Digital watermarking apparatus and methods

• US 7,164,780 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Issued: 01/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Brundage, Trent J., Hannigan, Brett T., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso; Jose L.
• Application Number:
  US11/060,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 283 72- 75, 283/85, 283/93, 283/113, 283/901, 382/100, 358/3.28, 380/52, 380/54, 380/270, 396/310, 340/5.8, 340/5.86, 455/556.1, 235/494, 356/71, 707/9, 707/101, 705/50, 713/165, 713/167, 713/176, 713/179
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/0034 using watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/162 Length or width
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays

Abstract

The present invention relates to various steganographic methods and apparatus. In one embodiment, a plurality of microlenses can provide a steganographic signal for a handheld device. The pattern corresponds to (or conveys) a device identifier. In another embodiment, a handheld computing device includes: a plurality of pixel elements; a set of microlenses; and electronic circuitry communicating with the set of microlenses. The set of microlenses are arranged to create a pattern, the pattern providing a plural-bit identifier. The electronic circuitry operates to change the unique identifier. Other embodiments are also provided.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device comprising:

a plurality of pixel elements; and

a set of microlenses, wherein each microlens in the set of microlenses corresponds with a pixel element, wherein the microlenses are arranged to create a pattern, the pattern including a steganographic plural-bit identifier associated with the device.

2. The handheld computing device of claim 1 wherein the lenses are polarized.

12. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixel elements comprises a component of an image senor.

13. The handheld computing device of claim 12 wherein the pattern is provided in image data captured by the image sensor.

3. A handheld computing device comprising:

a plurality of pixel elements;

a set of microlenses, wherein the set of microlenses are arranged to create a pattern, the pattern providing a plural-bit identifier; and

electronic circuitry communicating with the set of microlenses, wherein the electronic circuitry operates to change the unique identifier.

9. The handheld computing device of claim 3 wherein the pattern is steganographically provided.

10. The handheld computing device of claim 3 further comprising a display, wherein the plurality of pixel elements comprises a display component.

4. A handheld computing device comprising:

a plurality of pixel elements; and

a set of microlenses, wherein each microlens in the set of microlenses corresponds with a pixel element, wherein the microlenses are arranged to create a pattern, the pattern providing a plural-bit identifier associated with the device,

wherein the device comprises a cell phone.

11. The handheld computing device of claim 4 further comprising a display, wherein the plurality of pixel elements comprises a display component.

14. The handheld computing device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of pixel elements comprises a component of an image senor.

15. The handheld computing device of claim 14 wherein the pattern is steganographically hidden in image data captured by the image sensor.

5. A handheld device comprising:

an image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixel elements; and

a plurality of lenses, wherein the plurality of lenses are arranged to provide a steganographic, plural-bit identifier.

7. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein the device comprises a cell phone.

8. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein for each pixel element there is provided a lens.

6. A handheld device comprising:

an image sensor array comprising a plurality of pixel elements;

a plurality of lenses, wherein the plurality of lenses are arranged to provide a steganographic signal; and

electronic circuitry to energize at least some of the lenses, wherein energizing at least some of the lenses changes the steganographic signal.