Multimedia data-embedding and watermarking technologies

TLDR

Data‑embedding and watermarking techniques embed invisible text, binary, or media streams into audio, image, or video signals to add features or protect copyright while preserving perceptual quality. The paper evaluates the challenges of copy protection and the effectiveness of current watermarking algorithms for safeguarding copyrighted content. It reviews transparent embedding developments for audio, image, and video, examines their reliability, and illustrates how they enable services such as selecting rated movie versions from a single multicast stream.

Abstract

We review developments in transparent data embedding and watermarking for audio, image, and video. Data-embedding and watermarking algorithms embed text, binary streams, audio, image, or video in a host audio, image, or video signal. The embedded data are perceptually inaudible or invisible to maintain the quality of the source data. The embedded data can add features to the host multimedia signal, e.g., multilingual soundtracks in a movie, or provide copyright protection. We discuss the reliability of data-embedding procedures and their ability to deliver new services such as viewing a movie in a given rated version from a single multicast stream. We also discuss the issues and problems associated with copy and copyright protection and assess the viability of current watermarking algorithms as a means for protecting copyrighted data.