Secure tracking system and method for video program content

1. A method of tracking a broadcast program, comprising:

inserting a unique watermark value into a program to be broadcast;

deriving a fingerprint value based on said program's content;

storing said program's watermark value and associated fingerprint value;

detecting any watermark value inserted in a given broadcast program;

deriving a fingerprint value based on said given broadcast program's content;

creating a database in which said unique watermark(s) and their associated derived fingerprint values for a plurality of unique programs to be broadcast are stored;

registering said unique watermark and associated derived fingerprint value for said program to be broadcast in said database; and

redundantly identifying said given broadcast program, said redundant identification comprising:

comparing any detected watermark value with said database of registered watermark values;

if a detected watermark value matches a registered watermark value from said database of registered watermark values, cross-checking said fingerprint value derived from said given broadcast program against said database of registered fingerprints; and

if said fingerprint matches a registered fingerprint from said database of registered fingerprints, a first identification information associated with said registered watermark value is compared with a second identification information associated with said registered fingerprint to assess a status of said broadcast program.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said unique watermark value is written into the user bits of said program's SMPTE time code.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said program to be broadcast has an associated embedded audio data stream; and

said unique watermark is encoded into the bits of said program's embedded audio data stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the results of said cross-checking to a registrant of said program to be broadcast.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing said fingerprint value derived from said given broadcast program with said stored fingerprint values when said fingerprint value derived from said given broadcast program is different than said stored fingerprint value associated with said stored watermark.

6. A method for enabling reliable identification of a content comprising:

embedding a watermark value into said content to produce an embedded content;

generating a fingerprint associated with said content;

registering information comprising said watermark value and said fingerprint, wherein combination of said registered watermark value and fingerprint are subsequently used to redundantly identify said content, said redundant identification comprising:

generating a fingerprint associated with a received content;

analyzing said received content to detect at least one watermark value;

identifying said received content by comparing said detected watermark value with a database of registered watermark values;

if said detected watermark value matches a registered watermark value from said database of registered watermark values, said fingerprint is compared with a database of registered fingerprints; and

if said derived fingerprint matches a registered fingerprint from said database of registered fingerprints, a first identification information associated with said stored watermark value is compared with a second identification information associated with said fingerprint to assess a status of said received content.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said fingerprint is generated by analyzing inherent characteristics of the content.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said inherent characteristics comprise at least one of luminance, chroma, gamma, or amplitude levels of the content.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein said fingerprint is generated for at least portions of an audio or video component of said signal.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said watermark value is embedded in at least portions of an audio or video component of said content.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said watermark value is inserted into an auxiliary information area of said content.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said auxiliary information area is reserved for an SMPTE time code.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein said registering comprises:

receiving information comprising at least said watermark value and said fingerprint at a registration authority; and

verifying the received information.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said verifying comprises comparing at least one of said watermark value or said fingerprint against a database of registered watermark values and fingerprints.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said registering is completed when said comparing produces no matches.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein production of at least one match as a result of said comparing is indicative of an incomplete registration.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising notifying at least one of an applicant or a content owner.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein, said registering is partially completed when said comparing produces at least one match.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

contacting at least one of an applicant for registration or a content owner; and

updating said database in accordance with the response(s) of said applicant or said content owner.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving additional content identification information.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein said additional content identification information comprises at least one of content title, ownership information, or origination information.

22. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

comparing at least one of said watermark value, said fingerprint or said additional content information against a database of registered watermark values, fingerprints and additional content identification information.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein said registering is completed when said comparing produces no matches.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein said registering is not completed when said comparing produces at least one match.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising notifying at least one of an applicant for registration or a content owner.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein said registering is partially completed when said comparing produces at least one match.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:

contacting at least one of an applicant for registration or a content owner; and

updating said database in accordance with the response(s) of said applicant or said content owner.

28. A method for enabling identification of a received content comprising:

generating a fingerprint associated with said received content;

analyzing said received content to discern the presence of embedded watermarks; and

identifying said received content in accordance with a plurality of registered fingerprint and watermark values and by redundant utilization of both of said generated fingerprint and said analyzing, wherein:

at least one watermark value is detected as a result of said analyzing;

said identifying comprises comparing a detected watermark value with a database of registered watermark values;

if said detected watermark value matches a registered watermark value from said database of registered watermark values, said fingerprint is compared with a database of registered fingerprints; and

if said fingerprint matches a registered fingerprint from said database of registered fingerprints, a first identification information associated with said stored watermark value is compared with a second identification information associated with said fingerprint to assess a status of said received content.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein said identifying is based on additional information stored in a registration database.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein:

no watermarks are detected as a result of said analyzing;

said identifying comprises comparing said fingerprint with a database of registered fingerprints; and

if no matches are discovered, reporting the reception of an unregistered content.

31. The method of claim 28 , wherein:

at least one watermark value is detected as a result of said analyzing; and

the detected watermark value and said fingerprint are combined to uniquely identify said received content.

32. The method of claim 28 , wherein an agreement between said first and second identification information indicates the reception of a properly registered content.

33. The method of claim 28 , wherein a report is issued in the event of a conflict between said first and second identification information.

34. The method of claim 28 , wherein a conflict between said first and second identification information indicates the reception of an improperly registered content or an altered content.

35. The method of claim 28 , wherein cryptographic techniques are employed to ensure secure communications with said database.