Methods employing multiple watermarks

• US 6,850,626 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Gustafson, Ammon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso, Yon J.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 382/162, 382/166, 382/244, 382/233, 382/135, 358/1.15, 358/1.18, 358/1.9, 358/3.28, 380/54, 380/200, 380/201, 380/28, 380/51, 705/58, 705/54, 713/176
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30144 Printing quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• 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: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• 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 1/00092 relating to the original or to the reproducing medium, e.g. imperfections or dirt detecting properties of a sheet H04N1/00681
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00973 from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• 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 1/32219 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 1/32229 with selective or adaptive application of the additional information, e.g. in selected regions of the image H04N1/32213 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32261 in binary data H04N1/32256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32309 in colour image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3232 Robust embedding or watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32331 : Fragile embedding or watermarking
• 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 2201/3226 : 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

Abstract

Image, video, or audio data is encoded with both a frail and a robust watermark. The two watermarks respond differently to different forms of processing (e.g., copying the object may render the frail watermark unreadable), permitting an original object to be distinguished from a processed object. Appropriate action can then taken in response thereto.

Claims

1. A watermarking method to mark a security document comprising:

receiving first information;

receiving second information;

embedding the first information as a first digital watermark in data representing a first portion of the security document;

embedding the second information as a second digital watermark in data representing a second portion of the security document, wherein an original security document comprises both a first digital watermark and a second digital watermark, and wherein

the first and second watermarks are provided so as to each react in a different manner when the security document is subjected to a predetermined process.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the first watermark is designed to withstand a predetermined process, and the second watermark is not.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the predetermined process includes scanning.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the predetermined process includes printing.

5. The method of claim 2 in which the predetermined process includes distortion.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the security document comprises an image.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the security document comprises a document printed with said image.

8. The method of claim 1 that further includes analyzing a suspect document for the presence of the second watermark, the absence of said second watermark indicating that the suspect document is not an original document.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the document includes plural data samples, each sample having a value, and the watermarking changes the values of at least certain of said samples.

10. The method of claim 9 in which said samples comprises pixels.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the watermarking of at least the first watermark is effected by slight alterations to the sampled data'"'"'s color.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the first watermark is designed to withstand a predetermined process, and the second watermark is not, wherein the predetermined process comprises at least scanning and reprinting.

13. A security document provide according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark is provided on the security document with photoluminescent ink.

14. The security document of claim 13 wherein the predetermined process comprises exposure to non-visible light.

15. The security document of claim 13 wherein the predetermined process comprises optical scanning.

16. A security document according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one of the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark is provided on the security document with fluorescing ink.

17. The security document of claim 16 wherein the predetermined process comprises exposure to non-visible light.

18. The security document of claim 16 wherein the predetermined process comprises optical scanning.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined process comprises exposure to light.

20. A method of marking an object comprising:

receiving first information;

receiving second information;

embedding the first information with a first digital watermark in data representing a first portion of the object;

embedding the second information with a second digital watermark in data representing a second portion of the object, wherein

at least portions of the first and second watermarks are to be provided with a first ink and a second different ink, respectively, so that the first and second watermarks react in different manners when the object is subjected to a predetermined process.

21. A method comprising:

receiving data including the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark of claim 20;

providing at least portions of the first and second watermarks on an object with a first ink and a second different ink, respectively.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the predetermined process comprises exposure to non-visible light.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the predetermined process comprises optical scanning and printing.