Patent ID: 6813368
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A method to watermark structured data comprising the steps of:encoding original structured data by adding a predetermined acceptable and detectable level of distortion to form a watermarked copy of the structured data, distortion being added at each element of a selected subset of data elements, the selection of the subset being performed without reliance on inherent characteristics of the original structured data that tend to indicate the origin of the original structured data, the selection of the subset being performed so as to allow variability in the choice of data elements so as to allow creation of indicia that will both identify the watermarked copy as originating from a known source and distinguish the watermarked copy from other watermarked copies; and coding the added predetermined acceptable and detectable level of distortion to create indicia to make the watermarked copy uniquely recognizable and identify the watermarked copy as originating from a known source, the identification of the watermarked copy as originating from a known source being without reliance on inherent characteristics of the watermarked copy apart from the characteristics forming the watermarking.