. A computer-based method for encoding additional information into digital content, the method comprising:

receiving digital content to be encoded; and

encoding the additional information into the digital content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the digital content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key hides the additional information in at least one location in the content.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key maps the additional information in at least one location in the content.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key determines the size of the additional information.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the size of the additional information is measured in bits.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key is derived from features of the content.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of deriving a key from the content is insensitive to the encoding process.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

23. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

24. The method according to claim 13, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

26. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

27. The method according to claim 13, wherein the encoding process comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic process, an imperceptible encoding process, a watermarking process, a steganographic cipher process, and an information hiding process.

28. The method according to claim 13, wherein the additional information is encoded such that tampering with the additional information causes artifacts in the encoded content.

29. The method according to claim 13, wherein the key is unique to at least a portion of the additional information.

30. A computer-based method for encoding additional information into digital content, the method comprising:

receiving digital content to be encoded; and

encoding the additional information into the digital content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the digital content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

wherein the one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

32. A computer-based method for tamper proofing digital content, the method comprising:

calculating a one way function of additional information, the information comprising data to be encoded into the content and information based on the content, such that the one way function is insensitive to the changes introduced into the content by the encoding process; and

encoding the additional information into the content using a mapping function that selects one or more keys from a plurality of pre-established keys, and wherein the selected key comprises information derived from the encoding process.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

a hash, a signature, a message digest, and a certificate.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having therein stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed result in a process comprising:

receiving encoded content, wherein encoding of said encoded content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

decoding additional information from the encoded content using at least one of the plurality of keys, and wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

35. The medium of claim 34, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

36. The medium of claim 34, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

37. The medium of claim 34, wherein the key locates and extracts the additional information.

38. The medium of claim 34, wherein the key is derived from the content.

39. The medium of claim 34, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

40. The medium of claim 34, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

41. The medium of claim 34, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

42. The medium of claim 41, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

43. The medium of claim 34, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

44. The medium of claim 34, wherein the content was encoded by a process comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic process, an imperceptible encoding process, a watermarking process, a steganographic cipher process, and an information hiding process.

45. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having therein stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed result in a process comprising:

receiving encoded content, wherein encoding of said encoded content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

decoding additional information from the encoded content using at least one of the plurality of keys, and wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

wherein the one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

46. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having therein stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed result in a process comprising:

receiving content to be encoded; and

encoding the additional information into the content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

47. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key hides the additional information in at least one location in the content.

48. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key maps the additional information in at least one location in the content.

49. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key determines the size of the additional information.

50. The medium of claim 49, wherein the size of the additional information is measured in bits.

51. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key is derived from features of the content.

52. The medium of claim 51, wherein the step of deriving a key from the content is insensitive to the encoding process.

53. The medium of claim 46, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

54. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

55. The medium of claim 46, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

56. The medium of claim 46, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

57. The medium of claim 46, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

58. The medium of claim 57, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

59. The medium of claim 46, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

60. The medium of claim 46, wherein the encoding process comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic process, an imperceptible encoding process, a watermarking process, a steganographic cipher process, and an information hiding process.

61. The medium of claim 46, wherein the additional information is encoded such that tampering with the additional information causes artifacts in the encoded content.

62. The medium of claim 46, wherein the key is unique to at least a portion of the additional information.

63. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having therein stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed result in a process comprising:

receiving content to be encoded; and

encoding the additional information into the content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

wherein the one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

64. The medium of claim 63, further comprising generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

65. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having therein stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed result in a process comprising:

calculating a one way function of additional information, the information comprising data to be encoded into the content and information based on the content, such that the one way function is insensitive to the changes introduced into the content by the encoding process; and

encoding the additional information into the content using a mapping function that selects one or more keys from a plurality of preestablished keys, and wherein the selected key comprises information derived from the encoding process.

66. The medium of claim 65, wherein the calculated one way function generates at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

a hash, a signature, a message digest, and a certificate.

67. A system for identifying content, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving encoded content, wherein encoding of said encoded content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

a decoder, said decoder comprising at least one of(1) a CPU and non transitory memory storing a decode algorithm and (2) hardwired circuitry designed to execute said decode algorithm, said decoder designed to use said decode algorithm for decoding additional information from the encoded content using at least one of the plurality of keys, wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising a generator for generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and a comparator for comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

69. The system according to claim 67, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meteware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

70. The system according to claim 67, wherein the decoder uses a key to locate and extract the additional information.

71. The system according to claim 67, wherein the key is derived from the content.

72. The system according to claim 67, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

73. The system according to claim 67, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising using said decoder to use said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

74. The system according to claim 67, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

75. The system according to claim 74, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

76. The system according to claim 67, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

77. The system according to claim 67, wherein the content was encoded by a process comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic process, an imperceptible encoding process, a watermarking process, a steganographic cipher process, and an information hiding process.

78. A system for identifying content, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving encoded content, wherein encoding of the encoded content comprises a steganographic mapping process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys; and

a decoder, said decoder comprising at least one of(1) a CPU and non transitory memory storing a decode algorithm and () hardwired circuitry designed to execute said decode algorithm, said decoder designed to use said decode algorithm for decoding additional information from the encoded content using at least one of the plurality of keys, wherein the key is derived from the encoding process;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is generated by a generator, said one way function configured to be insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

further comprising a generator for generating a one way function selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

79. A system for encoding additional information into content, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving content to be encoded; and

an encoder, said encoder comprising at least one of (1) a CPU and non transitory memory storing an encode algorithm and (2) hardwired circuitry designed to execute said encode algorithm, said encoder designed to use said encode algorithm for encoding the additional information into the content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes an encode hash of at least a portion of the content and further comprising a generator for generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

80. The system according to claim 79, wherein the encoder uses at least one key to hide the additional information in at least one location in the content.

81. The system according to claim 79, wherein the encoder uses the key to map the additional information in at least one location in the content.

82. The system according to claim 79, wherein the encoder uses the key to determine the size of the additional information.

83. The system according to claim 82, wherein the size of the additional information is measured in bits.

84. The system according to claim 79, further comprising a key generator, wherein the key is derived from features of the content.

85. The system according to claim 84, wherein the key generator generates a key configured to be insensitive to the encoding process.

86. The system according to claim 79, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the title of the encoded content, the artist of the encoded content, terms of distribution of the encoded content, rights ownership identification of the encoded content, authorship identification of the encoded content, publication rights of the encoded content, ownership identification of the encoded content, and an audit trail of the encoded content.

87. The system according to claim 79, further comprising a key generator, wherein the key is random or pseudo random.

88. The system according to claim 79, wherein the additional information includes at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information for enabling use of the encoded content, meterware information for the use of the encoded content, pay-by-use information for the use of the encoded content, and payment information for access to the encoded content.

89. The system according to claim 79, wherein the additional information is encoded in at least two locations of the content;

and further comprising a decoder for decoding the additional information using said key to decode said additional information from at least one of the two locations of the content.

90. The system according to claim 79, wherein said additional information does not perceptibly affect the encoded content.

91. The system according to claim 90, wherein the content comprises at least one selected from the following group consisting of:

an analog waveform, discrete digital samples, a digital sample stream, and a compressed version of the encoded content.

92. The system according to claim 79, wherein the additional information contains a signed or encrypted watermark.

93. The system according to claim 79, wherein the encoder for encoding comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a steganographic encoder, an imperceptible encoder, a watermarking encoder, a steganographic cipher encoder, and an information hiding encoder.

94. The system according to claim 79, wherein the additional information is encoded such that tampering with the additional information causes artifacts in the encoded content.

95. The system according to claim 79, further comprising a generator for generating at least one key, wherein the key is unique to at least a portion of the additional information.

96. A system for encoding additional information into content, the system comprising:

a receiver for receiving content to be encoded; and

an encoder, said encoder comprising at least one of (1) a CPU and non transitory memory storing an encode algorithm and (2) hardwired circuitry designed to execute said encode algorithm, said encoder designed to use said encode algorithm for encoding the additional information into the content, wherein the encoding comprises a steganographic cipher process that uses at least one of a plurality of keys to generate at least one unique encoded copy of the content, and wherein the encoded additional information is unique to the encoded copy;

wherein the additional information includes a watermark comprising a one way function of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark, wherein the one way function is generated by a generator, said one way function configured to be insensitive to the encoding of the additional information;

further comprising a generator for generating a one way function selected from the following group consisting of;

a hash, a signature, a message digest and a certificate.

97. The system according to claim 96, further comprising a generator for generating a decode hash of at least a portion of the content that contains the watermark and comparing said encode hash to said decode hash.

98. A system for tamper proofing content, the system comprising:

a processor for calculating a one way function of additional information, the information comprising data to be encoded into the content and information based on the content, such that the one way function is insensitive to the changes introduced into the content by the encoding process; and

an encoder, said encoder comprising at least one of (1) a CPU and non transitory memory storing an encode algorithm and (2) hardwired circuitry designed to execute said encode algorithm, said encoder designed to use said encode algorithm for encoding the additional information into the content using a mapping function that selects one or more keys from a plurality of predetermined keys, and wherein the selected key comprises information derived from the encoding process.

99. The system according to claim 98, wherein the processor calculates a one way function selected from the following group consisting of:

a hash, a signature, a message digest, and a certificate.