External Image Sensor Watermark Verification for Display Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack a reliable way to verify that media content has been displayed on devices, as processing logs may not suffice due to potential device malfunctions or undetectable software issues, leading to disputes and potential loss for content vendors.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an image sensor to capture encoded information from an external corner of a display device, which generates and verifies watermarks integrated with the content, ensuring proof of play by decoding and comparing them to the content plan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If processing logs are used to verify content display, then verification mechanism is simple, but reliability of verification is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces watermarks as an intermediary element that is embedded within the content itself. These watermarks serve as a mediator between the content delivery system and the verification system, allowing external sensors to detect and verify content display without requiring complex integration with the display device's internal processing logs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on electronic processing logs with an optical detection mechanism. By substituting the mechanical/electronic verification approach (reading processing logs) with an optical approach (image sensors capturing visual watermarks), the system achieves more reliable verification that is independent of the display device's internal software and hardware state.
2Reliability
If external verification mechanisms are implemented, then verification reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual watermarks that are essentially copies or representations of verification data embedded in the visual content. Instead of directly accessing the content delivery system's internal state, external sensors capture visual copies of the watermarks displayed on screen, providing a simplified verification mechanism that relies on optical copying rather than system integration.
3Measurement precision
If processing logs provide evidence of content play, then verification process is straightforward, but proof authenticity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Watermarks act as an intermediary carrier of verification information that is visually embedded in the content. This mediator allows external observers to obtain precise proof of content display through visual detection, eliminating the need to trust or directly access the processing device's internal logs while maintaining verification simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and a System are provided for proving media content was played on a display through capturing of audit information presented in watermarks when the content is played on the display. In a method, content watermarks are generated for content that is to be rendered on a display of a display device. An image sensor that is externally affixed to a corner of the display captures the watermarks as the content is rendered on the display, the image sensor captures the watermarks being played with the content from the area associated the corner where the image sensor is affixed. The image sensor captures the watermarks as images and streams the images back to the display device for storage. The stored watermarks are processed to verify that the corresponding content associated with the watermarks was played by the display device (visually rendered on the display of the display device).