US5809139A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Watermarking method and apparatus for compressed digital video
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1996-09-13
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2016-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A digital watermarking method and apparatus allows for the watermarking of a digital video signal in a compressed form, thereby allowing watermarking of a pre-compressed video sequence without requiring the decoding and re-coding of the signal. The watermark signal is a sequence of information bits which has been modulated by a pseudo-random noise sequence to spread it in the frequency domain. The video signal is transform coded, preferably with a discrete cosine transform, and a watermark signal, which has been transform coded using the same type of transform, is added to the coded video signal. The system also includes bitstream control to prevent an increase in the bit rate of the video signal. This allows the system to be used with transmission channels having strict bit rate constraints. For each transform coefficient of the video signal, the number of bits necessary to encode the watermarked coefficient is compared to the number of bits necessary to encode the unwatermarked coefficient. If more bits are required to transmit a watermarked coefficient than to transmit the corresponding unwatermarked coefficient, the watermarked coefficient is not output, and the unwatermarked coefficient is output in its place. When watermarking interframe coded data, a drift compensation signal may be used to compensate for the accumulating variations in the decoded video signal stored at the receiver. The system may also include an encryption/decryption capability, with the watermarking apparatus located at either the transmitting or receiving end of the transmission channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernd Girod
- 👤 Frank H. D. Hartung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; G06T1/0035; H04N19/00; H04N19/40; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N19/60; H04N19/61; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0052; G06T2201/0053; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91335
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the method comprising: decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the method comprising: decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the digital video signal is a digital video signal which has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder which is a MPEG-2 compatible coder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream comprises determining a difference signal indicative of the difference between a portion of the video transform coefficients before summing with the watermark transform coefficients and a corresponding portion of the watermarked video signal after summing with the watermark transform coefficients, and applying the difference signal to subsequent portions of the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising: comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; and substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising: comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; determining a reserve number of data bits, the reserve number being a difference between a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the watermarked video coefficients already generated and a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the video transform coefficients containing the same digital video information; and substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits minus the reserve number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising encrypting the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 further comprising coding the watermarked video coefficients to a compressed watermarked video format.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising encrypting the compressed watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients comprises summing watermark transform coefficients only with video transform coefficients which do not have a value of zero.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim I wherein the compressed video format is an encrypted compressed video format and wherein the method further comprises decrypting the encrypted compressed video format prior to decoding the compressed video format.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the watermark comprises a sequence of bits to which an error correcting code is added before being transformed to said watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the method comprising: decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing the watermark transform coefficients with non-zero video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by determining a difference signal indicative of the difference between a portion of the video transform coefficients before summing with the watermark transform coefficients and a corresponding portion of the watermarked video signal after summing with the watermark transform coefficients, and applying the difference signal to subsequent portions of the watermarked video signal; and coding the watermarked video coefficients to a compressed watermarked video format.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the method comprising: decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing the watermark transform coefficients with non-zero video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by determining a difference signal indicative of the difference between a portion of the video transform coefficients before summing with the watermark transform coefficients and a corresponding portion of the watermarked video signal after summing with the watermark transform coefficients, and applying the difference signal to subsequent portions of the watermarked video signal; and coding the watermarked video coefficients to a compressed watermarked video format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising: comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; and substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising: comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; determining a reserve number of data bits, the reserve number being a difference between a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the watermarked video coefficients already generated and a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the video transform coefficients containing the same digital video information; and substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits minus the reserve number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transfer the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the apparatus comprising: a decoder for decoding the compressed video format so as to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing apparatus for summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and a drift compensator to prevent drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transfer the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the apparatus comprising: a decoder for decoding the compressed video format so as to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; summing apparatus for summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and a drift compensator to prevent drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the digital video signal is one that was processed using a hybrid interframe coder which is a MPEG-2 compatible coder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the drift compensator further comprises: means for determining a difference signal indicative of the difference between a portion of the video transform coefficients before summing with the watermark transform coefficients and a corresponding portion of the watermarked video signal after summing with the watermark transform coefficients; and a summing node for summing the difference signal with subsequent portions of the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising: means for comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; and output selection apparatus for substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising: means for comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; means for determining a reserve number of data bits, the reserve number being a difference between a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the watermarked video coefficients already output and a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the video transform coefficients containing the same digital video information; and output selection apparatus for substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits minus the reserve number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising encryption apparatus for encrypting the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a coding apparatus which codes the watermarked video coefficients to a compressed watermarked video format.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising encryption apparatus for encrypting the compressed watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the summing apparatus only sums watermark transform coefficients with video transform coefficients that do not have a value of zero.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the compressed video format is an encrypted compressed video format and wherein the apparatus further comprises decryption apparatus for decrypting the encrypted compressed video format prior to decoding the compressed video format.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the watermark comprises a sequence of bits to which an error correcting code is added before being transformed to said watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program product for embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the program code comprising; program code for decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; program code for summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and program code for preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer program product for embedding a watermark in a first portion of a digital video signal bitstream containing a digital video signal that has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder to transform the digital video signal into a plurality of video transform coefficients and code the video transform coefficients to a compressed video format, wherein the watermark comprises a predetermined sequence of information bits transformed into a plurality of watermark transform coefficients, the program code comprising; program code for decoding the compressed video format to recover the plurality of video transform coefficients; program code for summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients to generate watermarked video coefficients; and program code for preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream by compensating for artifacts resulting from previously added watermark transform coefficients.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 wherein the digital video signal is a digital video signal which has been processed using a hybrid interframe coder which is a MPEG-2 compatible coder.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 wherein the program code for preventing drift in the first portion of the bitstream comprises program code for determining a difference signal indicative of the difference between a portion of the video transform coefficients before summing with the watermark transform coefficients and a corresponding portion of the watermarked video signal after summing with the watermark transform coefficients, and applying the difference signal to subsequent portions of the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 further comprising: program code for comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; and program code for substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
160 words
A computer program product according to claim 27 further comprising: program code for comparing a first number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said video transform coefficients to a second number of data bits necessary to represent a first one of said watermarked video coefficients which corresponds to the first video transform coefficient summed with a watermark transform coefficient; program code for determining a reserve number of data bits, the reserve number being a difference between a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the watermarked video coefficients already output and a total number of data bits used to represent a portion of the video transform coefficients containing the same digital video information; and program code for substituting the first video transform coefficient for the first watermarked video coefficient if said second number of data bits minus the reserve number of data bits is greater than said first number of data bits.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 further comprising program code for encrypting the watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 further comprising program code for coding the watermarked video coefficients to a compressed watermarked video format.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer program product according to claim 32 further comprising program code for encrypting the compressed watermarked video coefficients.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 wherein the program code for summing the watermark transform coefficients with the video transform coefficients comprises program code for summing watermark transform coefficients only with video transform coefficients which do not have a value of zero.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 wherein the compressed video format is an encrypted compressed video format and wherein the program code further comprises program code for decrypting the encrypted compressed video format prior to decoding the compressed video format.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer program product according to claim 26 wherein the watermark comprises a sequence of bits to which an error correcting code is added before being transformed to said watermark transform coefficients.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |