Signal processing of audio and video data, including assessment of embedded data

• US 8,391,545 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Carr, J. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US13/189,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/41 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• 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: 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 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0202 whereby the quality of watermarked images is measured; Measuring quality or performance of watermarking methods; Balancing between quality and robustness
• 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 1/32277 Compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33357 Compression mode

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to signal processing of media content, e.g., audio or video content. One form of signal processing derives identifying information from media content. One claim recites a method including: upon encountering audio or video content, and using a programmed electronic processor, attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the encountered audio or video content; if a digital watermark is not obtained from the data representing the encountered audio or video content, modifying the encountered audio or video content; and then attempting to attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the modified audio or video content. Of course, other claims are provided too.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

embedding, using a processor, a digital watermark in data representing audio or video content, wherein the embedding alters the data;

analyzing the embedded data, using the processor, to obtain the digital watermark;

determining if a speed of obtaining the digital watermark falls outside of a predetermined threshold; and

further comprising adjusting parameters used in the data embedding based on the determination that the speed falls outside of the predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters comprise encoding intensity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters comprise compression.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, using the processor, at least one embedding error in the embedded data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a confidence measure in the embedded data.

6. A tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to embed, using a processor, a digital watermark in data representing audio or video content, wherein the embedding alters the data;

instructions to analyze the embedded data, using the processor, to obtain the digital watermark;

instructions to determine if a speed of obtaining the digital watermark falls outside of a predetermined threshold; and

further comprising instructions to adjust parameters used in the data embedding based on the determination that the speed falls outside of the predetermined threshold.

7. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the parameters comprise encoding intensity.

8. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the parameters comprise compression.

9. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions to identify, using the processor, at least one embedding error in the embedded data.

10. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 6, further comprising instructions to determine a confidence measure in the embedded data.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an interface configured to communicate audio or video content; and

a processor coupled to the interface and configured to;

embed a digital watermark in data representing the audio or video content, wherein the embedding alters the data;

analyze the embedded data to obtain the digital watermark;

determine if a speed of obtaining the digital watermark falls outside of a predetermined threshold; and

wherein the processor is further configured to adjust parameters used in the data embedding based on the determination that the speed falls outside of the predetermined threshold.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the parameters comprise encoding intensity.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the parameters comprise compression.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to identify at least one embedding error in the embedded data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a confidence measure in the embedded data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to perform a re-watermarking operation based on the confidence measure.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the confidence measure in the embedded data comprises assessing signal-to-noise ratio associated with each bit in the data.