Manifest Data Encoding for Media Source Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current media content distribution systems face challenges in identifying the source of unauthorized media content copies, particularly in tracking dynamic content and user/device association for anti-piracy purposes, without significantly increasing storage requirements or modifying playback devices.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves encoding an identifier into customized manifest data by selecting a pattern of playback options for selected durations of media content, allowing client devices to generate a customized version that includes imperceptible version information, which can be recovered to identify the source of unauthorized copies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional media content distribution is used, then playback quality is maintained, but the ability to identify unauthorized content sources is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The manifest data is segmented to include version information for specific content fragments. Each content fragment can have associated version data that identifies the source, allowing granular tracking without requiring modification of the entire media content or playback device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Manifest data serves as an intermediary carrier that conveys version information from the content delivery system to the client device. This intermediary structure allows source identification without requiring direct modification of playback devices or the media content itself.
2Measurement precision
If client-side watermarking is implemented, then unauthorized content distribution can be tracked, but playback device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifest data acts as an intermediary that carries version information, eliminating the need for client-side watermarking operations. The server embeds version data in the manifest, which the client device simply reads and uses to identify content sources, avoiding complex client-side processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs the watermarking function remotely by embedding version information in the manifest data before delivery. The client device receives pre-watermarked content through the manifest, eliminating the need for the client to perform watermarking operations.
3Measurement precision
If version information is embedded in manifest data, then source identification is enabled, but data transmission volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Version information is embedded locally and selectively in the manifest data structure, rather than being added to every content fragment. This allows source identification while minimizing the overall data volume increase, as version data is only included where needed for tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for encoding information in manifest data in a way that enables identification of a version of media content. Such a capability may be used to identify dynamic content inserted into the media content for the purpose of tracking the effect of the dynamic content on user generated feedback. This capability might also be used to identify a user or device associated with a particular copy of the media content for anti-piracy purposes.