Methods and systems for interacting with physical objects

• US 7,837,094 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US12/633,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 235/383, 235/470, 235485-487, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/305 Associated digital information record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/333 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1447 extracting optical codes from image or text carrying said optical code
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0064 for copy protection or copy management, e.g. CGMS, copy only once, one-time copy
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 : visually
• 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: G07F 17/16 : for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 : for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• 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: 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 20/00884 : 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: 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 1/00973 : from a remote device, e.g. receiving via the internet instructions input to a computer terminal
• 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 1/3216 : using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 : Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• 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 1/32229 : 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 1/32251 : 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• 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 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• 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 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A camera, of a handheld computing device, is used to capture a picture of an object. At least some image data corresponding to the captured picture is provided to a processor, which returns processed information corresponding to the object. By reference to this processed information, the system automatically identifies a particular one of plural different software application programs—a program that is particularly relevant to the object, rather than being generally relevant to all objects. Output information is then produced using the identified software application program, which is then presented to the user, e.g., on a screen of the handheld computing device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method for interacting with an object, the method comprising:

using a camera of a handheld computing device, capturing a picture of an object, the object being free of overt digital encoding—

such as a barcode;

providing at least some image data corresponding to the captured picture to a processor;

receiving back from the processor processed information corresponding to the object and based on the provided image data;

by reference to the processed information, automatically identifying a particular one of plural different software application programs or routines, the identified software application program or routine being particularly relevant to the object, rather than being generally relevant to all objects;

using the identified software application program or routine, producing output information; and

presenting the output information using an output component of the handheld computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the handheld computing device has plural different software application programs or routines stored thereon, and the identifying act comprises identifying a particular one of said software application programs or routines stored on the handheld computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of automatically identifying includes consulting a data structure in a memory of the handheld computing device, said data structure in the memory of the handheld computing device noting the plural different software application programs or routines.

4. The method of claim 1 that includes operating the camera in a mode wherein it is continuously grabbing a sequence of image frames, and wherein image data provided to the processor corresponds to an image frame from said sequence.

5. The method of claim 1 that additionally comprises processing the provided image data, to derive the processed information therefrom.

6. The method of claim 5 that includes applying plural different processes to the provided image to try and find a process that yields processed information that is valid.

7. The method of claim 5 that comprises processing the provided image data with a digital watermark decoding process, to derive the processed information.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the providing act comprises providing at least some image data corresponding to the captured picture to a processor remote from the handheld computing device.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the object is printed with artwork intended for viewing by a viewer, and the artwork includes steganographically encoded information.

10. A method for interacting with an object, the method comprising:

using a camera of a handheld computing device, capturing a picture of an object, the object being free of overt digital encoding—

such as a barcode;

providing at least some image data corresponding to the captured picture to a processor;

receiving back from the processor processed information corresponding to the object and based on the provided image data;

by reference to the processed information, automatically identifying two or more different software application programs or routines, the identified software application programs or routines being particularly relevant to the object, rather than being generally relevant to all objects;

presenting information to a user inviting the user to select one of said two or more identified software application programs or routines, and receiving information about a selection from the user;

using the selected software application program or routine, producing output information; and

presenting the output information using an output component of the handheld computing device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the handheld computing device has plural different software application programs or routines stored thereon, and the identifying act comprises identifying particular ones of said software application programs or routines stored on the handheld computing device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the act of automatically identifying includes consulting a data structure in a memory of the handheld computing device, said data structure in the memory of the handheld computing device noting the plural different software application programs or routines.

13. The method of claim 10 that includes operating the camera in a mode wherein it is continuously grabbing a sequence of image frames, and wherein image data provided to the processor corresponds to an image frame from said sequence.

14. The method of claim 10 that additionally comprises processing the provided image data, to derive the processed information therefrom.

15. The method of claim 14 that includes applying plural different processes to the provided image to try and find a process that yields processed information that is valid.

16. The method of claim 14 that comprises processing the provided image data with a digital watermark decoding process, to derive the processed information.

17. The method of claim 10 in which the providing act comprises providing at least some image data corresponding to the captured picture to a processor remote from the handheld computing device.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the object is printed with artwork intended for viewing by a viewer, and the artwork includes steganographically encoded information.

19. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium, the program product being adapted for use with a computing device including a camera, a processor and a data store, the program product including instructions configuring such a processor and computing device to perform the following acts:

capture a picture of an object using the camera;

provide at least some image data corresponding to the captured picture to the processor;

process the provided image data to produce processed information corresponding to the object;

by reference to the processed information, automatically identify a particular one of plural different software application programs or routines stored in the data store, the identified software application program or routine being particularly relevant to the object, rather than being generally relevant to all objects;

use the identified software application program or routine to produce output information; and

present the output information using an output component of the handheld computing device.

20. A method comprising:

operating a camera of a handheld computing device in a mode in which it grabs a sequence of image frames in an automated, on-going fashion, at least one of said frames depicting a scene;

providing at least some image data corresponding to said at least one of said frames to a processor;

receiving back from the processor processed information corresponding to said scene and based on the provided image data;

by reference to the processed information, and also by reference to a data structure in the device containing reference information, identifying a particular one of plural different software application programs or routines, the identified software application program or routine being particularly relevant to a subject depicted in the captured scene, rather than being generally relevant to all subjects, said identifying being performed without consulting a remote data structure, and said subject being free of inked or other printed markings;

executing the identified software application program or routine; and

providing response data to a user based on an output from execution of the identified software application program or routine.

21. A method comprising:

using a camera of a handheld computing device, capturing an image of a scene;

providing at least some image data corresponding to the captured scene to a processor, and receiving therefrom processed information corresponding to the scene and based on the provided image data;

by reference to the processed information, automatically identifying a particular one of plural different sets of software instructions, the identified set of software instructions being particularly relevant to a subject depicted in the captured scene, rather than being generally relevant to all subjects; and

executing the identified set of software instructions;

wherein execution of the identified set of software instructions involves further processing of captured image data.

22. A portable device including a camera, a memory, and a processor configured by non-transitory programming instructions stored in the memory to perform the following acts:

process image data corresponding to an image scene captured by the camera, to produce processed information;

identify, by reference to the processed information, a particular one of plural different sets of software instructions, the identified set of software instructions being particularly relevant to a subject depicted in said scene, rather than being generally relevant to all subjects; and

execute the identified set of software instructions, said execution involving further processing of image data captured by the camera.