Data encoding using frail watermarks

• US 7,054,463 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Gustafson, Ammon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cruso, Von J.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20020172397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/162, 382/232, 382/166, 382/244, 382/233, 283/72, 283/113, 358/1.15, 358/1.8, 358/1.9, 358/3.28, 380/54, 380/200, 380/201, 380/28, 380/51, 705/58, 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 method comprising:

encoding a set of sampled data with a first watermark that is designed to withstand at least one generation of distortion, and a second watermark that is designed not to withstand even a single generation of distortion; and

distributing the sampled data, or a tangible representation thereof, to the public.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the sampled data corresponds to a graphic.

3. A printed object having the graphic produced by the method of claim 2 printed thereon.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the sampled data corresponds to audio.

5. A tangible machine readable storage medium having audio encoded in accordance with claim 4 stored thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said distortion comprises compression and subsequent decompression with a lossy process.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the sampled data corresponds to audio.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the sampled data corresponds to video.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the watermarking of at least the first watermark is effected by slight alterations to the sampled data'"'"'s color.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the distortion comprises at least scanning and reprinting.

11. A computer storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a computer programmed thereby to perform a method comprising:

encoding a set of sampled data with a first, relatively robust, steganographic watermark; and

encoding said set of sampled data with a second, relatively frail, steganographic watermark;

wherein the first watermark is reliably conveyed with the data notwithstanding various distortions, and the second watermark is lost with such distortions, wherein an original set of said sampled data can be distinguished from a distorted reproduction.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11 wherein said sampled data corresponds to audio.

13. The medium of claim 11 wherein said distortions comprise compression and subsequent decompression with a lossy process.

14. The medium of claim 13 wherein the sampled data corresponds to audio.

15. The medium of claim 14 wherein the sampled data corresponds to video.