Watermark-based data recovery for content with multiple alternative components

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to methods, devices and computer program products that enable watermark-based metadata recovery for content with multiple alternative components. The content can, for example, be included in broadcast television services which include multiple alternative audio and video components, only a subset of which may be presented by a given receiver at a given time. The disclosed techniques, among other features, enable broadcasters to deliver different services to different customers by using different watermarks into the feeds they provide to multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs). For instance, coincident audio and video components are embedded with different watermark payloads.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method for enhancing presentation of audiovisual content that may incorporate multiple alternate components, comprising:
 receiving audiovisual content at a receiver device, the audiovisual content containing during one or more intervals of time at least two coincident components, wherein each coincident component is embedded with a watermark conveying a different content identification code;   retrieving from a server that is remote from the receiver device a data table that includes at least two component structures, wherein each component structure comprises one or more content identification codes conveyed in a coincident component and a component description associated with the coincident component;   detecting watermarks in the received audiovisual content to determine content identification codes conveyed in the watermarks;   finding a content identification code in a component structure in the data table that matches a content identification code of a particular coincident component in the received audiovisual content; and   modifying the presentation of the audiovisual content in accordance with the component description of the particular coincident component in the received audiovisual content.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the content identification code is a server code. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the at least two coincident components include audio components. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein:
 at least one component description in the data table indicates that a coincident component is associated with a particular language, and   modifying the presentation includes allowing playback of audio in the particular language.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the component description in the data table is indicative of one of the following:
 an advertisement,   a primary video,   an alternate camera view,   a primary audio,   a video descriptive audio source,   a foreign language audio,   a helmet camera video, or   a text information for consumption by an interactive application.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47  further comprising using information in a component structure to aid watermark detection effectiveness and/or efficiency 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  further comprising using information in a component structure to construct the symbols of the second watermark value and to compare it to candidate payload symbols to perform the hypothesis testing.