Audio processing

• US 8,073,933 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Viet
• Application Number:
  US12/755,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/227, 709/228, 709/230, 709/231, 709/236, 709/250
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0057 Compression invariant watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 : Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 : visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 : using holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 : using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 : using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 : Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 : Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00094 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 : involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 : involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/665 : using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/00 : Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 : characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 : the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• 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 21/8358 : 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 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• 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 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

The presently claimed invention relates generally to processing streaming audio signals. One claim recites a method including: using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing a streaming audio signal to obtain identifying information therefrom; providing the identifying information to a remotely located database, the database including a plurality of records that associate identifying information with pointers; receiving from the database a pointer corresponding to the provided identifying information; using the pointer to establish communication with a remote website including information associated with the audio signal; and providing an audible tone to a user in association with at least one of the foregoing. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing, using a processor, data representing audible portions of a streaming audio signal to obtain identifying information;

providing the identifying information to a remotely located database, wherein the database includes a plurality of records that associate the identifying information with pointers;

receiving from the database a pointer corresponding to the provided identifying information;

using the pointer to establish communication with a remote website, wherein the website includes information associated with the audio signal; and

providing an audible tone in association with at least one of the foregoing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pointer comprises at least one of a uniform resource locator (URL), IP address or network address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the audible tone is provided in association with analyzing the streaming audio signal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing data representing audible portions of the streaming audio signal comprises using pattern matching.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing data representing audible portions of the streaming audio signal comprises performing a transform domain analysis.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing data representing audible portions of the streaming audio signal comprises using digital watermark decoding.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to buffer data representing audible portions of a streaming audio signal; and

a processor configured to;

analyze the data to obtain identifying information;

provide the identifying information to a remotely located database, wherein the database includes a plurality of records that associate identifying information with pointers;

obtain from the database a pointer corresponding to the provided identifying information;

establish communication with a remote website using the pointer, wherein the website includes information associated with the audio signal; and

control the provision of an audible tone in association with at least one of the foregoing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pointer comprises at least one of a uniform resource locator (URL), IP address or network address.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to provided the audible tone in association with analyzing the streaming audio signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to use pattern matching to analyze the data to obtain identifying information.

17. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a transform domain analysis to analyze the data to obtain the identifying information.

18. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processor is further configured to use digital watermarking decoding to analyze the data to obtain the identifying information.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to analyze data representing audible portions of a streaming audio signal to obtain identifying information;

instructions to provide the identifying information to a remotely located database, wherein the database includes a plurality of records that associate identifying information with pointers;

instructions to obtain from the database a pointer corresponding to the provided identifying information;

instructions to establish communication with a remote website using the pointer, wherein the website includes information associated with the audio signal; and

instructions to control the provision of an audible tone in association with at least one of the foregoing.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the pointer comprises at least one of a uniform resource locator (URL), IP address or network address.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the audible tone is provided in association with analyzing the streaming audio signal.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions to analyze the data representing audible portions of the streaming audio comprise instructions to use pattern matching.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions to analyze the data representing audible portions of the streaming audio comprise instructions to perform a transform domain analysis.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions to analyze the data representing audible portions of the streaming audio comprise instructions to decode a digital watermark.