Digital Watermarking Applications
First Claim
1. A method of steganographically embedding geo-location information in an image or audio captured by a sensor associated with a cell phone, said method comprises:
- determining geo-location information based on attributes associated with a cell phone network; and
steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates generally to methods and systems including, e.g.,: (1) steganographically embedding location information in image or audio content, where the location information is obtained from remote sources like a cell phone network or remote GPS receiver; (2) steganographically embedding participant IDs in content to ensure proper billing and royalty tracking; (3) providing fair-use content management based upon digital watermark-tracked usage; (4) providing micro-payments based upon watermarked objects for retailers; and/or (5) providing watermarked logon cards, such as watermarked hotel room keys, to better provide internet logon access control. Other systems and methods are provided as well.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of steganographically embedding geo-location information in an image or audio captured by a sensor associated with a cell phone, said method comprises:
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determining geo-location information based on attributes associated with a cell phone network; and steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of steganographically embedding geo-location information in an image or audio captured by a sensor which is integrated with a cell phone, wherein the cell phone comprises a wireless interface, said method comprises:
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communicating with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which is remotely located from the cell phone via the wireless interface; receiving geo-location information from the GPS receiver; and steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of providing internet access for a computer user comprising:
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issuing the user a digital watermarked object, wherein the digital watermarked object comprises a digital watermark embedded therein, the digital watermark comprising an identifier; associating the identifier with the user via a data repository; receiving optical scan data corresponding to a portion of the object, the portion comprising the digital watermark; decoding the digital watermark from the scan data to obtain the identifier; verifying that the identifier is valid; and enabling internet access for the user when the identifier is valid. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of accumulating financial charges attributable to a customer so as to minimize transaction fees, the customer has possession of a digitally watermarked object, the digitally watermarked object comprising a digital watermark including an identifier, said method comprising:
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receiving scan data associated with the digitally watermarked object; analyzing the scan data to obtain the identifier from the object; accessing a data record that is associated with the identifier; updating the data record to reflect a monetary amount owed for a transaction; accumulating a plurality of such monetary amounts in the data record; and forwarding the accumulated amounts for payment at least when one of the following occur;
a predetermined amount for the accumulated amount is reached or after a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method to regulate protected content while allowing fair use of the content, wherein the content includes a digital watermarking embedded therein, the digital watermarking including at least a copy protection indicator and a time interval indicator, said method comprising:
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recognizing the content as protected content by reference to the copy protection indicator; and upon recognition of the content as protected content, and using a programmed processor, measuring the amount of content rendered by reference to the time interval indicator, and disabling rendering after a predetermined amount of content has been rendered, the predetermined amount corresponding to predetermined fair use of the content.
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Specification