Content source identification using matrix barcode

• US 9,367,669 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dish Technologies LLC (Dish Network Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Gratton, Max S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, KARI L
• Application Number:
  US13/035,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 726/4, 726/9, 726/27, 726/28, 726/32, 726/34, 726/35, 726/3, 348/441, 348/564, 713/170, 713/185, 380/277
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8352 involving content or source identification data, e.g. Unique Material Identifier [UMID]
• 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 5/931 for restoring the level of the reproduced signal

Abstract

A system for fingerprinting audiovisual content. The system includes a content receiver and a display device in communication with the content receiver. The content receiver is configured to receive a video signal, where the video signal includes audiovisual content. The content receiver may then be configured to generate a matrix barcode that includes identification data. The content receiver is also configured to create a fingerprinted content that includes the audiovisual content from the video signal and the matrix barcode. The content receiver may then be configured to output the fingerprinted content. The display device is configured receive the fingerprinted content form the content receiver. Also, the display device is configured to display the fingerprinted content.

Claims

1. A method for fingerprinting content, comprising:

receiving content at a content receiving device from a broadcasting source, wherein the content receiving device is a set-top box, a television receiver, a digital video recorder, or a computer;

analyzing, by the content receiving device, the received content;

identifying, by the content receiving device, an original matrix barcode that identifies an owner of the received content;

removing the original matrix barcode from the received content;

extracting content data from the original matrix barcode;

subsequent to the extraction, generating, by the content receiving device, a replacement matrix barcode encoding the extracted content data as well as receiver data corresponding to the content receiving device;

inserting, by the content receiving device, the replacement matrix barcode into the received content at the same position as was located the original matrix barcode to produce modified content; and

outputting, by the content receiving device, the modified content for display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacement matrix barcode is inserted in multiple positions of the modified content to be displayed periodically as the modified content is displayed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the replacement matrix barcode is inserted once into the modified content to be displayed in a single frame of the modified content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the matrix barcode is inserted in multiple frames of the modified content to be displayed on multiple sequential frames of the modified content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content receiving device is a television receiver.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content data comprises at least one of:

a title of the content;

a content owner name; and

a content provider name.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver data comprises at least one of:

receiver identification information;

account information corresponding to an account for receiving content; and

a time the content was received at the content receiver.

8. A content receiver, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a video signal comprising audiovisual content, wherein the receiver is a set-top box, a television receiver, a digital video recorder, or a computer;

an analyzer that analyzes the received audiovisual content to locate an original matrix barcode that identifies an owner of the received audiovisual content;

an extractor that extracts content data from the original matrix barcode;

a matrix barcode generator that produces a replacement matrix barcode comprising the extracted content data as well as receiver data identifying the content receiver;

a fingerprinter that produces fingerprinted content comprising the analyzed audiovisual content and the replacement matrix barcode; and

an output configured to output the fingerprinted content.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the content receiver is a television receiver.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the extracted content data includes a content owner identity and a content provider identity.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the receiver data comprises an identification number for the content receiver and user identity for a user account associated with the content receiver.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the fingerprinted content further comprises a second replacement matrix barcode positioned in an additional position within the fingerprinted content.

13. A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver including processor-readable instructions, which when executed cause one or more processors to:

analyze received content from a broadcasting source;

locate an original matrix barcode that identifies an owner of the received content;

remove the original matrix barcode from the received content;

extract content data from the original matrix barcode;

subsequent to the extraction, generate a replacement matrix barcode encoding the extracted content data as well as receiver data corresponding to the content receiver;

insert the replacement matrix barcode into the received content at the same position as was located the original matrix barcode to produce modified content; and

output the modified content for display.

14. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the replacement matrix barcode is inserted in multiple positions of the modified content to be displayed periodically as the modified content is displayed.

15. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the replacement matrix barcode is inserted once into the modified content to be displayed in a single frame of the modified content.

16. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the matrix barcode is inserted in multiple frames of the modified content to be displayed on multiple sequential frames of the modified content.

17. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the content receiver is a television receiver.

18. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the extracted content data includes a content owner identity and a content provider identity.

19. The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of a content receiver of claim 13, wherein the receiver data comprises an identification number for the content receiver and user identity for a user account associated with the content receiver.