Active Images Through Digital Watermarking

• US 20070091376A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Calhoon, Sean, Rodriguez, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,570,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/3.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/207 Matching patterns that are created by the interaction of two or more layers, e.g. moiré patterns
• 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 1/32299 using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32325 the embedded data being visible
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/323 for tracing or tracking, e.g. forensic tracing of unauthorized copies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus employing digital watermarking and/or steganography. In one implementation a printer includes watermarking capabilities to facilitate image management. Other implementations are detailed herein as well.

Claims

1. An apparatus including:

a printing mechanism;

a scanner;

a facsimile transmission mechanism; and

a communications port,

an improvement comprising;

a controller to control printing an image proof sheet including images obtained through said communications port;

a digital watermark embedder to embed digital watermarks within images to be printed on the image proof sheet, a digital watermark including at least a first portion identifying a location of a corresponding digital image and a second portion identifying the image, wherein the digital watermark survives printing and scanning.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where said improvement further comprises a digital watermark decoder to decode watermarks embedded in images scanned in via said scanner.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said controller further controls the printer to identify a storage location and a digital image stored therein via a watermark decoded by the watermark decoder.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said controller controls the printer mechanism to print the digital image.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communications port comprises at least one of a network interface and a memory card port.

6. A method to control operation of a printer comprising:

receiving optical scan data associated with an image proof sheet,

wherein the image proof sheet includes a plurality of images printed thereon,

wherein each of the images includes a digital watermark embedded therein through alterations of data representing a respective image, each digital watermark including a plural-bit identifier that identifies at least source information and a digital image,

wherein the proof sheet further includes an indication identifying at least one image printed thereon;

for the at least one image printed on the proof sheet, decoding a digital watermark from corresponding optical scan data to obtain the identifier;

using at least the source information of the identifier, accessing the digital image at a storage location;

receiving digital information corresponding to the digital image; and

controlling the printer to print the digital information.

7. A method comprising:

prior to transmitting content from a first computing device to a second computing device, searching the content for a digital watermark identifier; and

if a watermark is found therein, storing the watermark identifier and an address or identifier of the second computing device in a searchable index stored on the first computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first computing device comprises at least one of a cell phone, desktop computer, laptop, camera, printer and portable music player.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the searchable index comprises an index associated with a desktop searching tool.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the transmitting comprises at least one of emailing, uploading and data transfer.

11. A method comprising:

receiving digital imagery or audio, wherein the digital imagery or audio comprises digital watermarking including a first instruction, wherein the digital watermarking is hidden in the digital imagery or audio through alterations of data representing the digital imagery or audio;

decoding the digital watermark from the digital imagery or audio to obtain a first instruction carried by or linked to a digital watermark payload; and

based at least in part on the first instruction, updating a user device when an address associated with the digital imagery or audio changes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user device comprises a desktop searching tool.

13. The method of claims 11 wherein the digital watermark includes a user identifier or user device identifier.

14. A method comprising:

while in a digital domain, identifying a digital image with a fingerprint of the digital image,

while in a physical domain, identifying a copy of the digital image with digital watermark, the digital watermark comprising a plural bit identifier; and

associating the fingerprint of the digital image, the plural-bit identifier and a storage location of the digital image in a database or index.