Client-Side Forensic Watermark Overlay for DRM Video Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for embedding forensic watermarks in video content require significant server resources and are vulnerable to collusion attacks, and hardware DRM prevents direct watermark embedding.
Innovation Solution
A client-side forensic watermarking system that uses a watermark mask to embed watermarks in video content, allowing real-time display and resistance to collusion attacks, even with hardware DRM applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If server-side watermark embedding is used, then forensic watermark can be embedded in video content, but server resources are significantly consumed and real-time responsiveness is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional server-side watermark embedding approach by implementing client-side watermark display. Instead of the server embedding watermarks in video content, the client device receives a watermark mask and superimposes it on the displayed video content locally. This inversion transfers the processing burden from server to client, resolving the contradiction between watermark embedding capability and real-time responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the watermark display function from the server system and isolates it as a separate watermark mask that is transmitted to the client. The actual watermark embedding operation is extracted from the video stream and performed separately by the client device through superposition, allowing the server to focus on content delivery while the client handles watermark display in real-time.
2Ease of operation
If preprocessing generates 0 content file and 1 content file, then forensic watermark can be embedded by combining files in real time, but the watermark can be easily paralyzed by collusion attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to watermark embedding by introducing a separate watermark mask layer that operates independently from the video content layers. Instead of embedding watermarks within the video file structure itself, the watermark is displayed as a separate overlay that combines user identification information with the video content in real-time, making collusion attacks ineffective as each user sees a unique watermark overlay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic watermark generation where the watermark mask is created and applied in real-time based on user identification information. Rather than using static pre-embedded watermarks that can be copied and combined, the system dynamically generates unique watermarks for each user session, ensuring that collusion attacks fail because the watermarks are continuously regenerated and user-specific.
3Reliability
If hardware DRM is applied to video content, then digital rights management is enforced, but watermark embedding becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a watermark mask as an intermediary element that bridges DRM-protected content and watermark display. The watermark mask is transmitted separately from the protected video content and applied as an overlay during playback, allowing watermarks to be displayed without modifying the DRM-protected video stream itself. This intermediary approach enables watermarking while maintaining DRM enforcement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a client forensic watermarking device, system, and method. A forensic watermarking device capable of communicating with a content server selecting a watermark mask area in which a watermark mask is displayed from video content and storing watermark area information about the watermark mask area in a storage unit according to the present disclosure may provide: a downloading unit requesting the video content to be played from the content server and receiving the video content and the watermark area information from the content server; a watermark mask generation unit outputting the watermark mask using the watermark area information inputted from the downloading unit; and an overlay unit superimposing the watermark mask inputted from the watermark mask generation unit on the watermark mask area of the video content inputted from the downloading unit, thereby enabling a client to display a forensic watermark so as to deal with a collusion attack.