Content Watermarking Using Selected Frames for Piracy Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The digitization of content distribution has made it easier for unauthorized users to steal or share content, posing a significant challenge for content providers.

Innovation Solution

A computing device selects a unique subset of frames from content and applies watermark data to these frames, associating them with a user device or account, enabling detection of unauthorized access by analyzing the frames during playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If content is digitized and distributed via streaming services, then content accessibility and distribution efficiency are improved, but the risk of unauthorized content theft and sharing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent distribution efficiencyVSAvoidunauthorized content theft
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies watermarking to content frames before they are transmitted to the user device. By pre-embedding unique identifiers into the content frames, the system establishes traceability before any unauthorized copying can occur. This preliminary action allows the content to carry inherent identification markers that persist through distribution, enabling later detection of unauthorized usage without altering the content's accessibility or distribution efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If watermark data is added to content frames, then unauthorized access detection capability is improved, but processing time and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized access detectionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies watermarks to only a subset of frames rather than all frames in the content stream. This segmentation approach reduces the computational burden and processing time while still providing sufficient detection capability. By strategically selecting which frames to watermark, the system achieves reliable unauthorized access detection without the time penalty of processing every single frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different watermarking strategies to different frames based on their importance and detectability characteristics. Critical frames that are more likely to be copied or displayed are watermarked with higher prominence, while less critical frames receive minimal or no watermarking. This local quality approach optimizes the balance between detection reliability and processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If a subset of frames is selected for watermarking, then processing efficiency is improved, but the reliability of unauthorized access detection may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatermarking processing efficiencyVSAvoidunauthorized access detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the size and composition of the watermarked frame subset based on the content characteristics, user behavior patterns, and detection requirements. By making the watermarking strategy adaptive rather than static, the system can maintain high detection reliability while optimizing processing efficiency for each specific context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor detection results and adjust the frame selection strategy accordingly. By analyzing which frames are most effective for detection and which are most efficiently processable, the system continuously optimizes the balance between processing efficiency and detection reliability through iterative feedback loops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260044582A1Methods and systems for watermarking content
Publication Date: 2026.02.12 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • US20260044582A1 patent drawing
  • US20260044582A1 patent drawing
  • US20260044582A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems are described for providing content. A user may request content. The content may be analyzed to determine a plurality of locations in the content. A subset of the plurality of locations may be determined. The subset may be associated with a particular user account associated with the request. Watermarked data may be added to the subset of locations. The content comprising the watermarked data may be sent to the user in response to the request. The content may be analyzed to determine, based on the specific subset of locations, which user account is authorized to access the content.