Network linking method using information embedded in data objects that have inherent noise

• US 20020136430A1
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,430 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• 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: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2107 File encryption
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• 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 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• 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 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0057 Compression invariant watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 : Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 : visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 : using holograms
• 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: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 : by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 : by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 : Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 : Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 : Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• 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 20/00094 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 : involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• 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: H04B 1/665 : using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 : relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 : Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 : remotely
• 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 19/00 : Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/467 : characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 : the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

A given data object can effectively contain both a graphical representation to a network user and embedded information, such as the URL address of another network node, thereby to permit the object itself to serve as an automated hot link. The underlying development tools and web site browsers create and identify such an object for use in a manner similar to a hot link, as provided on the World Wide Web.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a user computing device to one of a plurality of remote computers available for communication over a network comprising:

a) reading a data carrier modulated with an index;

b) accessing a database with the index, the database comprising a plurality of records that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote computer on the network;

c) extracting a pointer from the database as a function of the index; and

d) using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reading a data carrier modulated with an index comprises the step of reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index comprises scanning a bar code symbol encoded with the index.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the bar code symbol is encoded in accordance with an extrinsic standard.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the index is at least a portion of a Universal Code.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reading a data carrier modulated with an index comprises receiving a signal emanating from an article of commerce, the signal being modulated with the index.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reading a data carrier modulated with an index comprises inputting into the user computing device an audible signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reading a data carrier modulated with an index comprises inputting into the user computing device an electromagnetic signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reading a data carrier modulated with an index comprises accessing a magnetic card with a magnetic card reader.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of accessing a database and extracting a pointer therefrom are carried out on the user computing device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of accessing a database and extracting a pointer therefrom are carried out on a server computer located remotely from the user computing device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is distributed over more than one computer.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises a network address.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises a Uniform Resource Locator.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises the name of a remote computer.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises an IP address.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the index is comprised of a first field and a second field.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of accessing a database with an index comprises the steps of using only the first field of the index to access the database.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein a plurality of indexes having the same first field and different second fields will result in extraction of the same pointer.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first field is a manufacturer identification number and the second field is a product identification number.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby is executed automatically by the user computing device without user intervention.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the automatic communication by the user computing device with the remote computer is executed by a web browser program running on the user computing device.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby is executed by a user selecting hypertext link returned to the user computing device by the database.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the network over which the user computing device establishes communication with the remote computer is a wide area network.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the wide area network is an online service.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the database is resident on an online service provider computer with which the user computing device has established direct communication.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the online service provider computer additionally provides a gateway to the Internet.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein access to the database requires entry of a password.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is associated with a search engine.

31. A system comprising:

a. a user computing device;

b. an input device associated with the user computing device, configured to read a data carrier modulated with an index;

c. means for storing a database comprising a plurality of records that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote computer;

wherein the user computing device comprises;

means for accessing the database to extract a pointer from the database as a function of the index; and

means for using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the user input device comprises means for reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the means for reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index comprises means for scanning a bar code symbol encoded with the index.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the means for scanning a bar code symbol is adapted to scan a bar code symbol encoded in accordance with an extrinsic standard.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the input device is configured to read an index comprising at least a portion of a Universal Code.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein the input device is adapted to receive a signal emanating from an article of commerce, the signal being modulated with the index.

37. The system of claim 31 wherein the input device comprises means for inputting into the user computing device an audible signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

38. The system of claim 31 wherein the input device comprises means for inputting an electromagnetic signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein the input device comprises means for reading a magnetic stripe card.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for storing a database is located on the user computing device.

41. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for storing a database is located on a server computer located remotely from the user computing device.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for storing a database is distributed over more than one computer.

43. The system of claim 31 wherein the pointer comprises a network address.

44. The system of claim 31 wherein the pointer comprises a Uniform Resource Locator.

45. The system of claim 31 wherein the pointer comprises the name of a remote computer.

46. The system of claim 31 wherein the pointer comprises an IP address.

47. The system of claim 31 wherein the index is comprised of a first field and a second field.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the means for accessing a database with an index comprises means for using only the first field of the index to access the database.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein a plurality of indexes having the same first field and different second fields will result in extraction of the same pointer.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the first field is a manufacturer identification number and the second field is a product identification number.

51. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby executes automatically by the user computing device without user intervention.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the automatic communication by the user computing device with the remote computer is executed by a web browser program running on the user computing device.

53. The system of claim 31 wherein the means for using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby executes by a user selecting hypertext link returned to the user computing device by the database.

54. The system of claim 31 wherein the network over which the user computing device establishes communication with the remote computer is a wide area network.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

56. The system of claim 54 wherein the wide area network is an online service.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein the database is resident on an online service provider computer with which the user computing device has established direct communication.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the online service provider computer additionally provides a gateway to the Internet.

59. The system of claim 31 wherein access to the database requires entry of a password.

60. The system of claim 31 wherein the database is associated with a search engine.

61. A user computing device comprising:

a. an input device configured to read a data carrier modulated with an index; and

b. computer processing means for executing a software program adapted to;

utilize the index to access a database comprising a plurality of records that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote computer;

retrieve from the database a pointer as a function of the index; and

use the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.

62. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the user input device comprises means for reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index.

63. The user computing device of claim 62 wherein the means for reading a light pattern emanating from an object and demodulating the light pattern to obtain the index comprises means for scanning a bar code symbol encoded with the index.

64. The user computing device of claim 63 wherein the means for scanning a bar code symbol is adapted to scan a bar code symbol encoded in accordance with an extrinsic standard.

65. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the input device is configured to read an index comprising at least a portion of a Universal Code.

66. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the input device is adapted to receive a signal emanating from an article of commerce, the signal being modulated with the index.

67. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the input device comprises means for inputting into the user computing device an audible signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

68. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the input device comprises means for inputting an electromagnetic signal modulated with information correlated to the index.

69. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the input device comprises means for reading a magnetic stripe card.

70. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the software program is adapted to utilize the index to access a database located on the user computing device.

71. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the software program is adapted to utilize the index to access a database located on a server computer remote from the user computing device.

72. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the software program is adapted to utilize the index to access a database distributed over more than one computer.

73. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the index is comprised of a first field and a second field, and wherein the software program is adapted to access a database with only the first field of the index.

74. The user computing device of claim 73 wherein a plurality of indexes having the same first field and different second fields will result in extraction of the same pointer.

75. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the software program is adapted to use the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby automatically without user intervention.

76. The user computing device of claim 75 wherein the automatic communication by the user computing device with the remote computer is executed by a web browser program running on the user computing device.

77. The user computing device of claim 61 wherein the software program is adapted to use the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby by using a user-selected hypertext link returned to the user computing device by the database.

78. The user computing device of claim 61, further adapted to establish communication with the remote computer over a wide area network.

79. The user computing device of claim 78 further adapted to establish communication with the remote computer over the Internet.

80. The user computing device of claim 78 further adapted to establish communication with the remote computer over an online service.

81. A method of connecting a user computing device to one of a plurality of remote computers available for communication over a network comprising:

a) reading a data carrier modulated with an index;

b) accessing a database with the index to retrieve a pointer which identifies a remote computer on the network;

c) extracting a pointer from the database as a function of the index; and

d) using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.

82. A system comprising:

a. a user computing device;

b. an input device associated with the user computing device, configured to read a data carrier modulated with an index;

c. a database for linking the index to a pointer which identifies a remote computer;

wherein the user computing device comprises;

means for accessing the database to extract a pointer from the database as a function of the index; and

means for using the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.

83. A user computing device comprising:

a. an input device configured to read a data carrier modulated with an index; and

b. computer processing means for executing a software program adapted to;

utilize the index to access a database to retrieve a pointer which identifies a remote computer;

retrieve from the database a pointer as a function of the index; and

use the pointer to establish communication with the remote computer identified thereby.