Digimarc Corporation

Intel Corporation

Burt W Perry

Geoffrey B Rhoads

J Scott Carr

Robert W Adams

John Whitley Richardson

David M Williams

Edward R Harrison

John A Throckmorton

Phillip Andrew Seder

Dale R Call

Kenneth Lee Levy

Bruce L Davis

Joel R Meyer

Nelson L Yaple

Jonathan Scott Carr

Tony F Rodriguez

Brett Alan Bradley

Trent J Brundage

John F Stach

Brett T Hannigan

Neil E Lofgren

Matthew M Weaver

Mahmood Sher-Jan

Gilbert B Shaw

Steve Batchelor

Stanley E Graham

Robert T Durst

A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for selectively incorporating promotional messages into rendered video content, monitoring whether promotional messages are rendered or skipped, permitting payment for content upon rendering rather than receipt, controlling rendering of video to include or omit adult-themed sections, confirming a person's age by reference to a watermarked identification document, and watermarking digital cinema projections.

Watermark and fingerprint systems for media

The present invention relates generally to identification documents. One claim recites an apparatus to authentic an identification document. The identification document comprising first machine-readable information including a first plural-bit message, and semantic information carried on or in the identification document. The apparatus includes: a first reader to read the first machine-readable information to obtain the first plural-bit message; a second reader to obtain information from the semantic information carried on or in the identification document; an electronic processor programmed as a decryption unit to decrypt the first plural-bit message or the information obtained from the semantic information; and an electronic processor programmed as a decision unit to determine whether the identification document is authentic based at least in part on the first plural-bit message and the semantic information. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Identification documents and authentication of such documents

A reversible watermarking program transforms a host data file into a logical storage unit for auxiliary data files by embedding the auxiliary files in the data stored in the host data file. The reversible watermark modifies host data such as an image, audio, video, or software code, to carry auxiliary data. For perceptual content such as visual or audio media, the reversible watermark can maintain a desired level of perceptual quality, effectively hiding the auxiliary data in the host data. The reversible watermark enables the original host data prior to modifications due to the embedding to be restored.

Transforming data files into logical storage units for auxiliary data through reversible watermarks

A method for operating an electronic gaming system captures an image of a gaming object, extracts identifying information from the image of the gaming object, and uses the extracted identifying information to reference a database to determine a behavior associated with the identifying information. The method returns data to the gaming system to execute or control the behavior of the gaming system in response to the gaming object. Various system configurations for this method as well as unique applications of it are also disclosed.

Interactive gaming objects

The present invention relates generally to systems for creating and authenticating printed objects using authentication information. One implementation recites: An apparatus for determining authenticity of a digital representation of an object. The digital representation includes embedded first authentication information. The apparatus includes: a storage system in which stored second authentication information is associated with stored reference codes; and a processor which receives the digital representation and a reference code associated therewith. The processor includes: an authentication information reader, and the processor: i) employs the reference code to retrieve the second authentication information associated therewith from the storage system, ii) employs the authentication information reader to recover the embedded first authentication information, and iii) employs recovered first authentication information and the second authentication information to determine authenticity of the digital representation. Other implementations are provided and claimed as well.

Digital authentication with digital and analog documents

The present invention relates generally to identification documents. In one implementation, a provided method includes: obtaining optical scan data associated with text characters provided on an identification document to obtain first data; using at least a portion of the first data to facilitate decryption of information&#x2014;not the text characters&#x2014;carried on or in the identification document. The information corresponds to the identification document or to an authorized bearer of the identification document. In another implementation, a method is providing including: obtaining optical scan data associated with an identification document to obtain first data; obtaining second data from the identification document, the second data comprising encrypted data; communicating the encrypted data and the first data to a remote device, the remote device decrypting the encrypted data with at least reference to the first data; and receiving decrypted data from the remote device. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.

Embedded data in gaming objects is used to authenticate the gaming object and to enhance the gaming experience in gambling venues The gaming object is authenticated automatically using information about the venue encoded in the gaming objects. The behavior of electronic gambling game systems is enhanced by extracting covert data from gaming objects and using the extracted data to control behavior of the gambling game.

Embedded data in gaming objects for authentication and association of behavior information

An interactive video system is disclosed that processes a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream. The interactive video system displays a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device and performs interactive command functions specified by the associated data stream. The interactive command functions include commands that specify placement of a video display window, commands that specify parameters of graphical objects that are associated with the video image and commands that specify pixel data or graphics description for the graphical object and commands for placement of selection windows and that specify interactive functions for the selection windows.

Content programmer control of video and data display using associated data

A host device is disclosed. The host device includes a processor and a control mechanism. The processor operates to receive primary and associated data, decode and separate the associated data from the primary data, and cause the associated data to be rendered on a separate hand held device. The processor also operates the control mechanism to control a separate display apparatus to separately receive and render the primary data.

Host apparatus for simulating two way connectivity for one way data streams

The present invention relates generally to validating and providing physical objects. In one implementation, a physical object includes a first digital watermark carried thereon. The first digital watermark includes a first plural-bit message representing at least a reduced-bit representation of a biometric corresponding to an authorized bearer of the physical object. The physical object further includes semantic information carried thereon. At least a portion of the semantic information corresponds to the authorized bearer of the physical object. In another implementation, an apparatus is provided to validate physical objects. In some cases the objects include identification documents.

Physical objects and validation of physical objects

The pages of a children's book are marked in a machine-readable manner (e.g., by imperceptible digital watermark technology). When such a page is shown to a camera-equipped computer device, the watermark is decoded, and the story text from that page is read aloud to a child. A number of variants are contemplated, including using book pages as entry points to corresponding videos; using books to link to corresponding interactive web sites or multi-player games; incorporating the camera in a plush toy; evoking different responses from the system by using the book to convey gestures to the camera; providing such functionality in cell phones, set top boxes, and Bluetooth-equipped devices; customizing read-aloud stories using words provided by the child or a parent; etc.

Methods and systems for read-aloud books

A passport or other document is steganographically encoded with two steganographic digital watermarks. Data conveyed by these watermarks can be cross-checked for expected correspondence to help authenticate the document. The document may also include other machine-readable features, such as a bar code, a magnetic stripe, or OCR-B text. These other machine-readable features can likewise convey data that can be cross-checked for expected correspondence with watermark-conveyed data. In one arrangement, four machine-readable features are provided (two watermarks and two others), three of which convey data relating to a passport identifier, and a different three of which convey data relating to a document batch number. Such logical linking between several machine-readable features allows tampering with any feature to be readily detected. A variety of related methods and apparatuses, some involving a third watermark and biometric data, are also detailed.

Self validating security documents utilizing watermarks

By printing documents and other objects with machine readable indicia, such as steganographic digital watermarks or barcodes, a great variety of document management functions can be enabled. The indicia can be added as part of the printing process (after document data has been output by an originating application program), such as by printer driver software, by a Postscript engine in a printer, etc. The indicia can encode data about the document, or can encode an identifier that references a database record containing such data. By showing the printed document to a computer device with a suitable optical input device (e.g., a webcam), an electronic version of the document can be recalled for editing, or other responsive action can be taken.

Methods for opening file on computer via optical sensing

The disclosure describes systems for creating and authenticating printed objects using authentication and copy detection watermarks. For example, one verification system includes a watermark decoder and a verification module. The watermark decoder detects a copy detection watermark in a printed object to determine whether the printed object has been reproduced. The verification module processes a message decoded from an authentication watermark on the printed object to authenticate the printed object or bearer of the printed object. The authentication and copy detection watermarks may be implemented as the same or different watermarks. For example, the copy detection watermark may be a fragile watermark that carries the message and that degrades in response to a reproduction operation, such as photocopying or scanning and then reprinting the object. Alternatively, the authentication and copy detection watermarks may be separate watermarks embedded in an image that is printed on the object. The authentication watermark, in some applications, includes an identifier that links the object to a database entry with related information about the object. This related information can be used to check the bearer of the object by comparing it with attributes of the bearer (such as a user ID or photo) or the validity of the object by comparing it with attributes that are visible or machine readable on the object.

Authentication watermarks for printed objects and related applications

This disclosure describes a method of making a secure product using data hidden in the product itself and a method of using the hidden data to authenticate the product. The method assigns a product identifier to the product, such as a unique serial number. It also steganographically embeds security data into the product. The security data includes the product identifier (e.g., a hashed version of it). The security data is embedded such that it is machine readable and enables automated authentication of the product by comparing the security data decoded from the product with the product identifier.

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Lake Oswego, OR, United States of America

Burt W Perry