Multi-channel digital content watermark system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9967600-B2
Application number	US-201113116703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2011
Priority date	May 26, 2011
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A multi-channel embedded data technique allows for embedding data, such as watermarks into multiple channels of audio, video, multi-media, and other digitized content streams. Two or more of the channels may be utilized. The embedded data may be segmented within each channel, and these segments may start and stop at identical times, or may be staggered or offset from one another. The available payload may be used for different data, or redundant data, providing enhanced reliability. Staggering allows for more rapid availability of at least some of the embedded data segments. References may be used between channels and between data streams to provide for highly complex configurations of encoding and decoding of the embedded data.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for providing embedded data in a multi-channel digital content stream, comprising:
identifying, via a processor, at least one first segment of at least a first channel in the multi-channel digital content stream and at least one second segment of a second channel in the multi-channel digital content stream;
generating a time shift that provides a low bandwidth message;
embedding a first portion of data of the embedded data in the first segment at a first start location and a first stop location in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message; and
embedding a second portion of data of the embedded data in the second segment at a second start location and a second stop location in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message, wherein the first start location and the first stop location associated with the first portion of data is time-shifted with respect to the second start location and the second stop location of the second portion of data;
wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises multiple references to data embedded in at least one different channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different multi-channel digital content stream.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises a global reference to data embedded in at least one different channel and wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises a local reference to data embedded in the same channel.

5. A method for providing embedded data in a multi-channel digital content stream, comprising:
identifying, via a processor, at least one first segment of at least a first channel in the multi-channel digital content stream and at least one second segment of a second channel in the multi-channel digital content stream, the first and second segment having beginning points and ending points;
generating a time shift that provides a low bandwidth message;
embedding a first portion of data of the embedded data in the first segment at a first start location and a first stop location in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message; and
embedding a second portion of data of the embedded data in the second segment at a second start location and a second stop location in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message, wherein the first start location and the first stop location associated with the first portion of data is time-shifted with respect to the second start location and the second stop location of the second portion of data;
wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different channel.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the beginning and the ending points of the first and second segments are the same.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the length of the first and second segments are different.

8. The method of claim 6 , comprising embedding data into multiple first segments of the first channel and embedding data into multiple second segments of the second channel, and wherein beginning and ending points of the segments in at least one of the first and second channels are non-uniform.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises multiple references to data embedded in at least one different channel.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different multi-channel digital content stream.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the embedded data comprises digital watermark data that facilitates identification of digital content defined by the multi-channel digital content stream.

12. The method of claim 5 , comprising transmitting the multi-channel digital content to an electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the multi-channel digital content is stored on the electronic device or on a component coupled to the electronic device.

14. The method of claim 12 , comprising reading the embedded data from the first and second segments in the electronic device or in a component coupled to the electronic device.

15. A method for providing embedded data in a multi-channel digital content stream, comprising:
receiving the multi-channel digital content stream in an electronic device, the multi-channel digital content comprising content data for reproducing desired content and embedded data in the content data, the embedded data comprising at least a first portion embedded in a first segment of a first channel and a second portion embedded in a second segment of a second channel, wherein the first portion of at least one first segment is time-shifted with respect to the second portion of at least one second segment in accordance with a time shift for providing a low bandwidth message;
detecting the low bandwidth message based on the time shift between the first portion of the embedded data and the second portion of the embedded data; and
reading the first and second portions of the embedded data from the first and second segments;
wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different channel.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first and second portions of the embedded data are read in the electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the embedded data facilitates identification of digital content defined by the multi-channel digital content stream.

18. A system for providing embedded data in a multi-channel digital content stream, comprising:
a content embedding component configured to identify in the multi-channel digital content stream at least one first segment of at least a first channel and at least one second segment of a second channel, to generate a time shift that provides a low bandwidth message, to insert a first portion of the embedded data into the first segment in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message, and to insert a second portion of the embedded data into the second segment in accordance with the generated time shift for providing the low bandwidth message, wherein the first portion of at least one first segment is time-shifted with respect to the second portion of at least one second segment; and
a content distribution system configured to transmit the multi-channel digital content stream, including content data for reproducing desired content and the embedded data, to an electronic device for reproduction of the desired content;
wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the embedded data comprises a reference to data embedded in a different channel.

19. The system of claim 18 , comprising a reading component in or coupled to the electronic device for reading the embedded data from the multi-channel digital content stream.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the content distribution system is configured to transmit the multi-channel digital content stream via a broadcast m

Assignees

• Bause Thomas
• Ng Sheau
• Nbcuniversal Media Llc

Inventors

• Bause Thomas
• Ng Sheau

Classifications

• H04N21/4348

  Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams · CPC title

• H04N21/43853

  involving multiplex stream decryption (arrangements using cryptography for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/23) · CPC title

• H04N21/23892

  involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level · CPC title

• H04N21/23614 Primary

  Multiplexing of additional data and video streams (arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28) · CPC title

• H04N21/8358

  involving watermark {(protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467)} · CPC title