US 2019/0356966 A1 · Method and Apparatus for Feedback-Based Piracy Detection

Abstract

Watermarking of a content stream is accomplished in a session-based manner to provide watermarking based on a uniquely generated manifest that will result in a stream that allows for unique identification of information. The manifest specifies a sequence of watermarks for successive segments of a content stream designated for a specific receiver. The system and method leverages existing content distribution infrastructure and has many of the benefits of conventional head-end watermarking, allows unique identification of small segments of the data stream and reduces content distribution network storage requirements. Groups of nodes can be provided with unique watermark patterns and detection and watermark pattern reconfiguration can be accomplished in an iterative manner to find a specific node without the need to create unique watermark patterns for each node.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for detecting piracy of multiple content streams respectively associated with receivers, the method comprising:

detecting potential unauthorized use of a content stream having a first predetermined watermark pattern defined by a sequence of watermarks applied to successive elements of the content stream by a watermarking system, wherein the predetermined watermark pattern has been transmitted to multiple nodes in a first group;
dividing the first group into at least two subgroups of nodes each subgroup being smaller than the first group;
transmitting information regarding the at least two subgroups to the watermarking system to thereby allow the watermarking system to watermark further elements of the content stream to define a second predetermined watermark pattern to a first subgroup of nodes of the at least two subgroups and a third predetermined watermark pattern to a second subgroup of nodes of the at least two subgroups;
and
detecting unauthorized use of a content stream having the second predetermined pattern to thereby determine that a node in the first subgroup is the source of the unauthorized use.

2 more elements

A computer system for detecting piracy of multiple content streams respectively associated with receivers, the system comprising:

at least one processor;
and
at least one memory operatively coupled to the at least one processor and storing computer executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
detect potential unauthorized use of a content stream having a first predetermined watermark pattern defined by a sequence of watermarks applied to successive elements of the content stream by a watermarking system, wherein the predetermined watermark pattern has been transmitted to multiple nodes in a first group;
divide the first group into at least two subgroups of nodes each subgroup being smaller than the first group;
transmit information regarding the at least two subgroups to the watermarking system to thereby allow the watermarking system to watermark further elements of the content stream to define a second predetermined watermark pattern to a first subgroup of nodes of the at least two subgroups and a third predetermined watermark pattern to a second subgroup of nodes of the at least two subgroups;
and
detect unauthorized use of a content stream having the second predetermined pattern to thereby determine that a node in the first subgroup is the source of the unauthorized use.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and Apparatus for Feedback-Based Piracy Detection

Life of this patent

Method and Apparatus for Feedback-Based Piracy Detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20