Watermark Decoder Extracting Binary Data from Time Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing audio watermarking systems face challenges in efficiently extracting binary message data due to short audio signal durations and low bit rates, which limit the amount of available watermark data.

Innovation Solution

A watermark decoder is developed that provides binary message data by converting the watermarked signal into a time-frequency-domain representation, storing it for multiple time blocks, and using synchronization information to extract binary message data from both preceding and following time blocks, thereby increasing the amount of obtainable data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If watermark data is extracted only from current time blocks, then the extraction process is simple, but the amount of obtainable binary message data is limited due to short audio signal durations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of binary message dataVSAvoidextraction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by storing frequency-domain representations of watermarked signals from multiple time blocks in advance. The memory unit retains these representations temporally surrounding the synchronization time block, enabling the extraction process to access pre-stored data from preceding and following time blocks, thereby increasing the total amount of extractable binary message data without requiring real-time processing of extended signal durations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from extracting data only from the current time block (one-dimensional approach) to extracting data from multiple time blocks surrounding the synchronization point (multi-dimensional approach). By utilizing time blocks both before and after the synchronization time block, the system effectively adds temporal dimensionality to the extraction process, significantly increasing the quantity of obtainable binary message data from short audio signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If audio signal duration is kept short to maintain real-time processing, then processing speed is maintained, but the amount of available watermark data decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidamount of watermark data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary storage of frequency-domain representations from multiple time blocks in the memory unit before extraction is needed. This allows the decoder to maintain real-time processing speed while having access to watermark data from an extended temporal window surrounding the synchronization point, effectively decoupling processing speed from data availability duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers binary message data from time blocks that would otherwise be discarded or overlooked. By extracting data not only from the current time block but also from preceding and following time blocks relative to the synchronization time block, the system recovers additional watermark information that increases the total data yield without requiring longer overall processing durations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If watermark extraction is performed during fast changes between audio signals, then adaptability is improved, but data completeness is lost due to signal interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to fast signal changesVSAvoidwatermark data completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing frequency-domain representations from multiple time blocks in the memory unit before extraction is required. When fast changes or interruptions occur during playback, the system can retrieve previously stored representations from time blocks preceding the synchronization point, ensuring data completeness is maintained even though the current signal may be incomplete or interrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a buffer of stored frequency-domain representations from time blocks both before and after the synchronization time block. This cushioning effect ensures that if signal interruptions or fast changes cause loss of data from certain time blocks, sufficient watermark information remains available from the stored representations to maintain data completeness and enable successful extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9299356B2Watermark decoder and method for providing binary message data

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

A watermark decoder includes a time-frequency-domain representation provider, a memory unit, a synchronization determiner and a watermark extractor. The time-frequency-domain representation provider provides a frequency-domain representation of the watermarked signal for a plurality of time blocks. The memory unit stores the frequency-domain representation of the watermarked signal for a plurality of time blocks. Further, the synchronization determiner identifies an alignment time block based on the frequency-domain representation of the watermarked signal of a plurality of time blocks. The watermark extractor provides binary message data based on stored frequency-domain representations of the watermarked signal of time blocks temporally preceding the identified alignment time block considering a distance to the identified alignment time block.