Video Encoded Invisible Light (VEIL) is a technology for encoding low-bandwidth digital data bitstream in video signal, developed by VEIL Interactive Technologies. VEIL is compatible with multiple formats of video signals, including PAL, SECAM, and NTSC. The technology is based on a steganographically encoded data stream in the luminance of the videosignal.
A recent application of VEIL, the Veil Rights Assertion Mark (VRAM or V-RAM) is a copy-restriction signal that can be used to ask devices to apply DRM technology. This has been seen as analogous to the broadcast flag. It is also known as "CGMS-A plus Veil" and "broadcast flag on steroids."
There are two versions of VEIL on the market:
The symbols (groups of 4 data bits) transmitted by VEIL-II system are encoded as "PN sequences", sequences of 16 "chips". Groups of 4 chips are encoded in pairs of lines. Each line pair is split to 4 parts, where the luminance is raised or lowered (correspondingly vice versa in the other line). In NTSC, 4-bit symbols are encoded in groups of 8 scan lines. With 224 lines per field this equals 112 bits per field, or 7200 bits per second of broadcast. VEIL-II uses scan lines 34 to 258. The PN stands for "pseudo noise" and signifies the 0.5/0.5 relative frequencies of ones and zeroes. In practice, 20 chips per line are preferred, increasing redundancy and allowing for better error detection. The PN encoding is a form of spread spectrum modulation.
Stripping the VEIL signal from the video is supposed to be more difficult than tampering with the VBI, therefore VEIL 1 is proposed as a DRM tool. The signal can survive recording to video, and various sorts of digital compression. The detection devices are low-cost and can be used in a range of devices, from toys to cellphones.
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The technology was developed for transmitting data from the video on screen (originally used on The Batman) to a line of Batman toys based on the series, supplying them with information about the series and unlocking their hidden capabilities. [2]
For example:
This technology is also used in other toys.
VEIL was used in various ad campaigns for Fosters Brewing Company. The campaign incorporated the use of VEIL decoders inside little figures of the famous cricket players Boon and Shane Warne. The toys would make comments during the cricket matches while in front of the tv.
As of December 2005, VEIL was proposed as a DRM tool to counter the analog hole, as a technological measure legally enforced by Digital Content Security Act. In this regard, it is a more fine-grained successor of Macrovision.
VEIL acts together with CGMS-A signal ("broadcast flag") in the vertical blanking interval, where it is used to encode the Rights Assertion Mark (RAM) signal. The CGMS-A can be stripped too easily from the analog signal, therefore the presence of RAM but absence of CGMS-A will tell the copy protection system to deny the copy.[3]
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