Watermark and fingerprint systems for media

• US 9,843,846 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L., Perry, Burt W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Alvin L
• Application Number:
  US10/028,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,835 Days
• Field of Search: 705 14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• 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

Abstract

A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for selectively incorporating promotional messages into rendered video content, monitoring whether promotional messages are rendered or skipped, permitting payment for content upon rendering rather than receipt, controlling rendering of video to include or omit adult-themed sections, confirming a person'"'"'s age by reference to a watermarked identification document, and watermarking digital cinema projections.

Claims

1. A method of video content delivery comprising:

receiving from an electronic communication network, using one or more electronic processors, entertainment video content comprising at least one watermark;

receiving from the electronic communication network a promotional message that is separate from the entertainment video content;

detecting a watermark calibration signal using a hardware decoder in the one or more electronic processors, to locate the at least one watermark in the entertainment video content;

selecting, using the one or more electronic processors, the promotional message based upon at least the located at least one watermark; and

embedding, using the one or more electronic processors, the selected promotional message into the entertainment video content at a location based upon at least the at least one watermark.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the promotional message based at least upon the located at least one watermark comprises selecting the promotional message based at least upon a time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rendering at least a portion of the entertainment video content;

rendering the promotional message;

determining if the promotional message was completely rendered; and

charging for the rendering of the at least a portion of the entertainment video content based at least upon the determining if the promotional message was completely rendered.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entertainment video content comprises a plurality of watermarks including the at least one watermark, wherein the sensing the at least one watermark comprises sensing two or more of the plurality of watermarks, wherein the method further comprises:

determining to insert the promotional message based at least upon a number of sensed watermarks.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the promotional message based at least upon the sensed at least one watermark comprises selecting a personalized promotional message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one watermark indicates a programming subject of the entertainment video content, and wherein the selecting the promotional message based at least upon the sensed at least one watermark comprises selecting the promotional message based at least upon the indicated programming subject.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an on-screen signal with the entertainment content to indicate that an opportunity exists for the user to earn credit by viewing additional information.

2. A system comprising:

one or more electronic processors configured to;

receive video entertainment content from an electronic communication network, wherein the video entertainment content comprises at least one watermark;

receive from the electronic communication network a promotional message that is separate from the entertainment video content;

detecting a watermark calibration signal with a hardware decoder to locate the at least one watermark in the entertainment video content;

select the promotional message based at least upon the located at least one watermark; and

embed the selected promotional message into the entertainment video content at a location based at least upon the at least one watermark.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to determine a reward for rendering the promotional message, wherein the reward comprises a discount for a product promoted by the promotional message.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to display an on-screen signal with the entertainment content to indicate that an opportunity exists for the user to earn credit by viewing additional information.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to select the promotional message based at least upon a time.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to:

render at least a portion of the entertainment video content;

render the promotional message;

determine if the promotional message was completely rendered; and

charge for the rendering of the at least a portion of the entertainment video content based at least upon the determining if the promotional message was completely rendered.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the entertainment video content comprises a plurality of watermarks including the at least one watermark, wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to:

sense two or more of the plurality of watermarks; and

determine to insert the promotional message based upon at least a number of sensed watermarks.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the promotional message comprises a personalized promotional message.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one watermark indicates a programming subject of the entertainment video content, and wherein the one or more electronic processors are further configured to determine the promotional message based in part on the programming subject.

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

instructions to receive entertainment video content from an electronic communication network, wherein the entertainment video content comprises at least one watermark;

instructions to receive, from the electronic communication network, a promotional message that is separate from the entertainment video content;

instructions to detect a watermark calibration signal using a hardware decoder, in the at least one watermark in the entertainment video content;

instructions to select the promotional message based upon at least the at least one watermark; and

instructions to embed the promotional message into the entertainment video content at a location based upon at least the at least one watermark.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions to select the promotional message based upon at least the sensed at least one watermark comprises instructions to select the promotional message based upon at least a time.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

instructions to render at least a portion of the entertainment video content;

instructions to render the promotional message;

instructions to determine if the promotional message was completely rendered; and

instructions to charge for the rendering of the at least a portion of the entertainment video content based at least upon the determining if the promotional message was completely rendered.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the entertainment video content comprises a plurality of watermarks including the at least one watermark, wherein the sensing the at least one watermark comprises sensing two or more of the plurality of watermarks, wherein the instructions further comprises:

instructions to determine to insert the promotional message based upon at least a number of sensed watermarks.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the at least one watermark indicates a programming subject of the entertainment video content, and wherein the instructions to select the promotional message based upon at least the sensed at least one watermark comprises instructions to select the promotional message based upon at least the indicated programming subject.