Apparatus to Process Images, Video and Objects

• US 20070172098A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey, Gustafson, Ammon
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0202 whereby the quality of watermarked images is measured; Measuring quality or performance of watermarking methods; Balancing between quality and robustness
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30144 Printing quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• 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 7/12 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: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• 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 1/00092 relating to the original or to the reproducing medium, e.g. imperfections or dirt detecting properties of a sheet H04N1/00681
• 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 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 : in colour image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32315 : Selecting a particular method from amongst a plurality of methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32331 : Fragile embedding or watermarking
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to steganographic encoding and/or digital watermarking. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided including: an input to receive imagery or video; a processor to act on received imagery or video, said processor programmed to steganographically embed a first code and a second code in the imagery or video, the first code comprising a publicly accessible code and the second code comprising a less publicly accessible code relative to the first code; and an output to output embedded imagery or video. Other implementations and embodiments are described and claimed as well.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an input to receive imagery or video;

a processor to act on received imagery or video, said processor programmed to steganographically embed a first code and a second code in the imagery or video, the first code comprising a publicly accessible code and the second code comprising a less publicly accessible code relative to the first code; and

an output to output embedded imagery or video.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first code and the second code each comprise a pseudo-random component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processor steganograhically embeds the first code and the second code with digital watermarking.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first code is associated with first digital watermarking and the second code is associated with second digital watermarking.

5. The apparatus 1 wherein the first code and the second code are related in an predetermined manner.

6. An apparatus to analyze an object, wherein an original or authentic object includes a first watermark and a second different watermark, said apparatus comprising:

an input to receive data corresponding to an object;

a processor to;

i. attempt to detect first and second watermarks from the data;

ii. determine whether the first and second watermarks comprise a predetermined relationship, and,

if they do, reaching a first conclusion concerning the object, and,

if they do not, reaching a second, different conclusion concerning the object.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined relationship comprises a signal to noise relationship.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined relationship comprises information relative to one or more color spaces.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined relationship includes a noise component.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined relationship represents signal characteristics associated with the first and second watermarks.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the predetermined relationship represents one or more ratios of signal characteristics associated with the first and second watermarks.

12. An apparatus comprising:

an input to receive imagery or video;

a processor to act on received imagery or video, said processor programmed to detect at least a first code, and a second code steganographically hidden in imagery or video, the first code comprising a publicly accessible code and the second code comprising a less publicly accessible code relative to the first code, wherein the first code and the second code are related in a predetermined manner; and

an output to output information associated with the first code and the second code.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second code comprises a pseudo-random component.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first code and the second code are each steganographically hidden with digital watermarking.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first code is associated with first digital watermarking and the second code is associated with second digital watermarking.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein first code is carried out of band with respect to the imagery or video.