Securing media content with steganographic encoding

• US 7,248,717 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso; Jose L.
• Application Number:
  US11/191,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20050286736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 235/494, 356/71, 340/5.6, 340/5.86, 348/460, 348/473, 348/475, 358/3.28, 358/426.02, 358/426.12, 380/42, 380/51, 380/200, 380/210, 380232-234, 380/247, 380/255, 380275-285, 380/53, 380/59, 370527-529, 705/44, 705/58, 704/273, 707/9, 707/101, 713/168
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0057 Compression invariant watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 : Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32154 : Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32229 : with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32299 : using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 : for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 : involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 : for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4405 : involving video stream decryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44204 : Monitoring of content usage, e.g. the number of times a movie has been viewed, copied or the amount which has been watched monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; protecting generic digital content where the protection is independent of the precise nature of the content G06F21/10; arrangements for monitoring the use made of the broadcast services in broadcast systems H04H60/31
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44236 : Monitoring of piracy processes or activities protecting computer platforms against harmful, malicious or unexpected behaviour or activities using intrusion detection and counter measures G06F21/566; computer virus detection and handling G06F21/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8355 : involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
• 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 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/323 : for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 : of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3284 : for error correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/1675 : Providing digital key or authorisation information for generation or regeneration of the scrambling sequence pseudo-random number generators in general G06F7/58

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to provide security for audio or image content are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving audio or image content and steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content. The auxiliary information carries or links to permitted usage rights that are associated with the audio or image content.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving audio or image content;

steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content,

wherein the steganographic encoding includes a local strength that varies in accordance with perceptual attributes of the audio or image content, and

wherein the auxiliary information indicates permitted usage rights associated with the audio or image content; and

distributing the steganographically encoded audio or image content.

2. A data structure stored in a memory device, wherein the data structure comprises the steganographically encoded audio or image content distributed according to claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said distributing comprises communicating the steganographically encoded audio or image content over a network.

4. A method of controlling use of audio or image content comprising:

receiving audio or image content including steganographic encoding therein, the steganographic encoding including a local strength that varies in accordance with perceptual attributes of the audio or image content, and the auxiliary information indicates permitted usage rights associated with the audio or image content;

decoding the steganographic encoding there from to obtain the auxiliary information;

determining the permitted usage rights; and

controlling use of the audio or image content in accordance with the permitted usage rights.

5. A method comprising:

receiving data representing audio or image content;

steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the data representing audio or image content,

wherein the auxiliary information is redundantly embedded in the data representing audio or image content according to different embedding forms, and

wherein said auxiliary information indicates permitted usage rights associated with the audio or image content; and

distributing the steganographically encoded audio or image content.

6. A data structure stored in a memory device, wherein the data structure comprises the steganographically encoded audio or image content distributed according to the method of claim 5.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the different embedding forms are determined according to a key.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said distributing comprises communicating the steganographically encoded audio or image content over a network.

9. A method of controlling use of audio or image content comprising:

receiving audio or image content including steganographic encoding therein, the steganographic encoding comprising auxiliary information redundantly embedded in data representing the audio or image content according to different embedding forms, and the auxiliary information indicating permitted usage rights associated with the audio or image content;

decoding the steganographic encoding there from to obtain the auxiliary information;

determining the permitted usage rights from the auxiliary information; and

controlling use of the audio or image content in accordance with the permitted usage rights.

10. A method comprising:

receiving audio or image content;

steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content,

wherein the steganographic encoding includes a local strength that varies in accordance with perceptual attributes of the audio or image content, and

wherein the auxiliary information refers to an on-line resource that includes usage rights associated with the audio or image content; and

distributing the steganographically encoded audio or image content.

11. A data structure stored in a memory device, wherein the data structure comprises the steganographically encoded audio or image content distributed according to claim 10.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said distributing comprises communicating the steganographically encoded content over a network.

13. A method of controlling use of audio or image content comprising:

receiving audio or image content including steganographic encoding, the steganographic encoding including a local strength that varies in accordance with perceptual attributes of the audio or image content, and the auxiliary information referring to an on-line resource that includes usage rights associated with the audio or image content;

decoding the steganographic encoding from audio or image content to obtain the auxiliary information;

communicating with the on-line resource referred to by the auxiliary information;

obtaining the permitted usage rights from the on-line resource; and

controlling use of the audio or image content in accordance with the permitted usage rights.

14. A method comprising:

receiving audio or image data, wherein the audio or image data comprises header information associated therewith;

steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content,

wherein the auxiliary information corresponds to at least a portion of the header information, and

wherein the auxiliary information and the at least a portion of the header information indicate permitted usage rights associated with the audio or image content; and

encrypting the steganographically encoded audio or image content.

15. A method comprising:

obtaining audio or image content;

steganographically encoding auxiliary information in the audio or image content,

wherein the auxiliary information refers to a data structure that includes usage rights associated with the audio or image content; and

distributing the steganographically encoded audio or image content.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the data structure comprises an on-line resource.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the usage rights comprise license information.

18. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored therein to perform the method of claim 15.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the auxiliary information is steganographically encoded in the audio or image content through alterations to data representing the audio or image content.