Forensic Mark Insertion in Content Transmission Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transmitting and receiving content with forensic watermarks face inefficiencies in storage space and real-time transmission, particularly when using content delivery networks (CDN), as they require generating multiple content versions with different patterns, leading to increased storage needs and limited simultaneous connections.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a content transmission stream with a forensic mark (FM) segment inserted into specific units like Macro Blocks, I-Frames, or Group of Pictures, allowing for real-time insertion and combination with session information at the receiving device, enabling efficient use of cache and CDN while minimizing storage requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple content versions with different forensic mark patterns are generated in advance, then forensic tracking capability is improved, but storage space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forensic mark insertion process by separating the content transmission stream from the forensic mark stream. Instead of storing multiple complete content versions with different watermarks, the system transmits only the forensic mark segments separately and combines them with the content at the receiving device. This segmentation reduces storage requirements while maintaining forensic tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares forensic mark segments in advance with different patterns before actual content transmission. These pre-prepared segments are then combined with the content stream at the receiving device based on session information. This preliminary preparation avoids the need to store multiple complete content versions while still enabling different forensic marking for different sessions.
2Measurement precision
If forensic marks are inserted at the terminal in real-time, then tracking accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases as all receiving terminals must have forensic mark functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that performs the forensic mark insertion operation. Instead of requiring each receiving terminal to have forensic mark insertion capabilities, the server generates the forensic mark segments and transmits them separately. The receiving device only needs to receive and combine the streams, significantly reducing the complexity requirements for client devices while maintaining tracking accuracy.
3Productivity
If content is compressed before encryption, then transmission efficiency is improved, but forensic watermark insertion becomes difficult as the content is no longer in decompressed state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the content into segments that can be processed separately. The forensic mark segments are generated in advance when content is in decompressed state, allowing easy watermark insertion. These segments are then transmitted separately from the main content stream, which can be compressed and encrypted as needed. This segmentation allows forensic marking to occur efficiently without compromising transmission efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If session-specific content versions are generated for each user, then personalized tracking is improved, but CDN efficiency decreases as contents cannot be shared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the personalized tracking requirement from the content transmission. The forensic mark segments containing session-specific information are transmitted separately from the main content. This allows the main content to be cached and transmitted efficiently through CDN for multiple users, while session-specific tracking information is added separately through the forensic mark stream, maintaining both CDN efficiency and personalized tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal content transmission stream that can be shared through CDN for multiple users. The forensic mark stream serves multiple functions: it provides session-specific tracking information, enables personalized tracking, and can be combined with the universal content stream at the receiving device. This multi-functionality allows CDN efficiency to be maintained while achieving personalized tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmitting contents including tracking information is described. The method comprising the steps of generating a content transmission stream relevant to an original content, determining at least part of the original content as a forensic mark (FM) target segment, generating a FM stream including the FM segment in which a particular pattern is inserted into the FM target segment and a FM stream different from the content transmission stream and transmitting the content transmission stream and the FM stream to a receiving device, wherein the FM stream is combined with the content transmission stream based on session information related to the transmitting in the receiving device.