Embedding watermark components during separate printing stages
First Claim
1. A method of applying serialized data to a document, said method comprising:
- providing a first digital watermark component including orientation information;
embedding the first digital watermark component in first print data, and applying the embedded first print data to a document using a first printing process;
providing a second digital watermark component including a payload; and
embedding the second digital watermark component in second print data, and applying the embedded second print data to the document using a second printing process, wherein the first printing process and the second printing process are separate printing processes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to embedding a document with multiple watermark components at different printing stages. A document is preprinted to include a first digital watermark component. The document is then reprinted, perhaps with a lower quality printer, to include a second digital watermark component. In some cases the first component provides an orientation signal that is useful when trying to detect the second component. In other cases the first and second components are related or otherwise used to determine the authenticity of the document. In still other cases, the first and second watermark components carry information useful in determining the type of document, watermark-embedding hints and/or personal or serialized data.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of applying serialized data to a document, said method comprising:
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providing a first digital watermark component including orientation information; embedding the first digital watermark component in first print data, and applying the embedded first print data to a document using a first printing process; providing a second digital watermark component including a payload; and embedding the second digital watermark component in second print data, and applying the embedded second print data to the document using a second printing process, wherein the first printing process and the second printing process are separate printing processes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of digitally watermarking a document that is to receive printing during at least a first printing stage and during a second printing stage, wherein the first printing stage and the second printing stage are separate printing stages, and wherein the first printing stage applies fixed information to the document and the second printing stage applies personalized information to the document, said method comprising:
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providing a first digital watermark component; embedding the first digital watermark component in the fixed information, and applying the embedded fixed information to the document during the first printing stage; providing a second digital watermark component; and embedding the second digital watermark component in the personalized information, and applying the embedded personalized information to the document during the second printing stage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of digitally watermarking a printed document comprising:
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receiving a printed document, the printed document comprising a first digital watermark component embedded in first printed indicia on the document, the first printed indicia being printed during a first printing stage; providing a second digital watermark component, the second digital watermark component comprising plural-bit data that is unique to the printed document or to a bearer of the printed document; embedding the second digital watermark component in second indicia; printing the embedded second indicia on the printed document during a second printing stage, the first printing stage and second printing stage comprising different printing stages. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of marking a physical object with a machine-readable code comprising:
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receiving a physical object, the object comprising first encoding thereon, the first encoding being provided on the object during a first marking stage; receiving second encoding, the second encoding comprising plural-bit data that is uniquely related to the object or to a bearer of the object; and marking the object to include the second encoding during a second marking stage, wherein the first encoding and second encoding cooperate to convey a machine-readable code, and wherein the first marking stage and second marking stage comprise separate marking stages. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification