Methods and objects employing machine readable data

• US 7,076,084 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Davis, Bruce L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US11/106,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20050180599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/232, 380/210, 380/252, 380/287, 380/54, 713/176, 235/462.13, 235/468, 283/73, 283/85, 283/901, 428/916
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/341 Active cards, i.e. cards including their own processing means, e.g. including an IC or chip
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0032 using holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/004 using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/086 by passive credit-cards adapted therefor, e.g. constructive particularities to avoid counterfeiting, e.g. by inclusion of a physical or chemical security-layer for security documents G07D7/00; for the reading of record-carriers in general G06K7/00; for the design of coded credit-cards G06K19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00094 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00166 involving measures which result in a restriction to authorised contents recorded on or reproduced from a record carrier, e.g. music or software
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/54486 : Located on package parts, e.g. encapsulation, leads, package substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/544 : Marks applied to semiconductor devices or parts, e.g. registration marks, alignment structures, wafer maps test patterns for characterising or monitoring manufacturing processes H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/573 : using passive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 : Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/665 : using psychoacoustic properties of the ear, e.g. masking effect
• 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 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 : Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 : based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 1/32208 : involving changing the magnitude of selected pixels, e.g. overlay of information or super-imposition H04N1/32219, H04N1/32224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32251 : in multilevel data, e.g. greyscale or continuous tone data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32288 : Multiple embedding, e.g. cocktail embedding, or redundant embedding, e.g. repeating the additional information at a plurality of locations in the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91321 : the copy protection signal being a copy protection control signal, e.g. a record inhibit signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91335 : the copy protection signal being a watermark
• 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 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/328 : Processing of the additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 : for scrambling ; for copy protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/828 : Medicinal content

Abstract

A tangible object (such as a microprocessor, wristwatch, pharmaceutical, compact disc, vehicle part, etc) is surface-textured to encode a plural-bit code thereon. In one arrangement, this encoding conveys date information. In use, the object can be imaged by a scanner apparatus, and the resulting scan data analyzed to discern the plural-bit code. The decoded date information can be used in a determination relating to the object. For example, at a port of entry, date information encoded on a Rolex wristwatch can be used to determine whether importation of the wristwatch should be permitted. The texture-encoded data can also convey other information, such as a vehicle identifier for an automotive part, a place of fabrication, a specification with which the part complies, etc.

Claims

1. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising

using a handheld device equipped with visible light sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured visible light image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.

2. The method of claim 1 that includes capturing the image data from an integrated circuit.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the integrated circuit was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the integrated circuit conveys digital information.

4. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising:

using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate;

wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a mechanical bolt.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the bolt was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the bolt conveys digital information.

6. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising:

using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate;

wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a pharmaceutical tablet.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the tablet was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the tablet conveys digital information.

8. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising:

using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate;

wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from packaging for a pharmaceutical product.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the packaging was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the packaging conveys digital information.

10. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising:

using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate;

wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from an automotive component.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the component was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the component conveys digital information.

12. A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising:

using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information;

analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and

using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate;

the method further including comparing at least part of said decoded information with data that should correspond thereto and which is conveyed by the object, in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the object is visibly marked with an indication of a purported property thereof, and the object property is also indicated by certain of said digital watermark information, and the method includes comparing said visibly marked indication with said property as indicated by said digital watermark information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said property is a speed property associated with said object.

15. A method comprising:

decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data;

identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information;

comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and

permitting an action only if said current temporal information is before said identified temporal information.

16. A method comprising:

decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data;

identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information;

comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and

taking an action based on a result of said comparison;

wherein said set of data is optically sensed from a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information.

17. A method comprising:

decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data;

identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information;

comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and

refusing an action if said current temporal information is after said identified temporal information.