US6411725B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Watermark enabled video objects
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2000-06-20
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2020-06-20
Abstract
Abstract Watermarks in video signals or the accompanying audio track are used to associate video objects in a video sequence with object specific actions or information. A video object refers to a spatial and temporal portion of a video signal that depicts a recognizable object, such as a character, prop, graphic, etc. Each frame of a video signal may have one or more video objects. The auxiliary information is embedded in video or audio signals using “steganographic” methods, such as digital watermarks. By encoding object specific information into video or an accompanying audio track, the watermarks transform video objects into “watermark enabled” video objects that provide information, actions or links to additional information or actions during playback of a video or audio-visual program. A similar concept may be applied to audio objects, i.e. portions of audio that are attributable to a particular speaker, character, instrument, artist, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/333; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/16; G06K19/06046; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G06K19/18; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1447; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/26; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; H04N19/00; H04N19/20; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/167; H04N7/1675; B42D25/20; B42D25/21; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0053; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91335; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3246; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/82; H04N9/8205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising: steganographically encoding object specific information about the video object into the video signal; and associating the object specific information with an action, where the action is performed in response to user selection of the video object through a user interface while the video signal is playing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising: steganographically encoding object specific information about the video object into the video signal; and associating the object specific information with an action, where the action is performed in response to user selection of the video object through a user interface while the video signal is playing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the action comprises retrieving information about the video object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the action comprises retrieving information about the video object from a remote device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the action comprises executing a program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the object specific information is encoded in a graphical image that is composited with the video signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising: steganographically encoding auxiliary information in a physical object in a manner that enables the auxiliary information to be decoded from a video signal captured of the physical object; associating the auxiliary information with an action so that the video signal captured of the physical object is linked to the action.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
71 words
A method for encoding substantially imperceptible auxiliary information into a video signal including at least one video object, the method comprising: steganographically encoding auxiliary information in a physical object in a manner that enables the auxiliary information to be decoded from a video signal captured of the physical object; associating the auxiliary information with an action so that the video signal captured of the physical object is linked to the action.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the action includes retrieving information about the physical object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 including: establishing an automated service that is responsive to auxiliary information extracted from the video signal to link the physical object to the action.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for using a watermark that has been encoded into a video signal, where the watermark conveys information about a video object in the video signal, the method comprising: decoding the information from the watermark; receiving a user selection of the video object; and executing an action associated with the information about the video object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for using a watermark that has been encoded into a video signal, where the watermark conveys information about a video object in the video signal, the method comprising: decoding the information from the watermark; receiving a user selection of the video object; and executing an action associated with the information about the video object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 including: sending the information about the video object to a database; using the information about the video object to look up additional information related to the video object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 including: using the additional information to form a request to a remote system, which in response to the request, returns information to a user that made the user selection of the video object.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the remote system is a web server and the web server returns information about the video object to the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the information returned from the remote system includes one or more programs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A machine readable media on which is stored a program for performing the method of claim 9 .
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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) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |