초록 ▼

The present invention relates to digital watermarking systems and methods. In a first implementation, so-called movie studio rough-cuts are watermarked to provide a forensic tracking clue or to provide security for distributed rough-cuts. In another implementation, a watermark is determined for a co

The present invention relates to digital watermarking systems and methods. In a first implementation, so-called movie studio rough-cuts are watermarked to provide a forensic tracking clue or to provide security for distributed rough-cuts. In another implementation, a watermark is determined for a compressed video object. The watermark is compressed as an object and the watermarked object is then associated with the compressed video object. The two separate objects are provided to a rendering device, which after decompressing both objects, embeds the watermark in the video prior to rendering.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of protecting a pre-final movie version with digital watermarking, the pre-final movie version to be communicated from a first storage site to a second storage site, the second storage site being remote from the first storage site, said method comprising: redundantly

What is claimed is: 1. A method of protecting a pre-final movie version with digital watermarking, the pre-final movie version to be communicated from a first storage site to a second storage site, the second storage site being remote from the first storage site, said method comprising: redundantly embedding a digital watermark in the pre-final movie version, the digital watermark including a unique identifier; providing a user or the second storage site with a code that is uniquely associated with the identifier; and communicating the watermarked pre-final movie version to the second storage site. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second storage site comprises a computer, said computer further comprising a security program to regulate access to the watermarked pre-final movie version. 3. A method of accessing the pre-final movie version of claim 2, comprising: decoding the digital watermark to obtain the unique identifier; providing the code to the security program; and correlating the unique identifier with the code to determine whether to allow access to the pre-final movie version. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein access is granted to the pre-final movie version when the identifier and code correspond. 5. The method of claim 3 wherein access to the pre-final movie version is allowed when the code decrypts at least one of the pre-final movie version and the digital watermark. 6. A method of accessing the pre-final movie version of claim 2, wherein the computer comprises the code cached therein, said method comprising: upon receipt of the pre-final movie version, decoding the digital watermark to obtain the identifier; automatically providing the cached code to the security program, the security program determining whether the code and the identifier coincide prior to allowing access to the pre-final movie version. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the computer comprises at least one of a password, dongle and biometric-based access system, the computer only allowing access to a user having a predetermined password, necessary dongle or predetermined biometric input. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-final movie version comprises a studio rough-cut. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first storage site comprises a movie studio computer storage device, and the second storage site computer is associated with at least one of an editor, director or critic of the rough-cut. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the code and the pre-final movie version are separately provided to the user or the second storage site. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said redundantly embedding a digital watermark in the pre-final movie version occurs as the pre-final version is communicated to the second storage site. 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising embedding another digital watermark in the pre-final movie version prior to communicating the pre-final movie version to the second storage site. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the another digital watermark comprises a payload identifying at least one of the pre-final movie version, the user and a communications channel. 14. A method of watermarking a pre-final movie version communicated according to the method of claim 1, comprising upon or after receipt of the pre-final movie version, watermarking the pre-final movie version with another digital watermark, the another digital watermark identifying at least one of the user and the second storage site. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-final movie version comprises an encrypted form when communicated to the second storage site, and wherein the code comprises at least a decryption key. 16. A method of operating a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, the network communicating an audio clip or video segment, the P2P network comprising at least a first and a second computer, the first and second computer communicating with each other via the network, each of the computers including a watermark embedder, wherein the audio clip or video segment includes a digital watermark redundantly embedded therein, the digital watermark including a first identifier that uniquely identifies at least a distribution or user record that is associated with the audio clip or video segment, said method comprising: after receipt of the audio clip or video segment at the first computer, digitally watermarking the audio clip or video segment to include a second identifier, the second identifier uniquely identifying the first computer or a user associated with the first computer; and after receipt of the audio clip or video segment from the first computer to the second computer, digitally watermarking the audio clip or video segment to include a third identifier, the third identifier uniquely identifying the second computer or a user associated with the second computer. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second computers comprises a watermark decoder, said method further comprising: correlating a code with the first watermark identifier to determine whether a user has permission to access the audio clip or video segment. 18. A method of protecting a pre-final movie version with digital watermarking, the pre-final movie version to be communicated from a first storage site to a second storage site, the second storage site being remote from the first storage site, said method comprising: embedding a first digital watermark component in the pre-final movie version, the first digital watermark component including a unique identifier associated with at least one of a user and the second storage site; embedding at least a second digital watermark component in the pre-final movie version, the second digital watermark component identifying at least one of the pre-final movie version, an entity associate with the pre-final movie version, and a communications channel; providing the user or the second storage site with a code that is uniquely associated with the unique identifier; and communicating the watermarked pre-final movie version to the second storage site. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first digital watermark component is redundantly embedded in the pre-final movie version. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second digital watermark component is redundantly embedded in the pre-final movie version. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the code and the pre-final movie version are separately provided to the user or the second storage site. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the pre-final movie comprises an encrypted form when communicated to the second storage site, and wherein the code comprises at least a decryption key. 23. A method of protecting a pre-release movie or audio with steganographic indicia the pre-release movie or audio to be provided from a first site to a second site, the second site being remotely located from the first site, said method comprising: embedding a steganographic code in the pre-release movie or audio, the steganographic code including a unique identifier; encrypting the embedded pre-release movie or audio according to an encryption key; providing the encrypted embedded pre-release movie or audio to the second site; and providing, separately from the encrypted embedded pre-release movie or audio, a user or the second site with a code that is uniquely associated with at least the encrypted embedded pre-release movie or audio. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the code comprises at least a decryption key. 25. A method of accessing the pre-release movie or audio communicated according to claim 24, said method comprising: decrypting at least a portion of the pre-release movie or audio with the decryption key; decoding the digital watermark from the decrypted portion of the pre-release movie or audio to obtain the unique identifier; and correlating the unique identifier with the code to determine whether to allow access to the pre-release movie or audio. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein a software application executed by a computer processor carries out the method of claim 25. 27. The method of claim 23, wherein the code is uniquely associated with the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio via a decryption key. 28. The method of claim 23, wherein said providing the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site comprises communicating the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site via a network. 29. The method of claim 23 wherein the steganographic code is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio. 30. A method of protecting a pre-release movie or audio with digital watermarking, the pre-release movie or audio to be provided from a first site to a second site, the second site being remotely located from the first site, said method comprising: embedding a digital watermark in the pre-release movie or audio, the digital watermark including a unique identifier; encrypting the watermarked pre-release movie or audio according to an encryption key; providing a user or the second site with a code that is uniquely associated with at least the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio, wherein the code is uniquely associated with the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio via the identifier; and providing the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the digital watermark is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio. 32. A method of protecting a pre-release movie or audio with digital watermarking, the pre-release movie or audio to be provided from a first site to a second site, the second site being remotely located from the first site, said method comprising: embedding a digital watermark in the pre-release movie or audio, the digital watermark including a unique identifier; encrypting the watermarked pre-release movie or audio according to an encryption key; providing a user or the second site with a code that is uniquely associated with at least the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio, wherein the code is uniquely associated with the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio via both the identifier and a decryption key; and providing the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the digital watermark is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio. 34. A method of protecting a pre-release movie or audio with digital watermarking, the pre-release movie or audio to be provided from a first site to a second site, the second site being remote from the first site, said method comprising: embedding a first digital watermark component in the pre-release movie or audio, the first digital watermark component including a unique identifier associated with at least one of a user and the second site; embedding at least a second digital watermark component in the pre-release movie or audio, the second digital watermark component identifying at least one of the pre-release movie or audio, an entity associate with the pre-release movie or audio, and a communications channel; providing the user or the second site with a code that is uniquely associated with at least the unique identifier; and providing the watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first digital watermark component is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the second digital watermark component is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein the code and the pre-release movie or audio are separately provided to the user or the second site. 38. The method of claim 34, further comprising encrypting the twice watermarked pre-release movie or audio prior to providing the watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the code comprises at least a decryption key. 40. A method of accessing the pre-release movie or audio communicated according to claim 39, said method comprising: decrypting at least a portion of the pre-release movie or audio with the decryption key; decoding the first digital watermark component from the decrypted portion of the pre-release movie or audio to obtain the unique identifier; and correlating the unique identifier with the code to determine whether to allow access to the pre-release movie or audio. 41. The method of claim 34, wherein said providing the watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site comprises communicating the watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site via a network. 42. A method of protecting a pre-release movie or audio with digital watermarking, the pre-release movie or audio to be provided from a first site to a second site, the second site being remotely located from the first site, said method comprising: embedding a digital watermark in the pre-release movie or audio, the digital watermark including a unique identifier; encrypting the watermarked pre-release movie or audio according to an encryption key; providing a user or the second site with a code that is uniquely associated with at least the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio, wherein the unique identifier is uniquely associated with at least one of the user and second site; and providing the encrypted watermarked pre-release movie or audio to the second site. 43. The method of claim 42 wherein the digital watermark is redundantly embedded in the pre-release movie or audio.