Digimarc Corporation

Other

Digimare Corporation

Marc D Miller

Tony F Rodriguez

Geoffrey B Rhoads

Kenneth Lee Levy

Tyler J McKinley

Donald Haaga

Ravi K Sharma

J Scott Carr

Kirstin Hierholzer

Alastair M Reed

William Y Conwell

Brett T Hannigan

Brian T MacIntosh

Ammon E Gustafson

Matthew M Weaver

Phillip Andrew Seder

William C Hein, Iii

Mahmood Sher-Jan

Jonathan L Hawes

Donald L Haaga, Jr

The disclosure relates to data hiding and digital watermarking in imagery. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory storing an image editing program; an input for receiving imagery, the imagery comprising image features that vary across the imagery; a processor configured for: encoding a pattern of-dimensional auxiliary data at a first intensity within a first multi-dimensional region within the imagery; and encoding the pattern of-dimensional auxiliary data at a second, different intensity within a second multi-dimensional region within the imagery. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided.

Watermarking different areas of digital images with different intensities

A watermark-based age verification system is provided in one implementation. The verification system may also verify a biometric template against a biometric sample. Shelf-life identification documents are provided in another implementation. Another aspect of the present invention analyzes image data to identify a face region or silhouette associated with a human subject depicted in the image data. The image data is adjusted, e.g., to center or align a face region within an image frame. A digital watermark is embedded after realignment. Another aspect authenticates or handles digital images that are captured at a first location and transferred to a second location via watermarking. In another implementation, first machine-readable code on an identification document layer is cross-correlated with second machine-readable code on the identification document. The first and second machine-readable codes are preferably sensed though different means, but can be cross-correlated to determine authenticity of an identification document.

Digital watermarking for identification documents

An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed.

Methods and systems for associating objects with corresponding machine behaviors. Machine behaviors refer to responsive actions that are triggered when an object (which may be physical or electronic) is encountered. Examples of these behaviors include fetching a web page, executing software instructions, etc. A registration system enables machine behaviors to be associated with objects through use of object identifiers. For an electronic object such as an audio or video signal, the identifier can comprise a steganographic in-band watermark, a numeric ID or song/artist name field in a in a file header; a 128-bit hash value obtained by applying a hashing algorithm to the content data, the file header data, a portion thereof, etc. The disclosure particularly focuses on an embodiment utilizing stickers as objects, and watermarks as identifiers, but the technology can be implemented in many other, different, forms.

Associating objects with corresponding behaviors

The present invention relates to steganographic systems and methods. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory to buffer a compressed digital watermark object, the digital watermark object is a separate object relative to a compressed video object; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: decompressing the compressed video object to yield a decompressed video object, the decompressed video object comprising data representing video picture elements and data representing audio elements; decompressing the digital watermark object to obtain digital watermark data; steganographically hiding the digital watermark data in the data representing video picture elements or in the data representing audio elements to yield digital watermarked video or audio; and rendering the digital watermarked video or audio. Other claims and combinations are provided too.

Steganographic systems and methods

The present invention relates generally to access control. One claim recites a method of determining whether to allow access to a location, including: receiving optical data from an optical sensor, the optical data being associated with an object presented to the optical sensor, wherein the object comprises optically-detectable, machine-readable indicia encoded in a predetermined symbology thereon, the indicia including at least an orientation component; determining an orientation of the orientation component; obtaining from a data store a predetermined orientation; and comparing the predetermined orientation with the determined orientation to decide whether to allow access to the location. Of course, other claims are provided as well.

Access control systems

The present invention relates to steganographic systems and methods. Once claim recites a method including: obtaining video content, wherein the video content comprises a steganographic signal embedded in picture elements of the video content, with multiple instances of the steganographic signal embedded in the picture elements of the video content, the steganographic signal comprising a plural-bit identifier that is uniquely associated with an intended recipient of the video content; encrypting&#x2014;utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry&#x2014;the video content with an encryption key that comprises mathematical relationship to the plural-bit identifier that is uniquely associated with the intended recipient of the video content; obtaining a decryption key that comprises a cryptographic relationship to the encryption key; communicating the encrypted video content and the decryption key to the intended user of the video content; and maintaining an association of the plural-bit identifier with the intended recipient. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

A variety of systems responsive to watermarked documents are detailed. In one, watermarking is employed to facilitate system access. In another, security is provided through analyzing digitally watermarked documents. In yet another, a digital watermark-based combination lock is adapted to analyze a sequence (and perhaps an orientation) of presented digitally watermarked cards.

Digital watermarking security systems

The present invention relates to digital watermarking systems and methods. In a first implementation, so-called movie studio rough-cuts are watermarked to provide a forensic tracking clue or to provide security for distributed rough-cuts. In another implementation, a watermark is determined for a compressed video object. The watermark is compressed as an object and the watermarked object is then associated with the compressed video object. The two separate objects are provided to a rendering device, which after decompressing both objects, embeds the watermark in the video prior to rendering.

Digital watermarking systems and methods

The present invention relates to linking on-line data to printed documents, such as business cards, envelopes, stickers, stationary, letterhead, r&#xe9;sum&#xe9;s, etc. In one embodiment, a card-user registers with an on-line database and receives a gallery item including a steganographically-embedded unique identifier. The gallery item, such as a graphical background, text, shading, graphic, etc., is integrated and then printed with a document. The printed document can then be presented an optical-scanner, which outputs data. The output data is decoded to identify the unique identifier. The unique identifier is then used to index into the on-line database to retrieve information related to the proprietor of the document. In one embodiment, the on-line database includes features such as providing an immediate contact number, translation and/or pronunciation ability, and storage of audio/video files.

Method of linking on-line data to printed documents

The present invention relates to embedding a document with multiple watermark components at different printing stages. A document is preprinted to include a first digital watermark component. The document is then reprinted, perhaps with a lower quality printer, to include a second digital watermark component. In some cases the first component provides an orientation signal that is useful when trying to detect the second component. In other cases the first and second components are related or otherwise used to determine the authenticity of the document. In still other cases, the first and second watermark components carry information useful in determining the type of document, watermark-embedding hints and/or personal or serialized data.

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Corte Madera, CA, United States of America

Marc D Miller