Digital watermarking with variable orientation and protocols

• US 8,234,495 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poltorak, Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/145,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20090031134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 358/3.28, 713/176
• US Class Current: 713/176
• 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 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64707 for transferring content from a first network to a second network, e.g. between IP and wireless
• 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 7/162 Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing

Abstract

A method of digital watermarking selects a mapping of a digital watermark to audio or video content and an embedding gain to produce uniquely watermarked copies for distribution. The embedding method is implemented at points of distribution, including content servers or receivers. By applying varying mapping protocols and random gain, the digital watermark uniquely serializes copies. It also has a structure and embedding configuration that minimizes the effectiveness of collusion, averaging and over-embedding attacks.

Claims

1. A method of digital watermarking comprising:

receiving a media content signal;

generating a mapping for a digital watermark to be embedded in the media content signal, wherein the digital watermark is unique to a particular copy of the media content signal, wherein the mapping specifies a mapping of elements of the digital watermark to a pattern of samples in the media content signal, and wherein the mapping is generated as function of a variable associated with the distribution of the copy; and

embedding, using a processor, the digital watermark at the generated mapping in the media content signal, wherein the embedding comprises applying a different mapping for different copies of the media content signal, wherein the different mappings are based on unique information associated with the copies, and wherein a random amplitude gain is applied to the digital watermark to vary the presence of the digital watermark.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable comprises time or date.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable comprises an input to a pseudo-random.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding the digital watermark in an internet server when the different copies are distributed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the digital watermark comprises a distributor identifier, and wherein the digital watermark is unique to each of the different copies.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the samples comprise frequency domain samples.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the samples as a function of a starting state of the samples and as a function of a key.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory configured to store a media content signal; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive the media content signal;

generate a mapping for a digital watermark to be embedded in the media content signal, wherein the digital watermark is unique to a particular copy of the media content signal, wherein the mapping specifies a mapping of elements of the digital watermark to a pattern of samples in the media content signal, and wherein the mapping is generated as function of a variable associated with the distribution of the copy; and

embed the digital watermark at the generated mapping in the media content signal, wherein the embedding comprises applying a different mapping for different copies of the media content signal, wherein the different mappings are based on unique information associated with the different copies, and wherein a random amplitude gain is applied to the digital watermark to vary the presence of the digital watermark.

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

instructions to receive a media content signal;

instructions to generate a mapping for a digital watermark to be embedded in the media content signal, wherein the digital watermark is unique to a particular copy of the media content signal, wherein the mapping specifies a mapping of elements of the digital watermark to a pattern of samples in the media content signal, and wherein the mapping is generated as function of a variable associated with the distribution of the copy; and

instructions to embed the digital watermark at the generated mapping in the media content signal, wherein embedding comprises applying a different mapping for different copies of the media content signal, wherein the different mappings are based on unique information associated with the copies, and wherein a random amplitude gain is applied to the digital watermark to vary the presence of the digital watermark.