US6145081A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for preventing removal of embedded information in cover signals
Assignee: VERANCE Corp (DELAWARE CORPORATION)
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Filing: 1998-02-02
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Granted: 2000-11-07
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Expires: 2018-02-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods are provided for embedding watermark information into a cover signal, such as an audio signal, video signal, or still image signal, in a manner that prevents the watermark information from being removed without degrading the quality of the cover signal. This is accomplished by subjecting the cover signal to a phase modulation prior to being embedded with the watermark information, wherein the amount or degree of phase modulation is changed at least for each different watermark to be embedded in a particular instance or copy of the cover signal. As such, if two copies of the same cover signal, each containing a different watermark, are averaged or combined in an attempt to obliterate the watermark information, the cover signal will be subjected to phase cancellation, rendering any illicit copy of such signal so derived to be valueless.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph M. Winograd
- 👤 Rade Petrovic
- 👤 Eric Metois
- 👤 Kanaan Jemili
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:54
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91335
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for embedding watermark information into a cover signal, comprising the steps of: selecting values of predefined phase modulation parameters for said cover signal; modulating the phase of said cover signal according to said selected phase modulation parameter values to obtain a phase-modulated cover signal; and embedding said watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal to obtain a stego signal; wherein said phase modulation parameter values are selected such that combining any two or more instances of said stego signal containing different watermark information will result in phase cancellation with respect to the combined signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for embedding watermark information into a cover signal, comprising the steps of: selecting values of predefined phase modulation parameters for said cover signal; modulating the phase of said cover signal according to said selected phase modulation parameter values to obtain a phase-modulated cover signal; and embedding said watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal to obtain a stego signal; wherein said phase modulation parameter values are selected such that combining any two or more instances of said stego signal containing different watermark information will result in phase cancellation with respect to the combined signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said phase modulation parameter values are time-varying during phase modulation of said cover signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said phase modulation parameter values are randomly selected for each watermarking embedding operation on said cover signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating comprises passing said cover signal through an all-pass filter, and said phase modulation parameters are filter coefficients for said all-pass filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of modulating comprises passing said cover signal through a sampling interpolator, and said phase modulation parameters are sampling location values with respect to said cover signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover signal is an audio signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover signal is a video signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for embedding watermark information into a cover signal, comprising: a phase modulation parameter generator for providing values of predefined phase modulation parameters; a phase modulator for modulating the phase of said cover signal in accordance with said phase modulation parameter values to produce a phase-modulated cover signal; and a watermark information embeddor for embedding watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal to obtain a stego signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for embedding watermark information into a cover signal, comprising: a phase modulation parameter generator for providing values of predefined phase modulation parameters; a phase modulator for modulating the phase of said cover signal in accordance with said phase modulation parameter values to produce a phase-modulated cover signal; and a watermark information embeddor for embedding watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal to obtain a stego signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said phase modulator comprises an all-pass filter, and said phase modulation parameters comprise filter coefficients for said all-pass filter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said phase modulator comprises a sampling interpolator, and said phase modulation parameters comprise sampling location values with respect to said cover signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cover signal is an audio signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cover signal is a video signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said phase modulation parameter values are time-varying during phase modulation of said cover signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said phase modulation parameter values are randomly selected for each watermarking embedding operation on said cover signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for preventing removal of watermark information embedded into a cover signal, comprising the steps of: modulating the phase of said cover signal by an amount which varies at least as a function of the content of said watermark information, to produce a phase-modulated cover signal; and embedding said watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for preventing removal of watermark information embedded into a cover signal, comprising the steps of: modulating the phase of said cover signal by an amount which varies at least as a function of the content of said watermark information, to produce a phase-modulated cover signal; and embedding said watermark information into said phase-modulated cover signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step of modulating comprises passing said cover signal through an all-pass filter, and the amount of phase modulation is determined by filter coefficients for said all-pass filter which change with different watermark information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the step of modulating comprises passing said cover signal through a sampling interpolator, and the amount of phase modulation is determined by sampling location values with respect to said cover signal, which change with different watermark information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said cover signal is an audio signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said cover signal is a video signal.
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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) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |