US6209094B1
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Robust watermark method and apparatus for digital signals
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1998-10-14
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2018-10-14
Abstract
Abstract Watermark data is encoded in a digitized signal by forming a noise threshold spectrum which represents a maximum amount of imperceptible noise, spread-spectrum chipping the noise threshold spectrum with a relatively endless stream of pseudo-random bits to form a basis signal, dividing the basis signal into segments, and filtering the segments to smooth segment boundaries. The data encoded in the watermark signal is precoded to make the watermark data inversion robust and is convolutional encoded to further increase the likelihood that the watermark data will subsequently be retrievable notwithstanding lossy processing of the watermarked signal. Watermark data is encoded in a basis signal by division of the basis signal into segments and inverting the basis signal in segments corresponding to watermark data bits with a first logical value and not inverting the basis signal in segment corresponding to watermark data bits with a different logical value. The basis signal is smoothed at segment boundaries to eliminate any such discontinuities. Good results are achieved when scaling the basis signal by a cube-root of the positive half of a sine function which is aligned with segment boundaries such that the cube-root sine function tapers to zero at segment boundaries.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl Levine
- 👤 Jason S. Brownell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for encoding embedded data in a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for encoding embedded data in a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the temporal segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the temporal segment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for decoding embedded data from a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for decoding embedded data from a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 4 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for decoding embedded data from a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: (a) forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; (b) correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: (i) dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; (ii) collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and (iii) combining the two or more subject segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: (1) for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and (2) combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and (c) decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for decoding embedded data from a digitized analog signal, the method comprising: (a) forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; (b) correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: (i) dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; (ii) collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and (iii) combining the two or more subject segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: (1) for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and (2) combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and (c) decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 7 wherein correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal comprises: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a segment correlation signal; measuring the power of the basis signal within the subject segment to provide a segment power signal; and forming the metric signal from a ratio between the segment correlation signal and the segment power signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 8 wherein combining comprises: forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments to form a ratio metric signal; using the ratio metric signal to form the composite metric signal; estimating the degree of likelihood using a hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 wherein estimating comprises: adjusting the composite metric signal according to an estimated amount of noise in the digitized analog signal; and estimating the degree of likelihood using the hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal as adjusted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the composite metric is the ratio metric signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 7 wherein combining comprises forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments, the ratio being for use in forming the composite metric signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to encode embedded data in a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to encode embedded data in a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the segment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the segment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and combining the two or more subject temporal segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
180 words
A computer readable medium useful in association with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, the computer readable medium including computer instructions which are configured to cause the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and combining the two or more subject temporal segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal comprises: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a segment correlation signal; measuring the power of the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a segment power signal; and forming the metric signal from a ratio between the segment correlation signal and the segment power signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
83 words
The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein combining comprises: forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments to form a ratio metric signal; using the ratio metric signal to form the composite metric signal; estimating the degree of likelihood using a hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein estimating comprises: adjusting the composite metric signal according to an estimated amount of noise in the digitized analog signal; and estimating the degree of likelihood using the hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal as adjusted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the composite metric is the ratio metric signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein combining comprises forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments, the ratio being for use in forming the composite metric signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to encode embedded data in a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to encode embedded data in a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; encoding the embedded data into the basis signal to form an encoded basis signal, wherein encoding includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and adding the encoded basis signal to the digitized analog signal to form an encoded digitized analog signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system of claim 25 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the segment.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 26 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer system comprising: a processor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; and for each segment: smoothing the basis signal near edges of the segment; and decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system of claim 28 wherein smoothing comprises: adjusting the basis signal within the segment according to a function which provides a smooth transition from full strength of the basis signal near the center of the segment to a reduced strength basis signal near edges of the segment.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 29 wherein the function includes a cube-root sine function.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
197 words
A computer system comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and (c) an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: (A) forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; (B) correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: (1) dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; (2) collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and (3) combining the two or more subject temporal segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: (i) for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and (ii) combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and (C) decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
197 words
A computer system comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a memory operatively coupled to the processor; and (c) an alignment module (i) which executes in the processor from the memory and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, causes the computer to decode embedded data from a digitized analog signal by: (A) forming a basis signal from the digitized analog signal; (B) correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal to form a correlation signal, wherein correlating includes: (1) dividing the basis signal into two or more segments; (2) collecting two or more subject ones of the segments which correspond to a particular bit of the embedded data; and (3) combining the two or more subject temporal segments to provide a metric which represents a degree of likelihood that the particular bit represents a predetermined logical value, wherein combining includes: (i) for each of the subject segments: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal; and (ii) combining the metric signals of the two or more segments to form a composite metric signal for the particular bit; and (C) decoding the embedded data from the correlation signal.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
81 words
The computer system of claim 31 wherein correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a metric signal comprises: correlating the basis signal with the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a segment correlation signal; measuring the power of the digitized analog signal within the subject segment to provide a segment power signal; and forming the metric signal from a ratio between the segment correlation signal and the segment power signal.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
82 words
The computer system of claim 32 wherein combining comprises: forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments to form a ratio metric signal; using the ratio metric signal to form the composite metric signal; estimating the degree of likelihood using a hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system of claim 33 wherein estimating comprises: adjusting the composite metric signal according to an estimated amount of noise in the digitized analog signal; and estimating the degree of likelihood using the hyperbolic tangent of the composite metric signal as adjusted.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer system of claim 33 wherein the composite metric is the ratio metric signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
62 words
The computer system of claim 31 wherein combining comprises forming a ratio between (i) a sum of correlation signals between the basis signal and the digitized analog signal within the two or more subject segments and (ii) a sum of basis signal power measurements within the two or more subject segments, the ratio being for use in forming the composite metric 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) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |