Methods for steganographic encoding media

• US 7,499,566 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns; Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US11/187,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050254684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 713/176, 380/201, 380/202, 380/203, 705/51, 705/57, 705/58
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• 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 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• 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: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• 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 1/00092 relating to the original or to the reproducing medium, e.g. imperfections or dirt detecting properties of a sheet H04N1/00681
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00859 Issuing an alarm or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00867 : with additional data, e.g. by adding a warning message details of embedding additional information in an image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0087 : with hidden additional data, e.g. data invisible to the human eye
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 : Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• 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 1/32203 : 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 1/32219 : involving changing the position of selected pixels, e.g. word shifting, or involving modulating the size of image components, e.g. of characters H04N1/32224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32261 : in binary data H04N1/32256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 : Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 : in colour image data
• 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 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 : using a plurality of different authentication information
• 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: Y10S 283/901 : Concealed data

Abstract

The present invention relates to digital watermarking and steganographic embedding. In one implementation a method is provided to help associate usage rights with media. The usage rights are used by a rights management system to control how the media is handled by the system. In response to the associating, an identifier is provided and embedded in the media in a steganographic manner.

Claims

1. A method utilizing steganographic embedding comprising:

associating usage fights with media, wherein the usage rights are to be used by a rights management system to control how the media is handled by the system;

in response to said associating, automatically providing an identifier; and

embedding—

through utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry—

the identifier in the media in a steganographic manner, said act of embedding alters at least some data representing the media to carry the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating usage rights with media comprises granting a user usage rights.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein granting a user usage rights follows a purchase of the media.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing a steganographic identifier comprises receiving an identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating the identifier with the media in a remote data repository.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the media with reference to at least the embedded identifier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein in addition to embedding the identifier, additional information is steganographically embedded in the media.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the other information comprises at least a time or manner of accessing the media.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said embedding the identifier in the media in a steganographic manner involves digital watermarking.

10. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the media comprises video or audio.

12. A method comprising:

associating usage rights with media, wherein the usage rights are to be used by a rights management system to control how the media is handled by the system;

in response to said associating, automatically providing an identifier; and

hiding the identifier in the media in a steganographic manner, said act of hiding utilizes a processor or electronic processing circuitry, and said act of hiding alters at least some data representing the media to carry the identifier.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said act of hiding utilizes digital watermarking.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the digital watermarking alters values associated with the media to hide the identifier therein.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 12.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the media comprises video or audio.

17. A method comprising:

querying a rights management system to register media therein,

designating desired usage rights for the media, wherein the usage rights are to be used by a rights management system to control how the media is handled by the system;

in response to said designating, receiving without requiring user or operator input a plural-bit identifier; and

hiding—

through utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry—

the plural-bit identifier in the media in a steganographic manner.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said act of hiding utilizes digital watermarking.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the digital watermarking alters values associated with the media to hide the identifier therein.

20. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 17.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the media comprises video or audio.