Patent ID: 7738677

Claim:
A method of embedding information in media content during a process for decoding the media content, comprising: delivering media content to a decode device configured to decode the media content and output frames of video for display on an output device, where the decode device includes an alpha blending function configured to combine an on screen display and media content during the decoding of the media content to produce a combined frame in which both the on screen display and media content are present and the decode device is configured to output the combined frame for display on the output device; decoding a frame of the media content; rendering the information as an overlay image and alpha values according to perceptual characteristics of the media content so that the modifications to the decoded frame are imperceptible when the overlay image is combined with the decoded frame of the media content in accordance with the alpha values using the alpha blending function of the decode device; at the point during the process of decoding the media content at which an on screen display, when present, is overlaid on the decoded frame using the alpha blending function of the decode device, modifying the decoded frame by using the alpha blending function of the decode device to combine the entire rendered overlay image with the decoded frame of the media content in accordance with the alpha values, and thereby imperceptibly producing a marked frame in which the rendered overlay image is present and imperceptible; and outputting the marked frame from the decode device to the output device for display.