Watermarked printed objects and methods

• US 20040190750A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Carr, J. Scott, Rodriguez, Tony F., Davis, Bruce L.
• Application Number:
  US10/717,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190750A1
• 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: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• 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: 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 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• 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: 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 7/086 : 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: 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 20/00884 : 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 1/00005 : 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 1/00973 : from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• 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 1/32229 : with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes 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

A printed object is steganographically encoded with plural-bit data. When presented to a computer system with an optical sensor, the plural-bit data is decoded and used to trigger various functionality. For example, the system can link to a remote data store containing updated contact information for the person—contact information that is updated during the day as the person'"'"'s activities make different contact information appropriate at different times. A great variety of other arrangements, some employing other steganographically encoded objects, are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method of embedding digital information in a printed object, the method comprising:

receiving a digital image representing the printed object, the printed object corresponding to a person;

embedding plural bit digital information in the digital image, where the embedding modifies the digital image such that the plural bit digital information is carried in the printed object on which the digital image is printed and is machine readable from an optical scan of the printed object; and

creating a data store for storing contact information for the person, the data store being accessible using the plural bit digital information extracted from the optical scan of the printed object, and being operable to update a contact database in response to the optical scan of the printed object.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the printed object is a business card and the plural-bit digital information is steganographically encoded on the business card.

3. A printed object that has been created using the method of claim 1.

4. A method of embedding digital information in a printed object comprising:

forming plural-bit digital data for embedding in a printed object, the plural-bit digital data being machine readable from an optical scan of the printed object, a first part of said plural-bit digital data being operable to establish a link between a first device where the optical scan is made and a remote computer, a second part of said plural-bit digital data being usable by the remote computer to obtain information corresponding to the object; and

embedding the plural-digital data in an image to be printed on the printed object.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first part of said plural-bit digital data is used to traverse a network of plural server computers to thereby identify the remote computer.

6. The method of claim 4 in which the object is a business card relating to a person, and the information provided from the remote computer includes contact information relating to said person.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the embedding is performed in a printer by making variations in ink on the printed object that convey the plural bit digital data.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the embedding is performed in a printer driver that makes variations to image pixels to be printed on the object such that the variations convey the plural bit digital data.

9. A printed object that has been created using the method of claim 4.

10. A method of embedding digital information in a printed object, the method comprising:

embedding digital information in an image to be printed on the printed object; and

storing an association between the digital information and an access permission, the digital information being machine readable from an optical scan of the printed object and operable to retrieve the access permission to control access.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the printed object comprises a photo identification document in which the digital information is embedded.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the access permission specifies an authorized time of access, and the printed object is used to obtain access during the authorized time of access in response to an optical scan of the printed object.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the printed object comprises a photo identification document and the digital information is used to obtain access to a photo identification document renewal system.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the printed object comprises a ticket and the digital information is used to obtain access to an event.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the ticket is obtained electronically by a user and printed by the user to create a physical object to gain access to the event.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the access permission is updated in response to use of the printed object to obtain access so that further access is controlled.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the printed object is a ticket obtained electronically by a user and printed by the user to create a physical object to obtain access to the event.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the digital information is machine detected using a process of optical scanning, the optical scanning process including illuminating the printed object by a pulsed illumination source.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the printed object comprises a photo identification document and the digital information is used to access a personal record of a person associated with the document.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the printed object comprises a bank card.