Forensic marking using a common customization function

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed which enable flexible insertion of forensic watermarks into a digital content signal using a common customization function. The common customization function flexibly employs a range of different marking techniques that are applicable to a wide range of forensic marking schemes. These customization functions are also applicable to pre-processing and post-processing operations that may be necessary for enhancing the security and transparency of the embedded marks, as well as improving the computational efficiency of the marking process. The common customization function supports a well-defined set of operations specific to the task of forensic mark customization that can be carried out with a modest and preferably bounded effort on a wide range of devices. This is accomplished through the use of a generic transformation technique for use as a “customization” step for producing versions of content forensically marked with any of a multiplicity of mark messages.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing a forensically marked content, comprising:
 receiving customization information and a plurality of tributaries at a device including a hardware-implemented processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the plurality of tributaries having been produced by pre-processing an original content or content element, at least one of the plurality of tributaries comprising two alternate versions of a first segment of the original content, each alternate version of the first segment having been encrypted with different cryptographic key, each alternate version, prior to encryption, being perceptually similar to the first segment of the original content; and   receiving a cryptographic key or set of keys associated with one of the alternate versions of the first segment, the received cryptographic key or set of keys enabling decryption of a first one of the alternate versions of the first segment that is authorized to be accessed; and   processing two or more of the received tributaries including the at least one of the plurality of tributaries that comprise the two alternate versions of the first segment, the processing comprising decrypting the first one of the alternate versions of the first segment and assembling at least a portion of the two or more of the received tributaries in accordance with the customization information to produce a forensically marked content.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the received tributaries is a segment of the original content. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the assembling comprises using a common customization function that is responsive to instructions provided by the customization information to enable the production of the forensically marked content in accordance with a plurality of different marking techniques. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least two tributaries from the plurality of tributaries are in encrypted form, each of the at least two tributaries having been encrypted with a different encryption key. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing includes assembly of a selected subset of tributaries. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing includes one or more of:
 replacement of a segment of a first tributary with an alternate version of the segment from a second tributary,   splicing sequential segments from a first tributary with sequential segments of a second tributary, or   addition of a segment from a first tributary to a segment of a second tributary.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of tributaries are retrieved in a form of a computer file in a specific format from the non-transitory computer readable medium. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the forensically marked content comprises a message that is derived from a unique number associated with a playback device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the received tributaries comprises instructions for generating an alternate version of the original content or content element. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the processing further includes performing a validation procedure, prior to assembling, to determine a result of an application of the customization information to the at least a portion of the two or more of the received tributaries. 
     
     
         31 . An device, comprising:
 a processor, and   a memory including processor executable code, the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to:   a receive customization information and a plurality of tributaries, the plurality of tributaries having been produced by pre-processing an original content or content element, at least one of the plurality of tributaries comprising two alternate versions of a first segment of the original content, each alternate version of the first segment having been encrypted with a different cryptographic key, each alternate version, prior to encryption, being perceptually similar to the first segment of the original content; and   receive a cryptographic key or set of keys associated with one of the alternate versions of the first segment, the received cryptographic key or set of keys enabling decryption of a first one of the alternate versions of the first segment that is authorized to be accessed;   decrypt the first one of the alternate versions of the first segment; and   assemble at least a portion of the two or more of the received tributaries in accordance with the customization information and a mark message to produce a forensically marked content.   
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the received tributaries is a segment of the original content. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to assemble the first one of the alternate versions of the first content using a common customization function that is responsive to instructions provided by the customization information to enable the production of the forensically marked content in accordance with a plurality of different marking techniques. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein at least two tributaries from the plurality of tributaries are in encrypted form, each of the at least two tributaries having been encrypted with a different encryption key. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to assemble of a selected subset of tributaries. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to:
 replace a segment of a first tributary with an alternate version of the segment from a second tributary,   splice sequential segments from a first tributary with sequential segments of a second tributary, or   add a segment from a first tributary to a segment of a second tributary.   
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to retrieve the plurality of tributaries in a form of a computer file in a specific format from a non-transitory computer readable memory. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the forensically marked content comprises a message that is derived from a unique number associated with a playback device. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the received tributaries comprises instructions for generating an alternate version of the original content or content element. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the device is configured to receive one or more of the customization information or the plurality of tributaries from a computer network. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 31 , the processor executable code when executed by the processor causes the device to further perform a validation procedure to determine a result of an application of the customization information to the at least a portion of the two or more of the received tributaries. 
     
     
         42 . A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer instructions embodied thereupon, comprising:
 program code for receiving customization information and a plurality of tributaries at a device including a hardware-implemented processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the plurality of tributaries having been produced by pre-processing an original content or content element, at least one of the plurality of tributaries comprising two alternate versions of a first segment of the original content, each alternate version of the first segment having been encrypted with different cryptographic key, each alternate version, prior to encryption, being perceptually similar to the first segment of the original content; and   program code for receiving a cryptographic key or set of keys associated with one of the alternate versions of the first segment, the received cryptographic key or set of keys enabling decryption of a first one of the alternate versions of the first segment that is authorized to be accessed; and   program code for processing two or more of the received tributaries including the at least one of the plurality of tributaries that comprise the two alternate versions of the first segment, the processing comprising decrypting the first one of the alternate versions of the first segment and assembling at least a portion of the two or more of the received tributaries in accordance with the customization information to produce a forensically marked content.