Real-time Cloud Video Watermarking for Piracy Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video streaming models require multiple copies of encoded videos to be stored for different client characteristics, leading to inefficiencies and increased storage needs, while existing watermarking techniques do not effectively address piracy by not allowing for real-time, client-specific watermarking during video streaming.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based video generation system that inserts a unique watermark into streaming video in real-time as it is delivered to clients, using a video encoder to convert the video format and add the watermark, associating it with client information for identifying unauthorized copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple copies of encoded videos are stored for different client characteristics, then video delivery can be optimized for various clients, but storage needs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs watermark insertion and video encoding in advance before delivery to clients. A single master video copy is prepared with embedded watermarks and pre-encoded for different client characteristics, eliminating the need to store multiple watermarked versions while enabling optimized delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing multiple original watermarked video copies, the system creates and stores only one master watermarked video copy. This single copy serves as the source for all client deliveries, dramatically reducing storage requirements while maintaining the ability to deliver optimized versions.
2Reliability
If traditional watermarking techniques are used, then video can be marked with identifiers, but real-time client-specific watermarking during streaming is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds watermarks into the video stream in advance during the encoding process, before the video is delivered to clients. This preliminary watermarking action ensures that each client receives a uniquely watermarked copy in real-time without requiring post-processing or delaying delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The watermarking process operates continuously throughout the video encoding and streaming process. As the video is encoded and delivered in real-time, watermarks are continuously embedded, ensuring that every frame delivered to each client contains the appropriate client-specific identifier without interrupting the streaming flow.
3Quantity of substance
If a single version of video is stored without client-specific watermarks, then storage efficiency improves, but the ability to identify unauthorized copies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system embeds unique client-specific watermarks at the local level within the video data stream. Each client receives a version of the video with their specific identifier embedded in the video frames themselves, allowing precise identification of unauthorized copies while storing only a single master video file on the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates watermarked copies of the video in real-time during the streaming process rather than storing multiple pre-watermarked copies. Each client-specific watermarked version is generated on-demand from the single master copy, maintaining storage efficiency while enabling precise piracy identification through embedded client identifiers.
Data Source
AI summary
A video generation system is configured to provide streaming video as a cloud processed service to viewers over a computing network. In response to a request from a viewer, a video source is configured to provide video and an identifier source is configured to provide an identifier for inclusion in the video. A video encoder is configured to convert the video from a first format to a second format, apply the identifier to the video, and otherwise encode the video in real-time while streaming the encoded video to the viewer. The identifier may be stored in association with the account information of the viewer and used for identifying the viewer a source of an unauthorized video copy.