Digital watermarking apparatus and methods

• US 7,957,553 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Ellingson, Eric E., Brundage, Trent J., Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Hannigan, Brett T., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Couso; Jose L
• Application Number:
  US12/477,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20100142749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/113, 382/135, 358/3.28, 380/52, 380/54, 380/270, 396/310, 283 72- 75, 283/85, 283/93, 283/113, 283/901, 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, 359/642, 359/707, 257/427, 257/E27.132, 438/57
• 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 digital watermarking methods, apparatus and systems. One claim recites a method of determining a size or denomination of a momentary object. The method includes: utilizing a configured, multi-purpose electronic processor, decoding a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, the watermark including data corresponding to a denomination of the monetary object; based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object; and providing the feedback. Handheld computing devices can be advantageously employed with this combination. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

decoding a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object using a processor, wherein the digital watermark includes data corresponding to a size or denomination of the monetary object; and

based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the size or denomination of the monetary object; and

providing the feedback.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises an audible announcement or a series of audible sounds of the size or denomination of the monetary object, provided via a speaker.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises Braille typography indicating the size or denomination of the monetary object.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the decoding comprises analyzing optical scan data corresponding to the monetary object.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided feedback comprises Braille feedback.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a handheld computing device comprises the processor.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

decode a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, wherein the digital watermark includes data corresponding to a size or denomination of the monetary object; and

based on the data, determine feedback to indicate the size or denomination of the monetary object; and

provide the feedback.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to decode a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, wherein the digital watermark includes data corresponding to a size or denomination of the monetary object; and

instructions to determine, based on the data, feedback to indicate the size or denomination of the monetary object; and

instructions to provide the feedback.

9. A method comprising:

encoding a document, using a processor, comprising a digital watermark, wherein the digital watermark comprises a document history identifier;

storing the document history identifier in a database;

associating related document history with the document history identifier; and

upon receipt of a decoded digital watermark comprising the document history identifier, accessing, using a processor, the related document history in the database associated with the document history identifier.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the related document history comprises document version information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the document version information comprises both version information pertaining to the document and information pertaining to a later version.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the related document history comprises one of document version data, creation time, author and last edited information.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the document history identifier comprises at least document version information.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to encode a document comprising a digital watermark, wherein the digital watermark comprises a document history identifier;

instructions to store the document history identifier in a database;

instructions to associate related document history with the document history identifier; and

instructions to access, upon receipt of a decoded digital watermark comprising the document history identifier, the related document history in the database associated with the document history identifier.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the related document history comprises document version information, and wherein the document version information includes both version information pertaining to the document and information pertaining to a later version.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processor operatively connected to the memory and configured to;

encode a document comprising a digital watermark, wherein the digital watermark comprises a document history identifier;

store the document history identifier in a database;

associate related document history with the document history identifier; and

access, upon receipt of a decoded digital watermark comprising the document history identifier, the related document history in the database associated with the document history identifier.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the related document history comprises document version information, and wherein the document version information includes both version information pertaining to the document and information pertaining to a later version.

16. A handheld device comprising:

a camera configured to capture image or video data;

a display configured to display;

i) captured image or video data, and ii) graphics;

an input configured to receive data;

a processor configured to embed a digital watermark, wherein the digital watermark is encoded in;

i) audio or video files received via the input configured to receive data;

or ii) image or video data captured by the camera, wherein the digital watermark comprises a device identifier that is uniquely associated with the handheld device.

17. The handheld device according to claim 16, wherein the digital watermark is inserted into an audio or video file received via the input configured to receive data, and wherein the digital watermark comprises or links to a history associated with the audio or video file.

18. The handheld device according to claim 17, wherein the handheld device comprises a module configured to update the history associated with the audio or video file to reflect receipt or processing of the audio or video file by the handheld device.

20. The handheld device of claim 16, further comprising a keyboard or mouse configured to receive user data.

19. A handheld apparatus comprising:

an input configured to receive image or video data representing a banknote or physical currency;

a processor configured to;

decode digital watermarking from the received image or video data, wherein the digital watermarking has been embedded in the banknote or physical currency, and wherein the digital watermarking comprises data corresponding to a denomination of the banknote or physical currency;

based on the denomination data, determine feedback to indicate the denomination of the banknote or physical currency; and

control output of the feedback.

23. A method comprising:

capturing image or video data using a camera;

receiving input data;

embedding a digital watermark in the input data or the image or video data, wherein the digital watermark comprises a device identifier that is uniquely associated with the camera.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to capture image or video data;

instructions to receive input data;

instructions to embed a digital watermark in the input data or the image or video data, wherein the digital watermark comprises a device identifier that is uniquely associated with the camera.