Video Distribution Control via Visible Light Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for enforcing digital rights management (DRM) and copyright protection on video content recorded by users during social events are ineffective as they require modifications to user devices, degrade video quality, or rely on post-record processing, which negatively impact user experience and are difficult to enforce.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Visible Light Communication (VLC) to encode DRM identifiers into video frames, allowing cameras to capture and decode these identifiers, which are then used to control the distribution of video content based on predefined DRM settings, without modifying user devices or degrading video quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If watermarking techniques (color plane modification, masking) are applied to protect video content, then copyright protection is achieved, but user experience degrades due to visible degradation and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DRM identifier encoding from the video content itself by using visible light communication signals that are captured by the camera but do not appear in the final video frames. The VLC signal is modulated into light that the camera sensor detects and encodes into video data, allowing DRM information to be separated from the visual content, thus providing protection without degrading user experience.
2Reliability
If post-record processing watermarking is applied, then copyright protection is achieved, but processing power and time are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the DRM identifier into the video stream during the recording process itself through VLC signal modulation. The camera captures the modulated light signal and encodes it into the video data in real-time, so that copyright protection is already in place before the video is uploaded or distributed, eliminating the need for subsequent post-processing watermarking operations.
3Reliability
If visible light communication is used to encode DRM identifiers, then real-time copyright protection is achieved without degrading video quality, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the camera's existing functionality to capture and decode the VLC signal. The camera naturally captures visible light, and the existing image processing pipeline automatically encodes the modulated light pattern into video data. This means the DRM encoding is performed by the camera system itself using its inherent capabilities, without requiring additional specialized hardware or complex external processing systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables real-time DRM enforcement and copyright protection for live video broadcasting without degrading user experience, allowing for conditional distribution based on DRM identifiers, reducing the need for human intervention and avoiding unnecessary copyright disputes.
Implementation Method 1
identifying, in at least one decoded video frame of the stream of decoded video frames, a light pattern representing a visible light communication (VLC) signal captured by the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A biststream of encoded video data captured by a camera of a user device is received and decoded into a stream of decoded video frames. A light pattern representing a VLC signal captured by the camera is identified in at least one decoded video frame and decoded into a DRM identifier. Distribution of the bitstream is controlled based on a comparison of the DRM identifier and a defined DRM identifier. Hence, VCL is used to add watermarks to recorded video data and where such watermarks can be used to control distribution of copyright or digital rights protected video content.