Video Watermarking via Spectral Component Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video watermarking methods for digital television are inadequate as they fail to maintain imperceptibility and robustness due to data loss during processing, particularly in applications like advertisement verification and television audience metering, where unique identification is required without compromising picture quality.
Innovation Solution
A system that embeds an image watermark into digital video frames using a phase angle generator, Fourier transform module, and image-processing module to spread the image spectrum across spatial frequencies, allowing for robust and secure identification information to be embedded and recovered, utilizing a combination of hardware and software components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If watermarking is embedded in viewable video to maintain picture quality, then imperceptibility is improved, but robustness against data loss during processing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The watermarking process is segmented into multiple stages: embedding real components in one set of video frames and imaginary components in another set. This segmentation allows the system to distribute watermark information across different frame sets, improving both imperceptibility in individual frames and robustness through redundancy across sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the watermark from spatial domain to frequency domain using Fourier transform, changing the parameter representation. By embedding watermark components in the frequency domain (real and imaginary parts) rather than directly in spatial domain, the system achieves better imperceptibility while maintaining robustness through the mathematical properties of the transform.
2Loss of information
If identification information is embedded in digital video frames, then tracking and verification capability is improved, but picture quality deteriorates due to visible watermarks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the frequency domain as an intermediary between the spatial video frames and the watermark information. By converting frames to frequency domain, embedding watermark components, and converting back, the system mediates the conflict between identification capability and picture quality, allowing both to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a dimensional transformation by moving from spatial domain to frequency domain. This dimensional change allows watermark information to be embedded in a different representation space where it does not directly interfere with visual perception, thus maintaining picture quality while enabling identification.
3Reliability
If watermark components are distributed across multiple video frames, then robustness against data loss is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm which serves multiple functions: it transforms spatial frames to frequency domain, enables separation of real and imaginary components for embedding, and allows efficient inverse transformation. This universal algorithm reduces overall processing complexity despite the multi-frame distribution requirement.
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
The solution ensures imperceptible and robust watermarking, maintaining picture quality while enabling secure identification and tracking of video content, even in the presence of data loss during digital television processing.
Implementation Method 1
a Fourier transform module to transform the image to be embedded into a spectral representation
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for embedding and recovering an image for use with video content are disclosed. A disclosed system embeds a real component of a spectral representation of an image into a set of video frames and embeds an imaginary component of the spectral representation of the image into a second set of video frames. The two sets of video frames are combined and broadcast. The disclosed system recovers the real component of the spectral representation of an embedded image from a first set of received video frames and the imaginary component of the spectral representation of an embedded image from a second set of the received video frames.