Capturing and encoding unique user attributes in media signals

• US 7,043,048 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Ellingson, Eric E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORADIA, SHEFALI DINESH
• Application Number:
  US09/585,678
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 382/168, 382117-118, 382/116, 382/124, 713/176, 380/210, 380/252, 380/287, 380/54
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3281 Encryption; Ciphering

Abstract

User attribute data, such as a retinal scan, is encoded into a media signal as it is captured in media capture device, such as a camera, video recorder, etc. The user attribute data uniquely associates the creator with the content he or she creates. By steganographically embedding the user attribute data into the content at or near the time of capture, the creator of the content can be authenticated at a subsequent time. In addition, alteration of the content can be detected.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) capturing attribute information from an operator;

(b) under control of said operator, capturing subject information from a subject distinct from said operator; and

(c) encoding data related to said captured attribute information in subject data related to the captured subject information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured attribute information comprises biometric information useful in identifying the operator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured attribute information comprises an image of an identifying characteristic of the operator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein (c) occurs immediately following (b), and without operator intervention.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the encoded data is statistically unique to said operator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein new attribute information is captured each time subject information is captured.

7. The method of claim 1 that further includes processing said captured attribute information to yield data that is encoded in the subject data.

8. The method of claim 7 that includes hashing the captured attribute information, and encoding resulting hash data in said subject data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) comprises capturing optical attribute information using an arrangement employing a first optical path, and (b) comprises capturing optical information from said subject using an arrangement employing a second optical path, said second optical path being non-identical to the first.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second optical paths terminate at a common image sensor.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) comprise capturing with different sensors.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of said sensors comprises an audio transducer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein both of said different sensors comprise image sensors.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured attribute information comprises retinal scan information.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the captured attribute information comprises fingerprint scan information.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoding comprises steganographic encoding.

17. A computer readable medium on which is stored software for performing the method of claim 1.

18. An apparatus for practicing the method of claim 1.

19. A camera device for practicing the method of claim 1, said camera device including an eyepiece and optics for capturing retinal information from an eye of the operator.

20. In a digital camera that includes an optical system for imaging a subject onto a photosensor array, and processing circuitry for producing image output data therefrom, an improvement comprising:

an operator attribute capture system for capturing biometric information associated with an operator of said camera, said attribute capture system including one or more elements in addition to said optical system; and

a system for steganographically encoding produced by said operator attribute capture system with said image output data.

21. A method comprising:

(a) receiving content data representing electronic content;

(b) decoding identification data from the received content data, said identification data comprising biometric information captured from an operator of equipment that originally captured said electronic content, which has been algorithmically processed to yield a more compact representation; and

(c) checking said decoded identification data for correspondence with reference data.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein (c) comprises checking said decoded identification data to identify the operator.

23. The method of claim 21 that includes capturing biometric information from the operator, and processing said to obtain said reference data.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein said decoding comprises steganographic decoding.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein said biometric information comprises retinal scan information.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein said biometric information comprises fingerprint information.

27. The method of claim 21 in which (c) includes checking the decoded identification data against plural reference data, each associated with information about a different operator, to thereby identify a particular operator who operated the equipment that captured said content.

28. A computer readable medium on which is stored software for performing the method of claim 21.