IP Library Granted Patent US 7,953,981
Granted Patent B2
US 7,953,981 · App. 12/462,799 · Granted May 31, 2011

Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digital data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,953,981
App. No.
12/462,799
Granted
May 31, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.

Claims (40)

1. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal to be encoded;

attaching a timestamp to the watermark; and

encoding the signal with the timestamp and the watermark.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal;

attaching a user identification dependent hash to the watermark; and

encoding the user identification dependent hash and the watermark into the signal.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising:

providing a watermark and a signal to encode; and

attaching a message digest of watermark data to the watermark said watermark and said message digest of watermark data to be encoded in the signal.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the timestamp is independently encoded into the signal.

5. The article of claim 4 , wherein the timestamp is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the timestamp is independently stored.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the timestamp is robust.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the timestamp is detected independently.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the timestamp enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

10. The article of claim 2 , wherein the user identification dependent hash is independently encoded into the signal.

11. The article of claim 10 , wherein the user identification dependent hash is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

12. The article of claim 2 , wherein the user identification dependent hash is independently stored.

13. The article of claim 2 , wherein the user identification dependent hash is robust.

14. The article of claim 1 , wherein the user identification dependent hash is detected independently.

15. The article of claim 2 , wherein the user identification dependent hash enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

16. The article of claim 3 , wherein the message digest of watermark data is independently encoded into the signal.

17. The article of claim 16 , wherein the message digest of watermark data is encoded using a technique different than the technique used for watermarking the attached watermark.

18. The article of claim 3 , wherein the message digest of watermark data is independently stored.

19. The article of claim 3 , wherein the message digest of watermark data is robust.

20. The article of claim 3 , wherein the message digest of watermark data is detected independently.

21. The article of claim 3 , wherein the message digest of watermark data enables access to the watermark or encoded signal.

22. A digital watermarking system, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal;

an analyzer for determining locations in the signal comprising candidate bits; and

a watermark message generator for generating at least one watermark message wherein a generated watermark message is associated with at least one candidate bit determined in the analyzing step.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the receiver receives candidate bits for generating at least one unique watermark bit for each candidate bit received.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the analyzer analyzes at least one of signal components and samples.

25. A system comprising a non-transitory machine readable medium, having thereon stored instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, which instructions when executed by a processor result in a process comprising: receiving content; generating at least one watermark message comprising unique information; and embedding the generated watermark message in candidate bits.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein said generating comprises verifying or certifying said at least one watermark message.

27. The system of claim 25 , further comprising a digital signal processor.

28. The system of claim 25 , further comprising at least one of a set-top box, a video recorder, and a DVD.

29. The system of 25 , wherein said system comprises a device configured to at least one of play and record copyrighted content.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2015
From: WISTARIA TRADING, INC.
To: WISTARIA TRADING LTD
Reel/Frame 036387/0177 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2009
From: MOSKOWITZ, SCOTT A.
To: WISTARIA TRADING, INC.
Reel/Frame 023202/0197 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2009
From: MOSKOWITZ, SCOTT A.
To: WISTARIA TRADING, INC
Reel/Frame 023207/0114 →