Image analysis – Applications
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-10
2003-11-04
Boudreau, Leo (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
C396S310000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06643386
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image sensors, and more particularly, to complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors that use a method to permanently encode a watermark in a video data output stream.
2. Background Information
Watermarks, such as those found in video content, are used for a variety of purposes. They serve to identify copyrights to the video content and to identify in some manner the author of the original work, thereby lending credence and validity to the substance of the work. In video recordings and on broadcast television (TV), watermarks are typically located in the bottom right corner of the TV screen, and therefore serve to identify the broadcast network or serve a promotional purpose.
Video watermarks are added in a separate post-processing step to the raw video stream before the signal/stream is broadcast. Typically, an organization's logo or other distinguishing mark is reduced to an outline having an appropriate size for the video image, and the outline is then combined arithmetically in the luminance channel with the incoming video stream. The resulting video image now has a watermark that allows the majority of the original video image to be seen through the watermark, but in a manner that allows the watermark to be clearly discernable. Similarly, the chrominance channel can be altered to render a watermark in color.
However, this separate post-processing step is cumbersome and requires extra equipment. Furthermore, because the watermarks are added to the video data stream or images during this post-processing step, the watermarks suffer from a lack of permanence. That is, subsequent processing or counterfeiting to edit/delete the watermark can be difficult to detect, since both the legitimate process to apply the watermark and the subsequent illegitimate editing/deletion of the watermark are performed in a post-processing manner on the video data stream or images. Therefore, improvements are needed in adding watermarks to images and/or video data streams.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3971065 (1976-07-01), Bayer
patent: 4200376 (1980-04-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 4880292 (1989-11-01), Kageyama et al.
patent: 4994831 (1991-02-01), Marandi
patent: 5726719 (1998-03-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5771071 (1998-06-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 5797837 (1998-08-01), Minami
patent: 5819123 (1998-10-01), Watanabe
patent: 5901257 (1999-05-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5937207 (1999-08-01), Ito et al.
patent: 6097361 (2000-08-01), Rohner
patent: 6231148 (2001-05-01), Silverbrook
patent: 6249588 (2001-06-01), Amidror et al.
patent: 6535629 (2003-03-01), McCormick et al.
Boudreau Leo
Miller Ryan J.
OmniVision Technologies Inc.
Perkins Coie LLP
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for adding watermarks to images and/or... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for adding watermarks to images and/or..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for adding watermarks to images and/or... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3124708