Watermark Encoding Apparatus Extends Timestamp Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media watermarking techniques struggle to support extended timestamp ranges, particularly in cases of time-shifted media presentations, where the timestamp range may become ambiguous due to rollover issues.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves modifying data symbols of the watermark based on additional timestamp symbols to represent different timestamp cycles, using reversible operations like exclusive-OR to encode different timestamp cycles without increasing the number of timestamp symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the timestamp range in a watermark is extended to support time-shifted media presentations, then the ability to accurately associate monitored media with original broadcasts is improved, but the timestamp may become ambiguous due to rollover issues
Solution Approach 1:
The timestamp is divided into multiple fields: a first timestamp field containing a first portion of the timestamp value, and a second timestamp field containing a second portion. This segmentation allows the watermark to represent a larger timestamp range by combining information from both fields, thereby supporting time-shifted presentations without losing timestamp information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimension to the timestamp representation by adding a second timestamp field with a different time base or scale. This multi-dimensional approach enables the watermark to encode extended timestamp ranges while maintaining uniqueness and avoiding rollover ambiguity through the combination of multiple timestamp components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional timestamp symbols are added to extend the timestamp range, then the timestamp representation capability is improved, but the watermark structure and number of symbols must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the extended timestamp information with existing data symbols in the watermark. Instead of adding separate timestamp symbols, the invention combines timestamp data with media identification or other data symbols, thereby extending the timestamp range without increasing the overall number of symbols or watermarks per media instance.
Solution Approach 2:
The watermark symbols serve multiple functions: they convey both media identification information and extended timestamp information simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows the same set of symbols to provide both traditional watermarking capabilities and extended timestamp support, avoiding the need for additional dedicated timestamp symbols.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to extend a time range supported by a watermark are disclosed. Example watermark encoding apparatus disclosed herein determine which one of a plurality of timestamp cycles is to be represented by a timestamp of a watermark, the timestamp including a set of timestamp symbols, a first subset of data symbols and a second subset of data symbols. Disclosed example apparatus also modify the first subset of data symbols of the watermark based on a further timestamp symbol not included in the set of timestamp symbols of the timestamp, but not modify the second subset of data symbols based on the further timestamp symbol, the further timestamp symbol to identify the one of the plurality of timestamp cycles to be represented by the timestamp of the watermark. Disclosed example apparatus further embed the watermark in a piece of media.