Deriving attributes from images, audio or video to obtain metadata

• US 7,590,259 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Levy, Kenneth L., Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns; Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US11/927,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 382/313, 382/317, 713/176, 380/210, 380/287, 380/54, 455/3.01, 455/3.06, 725/62
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/48 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/68 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/687 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• 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 19/18 Constructional details
• 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 20/341 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 : Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 : Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 : Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 : visually
• 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 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• 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 15/26 : Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00007 : Time or data compression or expansion audio compression based on psychoacoustics G10L19/00; data processing for reproducing audio data at different playback speeds G10L21/04; video compression H04N19/00; data compression per se H03M7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 : Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00115 : wherein the record carrier stores a unique medium identifier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00181 : using a content identifier, e.g. an international standard recording code [ISRC] or a digital object identifier [DOI]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0071 : involving a purchase action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 : involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 : Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10546 : specifically adapted for audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 : using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 : which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/82 : the transmission system being the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 : Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/75 : Media network packet handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/756 : adapting media to device capabilities
• 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 1/00973 : from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32106 : separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
• 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 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• 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 1/3216 : 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 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• 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 1/32352 : 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 19/61 : in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 : Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/435 : Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 : involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• 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 21/84 : Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• 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 2201/3276 : of a customised additional information profile, e.g. a profile specific to a user ID
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to obtaining metadata associated with images, audio and video. Once claim recites a method including: obtaining data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of an image or video or representing audible portions of an audio signal; computing attributes of the data using a processor, said act of computing utilizes the processor to operate on the data; using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content; obtaining metadata associated with the media content; and providing the metadata to the handheld device from a network resource. Other combinations and claims are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image or video from a process in a handheld device;

computing attributes of the image or video, said act of computing operates on data representing picture elements of the image or video;

using said computed attributes of the image or video to identify the image or video or to identify metadata associated with the image or video in a network resource;

retrieving metadata associated with the image or video in the network resource; and

providing the metadata for output or display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises metadata selected from a group of metadata comprising:

audio, video, an image and a URL.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises purchasing information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing attributes comprises deriving an identifier from the data representing picture elements of the image or video itself.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the attributes of the image or video is steganographically hidden in data representing picture elements of the image or video.

7. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon to execute the method of claim 1.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said act of computing attributes of the image or video is carried out on an electronic processor configured to execute said act of computing attributes of the image or video.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the image or video is received from ripping the image or video from a CD or DVD.

10. A programmed computing device storing instructions in memory, said instructions are executable by said programmed computing device to perform the acts of claim 1.

11. A computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon to cause a multi-purpose electronic processor to perform the acts of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 1 in which a recognition unit performs said act of computing attributes of the image or video.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the recognition unit communicates with video instrumentation.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the video instrumentation comprises a television.

15. The method of claim 1 in which the handheld device comprises a recognition unit for performing said act of computing attributes of the image or video.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the recognition unit communicates with video instrumentation.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the video instrumentation comprises a television.

18. The method of claim 1 in which the image or video is captured with a camera.

19. A method comprising:

receiving information from a handheld device, the information having been derived from data representing picture elements of an image or video, the information to be used at least to identify the image or video, the information having been steganographically hidden in the data representing picture elements of the image or video;

using the information to identify the image or video, or to identify metadata associated with the image or video, with reference to at least one network resource;

retrieving metadata associated with the image or video from the network resource; and

providing the metadata to the handheld device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the metadata comprises metadata selected from a group of metadata comprising:

audio, video, an image and a URL.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the metadata comprises at least one action.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the metadata comprises purchasing information.

23. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon to execute the method of claim 19.

24. A programmed computing device storing instructions in memory, said instructions are executable by said programmed computing device to perform the acts of claim 19.

25. A computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon to cause a multi-purpose electronic processor to perform the acts of claim 19.

26. A method comprising:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

computing attributes of the data using a configured multi-purpose processor, said act of computing utilizes the configured multi-purpose processor to operate on the data;

using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content; and

providing the metadata to the handheld device from a network resource.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the multi-purpose processor is located remotely with respect to the handheld device.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the attributes are steganographically hidden in the data as obtained.

29. A computer readable medium including instructions stored thereon to execute the method of claim 26.

30. A programmed computing device storing instructions in memory, said instructions are executable by said programmed computing device to perform the acts of claim 26.

31. A computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon to cause a multi-purpose processor to perform the acts of claim 26.

32. A system comprising:

a communications channel to obtain data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

an electronic processor configured to;

i) compute attributes of the data;

ii) using at least computed attributes of the media content, identify the media content or identify metadata associated with the media content;

iii) obtain metadata associated with the media content in the network resource; and

iv) control communication of the metadata to the handheld device from a network resource.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the attributes are steganographically hidden in the data as obtained.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said electronic processor is operating to perform at least one function recited therein.

35. A system comprising:

a communications channel to receive information from a handheld device, the information having been derived from data representing picture elements of an image or video, the information to be used at least to identify the image or video, the information having been steganographically hidden in the data representing picture elements of the image or video;

a multi-purpose processor configured to;

i) identify the image or video or identify metadata associated with the image or video, using the information;

ii) obtain metadata associated with the image or video; and

iii) control communication of the metadata to the handheld device.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said multi-purpose processor is operating to perform at least one function recited therein.

37. One or more computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors perform the acts of:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

computing attributes of the data using a processor, said act of computing utilizes the processor to operate on the data;

using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content; and

providing the metadata to the handheld device from a network resource.

38. A programmed computing device comprising the one or more computer readable media of claim 37.

39. A method comprising:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a process in a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

computing attributes of the data using a processor, said act of computing utilizes the processor to operate on the data;

using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content from a network resource;

providing the metadata for output or display.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the multi-purpose electronic processor is located remotely with respect to the handheld device.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the handheld device comprises the multi-purpose electronic processor.

42. A programmed computing device storing instructions in memory, said instructions are executable by said programmed computing device to perform the acts of claim 39.

43. A computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon to cause a multi-purpose electronic processor to perform the acts of claim 39.

44. The method of claim 39 in which said act of using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content identifies metadata associated with the media content.

45. The method of claim 39 in which said act of using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content identifies the media content.

46. The method of claim 39 in which the data represents the audible portions of an audio signal or represents picture elements of video.

47. The method of claim 39 in which the handheld device comprises a cell phone.

48. One or more computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors perform the acts of:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a process in a handheld device, the data representing audible portions of an audio signal;

computing attributes of the data using a processor, said act of computing utilizes the processor configured to operate on the data;

using said computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content from a network resource;

providing the metadata for output or display.

49. A programmed computing device comprising the one or more computer readable media of claim 48.

50. The one or more computer readable media of claim 48 in which the handheld device comprises a cell phone.

51. One or more computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors perform the acts of:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a process in a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

computing attributes of the data using a processor, said act of computing utilizes the processor to operate on the data;

using computed attributes of the data to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content from a network resource;

providing the metadata for output or display.

52. The system of claim 51 in which the multi-purpose processor is operating to perform at least one of the functions recited therein.

53. The system of claim 51 in which the handheld device comprises a cell phone.

54. A method comprising:

obtaining data corresponding to media content from a process in a handheld device, the data representing audible portions of an audio signal;

using an electronic processor configured to compute attributes of the data;

using attributes of the data computed by the electronic processor to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

obtaining metadata associated with the media content from a network resource;

providing the metadata for output or display.

55. A programmed computing device storing instructions in memory, said instructions are executable by said programmed computing device to perform the acts of claim 54.

56. A computer readable media comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the acts of claim 54.

57. The method of claim 54 in which said act of using attributes of the data computed by the electronic processor to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content identifies metadata associated with the media content.

58. The method of claim 54 in which said act of using attributes of the data computed by the electronic processor to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content identifies the media content.

59. The method of claim 54 in which the data represents the audible portions of an audio signal or represents picture elements of video.

60. The method of claim 54 in which the handheld device comprises a cell phone.

61. A system comprising:

an input for obtaining data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing audible portions of an audio signal;

an electronic processor configured to;

i) compute attributes of the data;

ii) using at least said computed attributes of the media content, identify the media content or identify metadata associated with the media content;

iii) obtain metadata associated with the media content from a network resource; and

iv) provide the metadata for output or display.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the electronic processor is operating to perform at least one function recited therein.

63. The system of claim 61 in which the handheld device comprises a cell phone.

64. A system comprising:

means for obtaining data corresponding to media content from a handheld device, the data representing picture elements of video or representing audible portions of an audio signal;

means for computing attributes of the data;

means for using at least computed attributes of the media content to identify the media content or to identify metadata associated with the media content;

means for obtaining metadata associated with the media content from a network resource; and

means for providing the metadata for output or display.