Patent ID: 7593543
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for tracing distribution of video content through a content distribution pathway having a plurality of computing systems through which the content is distributed from an originating content server, comprising: a watermarking module disposed within an individual computing system along the content distribution path operative to display the video content, the watermarking module operative to insert a set of watermarking pixels into a watermark in video frames generated from video content received by said individual computing system, said set of watermarking pixels encoding tracing information that is imperceptible to an end-user viewing displayed video frames and which is included in a version of said video content; the watermark in the video frame including the set of watermarking pixels added by the watermarking module disposed within the individual computing system with the watermark further including any sets of watermarking pixels added by previous computing systems along the distribution pathway such that distribution of content from the content server is traceable through the distribution path.