Music methods and systems

Abstract

The disclosure details a variety of applications of steganographic encoding and decoding of auxiliary information in physical and media objects. In particular, digital watermarks embedded in media content are used to initiate automated transactions associated with the content and to link creative content with information or transactions.

1 . A method comprising:
 encoding an object with a first information signal, wherein the first information signal includes information content and permits rapid decoding; and   encoding the object with a second information signal, wherein the second information signal conveys more information content than the first information signal, requiring more time to decode;   wherein the first and second information signals comprise at least one watermark embedded in the digital object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first information signal is a signal indicating to decoding equipment that the object is not to be copied, and the second information signal is a signal conveying information relating to ownership of the object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital object is a digital representation of music; and
 the first information signal is a repetitive signal that is conveyed at a low level within the music.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signals are independent of each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second signals are aspects of a combined watermark signal. 
     
     
         6 . A media object clearinghouse system comprising:
 a media object clearinghouse configured to transfer a media object electronically;   a watermark decoder in communication with a media object receiver to receive a media object signal and configured to decode a watermark from the media object signal identifying the media object; and   a transmitter in communication with the decoder and configured to receive a media object identifier derived from the watermark and to transmit the media object identifier and a user identifier to the clearinghouse;   wherein the media object clearinghouse is configured to identify the media object based on the media object identifier and the user based on the user identifier and electronically transfer a copy of the media object to a predetermined location associated with the user.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined location is a computer of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the clearinghouse is operable to determine a fee based at least in part on the media object identifier and to credit an account of the user with the fee for the copy of the media object. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined location is a website, and the copy is accessible to the user at the website via a user-set password. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined location is a personal library of the user that is consolidated with libraries of other users in a central location. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined location is a personal library of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the clearinghouse and the personal library are connected via an internet connection and the personal library receives the copy from the clearinghouse over the internet connection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the personal library is operable to receive the copy of the media object from the clearinghouse via a wireless broadcast. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the personal library provides the copy to a playback device by a wireless broadcast. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the watermark includes a key to information about the media object, and the key is used to look up information about the media object. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information about the media object is presented to a user through the media object receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the information is stored in a device including the media object receiver, and the information is updated from a remote source. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the media object receiver includes a user interface that enables a user to select a media object for watermark decoding and that presents information to the user about the media object derived from the watermark. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the media object receiver includes a user interface that enables a user to select a media object for watermark decoding and that enables the user to instruct the clearinghouse to send a copy of the selected media object to another user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the media object receiver includes a user interface that enables a user to select a media object for watermark decoding and that enables the user to query a database for related information about the selected media object using data derived from the watermark. 
     
     
         21 . A method for linking a media object with additional information or actions related to the media object, the method comprising:
 decoding a watermark from a media object;   deriving a master global address from the watermark; and   connecting to a remote device and retrieving additional information associated with the media object based on the master global address.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 retrieving information about the audio object from a web server linked to the media object through the master global address.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising retrieving menu options about the media object from a remote device based on the master global address. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the menu options are responsive to user input to control use, rendering or playback of the media object. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the menu options are responsive to user input to initiate electronic payment for the media object. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the menu options are combined with standard menu options for a file type associated with the media object. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising retrieving instructions governing use of the media object. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising initiating an electronic commercial transaction relating to the media object. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 using the master global address to query a server, which in turn looks up an address of a second device to which the query is to be routed.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second device returns information related to the media object.