Subscriber ID Embedding in Video Streams via Injective Transformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting and preventing streaming piracy, such as human-based detection and optical character recognition, are inefficient due to techniques employed by hackers to circumvent fingerprinting, including hardware modifications and interlace attacks, which compromise the effectiveness of conditional access and digital rights management systems.
Innovation Solution
Embedding a subscriber ID in video frames using an injective transformation to generate near-transparent patterns and corresponding time periods, creating a nearly imperceptible overlay that is difficult for hackers to detect or manipulate, while allowing for robust detection mechanisms to verify the authenticity of the content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If human-based detection or OCR systems are used to detect subscriber IDs, then detection capability is provided, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to hacker circumvention techniques and OCR limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human-based detection and OCR systems with automated image processing algorithms that analyze video frames to detect subscriber IDs. This substitution of mechanical/digital systems eliminates human error and OCR limitations while maintaining detection capability against hacker circumvention techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds subscriber IDs into video content in advance using fingerprinting technology, creating detectable markers before distribution. This preliminary embedding ensures that detection systems can reliably identify and track pirated content without relying on post-distribution analysis alone.
2Reliability
If subscriber IDs are embedded in video content using traditional fingerprinting, then content identification is enabled, but reliability deteriorates due to hacker circumvention techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds subscriber IDs in specific local regions of video content rather than uniformly across the entire video. By placing detectable markers in strategically chosen locations, the system maintains reliability while making it more difficult for hackers to circumvent detection without degrading overall video quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic embedding strategies where subscriber ID placement and characteristics can vary based on content type, distribution channel, and detected threat levels. This dynamic approach prevents hackers from developing universal circumvention techniques, thereby maintaining fingerprinting effectiveness.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If near-transparent overlays are used to embed subscriber IDs, then imperceptibility to viewers is achieved, but detection difficulty increases due to the subtle nature of the overlays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses near-transparent overlays with carefully controlled color properties that are imperceptible to human viewers but contain detectable patterns for automated systems. By manipulating color transparency and pattern frequency, the system achieves both viewer imperceptibility and machine detectability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds subscriber IDs using periodic patterns in the near-transparent overlays, creating rhythmic variations that are invisible to human perception but easily detectable by automated analysis systems. This periodic encoding maintains imperceptibility while simplifying detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a command is received from a video provider at a media rendering device, the command being a command to embed a subscriber ID in at least one video frame in a video stream, A random key, k is also received from the video provider at the media rendering device. An injective transformation is invoked for k and the subscriber ID, the injective transformation generating a sequence of pairs of: near-transparent patterns and corresponding time periods. Logical blocks of the at least one video frame in the video stream are overlaid with one of the near-transparent patterns for its one of the corresponding time periods. Related apparatus, systems, and methods are also described.