GPU Shader Watermarking for OTT Piracy Detection

The patent introduces an intermediary component - the GPU shader program - that acts as a mediator between the content delivery system and the client device rendering pipeline. The shader program is distributed through standard content delivery mechanisms and automatically executes on client GPUs without requiring integration into diverse client environments. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by providing a unified watermarking interface that works across all client devices without complex integration requirements.

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the watermarking logic directly into GPU shader programs that are prepared in advance and distributed with the video content. The watermarking operations are performed client-side during normal video rendering, eliminating the need for real-time server processing. This approach provides server-based flexibility in watermark design while avoiding broadcast delays and additional storage bandwidth requirements, as the watermarking capability is pre-loaded with the content.

The patent leverages the universal nature of GPU shaders, which are a standard component of modern graphics hardware. The watermarking system uses OpenGL ES 2.0 or later shader language, a universal interface already present in all mobile and desktop devices. By using the GPU's existing parallel processing capabilities for both graphics rendering and watermark embedding, the system achieves robust watermarking without adding integration complexity, as the GPU hardware and shader language provide a unified platform across all devices.