Digital Watermarking for Content Identification Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital rights management systems face challenges in reliably linking digital content with additional data and usage billing information, as existing methods are prone to being stripped away during file format changes or conversions, and fail to provide transparent usage models for consumers.
Innovation Solution
A digital watermarking system that steganographically embeds content identifiers within media signals, allowing for reliable linking with usage rules and billing information, even when content is outside its original DRM package, using a combination of digital watermarks and file headers to ensure secure and transparent content usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content identifiers are placed in file headers or footers, then content can be associated with related data, but the information is susceptible to being stripped away during file format changes and conversions
Solution Approach 1:
The content identifier is nested within the content itself through digital watermarking techniques, embedding the identification information directly into the media signal. This nested structure ensures that the identifier travels with the content through various format changes and conversions, as it becomes an intrinsic part of the content rather than a separate附属 element.
Solution Approach 2:
Digital watermarking technology serves as an intermediary mechanism that embeds content identifiers into the content in a way that is imperceptible to users but detectable by the system. This intermediary approach allows reliable content identification while maintaining content usability and compatibility across different formats and platforms.
2Reliability
If digital watermarking is used to embed content identifiers, then content can be reliably linked with usage rules and billing information, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The digital watermarking system is designed to perform multiple functions: content identification, usage rule enforcement, and billing information tracking. By making the system universal and multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving reliable content data linking.
Solution Approach 2:
The content identifier embedded through digital watermarking serves itself by automatically providing identification information to the rights management system without requiring additional metadata files or separate identification mechanisms. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture by eliminating the need for external supporting infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If content is allowed to be used outside its original DRM package, then user convenience and revenue generation improve, but content security and proper payment enforcement become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The content identifier is embedded into the content before it leaves the DRM package, performing the identification function in advance. This preliminary action ensures that even when content is used outside the original DRM environment, the identifier remains embedded and can be detected to enforce payment and usage rules, thus maintaining security while enabling convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing digital asset management of content is provided. The content is identified with an identifier. The identifier can be identified with a digital watermark, header file, or both. The identifier is linked to usage rules to regulate usage and protect the content. The usage rules can be maintained on a remote or local database or server. Once extracted, an identifier is used to index the database to locate a corresponding usage rule, and can be used to override copy control information with proper purchase and subsequent protection. Content can be managed from such. In another embodiment, an identifier is used to track usage, such as amount of content viewed, time played, and copies made. In yet another embodiment, a content identifier is used to regulate content throughout a distribution chain, and a distributed set of databases with information relevant only to the owner of the database act as one database due to a central router.