Secure communication and real-time watermarking using mutating identifiers

Abstract

A method of watermarking using mutating identifiers includes generating a plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, obtaining a plurality of keys for the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, assigning each one of the plurality of obtained keys to a single one of the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, and associating a unique license with each one of the plurality of watermarked versions.

1 . A method of distributing a content item, the method comprising:
 obtaining a plurality of watermarks;   selecting a watermarking scheme;   generating a plurality of watermarked versions of a content item;   obtaining a plurality of keys for the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item;   assigning each one of the plurality of obtained keys to a single one of the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item;   associating a unique license with each one of the plurality of watermarked versions, where the license is based on a function of one of the plurality of watermarks and a function of the content item;   distributing the unique license to a consumer having an identity;   verifying the identity of the consumer;   distributing the watermarked content to the consumer;   distributing one of the plurality of keys to the consumer; and   mapping the identity of the consumer to a specific watermark.   
   
   
       2 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of watermarks is distinct from one another. 
   
   
       3 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each watermark is a single-use watermark. 
   
   
       4 . The method claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the license is created with a mutating ID. 
   
   
       5 . A system of distributing content, the system comprising:
 a content provider having content items and one or more mutating identifiers and capable of allocating content items with recognizable characteristics;   a consumer who has a mutating identifier and an identity and capable of generating a request for content items; and   an authenticator who knows the one or more mutating identifiers of the content provider and the mutating identifier of the consumer and configured to associate the content item allocated by the content provider to the consumer.   
   
   
       6 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the authenticator can associate the content item allocated by the content provider to the consumer by mapping the characteristic of the content item to the identity of the consumer. 
   
   
       7 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the authenticator assigns the mutating identifiers to the content provider and the consumer. 
   
   
       8 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the mutating identifier of the consumer is changed after a single use by the authenticator. 
   
   
       9 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each mutating identifier of the content provider is used only once. 
   
   
       10 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the identity of the consumer is known by the authenticator and the content provider. 
   
   
       11 . The system claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the content provider does not know mutating identifier of the consumer and the consumer does not know the mutating identifier of the content provider. 
   
   
       12 . A method of watermarking using mutating identifiers, the method comprising:
 generating a plurality of watermarked versions of a content item;   obtaining a plurality of keys for the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item;   assigning each one of the plurality of obtained keys to a single one of the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item; and   associating a unique license with each one of the plurality of watermarked versions.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the unique license comprises a mutating identifier. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein using mutating identifiers comprises:
 obtaining a first mutating identifier have a first part and a key;   encrypting data with the key from the first mutating identifier; and   grouping the first part of mutating identifier with the previously encrypted data.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first mutating identifier is only used once.