Watermark encoding using arbitrary features
View Patent ↗Watermark detection in an image or the like is optimized by exploiting the innate biases in the image to emphasize the watermark signal. The watermark signal can be trial-located with different origins in the image to find one that yields improved results. Similarly, the image can be processed (e.g., by changing resolution, rotation, or compression) so as to change the innate biases to better reinforce the watermark signal. Compression of an image can be done in accordance with a desired watermark signal, with the compressor deciding which image components to retain and which to discard based, in part, on a watermark signal that is to be encoded (or maintained) in the image.
1. A method of encoding original data with watermark data, comprising:
analyzing the original data to discern innate watermark biases therein; and
encoding watermark data in the original data, exploiting said innate biases to partially represent the encoded watermark, thereby yielding encoded data.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing includes performing a decoding operation on the original data.
3. The method of claim 2 in which the analyzing includes performing plural decoding operations on the original data.
4. The method of claim 3 which includes performing one decoding operation on the original data when considered in a first manner, and decoding a second operation on the said data when considered in a second manner.
5. The method of claim 1 which includes selecting one or more watermark payload bits in accordance with said innate biases.
6. The method of claim 1 which includes selecting an encoding origin in accordance with said innate biases.
7. The method of claim 1 in which the original data represents image information.
8. The method of claim 1 in which the original data represents audio information.
9. The method of claim 1 that further includes decoding watermark data from the encoded data.
10. The method of claim 9 that further includes controlling an aspect of a system's operation based on at least part of the decoded watermark data.
11. The method of claim 10 in which the system is a content playback or recording system.
12. The method of claim 4 in which the first manner comprises considering the original data using a first watermarking origin, and the second manner comprises considering the original data using a second watermarking origin.
13. A computer storage media having stored thereon content processed in accordance with the method of claim 1 .
14. A computer storage media having stored thereon software instructions for causing a programmable system to perform the method of claim 1 .