Paper-based control of computer systems

• US 20010032251A1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Hannigan, Brett T., Miller, Marc D., Seder, Phillip Andrew, Hein, William C. III, Maclntosh, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,051,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/333 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 : embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

The present invention relates to linking on-line data to printed documents, such as business cards, envelopes, stickers, stationary, letterhead, résumés, 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.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

accessing a central site to obtain a steganographically-encoded item, the item including at least a unique identifier;

applying the steganographically-encoded item to a document; and

inputting data relating to a proprietor of the document, the data being input into a database, and associating the data with the unique identifier.

2. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the document is a business card.

3. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the document comprises one of a sticker, ré

sumé

, label, brochure, post-it, envelope, stationary, and letterhead.

4. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data is formatted into a standardized format.

5. The method according to

claim 4

, wherein the standardized format comprises a vCard.

6. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data comprises audio or visual data.

7. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data comprises pronunciation data.

8. The method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of translating the data into a different language.

9. The method according to

claim 1

, further comprising the step of providing an audio pronunciation of the stored data.

10. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the steganographically-encoded item comprises one of a background, tint, graphic, shading, logo, text or font.

11. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the steganographically-encoded item comprises a business card.

12. The method according to

claim 1

, wherein the steganographically-encoded item includes an electronic address associated with the central site.

13. A method of doing business comprising the steps of:

providing a watermarked item for integration with a business card, the watermarked item including a unique identifier associated with an internet database;

receiving data in the internet database, the received data corresponding to a proprietor of the business card;

associating the received data with the unique identifier; and

permitting access to the received data in the internet database when presented with the unique identifier.

14. The method according to

claim 13

, wherein the received data includes a current contact-channel.

15. The method according to

claim 14

, wherein the current contact-channel comprises an immediate contact number.

16. The method according to

claim 13

, further comprising the step of providing a digital file comprising a pronunciation of at least some of the received data.

17. The method according to

claim 13

, further comprising the step of providing a digital file comprising a translation of at least some of the received data.

18. The method according to

claim 13

, further comprising the step of standardizing the format of the received data.

19. The method according to

claim 18

, wherein the format comprises a vCard.

20. The method according to

claim 13

, further comprising the step of notifying a card-recipient when the received data changes.

21. The method according to

claim 13

, wherein the watermarked item further includes an address associated with the internet database.

22. A system comprising:

a central computer, said central computer communicating with a network;

a database in communication with the central computer, the database indexing user data according to unique identifiers;

a gallery of items maintained by the central computer, each item capable of hosting encoded data;

an encoder to steganographically-encode a unique identifier per item of the gallery of items; and

an interface through which at least one user can access the gallery items and database.

23. The system according to

claim 22

, wherein the gallery of items comprises at least one of background, tints, shading, graphics, text, fonts, and logos.

24. The system according to

claim 22

, wherein the encoder encodes an address of the system per item of the gallery of items.

25. The system according to

claim 22

, wherein a unique identifier is communicated to a user.

26. A method of linking data to a document comprising the steps of:

registering at least one document-giver with an on-line registration server and assigning the document-giver a unique identifier;

steganographically-encoding the unique identifier into an item to be incorporated with a printed document associated with the document-giver;

receiving information related to the card-giver into a database associated with the online registration server; and

transferring the related information upon receipt of the unique identifier.

27. The method according to

claim 26

, wherein the document comprises one of a business card, ré

sumé

, envelope, stationary, label, post-it, letterhead, brochure and sticker.

28. The method according to

claim 26

, further comprising the steps of:

presenting the document to an optical sensor at a first terminal, the optical sensor producing output data;

decoding the steganographically-encoded unique identifier from the sensor output data;

establishing a link with the on-line registration server; and

transferring the document-giver'"'"'s received information from the on-line registration server to the first terminal.

29. The method according to

claim 28

, wherein the document-giver'"'"'s received information comprises at least one of audio files, video files, contact information, and audio pronunciation data.

30. The method according to

claim 26

, further comprising the step of transferring the received information from the on-line registration server to a first terminal.

31. The method according to

claim 30

, wherein the received information is transferred in a standardized format.

32. The method according to

claim 31

, wherein the standardized format comprises a vCard.

33. A method of linking data to a business card comprising the steps of:

registering at least one card-giver with an on-line registration server and assigning the card-giver a unique identifier;

steganographically-encoding the unique identifier and an address of the on-line registration server into an item to be incorporated with a business card associated with the card-giver;

receiving information related to the card-giver into a database associated with the on-line registration server; and

transferring the related information upon receipt of the unique identifier.

34. A method of linking data to a document comprising the steps of:

receiving an electronic copy of the document;

steganographically-encoding a unique identifier into the electronic copy of the document;

receiving information related to the proprietor of the document into a database and associating the received data with the unique identifier; and

transferring the related information upon receipt of the unique identifier.

35. A method comprising the steps of:

decoding steganographically-encoded data from a document;

querying a look-up table to determine a web-site corresponding to the steganographically-encoded data; and

accessing the web site to obtain data relating to a proprietor of the document.

36. A method comprising:

presenting a business card of an individual to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data;

decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; and

using said plural-bit data to establish a link to an internet address having data relating to the proprietor of said business card.

37. The method of

claim 36

, which includes obtaining from said internet site calendar data detailing certain activities of the individual.

38. The method of

claim 37

in which the amount of calendar data obtained depends on an authorization level.

39. The method of

claim 38

in which the authorization level is reflected in the plural-bit data encoded in the individual'"'"'s business card, wherein an individual can distribute differently-encoded cards to different recipients, to grant the recipients different access rights to said calendar data.

40. The method of

claim 36

in which the optical sensor is a business card reader that also serves to input textual information from business cards into a personal information manager.