Digital Watermarking Methods, Systems and Apparatus

• US 20070274611A1
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Brundage, Trent, Rodriguez, Tony, Shovoly, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/317
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/28 involving image processing hardware
• 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: 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 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

The disclosure describes methods and apparatus of providing steganographic indicia or digital watermarking in image or video data. One implementation provides a method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, with watermark embedding occurring on-chip with the imager. Another implementation provides a method of managing images. Each of the images comprises plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, with the plural-bit data corresponding to a geo-location. Yet another implementation provides a method of identifying locations on a map, with the map being for display via a computer display. Still another implementation provides a method of introducing a watermark message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, wherein watermark embedding occurs on-chip with the imager, wherein the imager comprises a plurality of pixels, and wherein each of the plurality of pixels is filtered to represent a single color, said method comprising:

prior to approximating a multi-color value for each pixel, adjusting single color values for select pixels, the adjusting introducing a digital watermark into the image data; and

approximating a multi-color value for pixels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single color comprises at least one of red, green or blue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting adjusts only red color values.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjusting weights a watermark signal across red, blue and green channels.

5. (canceled)

6. A method of identifying locations on a map, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, said method comprising:

receiving data representing a first image;

analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein, wherein the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image;

providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display; and

visually or graphically identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information is steganographically encoded in the form of a digital watermark.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the computer display comprises a cell phone display screen.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said identifying a first location comprises providing a visual or graphical object on or with the map at the first location.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the object comprises a representation of the first image.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the object comprises a thumbnail representation of the first image.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the object is associated with a link.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the link links to a copy of the first image.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the link links to metadata associated with the first image.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the metadata comprises at least one item from a group of items comprising:

audio, video, text, and document files.

16. A method of managing images, wherein each of the images comprise plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, and wherein the plural-bit data corresponds to a geo-location, said method comprising:

receiving a first query regarding a first geo-location;

identifying images corresponding to the first geo-location;

providing at least a listing of the images corresponding to the first geo-location; and

in response to the listing receiving a second query narrowing the listing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second query comprises at least one of a date range, a season, or a directional angle.

18. A method comprising:

receiving data representing a first image or video;

analyzing the data to obtain information hidden in picture elements of the first image or video, wherein the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image or video;

providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display; and

visually or graphically identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.