Methods for using wireless phones having optical capabilities

• US 20050213790A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Livermore, Megan I., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• 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: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• 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

Abstract

A wireless phone is equipped with a 2D optical sensor, enabling a variety of applications. For example, such a phone may also be provided with a digital watermark decoder, permitting decoding of steganographic data on imaged objects. Movement of a phone may be inferred by sensing movement of an imaged pattern across the optical sensor'"'"'s field of view, allowing use of the phone as a gestural input device through which a user can signal instructions to a computer-based process. A variety of other arrangements by which electronic devices can interact with the physical world are also detailed, e.g., involving sensing and responding to digital watermarks, bar codes, RFIDs, etc.

Claims

1. A method of using a phone that includes a microphone, a 2D optical sensor, and a wireless interface, the wireless interface being capable of transmitting an RF signal conveying information corresponding to audio sensed by said microphone, the method comprising:

sensing a pattern in first image data produced by the phone'"'"'s 2D sensor;

sensing said pattern in second image data subsequently produced by said 2D sensor; and

determining a movement parameter by reference to the sensed pattern in the first and second image data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said pattern comprises a machine-readable symbology that conveys plural bits of digital data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said pattern comprises a digital watermark pattern.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said pattern comprises a barcode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pattern is sensed from a card.

6. The method of claim 1 that further includes controlling a computer-based process in accordance with said movement parameter.

7. A method of employing a cameraphone as a gestural user interface to a computer-based process, the phone including a microphone, a 2D optical sensor, and a wireless interface, the wireless interface being capable of transmitting an RF signal conveying information corresponding to audio sensed by said microphone, the method comprising:

positioning the phone so that the camerphone'"'"'s 2D sensor captures an image of a pattern;

moving the phone so that said pattern moves within a field of view of said 2D sensor; and

through said movement of the phone, signaling user instructions to a computer-based process.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said pattern is a machine-readable symbology that conveys plural bits of digital data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said pattern comprises a digital watermark pattern.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said pattern comprises a barcode.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the pattern is sensed from a card.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the pattern is sensed from a playing card.

13. A method comprising:

presenting an object to an imaging system, the object having formed thereon a pattern that steganographically encodes a plural symbol payload;

processing image data produced by said imaging system to determine an orientation of the object as viewed by the imaging system;

triggering a response to said object that depends, at least in part, on said orientation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the imaging system comprises a cameraphone.

15. The method of claim 13 that further includes decoding information from at least part of said plural symbol payload, wherein the triggered response also depends on said decoded information.

16. The method of claim 13 that includes determining an orientation of said pattern to thereby determine the orientation of the object.

17. The method of claim 16 that includes determining said orientation by reference to a subliminal graticule signal encoded in said pattern.

18. A method comprising:

moving a wireless 2D imaging device that is physically coupled to a user'"'"'s body;

during said movement, using said device to capture plural frames of image data of a subject; and

processing said captured image data to characterize a movement parameter associated with said subject.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein:

the wireless 2D imaging device comprises a cameraphone held in the user'"'"'s hand;

the subject conveys an indicia that optically encodes plural-symbol information; and

the method further includes providing said movement parameter to a related system whose response is at least partially dependent thereon.

20. A method comprising:

providing a gaming table;

positioning on said table an article selected from the list consisting of;

a playing card or a gaming chip, said article being marked with a digital watermark indicia conveying a plural bit payload;

capturing image data corresponding to said article, using an image sensor proximate to the table;

decoding the plural bit payload from said captured image data; and

using said decoded payload to help deter gaming fraud.