Abstract: An audio/video generation apparatus comprises an audio and/or video generation device operable to generate audio and/or video material, and a metadata generation processor. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate metadata describing the content and/or attributes of the audio/video material. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate a reference value providing a quasi-unique reference to the audio/video material with a reduced amount of data with respect to the audio/video material itself, the reference value being generated from data values representing the audio/video material in accordance with a predetermined relationship. The quasi-unique reference may be stored in association with the metadata describing the audio/video material from which the quasi-unique reference was generated. Generating a quasi-unique reference from the information material provides a facility for identifying the audio/video material. In one embodiment the quasi-unique reference is a hash value.

Abstract: A detecting data processing apparatus configured to identify at least one of a plurality of code words present in a marked version of a material item. The detecting apparatus including a registration processor operable to compare the samples of the marked material item with a copy of the original material item samples. If a sample of the marked material item and the original material item differ by a comparison threshold, the registration processor replaces the compared sample of the marked material item with the corresponding sample from the original material item.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The code words are generated from a pseudo-random number generator initialised with a seed value. The seed value is used to identify the marked material item, from the code word produced from the seed value. The watermarking system also includes a detecting data processor operable to identify a particular marked copy of the material item by recovering a code word from the marked material item and correlating all code words in the set of code words with the recovered code word. The detecting data processing apparatus also includes a registration processor operable to associate samples of the original material item with corresponding samples of the marked material item to which corresponding code word coefficients may have been added.

Abstract: A detecting data processing apparatus determines whether one or more code words of a predetermined set of code words are present in a suspected version of a material item. The apparatus comprises a registration processor operable to associate samples of the suspected version with samples of a copy of the original material item, a recovery processor and a detection processor. The recovery processor is operable to generate a recovered code word by comparing the registered copy of the original and the suspect material items. The detection processor is operable to detect one or more code words from a correlation between the recovered code word and the code words from the set. The registration processor is operable to form at least one reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item and to associate the suspected version and the copy of the material item in accordance with a comparison between the reduced-bandwidth-versions of the suspected version and the original material item.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is operable to embed data into an image. The apparatus comprises a combining processor operable to introduce the data into a transform domain representation providing a plurality of sub-bands divided by spatial frequency components, and, in combination with a transform processor, to combine the data with the image in one of a transform domain form, the transform processor generating a transform domain form of the image, the data being combined with the image by the combining processor in the transform domain, and the transform processor generating a spatial domain representation of the combined image and data, or a spatial domain form of the image, the transform processor generating a spatial domain representation of the transform domain data, the data being combined with the image by the combining processor in the spatial domain.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and recovering data embedded in information material, the data having been embedded in the material in a transform domain representation by arranging for the data to modulate a predetermined data sequence to form modulated data and combining the modulated data with the material. The apparatus includes a transform processor operable to transform the material into the transform domain representation, and a correlation processor operable to correlate transform domain data symbols bearing the modulated data with a reproduced version of the predetermined data sequence to form a correlation output signal and to recover the embedded data from the correlation output signal. The correlation processor is operable to repeat the correlation for transform domain data symbols and data symbols of the predetermined data sequence for each of a plurality of start positions in the transform domain.

Abstract: An apparatus for embedding data in information material, the data being a plurality of data items each having a different relative importance. The apparatus comprises an encoding processor operable to encode each of said data items, and a combining processor operable to combine said encoded data items with said information material. The information material provides a limited data embedding capacity, as a result for example of the limited bandwidth of the information material itself. Each of the data items are encoded and embedded to the effect that a proportion of the limited data embedding capacity is allocated to the encoded data items in accordance with the relative importance of these data items. As such, for example, an amount of error protection given to each of the data items can be arranged in accordance with the importance of the data items, whilst still satisfying the limited data embedding capacity.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is operable to determine non-linear distortion applied to an image in which template signals have been introduced into at least first and second frequency bands of the image respectively, the template signals having a predetermined relationship with each other. The apparatus comprises an image dividing processor operable to generate data representative of selected parts of the image, a transform detection processor operable to generate at least one parameter representative of a linear transformation applied to each of the parts of the image, and a non-linear transform processor operable to estimate parameters of a non-linear transformation representative of the non-linear distortion applied to the image from the linear transform parameters of at least two parts of the image. The data processing apparatus provides a facility for determining parameters of a non-linear transform representative of the distortion applied to the image as a whole.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is operable to identify one of a plurality of code words present in a watermarked version of a material item. The marked version is formed by combining each of a plurality of parts of a code word with one of a plurality of units from which the material item is comprised. The apparatus comprises a recovery processor operable to recover at least one part of the code word from a corresponding unit of the marked material item, and a correlator. The correlator is operable to generate for the marked material unit, a dependent correlation value for the part of the code word recovered from the material unit and the corresponding part of at least one of the re-generated code words from the set. A detector is operable to determine whether at least one of the code words is present in the marked material item from the dependent correlation value for the part of the code word exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An audio/video generation apparatus comprises an audio and/or video generation device operable to generate audio and/or video material, and a metadata generation processor. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate metadata describing the content and/or attributes of the audio/video material. The metadata generation processor is operable to generate a reference value providing a quasi-unique reference to the audio/video material with a reduced amount of data with respect to the audio/video material itself, the reference value being generated from data values representing the audio/video material in accordance with a predetermined relationship. The quasi-unique reference may be stored in association with the metadata describing the audio/video material from which the quasi-unique reference was generated.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates at least one water marked version of an original item of material formed by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The apparatus has a bandwidth adaptation processor operable to adapt a bandwidth of the code word to at least part of a bandwidth of the original material item, and an encoder operable to combine the bandwidth adapted code word with a copy of the original material item.

Abstract: A system for watermarking and distributing material includes a data processing apparatus, which operates as a watermark encoder. The data processing apparatus is operable to process an original material item to form a reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item, marked with a code word from a predetermined set of code words. The data processing apparatus is operable to form an impaired version of the material item from which a marked representation of the original material item can be formed. The impaired version is formed by subtracting the reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item from a copy of the original material item. As such, the impaired version can be mass distributed, but a representation of the original material item cannot be formed without the reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item.

Abstract: A detecting data processing apparatus determines whether one or more code words of a predetermined set of code words are present in a suspected version of a material item. The apparatus comprises a registration processor operable to associate samples of the suspected version with samples of a copy of the original material item, a recovery processor and a detection processor. The recovery processor is operable to generate a recovered code word by comparing the registered copy of the original and the suspect material items. The detection processor is operable to detect one or more code words from a correlation between the recovered code word and the code words from the set. The registration processor is operable to form at least one reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item and to associate the suspected version and the copy of the material item in accordance with a comparison between the reduced-bandwidth-versions of the suspected version and the original material item.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The encoding processor comprises a code word generator operable to form the code word by generating a plurality of code word coefficients, and an encoder operable to combine the code word coefficients with the material item, and an adaptation processor. The adaptation processor is operable to adapt the strength of the code word coefficients or the material item samples in accordance with a relative sensitivity of the material item samples to carry the code word coefficients. The strength of the watermark is therefore adapted in accordance with the sensitivity of the material item to carry watermark code word coefficients. As a result there is a reduced likelihood of an attacker identifying parts of the material item to which the watermark code word has been added.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The code words are generated from a pseudo-random number generator initialised with a seed value. The seed value is used to identify the marked material item, from the code word produced from the seed value. The watermarking system also includes a detecting data processor operable to identify a particular marked copy of the material item by recovering a code word from the marked material item and correlating all code words in the set of code words with the recovered code word. The detecting data processing apparatus also includes a registration processor operable to associate samples of the original material item with corresponding samples of the marked material item to which corresponding code word coefficients may have been added.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The apparatus comprises a code word generator operable to provide the code word having a plurality of code word coefficients, and an encoding processor operable to combine the code word coefficients with the material. Each of the plurality of code words of the set is uniquely associated with a data word having first and second fields. Each of a set of values of the first field is represented as a first part of the code word having a first plurality of coefficients, and the second field is represented as a second part of the code word having a second plurality of coefficients.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. A detecting data processing apparatus is operable to identify at least one of a plurality of code words present in a marked version of a material item. The detecting apparatus comprises a registration processor operable to compare the samples of the marked material item with a copy of the original material item samples. If a sample of the marked material item and the original material item differ by a comparison threshold, the registration processor replaces the compared sample of the marked material item with the corresponding sample from the original material item.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The encoding data processor is arranged to form other code words of the set by cyclically shifting a first code word. The system includes a detecting data processor operable to identify the code word in the marked material item. The detecting data processor is operable to recover the code word from the marked material item and to form a Fourier transform of the recovered code word and a Fourier transform of the first code word of the set. The data detecting processor forms correlation samples by forming an inverse transform of a combination of the recovered and the first code word. Each of the correlation value samples provides the correlation value for one of the set of code words.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is operable to determine non-linear distortion applied to an image in which template signals have been introduced into at least first and second frequency bands of the image respectively, the template signals having a predetermined relationship with each other. The apparatus comprises an image dividing processor operable to generate data representative of selected parts of the image, a transform detection processor operable to generate at least one parameter representative of a linear transformation applied to each of the parts of the image, and a non-linear transform processor operable to estimate parameters of a non-linear transformation representative of the non-linear distortion applied to the image from the linear transform parameters of at least two parts of the image.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is operable to combine template signals into first and second frequency bands of a data signal. By detecting an amount of relative frequency change of the template signals recovered from each of the frequency bands, an indication of an amount of distortion applied to the data signal can be determined. Accordingly, there is disclosed a data processing apparatus for detecting distortion of a data signal to which a template signal has been introduced into different frequency bands of the signal. The apparatus comprises a frequency component processor operable to generate data representative of the frequency components of the first and the second frequency bands of the data signal, and a detection processor operable to identify the distortion of the data signal in accordance with a relative frequency change between the versions of the recovered template signal.