Documents and methods involving multiple watermarks

• US 7,539,325 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Gustafson, Ammon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUCKER, WESLEY J
• Application Number:
  US10/858,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20050058320A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/112, 382/137, 382/232, 382/115, 358/3.28, 358/444, 713/156, 345/630, 250/372, 705/26, 705/54, 709/723, 709/217
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0202 whereby the quality of watermarked images is measured; Measuring quality or performance of watermarking methods; Balancing between quality and robustness
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30144 Printing quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• 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 7/12 Card verification
• 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: 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 1/32144 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 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• 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 1/32315 : Selecting a particular method from amongst a plurality of methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32331 : Fragile embedding or watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32352 : Controlling detectability or arrangements to facilitate detection or retrieval of the embedded information, e.g. using markers for decoding, detection or retrieval operations H04N1/32149 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

Two or more digital watermarks are embedded in a document. In one implementation the digital watermarks include characteristics that are chosen so that the watermarks will be affected in different manners if the document is subsequently copied or reproduced. A detection method or mechanism reads two or more of the watermarks and compares their characteristics. In another claim, two or more digital watermarks correspond to characteristics that are evaluated for authentication. Of course, other claims are provided as well.

Claims

1. An identification document including a substrate with printing thereon, the printing comprising:

a first steganographic watermark, and

a second steganographic watermark, wherein

the first steganographic watermark corresponds with a first bit pattern, and the second steganographic watermark corresponds with a second bit pattern, and wherein

the first and second steganographic watermarks are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a first corruption process.

17. The document of claim 1 wherein the first bit pattern and the second bit pattern produce a different signal to noise ratio relative to one another.

2. An identification document including a substrate and printing, wherein the identification document comprises:

a first digital watermark comprising a first plural-bit payload; and

a second, separate digital watermark comprising a second different plural-bit payload, wherein the first digital watermark and the second digital watermark are provided so as to cooperate for the authentication of the identification document.

3. The identification document of claim 2, wherein the first digital watermark and the second, separate digital watermark cooperate by degrading differently when subjected to corruption.

4. The identification document of claim 2, wherein the first plural-bit payload and the second different plural-bit payload are provided for authentication of the identification document.

5. A method to determine authenticity of an electronic object, the electronic object comprising at least a first digital watermark and a second digital watermark, said method comprising:

utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry,detecting from a first electronic signal associated with a first characteristic corresponding to the first digital watermark;

utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, detecting from a second electronic signal associated with a second, different characteristic corresponding to the second digital watermark; and

comparing the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine whether the electronic object is authentic.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic each comprise a power level.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein a comparison of the first power level and the second power level comprises a power ratio.

18. The method of claim 5 wherein the first characteristic or the second characteristic comprises an association with compression or decompression.

19. The method of claim 5 wherein the electronic object comprises data representing video or imagery.

20. The method of claim 5 wherein said act of detecting from a first electronic signal associated with a first characteristic corresponding to the first digital watermark comprises a transformation of an electronic signal representing the electronic object.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said act of detecting from a second electronic signal associated with a second, different characteristic corresponding to the second digital watermark comprises a transformation of an electronic signal representing the electronic object.

22. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to perform the method of claim 5.

8. An object including a first surface with indicia thereon, the indicia comprising at least a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, the first steganographic watermark corresponding with a first characteristic and the second steganographic watermark corresponding with a second characteristic, wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the object is subjected to a first corruption process, at least the first steganographic watermark or the second steganographic watermark is associated with a random pattern or function.

9. The object of claim 8, wherein the first corruption process includes wear, and wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a second corruption process, and wherein the second corruption process includes scanning and printing.

10. The object of claim 8, wherein the first corruption process comprises a color transformation.

11. The object of claim 10, wherein the first characteristic comprises a first color.

12. The object of claim 11, wherein the second characteristic comprises a second color.

13. The object of claim 12, wherein the second color is out of gamut with respect to the first color.

14. The object of claim 10, wherein the color transformation comprises scanning.

15. The object of claim 10, wherein the color transformation comprises a digital transformation.

16. The document of claim 10, wherein the color transformation comprises printing.