IP Library Granted Patent US 10,902,542
Granted Patent B2
US 10,902,542 · App. 16/524,946 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

Detecting watermark modifications

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,902,542
App. No.
16/524,946
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture (e.g., computer readable media) to detect watermark modifications are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein are to encode a first watermark in a first media signal to obtain a second media signal, the first watermark associated with a first watermark layer. Disclosed example apparatus are also to determine, from the second media signal, a first metric corresponding to the first watermark. Disclosed example apparatus are further to determine, from the second media signal, a second metric corresponding to a second watermark encoded in the second media signal, the second watermark associated with a second watermark layer different from the first watermark layer. Disclosed example apparatus are also to output, based on the first metric and the second metric, an indication of whether the second watermark has been modified.

Claims (48)

1. An apparatus to detect watermark modifications, the apparatus comprising:

memory including computer readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the computer readable instructions to at least:

encode a first watermark in a first media signal obtained from an output of a media device to obtain a second media signal encoded with the first watermark and a second watermark, the second watermark already encoded in the first media signal obtained from the output of the media device, the first media signal corresponding to a broadcast signal received by the media device, the first watermark associated with a first watermark layer;

determine, from the second media signal, a first metric corresponding to the first watermark;

determine, from the second media signal, a second metric corresponding to the second watermark encoded in the second media signal, the second watermark associated with a second watermark layer different from the first watermark layer; and

output, based on the first metric and the second metric, an indication of whether the second watermark has been modified.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to determine whether the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least a threshold amount, and the indication is to indicate the second watermark has been modified when the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the indication is to indicate the second watermark has not been modified when the second metric does not exceed the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first watermark layer is associated with a first set of code tones to represent symbols of the first watermark, and the second watermark layer is associated with a second set of code tones to represent symbols of the second watermark, the second set of code tones different from the first set of code tones.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein to determine the first metric and to determine the second metric, the processor is to:

determine, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the first watermark;

combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark to determine the first metric;

determine, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the second watermark; and

combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark to determine the second metric.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the processor is to:

average the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark to combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark; and

average the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark to combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

encode a first watermark in a first media signal obtained from an output of a media device to obtain a second media signal encoded with the first watermark and a second watermark, the second watermark already encoded in the first media signal obtained from the output of the media device, the first media signal corresponding to a broadcast signal received by the media device, the first watermark associated with a first watermark layer;

determine, from the second media signal, a first metric corresponding to the first watermark;

determine, from the second media signal, a second metric corresponding to the second watermark encoded in the second media signal, the second watermark associated with a second watermark layer different from the first watermark layer; and

output, based on the first metric and the second metric, an indication of whether the second watermark has been modified.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to determine whether the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least a threshold amount, and the indication is to indicate the second watermark has been modified when the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the indication is to indicate the second watermark has not been modified when the second metric does not exceed the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first watermark layer is associated with a first set of code tones to represent symbols of the first watermark, and the second watermark layer is associated with a second set of code tones to represent symbols of the second watermark, the second set of code tones different from the first set of code tones.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein to determine the first metric and to determine the second metric, the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

determine, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the first watermark;

combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark to determine the first metric;

determine, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the second watermark; and

combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark to determine the second metric.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:

average the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark to combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark; and

average the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark to combine the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark.

13. A method to detect watermark modifications, the method comprising:

encoding, by executing an instruction with a processor, a first watermark in a first media signal obtained from an output of a media device to obtain a second media signal encoded with the first watermark and a second watermark, the second watermark already encoded in the first media signal obtained from the output of the media device, the first media signal corresponding to a broadcast signal received by the media device, the first watermark associated with a first watermark layer;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a first metric corresponding to the first watermark from the second media signal;

determining, by executing an instruction with the processor, a second metric from the second media signal, the second metric corresponding to the second watermark encoded in the second media signal, the second watermark associated with a second watermark layer different from the first watermark layer; and

outputting, based on the first metric and the second metric, an indication of whether the second watermark has been modified.

14. The method of claim 13 , further including determining whether the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least a threshold amount, the indication to indicate the second watermark has been modified when the second metric exceeds the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the indication is to indicate the second watermark has not been modified when the second metric does not exceed the first metric by at least the threshold amount.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first watermark layer is associated with a first set of code tones to represent symbols of the first watermark, and the second watermark layer is associated with a second set of code tones to represent symbols of the second watermark, the second set of code tones different from the first set of code tones.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the determining of the first metric and the determining of the second metric includes:

determining, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the first watermark;

combining the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark to determine the first metric;

determining, from the second media signal, symbol strength metrics for symbols of the second watermark; and

combining the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark to determine the second metric.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the combining of the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark includes averaging the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the first watermark, and the combining of the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark includes averaging the symbol strength metrics for the symbols of the second watermark.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063574/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063561/0381 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; GRACENOTE, INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063560/0547 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2019
From: SRINIVASAN, VENUGOPAL
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 050536/0240 →