Automated digital watermarking methods using neural networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide digital watermarking methods that embed a digital watermark in both the low and high frequencies of an image or other production, providing a digital watermark that is resistant to a variety of attacks. The digital watermarking methods of the present invention optimize the strength of the embedded digital watermark such that it is as powerful as possible without being perceptible to the human eye. The digital watermarking methods of the present invention do this relatively quickly, in real-time, and in an automated fashion using an intelligent system, such as a neural network. The digital watermarking methods of the present invention may also be used in a variety of new applications, such as the digital watermarking of sensitive aircraft parts and military equipment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 315,223, entitled “Maximum-Strength Multi-Resolution Watermarking of Digital Products Using Neural Networks,” filed Aug. 28, 2001 and U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 10 / 134,255, entitled “Automated Digital Watermarking Methods Using Neural Networks,” filed Apr. 29, 2002. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of digital information security. Specifically, the present invention relates to copyright protection for digital products, or digital watermarking. More specifically, the present invention relates to automated digital watermarking methods using neural networks. The methods of the present invention may also be applied to non-digital applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The explosive growth of globally-distributed computer networks, such as the Internet and b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide digital watermarking methods that embed a digital watermark in both the low and high frequencies of an image or other production, providing a digital watermark that is resistant to a variety of attacks. The digital watermarking methods of the present invention optimize the strength of the embedded digital watermark such that it is as powerful as possible without being perceptible to the human eye. The digital watermarking methods of the present invention do this relatively quickly, in real-time, and in an automated fashion using an intelligent system, such as a neural network. The watermarking methods of the present invention may also be used in a variety of new applications, such as the watermarking of sensitive aircraft parts, military equipment, and machines such that the destruction of a watermark associated with a given machine compromises the function of the machine.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the present invention, an automated watermarking method includes creating a database including a first plurality of productions and receiving a first plurality of scores associated with the quality of the first plurality of productions from a plurality of human subjects. The automated watermarking method also includes providing information associated with the first plurality of productions and the first plurality of scores to an intelligent system and training the intelligent system to generate a second plurality of scores associated with the quality of the first plurality of productions, wherein the second plurality of scores is substantially the same as the first plurality of scores. The automated watermarking method further includes providing information associated with a second plurality of productions to the intelligent system, receiving a third plurality of scores associated with the quality of the second plurality of productions from the intelligent system, and optimizing the strength of a watermark using the third plurality of scores.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium having executable commands operable for digitally watermarking a production in an automated fashion includes executable commands operable for creating a database including a first plurality of productions and receiving a first plurality of scores associated with the quality of the first plurality of productions from a plurality of human subjects. The executable commands are also operable for providing information associated with the first plurality of productions and the first plurality of scores to an intelligent system and training the intelligent system to generate a second plurality of scores associated with the quality of the first plurality of productions, wherein the second plurality of scores is substantially the same as the first plurality of scores. The executable commands are further operable for providing information associated with a second plurality of productions to the intelligent system, receiving a third plurality of scores associated with the quality of the second plurality of productions from the intelligent system, and optimizing the strength of a digital watermark using the third plurality of scores.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, the high-frequency sub-bands of a wavelet transform include the edges and textures of an image and the human eye is typically insensitive to changes in such sub-bands.

Although marginally effective with respect to some types of attacks, the conventional digital watermarking methods are vulnerable to attack if techniques such as low-pass filtering are used.

In addition, the conventional digital watermarking methods tend to be labor-intensive, relatively slow, and lack the ability to be adequately automated.

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