Watermark decoding from streaming media

• US 8,126,201 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Davidson, Clayton L., Kumar, Aruna B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US12/698,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20110033081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/181, 382/190, 382/232, 382/305, 382/307
• US Class Current: 382/100
• 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: 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: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32192 according to calculated or estimated visibility of the additional information in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32229 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 in colour image data
• 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 2201/3284 for error correction

Abstract

This patent document details, e.g., claims and systems for watermark decoding from streaming media signals. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for buffering a streaming media signal; one or more electronic processors programmed for: ranking buffered portions of the media signal in terms of their ability to hide steganographic indicia; detecting steganographic indicia from relatively higher-ranked portions of the streaming media signal before attempting to detect from relatively lower-ranked portions; and carrying out an action based at least in part on detection of the steganographic indicia. Of course, other claims and disclosure are provided too.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

memory configured to buffer streaming content representing a media signal;

one or more processors configured to;

select certain portions of the buffered streaming content based on predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one of signal energy or color information;

detect steganographic indicia from selected portions of streaming content; and

carry out an action based at least in part on detection of the steganographic indicia.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media signal comprises an image, audio or video and the criteria comprises a noisy signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the steganographic indicia comprises digital watermarking.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising ranking buffered portions in terms of their steganographic indicia detectability.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the action comprises accessing metadata associated with the media signal or steganographic indicia.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein steganographic indicia detection is performed in association with a device driver as the media signal is passed from an application program to a device, wherein the device driver includes 16 bit code, wherein the steganographic indicia detection is implemented in 32 bit code, and wherein the steganographic indicia detection is invoked from the 16 bit code through an application programming interface of the 32 bit code.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the 16 bit code passes data to the 32 bit code over a 16 to 32 bit bridge, and wherein the bridge comprises code enabling the 32 bit code to access data structures in the 16 bit code.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein buffered selected portions represent audible portions or video picture portions of the streaming content.

8. An apparatus comprising:

memory configured to buffer a streaming media signal;

one or more processors configured to;

rank buffered portions of the media signal in terms of their ability to hide steganographic indicia;

detect steganographic indicia from relatively higher-ranked portions of the streaming media signal before attempting to detect from relatively lower-ranked portions; and

carry out an action based at least in part on detection of the steganographic indicia.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein portions are ranked based on a relationship with characteristics associated with steganographic indicia.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein portions are ranked based a predetermined signal criteria.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein steganographic indicia detection is performed in association with a device driver as the media signal is passed from an application program to a device, wherein the device driver includes 16 bit code, wherein the steganographic indicia detection is implemented in 32 bit code, and wherein the steganographic indicia detection is invoked from the 16 bit code through an application programming interface of the 32 bit code.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the 16 bit code passes data to the 32 bit code over a 16 to 32 bit bridge, and the bridge includes code enabling the 32 bit code to access data structures in the 16 bit code.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the action comprises accessing metadata associated with the media signal or the steganographic indicia.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the action comprises communicating at least a portion of the steganographic indicia to a network resource.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the steganographic indicia comprises digital watermarking.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein buffered portions of the media signal represent audible portions or video picture portions of the streaming media signal.

18. A method comprising:

buffering streaming content representing a media signal;

selecting, using a processor, certain portions of the buffered streaming content based on predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises one of signal energy or color information;

detecting steganographic indicia from selected portions of streaming content; and

carrying out an action based at least in part on detection of the steganographic indicia.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the media signal comprises an image, audio or video and the criteria comprises a noisy signal.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the steganographic indicia comprises digital watermarking.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising ranking buffered portions in terms of their steganographic indicia detectability.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the action comprises accessing metadata associated with the media signal or steganographic indicia.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein buffered selected portions represent audible portions or video picture portions of the streaming content.