Methods for controlling systems using control signals embedded in empirical data
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method of using an input image signal to control operation of a system, comprising:
- discerning, from said input image signal, an N-bit code signal steganographically encoded therein, where N is greater than or equal to two, said discerning including performing an algorithmic registration process to resolve an initially unknown variable needed to discern the code signal from the input image signal, said input image signal corresponding to an originally encoded image corrupted by scaling and/or rotation processes, wherein the N-bit code signal is discerned notwithstanding said corruption; and
controlling an operation of the system in accordance with the code signal discerned from the input image signal.
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Abstract
An embedded multi-bit signal is steganographically detected from empirical data, such as image or audio data, and some aspect of a related system'"'"'s operation is controlled in accordance therewith. One application of the invention is a video playback or recording device that is controlled in accordance with the embedded multi-bit signal to limit playback or recording operations. Another is a photo-duplication kiosk that recognizes certain steganographic markings in an image being copied and interrupts the copying operation.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of using an input image signal to control operation of a system, comprising:
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discerning, from said input image signal, an N-bit code signal steganographically encoded therein, where N is greater than or equal to two, said discerning including performing an algorithmic registration process to resolve an initially unknown variable needed to discern the code signal from the input image signal, said input image signal corresponding to an originally encoded image corrupted by scaling and/or rotation processes, wherein the N-bit code signal is discerned notwithstanding said corruption; and controlling an operation of the system in accordance with the code signal discerned from the input image signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of controlling operation of a system comprising:
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processing an encoded input signal to recover a multi-bit information signal embedded therein, the encoded input signal corresponding to an audio track or a visual image whose representation by said input signal has been altered in slight respects to encode the information signal therein, a calibration signal being present within the encoded input signal, said calibration signal within the encoded input signal being substantially imperceptible to a human listener of the encoded audio track or viewer of the encoded visual image, said calibration signal having one or more known properties facilitating identification thereof during decoding of the encoded input signal, the method including identifying the calibration signal within said encoded input signal, and using data obtained thereby to aid in steganographically recovering the information signal from the encoded input signal, said the encoded input signal having been corrupted since being encoded, said corruption including a process selected from the group consisting of;
misregistration of the encoded input signal, and scaling of the encoded input signal,the method further including using said data to compensate for said corruption, so that the information signal can be recovered from the encoded input signal notwithstanding said corruption; and controlling an operation of said system in accordance with said information signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method useful for restricting use of video signals comprising:
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providing an input video image signal, said signal representing a plurality of image frames; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input video image signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input video image signal, said global parameter determining a relative visibility at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input video image signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded video image signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to pixel values in said video image signal when said signal is represented in the spatial image domain; compressing the encoded video image signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded video image signal on an optically encoded storage medium; reading the compressed encoded video image signal from said optically encoded storage medium using a video device that includes a video playback feature; decompressing said read compressed encoded video image signal, yielding a corrupted video image signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted video image signal to hardware decoder circuitry within said video device; said hardware decoder circuitry recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted video image signal over the course of a plurality of image frames thereof, said plurality of frames enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio of said encoded multi-bit data signal, allowing reliable recovery thereof despite steganographic encoding of said multi-bit data signal, and corruption of said video image signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said video device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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52. A method useful for restricting use of video signals comprising:
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providing an input video image signal, said signal representing a plurality of image frames; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input video image signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input video image signal, said global parameter determining a relative visibility at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input video image signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded video image signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to pixel values in said video image signal when said signal is represented in the spatial image domain; compressing the encoded video image signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded video image signal on an optically encoded storage medium; reading the compressed encoded video image signal from said optically encoded storage medium using a video device; decompressing said read compressed encoded video image signal, yielding a corrupted video image signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted video image signal to a processor within said video device; said processor recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted video image signal notwithstanding corruption of said video image signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said video device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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56. A computer storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a processor programmed thereby to perform the following steganographic decoding method:
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processing an encoded input signal to recover a multi-bit information signal embedded therein, the encoded input signal corresponding to a visual image whose representation by said input signal has been altered in slight respects to encode the information signal therein, the encoded input signal having been corrupted since being encoded, said corruption comprising rotation of the image corresponding to said encoded input signal from an original orientation, said encoded input signal including a calibration signal, said calibration signal within the encoded input signal being substantially imperceptible to a human viewer of the encoded visual image, said calibration signal having one or more known properties facilitating identification thereof during decoding of the encoded input signal, said processing including identifying the calibration signal within said encoded input signal, and using data obtained thereby to aid in steganographically recovering the information signal from the encoded input signal, said processing further including using said obtained data to compensate for said corruption, so that the information signal can be recovered from the encoded input signal notwithstanding said corruption. - View Dependent Claims (57)
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Specification