Audio/video commerce application architectural framework

Abstract

The present invention provides an inventive architectural framework for use in audio/video commerce applications. In one embodiment, message types are used in different applications. These applications may be conceptualized as falling into three classes: 1) broadcast monitoring, copyright communication, copy/play control, file verification, and PC connected e-commerce; 2) forensic tracking, content monitoring, and asset management; and 3) set-top box connected e-commerce.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of tracking audio or video content comprising: 
 decoding a first forensic identifier in a digital watermark, the first forensic identifier being associated with a forensic database; and    decoding a second forensic identifier, the second forensic identifier being associated with a content user.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second forensic identifier is associated with a content user through a rendering device.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second forensic identifier is associated with a content user through a user identifier.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating the first forensic identifier to a forensic database to access information related to the first forensic identifier.  
     
     
         5 . A digital watermarking method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of digital watermark layers, where each of the layers comprises a separate message; and    embedding the plurality of digital watermark layers in content.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the content comprises video content.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the content comprises audio content.  
     
     
         8 . A computer readable medium including digitally watermarked content stored thereon, the digital watermark comprising message packet, the packet comprising a message type field, a sequence identifier field and a payload field.  
     
     
         9 . The computer readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the bit length of the message type field, sequence identifier field and payload field comprises 4, 2 and 30 bits, respectively.  
     
     
         10 . A broadcast monitoring system comprising: 
 digitally watermarking a content item, the digital watermark including a content identifier, a distributor identifier and a broadcaster identifier related to a broadcaster of the advertisement, wherein each of the identifiers is provided as a distinct digital watermark layer; and    associating the content identifier with at least some information related to the content item.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising decoding the content identifier layer to retrieve the content identifier, and communicating the content identifier to a database where the content identifier is associated with the at least some information related to the content item.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising decoding the distributor identifier layer to retrieve the distributor identifier, and using the distributor identifier to identify the distributor.  
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium including digitally watermarked content stored thereon, the digital watermark comprising a watermark message packet, the packet comprising a message type field, a sequence identifier field and a payload field, wherein the payload field comprises encrypted data.  
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the sequcence identifier field comprises plural-bit data, the data being randomly choosen.