Benchmarks for digital watermarking

• US 8,051,295 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Bradley, Brett Alan, Brunk, Hugh L., Hannigan, Brett T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zand; Kambiz
• Assistant Examiner(s): POWERS, WILLIAM S
• Application Number:
  US12/582,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0042 Fragile watermarking, e.g. so as to detect tampering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32154 Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• 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

Abstract

The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking of data, e.g., representing video or audio. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing video or audio; using a multi-purpose electronic processor programmed for: transforming the data into a transform domain, analyzing the transformed data to identify a plurality of transform coefficients according to predetermined criteria, and altering the identified plurality of transform coefficients to carry a digital watermark; and analyzing the data to determine a baseline state for the digital watermark. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided too.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining data representing video or audio at a watermark encoder;

transforming the data into a transform domain;

analyzing the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients according to a predetermined criteria;

altering the plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a digital watermark; and

analyzing the data that is carrying the digital watermark to determine a metric.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transforming the data that is carrying the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

analyzing the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

altering the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second digital watermark comprises a fragile watermark.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data that is carrying the digital watermark is analyzed after the data is rendered.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transforming the data without the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

analyzing the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

altering the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital watermark comprises a payload that indicates at least one of a type of the data, an indication of how the metric was calculated, a location of a second digital watermark, a trace identifier, a link to a network resource, a type of data creation device, an orientation of the data or a multibit payload message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the payload is encrypted.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital watermark is determined based on at least one of a perceptual analysis of a media signal, a mask, a human visual consideration, a robustness requirement, or a required signal gain.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of an indication of a content of the data or a perceptual hash of the data.

11. A method comprising:

obtaining data representing video or audio at a watermark encoder;

compressing the data by transforming the data into a transform domain;

analyzing the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients; and

altering the plurality of transform coefficients to carry a digital watermark, in which the digital watermark is provided so as to allow detection of signal compression.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

13. A method comprising:

obtaining data representing video or audio at a receiver, wherein the data comprises a digital watermark;

decoding the digital watermark at the receiver;

decoding a first metric from the digital watermark;

measuring a second metric from the data representing the video or audio; and

generating an indication about the data based on a comparison of the first metric and the second metric wherein the indication indicates at least one of an authentic data source, an unaltered state, a quality measurement of the data, or a type of rendering device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the indication comprises a measurement of a tolerance between the first metric and the second metric.

15. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to

obtain data representing video or audio; and

a watermark encoder operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to

transform the data into a transform domain,

analyze the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients according to a predetermined criteria,

alter the plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a digital watermark; and

analyze the data that is carrying the digital watermark to determine a metric.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a second watermark encoder operatively coupled to the receiver and the watermark encoder, configured to;

transform the data that is carrying the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

analyze the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

alter the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the second digital watermark is a fragile watermark.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the data that is carrying the digital watermark is analyzed after the data is rendered.

20. The device of claim 15, further comprising:

a second watermark encoder operatively coupled to the receiver and the watermark encoder, configured to;

transform the data without the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

analyze the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

alter the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the digital watermark comprises a payload that indicates at least one of a type of the data, an indication of how the metric was calculated, a location of a second digital watermark, a trace identifier, a link to a network resource, a type of data creation device, an orientation of the data or a multibit payload message.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the payload is encrypted.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the digital watermark is determined based on at least one of a perceptual analysis of a media signal, a mask, a human visual consideration, a robustness requirement, or a required signal gain.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of an indication of a content of the data or a perceptual hash of the data.

25. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to

obtain data representing video or audio; and

a watermark encoder operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to

compress the data by transforming the data into a transform domain,

analyze the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients, and

alter the plurality of transform coefficients to carry a digital watermark, in which the digital watermark is provided so as to allow detection of signal compression.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

27. A device comprising:

a receiver configured to

obtain data representing video or audio comprising a digital watermark; and

a watermark decoder operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to

decode the digital watermark;

decode a first metric from the digital watermark;

measure a second metric from the data representing the video or audio; and

generate an indication about the data based on a comparison of the first metric and the second metric wherein the indication indicates at least one of an authentic data source, an unaltered state, a quality measurement of the data, or a type of rendering device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the indication comprises a measurement of a tolerance between the first metric and the second metric.

29. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to obtain data representing video or audio;

instructions to transform the data into a transform domain;

instructions to analyze the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients according to a predetermined criteria;

instructions to alter the plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a digital watermark; and

instructions to analyze the data that is carrying the digital watermark to determine a metric.

30. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

31. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, further comprising:

instructions to transform the data that is carrying the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

instructions to analyze the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

instructions to alter the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

32. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 31, wherein the second digital watermark is a fragile watermark.

33. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the data that is carrying the digital watermark is analyzed after the data is rendered.

34. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, further comprising:

instructions to transform the data without the digital watermark into a second transform domain;

instructions to analyze the second transform domain to identify a second plurality of transform coefficients according to a second predetermined criteria;

instructions to alter the second plurality of transform coefficients to cause the data to carry a second digital watermark wherein the second digital watermark comprises the metric.

35. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the digital watermark comprises a payload that indicates at least one of a type of the data, an indication of how the metric was calculated, a location of a second digital watermark, a trace identifier, a link to a network resource, a type of data creation device, an orientation of the data or a multibit payload message.

36. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 35, wherein the payload is encrypted.

37. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the digital watermark is determined based on at least one of a perceptual analysis of a media signal, a mask, a human visual consideration, a robustness requirement, or a required signal gain.

38. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least one of an indication of a content of the data or a perceptual hash of the data.

39. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to obtain data representing video or audio; and

instructions to compress the data by transforming the data into a transform domain,

instructions to analyze the transform domain to identify a plurality of transform coefficients, and

instructions to alter the plurality of transform coefficients to carry a digital watermark, in which the digital watermark is provided so as to allow detection of signal compression.

40. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 39, wherein the digital watermark comprises a calibration signal.

41. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to obtain data representing video or audio comprising a digital watermark; and

instructions to decode the digital watermark;

instructions to decode a first metric from the digital watermark;

instructions to measure a second metric from the data representing the video or audio; and

instructions to generate an indication about the data based on a comparison of the first metric and the second metric wherein the indication indicates at least one of an authentic data source, an unaltered state, a quality measurement of the data, or a type of rendering device.

42. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 41, wherein the indication comprises a measurement of a tolerance between the first metric and the second metric.