Method and apparatus for embedding data in encoded digital bitstreams

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in plural positions, the value thereof coded in one position being overriding respecting the value coded in the other position, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding syntax element position;
• and
• inserting the embedded data into the other syntax element position,
• wherein said coding a value includes re-coding the coded bitstream to create the overriding syntax element position, and inserting the value of the one syntax element therein.

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in plural positions, the value thereof coded in one position being overriding respecting the value coded in the other position, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding syntax element position;
• and
• inserting the embedded data into the other syntax element position,
• decoding the coded bitstream responsive to the overriding syntax element value thereof;
• searching for the other syntax element position, and
• extracting the embedded data therefrom.

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in plural positions, the value thereof coded in one position being overriding respecting the value coded in the other position, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding syntax element position;
• and
• inserting the embedded data into the other syntax element position,
• wherein said syntax element value includes N bits and wherein said embedded data includes at least M x N bits, wherein said inserting the embedded data comprises:
• separating the embedded data into at least M segments of N bits each, and
• inserting one of the M segments into a series of at least M other syntax element positions.

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream having headers and data blocks wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, the value thereof coded in one of the header and the data block positions being overriding respecting the value coded in the other of the header and data block positions, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding one of the header and data block positions;
• and
• inserting the embedded data into the other of the header and data block positions,
• wherein said coding a value includes re-coding the coded bitstream to create the overriding one of the header and data block positions, and inserting the value of the one syntax element therein.

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream having headers and data blocks wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, the value thereof coded in one of the header and the data block positions being overriding respecting the value coded in the other of the header and data block positions, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding one of the header and data block positions;
• inserting the embedded data into the other of the header and data block positions,
• decoding the coded bitstream responsive to the syntax element value in the overriding one of the header and data block positions thereof;
• searching for the other one of the header and data block positions, and
• extracting the embedded data therefrom.

A method for embedding data in a coded bitstream having headers and data blocks wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, the value thereof coded in one of the header and the data block positions being overriding respecting the value coded in the other of the header and data block positions, comprising:

• coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding one of the header and data block positions;
• and
• inserting the embedded data into the other of the header and data block positions,
• wherein said syntax element value includes N bits and wherein said embedded data includes at least M x N bits, wherein said inserting the embedded data comprises:
• separating the embedded data into at least M segments of N bits each, and
• inserting one of the M segments into a series of at least M ones of the other of the header and data block positions.

A method for hiding data in an MPEG coded bitstream, wherein the coded bitstream includes a series of slices each having a slice header and at least one macroblock following the slice header, comprising:

• explicitly coding a quantization scale code in at least the first coded macroblock following each slice header,
• hiding data in the quantization scale code position of at least one of the slice headers;
• and
• creating the explicitly coded quantization scale code in the first macroblock following the slice header while coding the bitstream.

A method for hiding data in an MPEG coded bitstream, wherein the coded bitstream includes a series of slices each having a slice header and at least one macroblock following the slice header, comprising:

• explicitly coding a quantization scale code in at least the first coded macroblock following each slice header,
• hiding data in the quantization scale code position of at least one of the slice headers;
• and
• decoding the coded bitstream responsive to the quantization scale code value in the first coded macroblock following the slice header.

A method for hiding data in an MPEG coded bitstream, wherein the coded bitstream includes a series of slices each having a slice header and at least one macroblock following the slice header, comprising:

• explicitly coding a quantization scale code in at least the first coded macroblock following each slice header, and
• hiding data in the quantization scale code position of at least one of the slice headers,
• wherein said quantization scale code value includes N bits and wherein said hidden data includes at least M x N bits, wherein said inserting the hidden data comprises:
• separating the hidden data into at least M segments of N bits each, and
• inserting one of the M segments into a series of at least M ones of the slice header quantization scale code positions.

A coder for embedding data in a coded bitstream having headers and data blocks wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, comprising:

• means for coding a bitstream having at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, wherein the value thereof coded in one of the header and the data block positions is overriding respecting the value coded in the other of the header and data block positions;
• means for coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding one of the header and data block positions;
• and
• means for inserting the embedded data into the other of the header and data block positions.

A coder for embedding data in a coded bitstream having headers and data blocks wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, comprising:

• means for coding a bitstream having at least one syntax element that can be coded in a header and in a data block position, wherein the value thereof coded in one of the header and the data block positions is overriding respecting the value coded in the other of the header and data block positions;
• means for coding a value of the one syntax element in the overriding one of the header and data block positions;
• and
• means for inserting the embedded data into the other of the header and data block positions,
• wherein said means for coding a value includes:
• means for re-coding the coded bitstream to create the overriding one of the header and data block positions, and
• means for inserting the value of the one syntax element therein.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer instructions for embedding data in a coded bitstream wherein the coded bitstream has at least one syntax element that can be coded in plural positions, the value thereof coded in one position being overriding respecting the value coded in the other position, comprising:

• means for causing a computer to code a value of the one syntax element in the overriding syntax element position;
• and
• means for causing the computer to insert the embedded data into the other syntax element position;
• wherein said means for causing a computer to code a value includes means for causing the computer to re-code the coded bitstream to create the overriding syntax element position, and means for causing the computer to insert the value of the one syntax element therein.