Out of Phase Digital Watermarking Chrominance Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital watermarking systems face challenges in effectively embedding and detecting watermarks in color images and videos, particularly in reducing image interference while maintaining a strong watermark signal, especially when dealing with correlated chrominance channels.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves separating color images or videos into at least two chrominance channels, embedding a watermark signal in one channel with a specific polarity and inversely related polarity in the other, and then subtracting the second channel from the first to reduce image interference and enhance the watermark signal, thereby increasing the watermark signal-to-media content ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a watermark signal is embedded in color image chrominance channels, then the watermark detection capability is improved, but the image content interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chrominance channel is segmented into two separate components (first and second chrominance channels). The watermark signal is embedded in the first channel while the second channel contains only image content. This segmentation allows the detector to separate watermark signal from image interference by processing the two channels differently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the polarity of the watermark signal in the second chrominance channel relative to the first channel. During detection, subtracting the second channel from the first channel causes the image content to cancel out while the watermark signals add together, effectively inverting the interference problem into a solution.
2Measurement precision
If the watermark signal is embedded with strong amplitude, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the image quality degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the watermark embedding across two chrominance channels, the patent allows strong watermark signals to be embedded without proportionally increasing visible degradation. The detector can combine the segmented channels to recover the full-strength watermark signal while the human visual system perceives less degradation due to the distributed nature of the modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relate generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first data representing a first chrominance channel of a color image or video, where the first data comprises a watermark signal embedded therein; obtaining second data representing a second chrominance channel of the color image or video, the second data comprising the watermark signal embedded therein but with a signal polarity that is inversely related to the polarity of the watermark signal in the first data; combining the second data with the first data in a manner that reduces image or video interference relative to the watermark signal, said act of combining yielding third data; using at least a processor or electronic processing circuitry, processing the third data to obtain the watermark signal; and once obtained, providing information associated with the watermark signal. Of course, additional combinations and claims are provided as well.