Wistaria Trading and Google Digital Watermarking Patents

New patents are issued by the USPTO on Tuesdays. Both of today's Spotlight Patents concern aspects of digital watermarking. Assigned to Wistaria Trading [Hi Scott], the first patent addresses techniques for utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems. Assigned to Google, the second patent addresses the use of watermarking in identifying portions of a media stream.

9,270,859, "Utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems," assigned to Wistaria Trading Ltd. (BM)

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step.

9,270,515, "Identifying portions of a media stream," assigned to Google.

Abstract

Aspects relate to tagging portions of streaming media such that one or more actions can be taken on the tagged portions. An action can be to remove a section of the streaming media. Another action can be to retain a portion of the streaming media, regardless of whether or not other portions are retained. Another action can be to replace content with different content. The tagging can be facilitated by the user of a lightweight embedded watermark. In another example, the tagging can be facilitated through the use of watermark types.

Comments

[Moskowitz]

Hi Bob! You continue to do an excellent job following these technologies. Cheers!