US7046808B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting processing stages applied to a signal
Assignee: Verance Corp
•
Filing: 2000-03-24
•
Granted: 2006-05-16
•
Expires: 2020-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A system for determining the amount of processing that has been applied to watermarked signal. A steganographic signal is provided that includes an original signal and an embedded fragile watermark. The fragile watermark is characterized by a low energy and a high redundancy in comparison to a robust watermark. The steganographic signal is communicated over a distribution channel to a decoder. At the decoder, a measure of a presence of the fragile watermark in the acquired steganographic signal is provided, along with an estimate of the fragility profile of the fragile watermark for this particular original signal. Based on these factors, a estimate is made of the amount of processing that the steganographic signal has undergone. This processing can include, for example, A/D and D/A conversions, resampling, band-limiting, perceptual compression/decompression, etc. Optionally, the fragility profile is derived prior to the distribution of the content and communicated by the steganographic signal for recovery by the decoder. Furthermore, a robust watermark may be provided in the steganographic signal that, e.g., designates the presence of the fragile watermark to a decoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Metois
- 👤 Rade Petrovic
- 👤 Kanaan Jemili
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0042; G06T1/0028; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/32187; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32299; H04N1/32304; H04N1/3232; H04N1/32331; H04N1/32352; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for using a watermark to estimate a nature and/or an amount of processing that is applied to a signal, comprising the steps of: embedding a watermark with a degree of redundancy into the signal to form a steganographic signal; measuring a deterioration of the embedded watermark in the steganographic signal after the steganographic signal undergoes the processing, said deterioration of the embedded watermark being based on recovered data bits from a plurality of said redundantly embedded watermarks; and estimating the nature and/or the amount of the processing based on the measured deterioration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for using a watermark to estimate a nature and/or an amount of processing that is applied to a signal, comprising the steps of: embedding a watermark with a degree of redundancy into the signal to form a steganographic signal; measuring a deterioration of the embedded watermark in the steganographic signal after the steganographic signal undergoes the processing, said deterioration of the embedded watermark being based on recovered data bits from a plurality of said redundantly embedded watermarks; and estimating the nature and/or the amount of the processing based on the measured deterioration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: said estimating step estimates an intrinsic fragility of the watermark by analyzing characteristics of the steganographic signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , comprising the further step of: controlling an output of the steganographic signal when the amount of the estimated processing exceeds a threshold level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the nature and/or the amount of the estimated processing indicates whether the steganographic signal has undergone unauthorized processing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: a user acquires the steganographic signal after it undergoes the processing; and the nature and/or the amount of the estimated processing indicates whether the acquired steganographic signal closely matches the steganographic signal before it undergoes the processing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5 , comprising the further step of: providing a message to the user indicating whether the acquired steganographic signal closely matches the steganographic signal before it underwent the processing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing that the steganographic signal undergoes comprises at least one of: multi-generational copying; perceptual compression and decompression; digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion; resampling; a bit depth reduction; band-limiting; dynamic range reduction; and transmission over a communication channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the deterioration of the embedded watermark is measured in accordance with a fragility profile of the embedded watermark.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein: the fragility profile denotes a relationship between a bit error rate of the watermark and a signal to noise ratio of the steganographic signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the watermark is embedded in the signal in accordance with a predicted sensitivity of the signal that is based on a psychoacoustic analysis thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the steganographic signal further includes an embedded robust watermark that signals a receiver that the watermark with redundancy is present in the steganographic signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the steganographic signal comprises at least one of audio and video content.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for providing a signal with a watermark layer, comprising the steps of: analyzing an intrinsic fragility of the signal, which is a carrier of the watermark layer; and determining a fragility profile in response to said analyzing step; wherein the fragility profile denotes a relationship between a bit error rate of the watermark layer and a signal to noise ratio of the signal after the watermark layer and the signal are degraded.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for providing a signal with a watermark layer, comprising the steps of: analyzing an intrinsic fragility of the signal, which is a carrier of the watermark layer; and determining a fragility profile in response to said analyzing step; wherein the fragility profile denotes a relationship between a bit error rate of the watermark layer and a signal to noise ratio of the signal after the watermark layer and the signal are degraded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the watermark layer is embedded into the signal to form a steganographic signal, comprising the further step of: subjecting the steganographic signal to at least one processing step; wherein the fragility profile denotes a deterioration of the embedded watermark layer due to said at least one processing stage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein: the intrinsic fragility analysis is applied to a cover portion of the signal before the signal is degraded by at least one processing step to indicate whether or not the watermark layer will survive the processing step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15 , comprising the further step of: increasing a power of the watermark layer in the signal before the signal is degraded by the processing step if the intrinsic fragility analysis indicates that the watermark layer will not survive the processing step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein: the intrinsic fragility analysis is applied to a cover portion of the signal to suggest eventual modifications of a configuration of a watermarking system used to provide the watermark layer to ensure a survival of the watermark layer through a specified processing stage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein: after the analyzing and determining steps, the signal, and data designating the fragility profile, are distributed to a decoder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein: the data designating the fragility profile is carried in the signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein: the data designating the fragility profile is carried in the signal in another watermark layer.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for using a watermark to estimate a nature and/or an amount of processing that is applied to a signal, comprising: means for embedding a watermark with a degree of redundancy into the signal to form a steganographic signal; means for measuring a deterioration of the embedded watermark in the steganographic signal after the steganographic signal undergoes the processing, said deterioration of the embedded watermark being based on recovered data bits from a plurality of said redundantly embedded watermarks; and means for estimating the nature and/or the amount of the processing based on the measured deterioration.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for using a watermark to estimate a nature and/or an amount of processing that is applied to a signal, comprising: means for embedding a watermark with a degree of redundancy into the signal to form a steganographic signal; means for measuring a deterioration of the embedded watermark in the steganographic signal after the steganographic signal undergoes the processing, said deterioration of the embedded watermark being based on recovered data bits from a plurality of said redundantly embedded watermarks; and means for estimating the nature and/or the amount of the processing based on the measured deterioration.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for providing a signal with a watermark layer, comprising: means for analyzing an intrinsic fragility of the signal, which is a carrier of the watermark layer; and means for determining a fragility profile in response to said analyzing step; wherein the fragility profile denotes a relationship between a bit error rate of the watermark layer and a signal to noise ratio of the signal after the watermark layer and the signal are degraded.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus for providing a signal with a watermark layer, comprising: means for analyzing an intrinsic fragility of the signal, which is a carrier of the watermark layer; and means for determining a fragility profile in response to said analyzing step; wherein the fragility profile denotes a relationship between a bit error rate of the watermark layer and a signal to noise ratio of the signal after the watermark layer and the signal are degraded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4295128A
Cited
US4755884A
Cited
US5113437A
Cited
US5581800A
Cited
US5319735A
Cited
US5432799A
Cited
US5822360A
Cited
US5893067A
Cited
US5940135A
Cited
US5940124A
Cited
US5945932A
Cited
US6415041B1
Cited
US6154571A
Cited
US6665419B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-05-15 | 2009-11-14 | 2010-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-05-15 | 2013-11-14 | 2014-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-05-15 | 2017-11-14 | 2018-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |