Visible Watermark Embedding in Compressed Motion Picture Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current techniques for embedding and removing visible watermarks from motion picture data are inefficient, particularly when dealing with compressed data, as they require handling large data sizes and can cause image deterioration due to lossy compression processes.

Innovation Solution

A motion picture data processing device and method that dequantizes compressed data, embeds a visible digital watermark using motion compensated prediction, and quantizes it back, allowing for direct embedding and removal in compressed MPEG data without inverse DCT processing, thus avoiding data size burdens and image degradation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If visible watermark is embedded in uncompressed motion picture data, then watermark embedding is straightforward, but data size becomes extremely large and hardware processing burden increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatermark embedding processVSAvoiddata size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the motion picture data processing into three distinct stages: dequantization of compressed data, watermark embedding in the dequantized domain, and re-quantization back to compressed format. This segmentation allows watermark processing without handling the full uncompressed data stream, thereby reducing data size requirements while maintaining embedding effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the watermark embedding problem from the spatial/temporal domain (uncompressed video frames) to the frequency domain (DCT coefficients) by operating on dequantized but not fully decompressed data. This dimensional change allows efficient processing with reduced data requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If compressed motion picture data is decompressed to pixel values for watermark embedding, then watermark can be embedded directly, but image quality deteriorates due to lossy compression and re-compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatermark embedding operationVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs dequantization as a preliminary action before watermark embedding, converting compressed DCT coefficients to pixel values only temporarily for watermark insertion. The watermark is then embedded in this intermediate state before re-quantization, avoiding repeated full decompression-recompression cycles that would degrade image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary portion of the decompression process (dequantization to pixel values) without performing full inverse DCT and frame reconstruction. This selective extraction allows watermark embedding with minimal image processing, preserving original image quality while enabling direct pixel-level watermark manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If motion compensated prediction is used in compression, then compression efficiency is improved, but watermark pattern moves with motion vectors causing misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidwatermark pattern position

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by calculating motion-compensated watermark patterns that pre-counteract the motion vector effects. The watermark is embedded with adjusted positioning and transformation that anticipates and compensates for the motion-induced displacement during playback, ensuring the watermark remains stable and aligned despite motion compensation in the video

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a counterweight mechanism where the watermark embedding process applies inverse motion compensation to offset the motion vectors used in video compression. By applying equal and opposite transformations to the watermark pattern, the system counterbalances the motion-induced displacement, maintaining watermark stability throughout video playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentUS7526099B2Motion picture data processing device, method, and program

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 BEIJING ZITIAO NETWORK TECH CO LTD

AI summary

To provide lossless embedding of a visible watermark in compressed motion picture data.The present invention includes a quantization/dequantization operation part 10 for dequantizing motion picture data that has been subjected to compression including frequency transformation and quantization, and a watermark embedding/removing operation part 30 for generating and embedding a pattern of a visible watermark corresponding to a motion compensated prediction in motion picture data dequantized by the quantization/dequantization operation part 10. The quantization/dequantization operation part 10 quantizes motion picture data with a watermark embedded by the watermark embedding/removing operation part 30.