Inaudible Fingerprint Embedding in Digital Media for Copyright Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional digital rights management (DRM) solutions face compatibility issues and are vulnerable to signal processing attacks, limiting the usability of digital music files across different devices and allowing unauthorized distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method that combines audible removable watermarks and robust inaudible fingerprints in digital media files, allowing users to sample content while embedding an individual user's fingerprint for tracking unauthorized distribution, and transforming the watermark into a non-detectable fingerprint upon purchase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional DRM solutions are used to protect digital music files, then content protection is improved, but device compatibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent protectionVSAvoiddevice compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The protection mechanism is segmented into two independent components: audible watermarks for content protection and inaudible fingerprints for tracking. This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function without interfering with device compatibility, as neither component requires proprietary DRM infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The watermarking system is designed to be universal and compatible with any digital audio player. The watermarks and fingerprints are embedded in the audio signal itself, allowing playback on any device without requiring proprietary DRM software, thus achieving multi-functionality across different platforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If encryption-based DRM solutions are used, then content protection is improved, but vulnerability to attacks worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent protectionVSAvoidvulnerability to attacks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the potentially harmful effect of signal processing attacks into a beneficial outcome. When attackers modify the audio signal, the robust inaudible fingerprints remain detectable, allowing identification of the source. The attack itself becomes a means of tracking and identifying unauthorized distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The fingerprint embedding uses parameter changes in the frequency domain that are robust against signal processing attacks. The fingerprints are embedded in a way that survives common audio modifications such as compression, format conversion, and filtering, maintaining detectability even after attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If digital watermarks are made robust against attacks, then content protection is improved, but detectability of watermarks worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent protectionVSAvoidwatermark detectability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the watermarking system have different detectability characteristics. The audible watermarks are designed to be detectable by users for sampling purposes, while the inaudible fingerprints are designed to be detectable only by authorized detection systems. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between robustness and detectability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary detection mechanism that can extract fingerprints without being affected by signal processing attacks. The fingerprint detector acts as an intermediary that can reliably measure the embedded fingerprints even when the audio signal has been modified, solving the detectability problem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If audible watermarks are used for content sampling, then consumer satisfaction is improved, but watermark robustness worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsumer satisfactionVSAvoidwatermark robustness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges audible watermarks and inaudible fingerprints into a single integrated protection mechanism. The audible watermarks provide consumer-friendly sampling capability, while the inaudible fingerprints provide robust tracking. Both components work together to resolve the contradiction between ease of use and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2960819B1A method and system embedding a non-detectable fingerprint in a digital media file

Publication Date: 2018.12.05 CAPRICODE OY

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method and system for embedding in a digital media file user fingerprint which the user cannot detect when using the digital media file. In the method, a user-detectable watermark is first embedded in the digital media file. This watermark can be transformed in a client device to a non-detectable fingerprint of the user by utilizing digital media file-specific information issued by a digital media rights owner when the user has bought a user license. Afterwards the digital media rights owner can read the embedded user fingerprint from the digital media file if it is illegally distributed between other users.