Wireless Methods and Devices Employing Plural-Bit Data Derived from Audio Information

• US 20100296526A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/522
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• 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 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0081 whereby both original and watermarked images are required at decoder, e.g. destination-based, non-blind, non-oblivious
• 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 7/086 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: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/02 by adding a second signal to make the desired signal unintelligible
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 : using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• 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 1/00846 : based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 : Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• 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 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• 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 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• 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 1/32352 : 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 2201/0091 : Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 : Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 : Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices

Abstract

A portable wireless device includes a processor portion, which is adapted to process audio information in two different ways, for two different purposes. One is to help generate a signal that drives a speaker of the device, so that a user can listen thereto. Another is to process audio information to derive plural-bit data therefrom. The device can then take an action based on the derived plural-bit data. In one particular arrangement, the processor is configured as a steganographic decoder. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed, including image-based methods, and arrangements employing various types of fingerprinting.

Claims

1. A method employing a wireless user device having a processor portion configured to perform at least one act of the method, the device also including an audio transducer for providing auditory output to a user, the method including the acts:

the user device processor processing audio information two different ways, for two different purposes;

the first way comprising processing audio information to help generate a signal that drives the audio transducer, so that a user can listen thereto;

the second way comprising processing audio information by applying an algorithm thereto to derive plural-bit data therefrom;

the method further including, under control of said user device processor, taking an action based on said derived plural-bit data.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized by deriving said plural-bit data by reference to pseudo-random key information.

3. The method of claim 1, further characterized by filtering said audio information before deriving the plural-bit data.

4. The method of claim 1, further characterized by performing a mean-removal operation on said audio information before deriving the plural-bit data.

5. The method of claim 1 in which said deriving includes performing a matched filtering operation.

6. The method of claim 1 in which said deriving includes performing a correlation operation.

7. The method of claim 1 in which said deriving includes determining a correct alignment of the audio information before deriving the plural-bit data.

8. The method of claim 1 that includes receiving said audio information from a data channel on which it is sent in the form of packets.

9. The method of claim 1 in which said action comprises controlling an aspect of the device'"'"'s operation based on said derived plural-bit data.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the deriving includes decoding plural-bit data steganographically encoded in digital information wirelessly received by said device.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the deriving includes decoding plural-bit data steganographically encoded in digital audio information processed by said device.

12. A portable wireless device that includes a programmed microprocessor with associated memory, and a transducer, the programming of the microprocessor having configured the microprocessor to process audio information in two different ways, for two different purposes:

the first way processing the audio information to help generate a signal that drives the transducer so that a user can listen thereto;

the second way processing audio information to derive plural-bit data therefrom;

said programming further having configured the processor to control an aspect of the device'"'"'s operation based on the derived plural-bit data.

13. The device of claim 12 that further includes a microphone, a modulator, an antenna, and an RF amplifier, interconnected to transmit a signal that conveys data representing the user'"'"'s voice.