Digital Watermarking Apparatus and Methods

• US 20100142749A1
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Brundage, Trent J., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Hannigan, Brett T., Rodriguez, Tony F., Ellingson, Eric E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/162 Length or width
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

The present invention relates to various digital watermarking methods, apparatus and systems. One claim recites a method of determining a size or denomination of a momentary object. The method includes: utilizing a configured, multi-purpose electronic processor, decoding a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, the watermark including data corresponding to a denomination of the monetary object; based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object; and providing the feedback. Handheld computing devices can be advantageously employed with this combination. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed.

Claims

1. A method of determining a size or denomination of a momentary object comprising:

utilizing a configured, multi-purpose electronic processor, decoding a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, the watermark including data corresponding to a denomination of the monetary object; and

based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object; and

providing the feedback.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises an audible announcement or a series of audible sounds of the denomination of the monetary object, provided via a speaker.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises Braille typography indicating the denomination of the monetary object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said decoding comprises analyzing optical scan data corresponding to the monetary object.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises Braille feedback.

6. The method according to claim 1 in which a handheld computing device comprises the electronic processor.

7. A programmed computing device comprising instructions stored in memory to cause said programmed computing device to perform the method of claim 1.

8. Computer readable media comprising instructions stored therein to cause an electronic processor to perform the acts of claim 1.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the electronic processor is operating to perform said act of decoding a digital watermark.

10. A method of managing documents comprising:

encoding a document with a digital watermark including a document history identifier;

storing the document history identifier in a database, and associating related document history with the document history identifier; and

upon receipt of a decoded digital watermark identifier, utilizing an electronic processor configured for indexing the database with the identifier to access the related document history.

11. The method according to claim 10 in which the related document history comprises document version information.

12. The method according to claim 11 in which the document version information includes both version information pertaining to the document, and information pertaining to a later version.

13. The method according to claim 10 in which the related document history comprises one of document version data, creation time, author and last edited information.

14. The method according to claim 10 in which the identifier comprises at least document version information.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 10.

16. A programmed computing device comprising instructions stored in memory to cause said programmed computing device to perform the method of claim 10.

17. A handheld device comprising:

a camera to capture image or video data;

a display, said display being operable to at least display;

i) captured image or video data, and ii) graphics;

a keyboard or mouse to allow user data entry;

an input to receive data;

an electronic processor configured as a digital watermark embedder, said digital watermark embedder operable to encode digital watermarks in;

i) audio or video files received via said input; and

ii) image or video data captured by said camera,

in which digital watermarks inserted by said digital watermark embedder comprise a device identifier that is uniquely associated with the handheld device.

18. The handheld device according to claim 17 in which digital watermarking is inserted in to an audio or video file received via said input, and the digital watermarking includes or links to a history associated with the audio or video file.

19. The handheld device according to claim 17 wherein the handheld device includes a module to update the history to reflect receipt or processing of the audio or video history by the handheld device.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the digital watermark embedder is operating to encode digital watermarks.

21. A handheld apparatus comprising:

an input for receiving image or video data representing a banknote or physical currency;

a multi-purpose electronic processor configured for;

decoding digital watermarking from said received image or video data, the digital watermarking having been embedded in the banknote or physical currency, the digital watermarking including data corresponding to a denomination of the banknote or physical currency;

based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object;

controlling output of the feedback.

22. The handheld apparatus of claim 21 in which the electronic processor is operating to perform at least one of the functions recited therein.