Variable message coding protocols for encoding auxiliary data in media signals

• US 8,094,877 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Sharma, Ravi K., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Bradley, Brett A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Tom Y
• Application Number:
  US12/858,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20110081041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0601 whereby calibration information is embedded in the watermark, e.g. a grid, a scale, a list of transformations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• 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 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/32352 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 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 2201/327 : 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

Abstract

Variable message coding protocols enable greater flexibility in encoding auxiliary data in media signals. One such protocol employs a version identifier that indicates the type of coding used to process an auxiliary data message before it is embedded in a host media signal. This version identifier specifies the type of error robustness coding applied to a variable message. The error robustness coding may be varied to alter the message payload capacity for different versions of auxiliary data embedding and reading systems. Another protocol uses control symbols to specify the format and variable length of the variable message.

Claims

1. A digital watermark encoder comprising:

an electronic memory;

a processor in communication with the electronic memory, the processor being configured to form a fixed message protocol portion and identify a version of a variable protocol portion;

wherein the processor is configured to form the variable message protocol portion having variable error robustness message coding format, wherein the version indicates the error robustness coding format of the variable protocol portion; and

wherein the processor is further configured to digitally watermark message symbols of the fixed and variable message protocol portions into a host media signal by altering features thereof, such that the message is substantially imperceptible in the host media signal.

2. The encoder of claim 1, wherein the error robustness coding format includes error correction coding.

3. The encoder of claim 2, wherein the error robustness coding format includes repetition coding of an error correction coded message.

4. The encoder of claim 3, wherein the repetition coding repeats certain error correction coded symbols differently than other error correction coded symbols.

5. The encoder of claim 1, wherein the fixed message portion includes fixed message symbols along with one or more variable symbols indicating the version of the variable protocol portion.

6. The encoder of claim 1, wherein the version indicates one or more parameters of the error robustness message coding format.

7. The encoder of claim 6, wherein the one or more parameters include a parameter of an error correction coding method.

8. The encoder of claim 6, wherein the version indicates a number of symbols in the variable protocol portion before the symbols are error robustness coded.

9. The encoder of claim 6, wherein the one or more parameters include a repetition indicator specifying a number of repetitions of a message in the variable protocol portion.

10. The encoder of claim 1, wherein the fixed protocol portion indicates a syntax of the variable message protocol.

11. A decoder for decoding a digital watermark having fixed and variable protocol message portions, the decoder comprising:

an electronic memory; and

a processor in communication with the electronic memory, wherein the processor is configured to extract a hidden message code that has been embedded in a host media signal by slight changes to features thereof, by evaluating the host media signal to compute the hidden message code having the fixed and variable message protocol portions;

wherein the processor is further configured to perform error robustness decoding of the fixed protocol portion of the extracted message code to produce one or more message symbols representing a version identifier;

wherein the processor is further configured to interpret the version identifier to ascertain a version of variable protocol used to embed the variable protocol portion; and

wherein the processor is further configured to perform an error robustness decoding as identified in the version to decode message symbols of the variable message protocol portion.

12. The decoder of claim 11, wherein the error robustness decoding includes error correction decoding specified by the version.

13. The decoder of claim 11, wherein the error robustness decoding includes a particular format of repetition coding specified by the version.

14. A message protocol encoder for steganographically encoding a variable message into a media signal, the encoder comprising:

an electronic memory; and

a processor in communication with the electronic memory, wherein the processor is configured to form a control message portion including at least one symbol that identifies the format of the variable message;

wherein the processor is further configured to form a variable message according to the format, wherein the format indicates a variable length of the variable message portion; and

wherein the processor is further configured to produce a media signal with the variable message steganographically encoded in the media signal through altered features thereof, such that the variable message is not discernable by a human but is readable by an automated reader.

15. The encoder of claim 14, wherein the format indicates how the variable message is repeated within the media signal.

16. The encoder of claim 15, wherein the format indicates how the variable message is repeated within a block of the media signal, wherein the block has a fixed size.

17. The encoder of claim 16, wherein the variable message is encoded into the fixed size blocks, which are tiled across the media signal.

18. The encoder of claim 14, wherein the media signal comprises an image.

19. The encoder of claim 14, wherein the control message carries information indicating a syntax of the variable message.

20. The encoder of claim 19, wherein the syntax indicates a symbol coding alphabet.

21. A message protocol decoder for decoding a steganographic message from a media signal, the decoder comprising:

an electronic memory; and

a processor in communication with the electronic memory, wherein the processor is configured to decode, from the media signal, a control message portion including at least one symbol that identifies the format of a variable message steganographically encoded in the media signal;

wherein the processor is further configured to decode a variable message according to the format, wherein the format indicates a variable length of the variable message portion; and

wherein the processor is further configured to decode, from the media signal, the variable message steganographically encoded in the media signal, wherein variable message is decoded from features of the media signal in which the variable message is not discernable by a human but is readable by an automated decoder.

22. The decoder of claim 21, wherein the format indicates how the variable message is repeated within the media signal.

23. The decoder of claim 21, wherein the format indicates how the variable message is repeated within a block of the media signal, wherein the block has a fixed size.

24. The decoder of claim 23, wherein the variable message is decoded from the fixed size blocks, which are tiled across the media signal.

25. The decoder of claim 21, wherein the media signal comprises an image.

26. The decoder of claim 21, wherein the control message carries information indicating a syntax of the variable message.

27. The decoder of claim 21, wherein the syntax indicates a symbol coding alphabet.