Patent ID: 6404898
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: G06F,G06Q,G06T,G07C,G07D,G07F,G10L,G11B,H04B,H04N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of embedding multi-bit auxiliary data into an input motion picture content signal that is thereafter compressed to yield a compressed signal, and thereafter discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from a non-identical counterpart to a signal obtained by decompressing the compressed signal, the method comprising:providing an input content signal comprising a plurality of samples, each sample having a value associated therewith; for each of a plurality of samples, transforming the value thereof in accordance with at least some of said multi-bit auxiliary data, wherein a first encoded content signal is produced having the auxiliary data embedded therein; compressing the first encoded content signal; decompressing the compressed, first encoded content signal to produce a second encoded content signal, said second encoded content signal being non-identical to the first encoded content signal due to said compression/decompression process; and discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from the second encoded content signal; wherein the discerning includes processing plural redundantly-encoded excerpts of said second encoded content signal to determine the auxiliary multi-bit data embedded therein, wherein greater or lesser confidence in the auxiliary multi-bit data discerned from said second encoded content signal can be obtained by processing longer or shorter excerpts, respectively.