Method and apparatus for establishing an accurate low bit time stamp in a remotely created watermark
First Claim
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1. A method for time stamping a retrieved version of a media program, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a media program in a receiver remote from a headend, the media program having a first watermark including a time stamp describing a media program temporal datum to a first temporal resolution;
storing the media program;
retrieving the stored media program;
reading the first time stamp of the first watermark of the retrieved media program;
computing a second time stamp from the temporal difference between a time at which the media program is retrieved from storage and the media program temporal datum, the second time stamp having a second temporal resolution greater than the first temporal resolution;
generating a second watermark having the second time stamp;
embedding the second watermark in the retrieved media program; and
providing the media program and the embedded second watermark to a device external to the receiver.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for placing a time stamp in a remotely applied watermark is disclosed. The method permits a time stamp of high resolution to be added remotely while minimizing the number of bits necessary in the time stamp.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for time stamping a retrieved version of a media program, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a media program in a receiver remote from a headend, the media program having a first watermark including a time stamp describing a media program temporal datum to a first temporal resolution; storing the media program; retrieving the stored media program; reading the first time stamp of the first watermark of the retrieved media program; computing a second time stamp from the temporal difference between a time at which the media program is retrieved from storage and the media program temporal datum, the second time stamp having a second temporal resolution greater than the first temporal resolution; generating a second watermark having the second time stamp; embedding the second watermark in the retrieved media program; and providing the media program and the embedded second watermark to a device external to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for time stamping a retrieved version of a media program, comprising:
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means for receiving a media program in a receiver remote from a headend, the media program having a first watermark including a time stamp describing a media program temporal datum to a first temporal resolution; means for storing the media program; means for retrieving the stored media program; means for reading the first time stamp of the first watermark of the retrieved media program; means for computing a second time stamp from the temporal difference between a time at which the media program is retrieved from storage and the media program temporal datum, the second time stamp having a second temporal resolution greater than the first temporal resolution; means for generating a second watermark having the second time stamp; means for embedding the second watermark in the retrieved media program; and means for providing the media program and the embedded second watermark to a device external to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for time stamping a retrieved version of a media program, comprising:
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a receiver, comprising; a tuner for receiving a media program in a receiver remote from a headend disposed remotely from the receiver, the media program having a first watermark including a time stamp describing a media program temporal datum to a first temporal resolution; a video storage device for storing the media program in the receiver and for retrieving the stored media program; a watermark module, for reading the first time stamp of the first watermark of the retrieved media program, for computing a second time stamp from the temporal difference between a time that the stored media program is retrieved from storage and the media program temporal datum, the second time stamp having a second temporal resolution greater than the first temporal resolution, for generating a second watermark having the second time stamp, and for embedding the second watermark in the retrieved media program; and means for providing the media program and the embedded second watermark to a device external to the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification