Horizontal Salting for Undetectable Database Watermarking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively prevent and detect data leakage of text and database files, as they are fragile and easily manipulated, making it difficult for data owners to assert ownership and recover lost revenue due to the lack of robust evidence.
Innovation Solution
Horizontal salting, a method that subtly modifies key fields and character positions within data files, allowing for unique and undetectable watermarking that can identify the recipient of leaked data without compromising the file's usability, and can detect multiple watermarks in a single file.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional watermarking methods are applied to database tables, text files, or real-time data feeds, then data ownership can be asserted, but the watermark is easily detected and removed due to the lightweight and manipulable nature of these data formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the watermark into multiple distributed elements embedded within individual data records. Instead of placing a single detectable watermark in the data structure, the system divides the watermark information across many records, making it difficult to detect or remove without affecting the overall data set. This segmentation approach directly addresses the vulnerability of traditional watermarking in lightweight data formats.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by embedding watermark information selectively in specific fields or positions within data records rather than uniformly across all data. This allows the watermark to be hidden in less critical areas while maintaining data usability, and makes detection more difficult because the watermark is distributed across multiple local positions rather than being concentrated in a single detectable location.
2Ease of operation
If data is transmitted in clear or decrypted at the point of use, then data usability is maintained, but data leakage cannot be prevented or detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding watermarks in data before transmission or decryption. The watermarking process occurs in advance, incorporating identification information into the data structure before the data is made usable. This allows the data to be transmitted and decrypted for normal use while already containing the protective watermark elements that will enable later detection of unauthorized use.
3Reliability
If manual operations are used for detecting data leaks, then detection can be performed, but the process is time-consuming, labor-intensive, expensive, and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing a system where the watermark automatically identifies itself through its embedded structure. The watermark contains metadata and identification information that enables automated detection systems to recognize and extract watermark information without human intervention. This self-identifying property allows computational algorithms to efficiently detect watermarks and identify data leakage sources, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for “horizontal” salting of database tables, text files, and data feeds utilizes a key field and character position within that field (the “Key Character”) and a Salting Field, which contains content that can legitimately be in one of at least two states without impacting the usefulness of the data. A unique identifier, which is assigned to the recipient of the data, is hidden within the data by using the variations of the states in the Salting Field, with the value of the Key Character identifying the position within the unique identifier. This type of salting is invisible to the recipient of the data file, does not alter the accuracy of the data, and can be made unique for a particular party receiving data files or unique for each data file.