Methods and Apparatus to Process Imagery or Audio Content

• US 20100226529A1
• Filed: 02/24/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• 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 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 using holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• 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 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• 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: G11B 20/00094 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 : involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/0021 : involving encryption or decryption of contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00224 : wherein the key is obtained from a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00557 : wherein further management data is encrypted, e.g. sector headers, TOC or the lead-in or lead-out areas
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00855 : involving a step of exchanging information with a remote server
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 : wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 : involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/665 : using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• 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 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00843 : based on recognising a copy prohibited original, e.g. a banknote pattern authentication and markers therefor, forgery detection G06V20/95; character recognition G06V30/10; document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/40; testing paper currency or similar valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 : based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00867 : with additional data, e.g. by adding a warning message details of embedding additional information in an image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0087 : with hidden additional data, e.g. data invisible to the human eye
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 : Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32219 : involving changing the position of selected pixels, e.g. word shifting, or involving modulating the size of image components, e.g. of characters H04N1/32224 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32261 : in binary data H04N1/32256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 : Embedding different sets of additional information
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 : the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23892 : involving embedding information at multiplex stream level, e.g. embedding a watermark at packet level
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 : involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 : of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 : using a plurality of different authentication information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/916 : Fraud or tamper detecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing imagery (e.g., including video) or audio content. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first media comprising imagery or audio; obtaining second media comprising imagery or audio; aggregating the first media and the second media to yield a unit; and using a programmed electronic processor, examining the unit for the presence of a digital watermark. Another claim recites a method comprising: upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content; based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content, said act of determining uses a programmed electronic processor; providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record. Still another claim recites a method comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, extracting identifying data from data representing imagery or from data representing audio; automatically dialing a telephone number; providing the identifying data for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number; receiving signals representing a human voice command; and providing signals for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining first media comprising imagery or audio;

obtaining second media comprising imagery or audio;

aggregating the first media and the second media to yield a unit; and

using a programmed electronic processor, examining the unit for the presence of a digital watermark.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the digital watermark is manifested in the first media or the second media as changes to transform domain values.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the imagery comprises video.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the first media or the second media comprises audio.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the first media comprises a first image and the second media comprises a second image, and said act of aggregating aggregates image tiles of the first image and the second image.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a web crawler performs the method.

7. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 6.

9. A computing device programmed to perform the method of claim 1.

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

11. A method comprising:

upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content;

based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content, said act of determining uses a programmed electronic processor;

providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record.

12. The method of claim 11 in which said screening operation comprises a transform domain analysis of the imagery or audio content.

13. The method of claim 11 in which the imagery or audio content is encountered by a web crawler.

14. The method of claim 11 in which encountered imagery or audio content comprises digital watermarking therein, the digital watermarking conveying the identifying data, and in which the identifying data is derived or extracted with digital watermark decoding.

15. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 11.

16. A computing device programmed to perform the method of claim 11.

17. A programmed computing device comprising instructions stored in memory, said instructions cause said programmed computing device to perform the method of claim 11.

18. The method of claim 11 in which the screening operation identifies content likely to include digital watermarking.

19. A method comprising:

using a programmed electronic processor, extracting identifying data from data representing imagery or from data representing audio;

automatically dialing a telephone number;

providing the identifying data for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number;

receiving signals representing a human voice command; and

providing signals for telephonic communication to the device hosting the telephone number.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the identifying data is extracted from the data representing imagery or from the data representing audio using digital watermark decoding.

21. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 19.

22. A computing device programmed to perform the method of claim 19.

23. A programmed computing device comprising instructions stored in memory, said instructions cause said programmed computing device to perform the method of claim 19.

24. An apparatus comprising:

one or more electronic processors programmed for;

upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content;

based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content; and

providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising the electronic data record.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the screening operation comprises a transform domain analysis of the imagery or audio content.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the apparatus comprises a web crawler.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 in which encountered imagery or audio content comprises digital watermarking therein, the digital watermarking conveying the identifying data, and in which the identifying data is derived or extracted with digital watermark decoding.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 in which the screening operation identifies content likely to include digital watermarking.

30. The apparatus of claim 24 in which said one or more electronic processors are operating to perform at least one of the functions recited therein.

31. The apparatus of claim 26 in which said one or more electronic processors are operating to perform at least one of the functions recited therein.