Program encoding and counterfeit tracking system and method
First Claim
1. A method for uniquely identifying a copy of an audio-visual program recorded in an electronic recording medium or optically recorded form, said, the method comprising:
- selecting a master version of an the audio-visual program to be copied;
making at least one copy of the master version of an the audio-visual program such that each respective copy includes its own unique identification;
and wherein the master version of the audio-visual program comprises a sequence of frames of images, and wherein the making of the respective copy of the master version of the audio-visual program further comprises embedding the unique identification into respective copy of the audio-visual program by performing the following steps;
embedding the unique identification into each copy of the audio-visual program when making each copy of the audio-visual program by performing the following steps;
(a) altering visible images appearing at selected ones of a plurality of different locations in said master version of an audio-visual program by enlarging an image in at least one frame in each of said selected locations; and
(b) selecting said ones of said locations in each copy to create a unique pattern of enlarged images in each copy to uniquely identify each copygenerating by a computing device an identifier using a random number generator;
selecting by the computing device a plurality of different locations in the sequences of frames according to the identifier;
enlarging by the computing device at least one frame in each of the plurality of locations in the sequence of frames in the copy according to the identifier;
creating by the computing device a unique pattern of enlarged frames in the sequence of frames in the copy; and
storing by the computing device an identity of a recipient of the copy and the unique pattern.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Unique encoding of each of a substantial number of distribution video copies of a program such as a motion picture is produced by altering the images slightly at several pre-selected locations in the program in a uniquely coded pattern. Suspected counterfeits can be compared with an unaltered master video to determine the encoded number for the copy which was counterfeited to enable tracking the source of the counterfeit. Preferably, each frame of several whole scenes is altered at each location by shifting an image so as to make the alterations largely undetectable by counterfeiters but easily detected by comparison with an unaltered master video. Artifacts are inserted in patterns representing a unique number for the program. These supplement the encoding by alteration of images and gives added means to aid in tracing counterfeit copies.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for uniquely identifying a copy of an audio-visual program recorded in an electronic recording medium or optically recorded form, said, the method comprising:
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selecting a master version of an the audio-visual program to be copied; making at least one copy of the master version of an the audio-visual program such that each respective copy includes its own unique identification;
and wherein the master version of the audio-visual program comprises a sequence of frames of images, and wherein the making of the respective copy of the master version of the audio-visual program further comprises embedding the unique identification into respective copy of the audio-visual program by performing the following steps;embedding the unique identification into each copy of the audio-visual program when making each copy of the audio-visual program by performing the following steps; (a) altering visible images appearing at selected ones of a plurality of different locations in said master version of an audio-visual program by enlarging an image in at least one frame in each of said selected locations; and (b) selecting said ones of said locations in each copy to create a unique pattern of enlarged images in each copy to uniquely identify each copy generating by a computing device an identifier using a random number generator; selecting by the computing device a plurality of different locations in the sequences of frames according to the identifier; enlarging by the computing device at least one frame in each of the plurality of locations in the sequence of frames in the copy according to the identifier; creating by the computing device a unique pattern of enlarged frames in the sequence of frames in the copy; and storing by the computing device an identity of a recipient of the copy and the unique pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions which when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method for uniquely identifying a copy of an audio-visual program, the method comprising:
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selecting a master version of the audio-visual program to be copied; making at least one copy of the master version of the audio-visual program such that each respective copy includes its own unique identification, wherein the master version of the audio-visual program comprises a sequence of frames of images, and wherein the making of the respective copy of the master version of the audio-visual program further comprises embedding the unique identification into the respective copy of the audio-visual program by; generating an identifier using a random number generator; selecting by the computing device, a plurality of different locations in the sequences of frames according to the identifier; enlarging at least one frame in each of the plurality of locations in the sequence of frames in the copy according to the identifier; creating a unique pattern of enlarged frames in the sequence of frames in the copy; and storing an identity of a recipient of the copy and the unique pattern. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A computing device, comprising:
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at least one server; and a non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions which when executed by the at least one server, causes the at least one server to perform; selecting a master version of an audio-visual program to be copied; making at least one copy of the master version of the audio-visual program such that each respective copy includes its own unique identification, wherein the master version of the audio-visual program comprises a sequence of frames of images, and wherein the making of the respective copy of the master version of the audio-visual program further comprises embedding the unique identification into the respective copy of the audio-visual program by; generating an identifier using a random number generator; selecting, by the computing device, a plurality of different locations in the sequences of frames according to the identifier; enlarging at least one frame in each of the plurality of locations in the sequence of frames in the copy according to the identifier; creating a unique pattern of enlarged frames in the sequence of frames in the copy; and storing an identity of a recipient of the copy and the unique pattern. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification