Methods involving maps, imagery, video and steganography

• US 8,023,691 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Shovoly, Steven Michael, Brundage, Trent J., Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Brian Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/672,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/28 involving image processing hardware
• 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: 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 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to steganography, data hiding and digital watermarking as they may apply to maps, images and video. One claim recites a method of identifying locations on a map. The map is to be displayed via a computer display. The method includes: receiving data representing a first image; analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein, the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image; providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display; and visually or graphically identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.

Claims

1. A method of identifying locations on a map, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, the method comprising:

receiving data representing a first image;

analyzing, using a processor, the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein, wherein the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image, and wherein the information is steganographically encoded in the form of a digital watermark;

providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is configured to be displayed via a computer display; and

visually or graphically identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer display comprises a cell phone display screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a first location comprises providing a visual or graphical object on or with the map at the first location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the object comprises a representation of the first image.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the object comprises a thumbnail representation of the first image.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the object is associated with a link.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the link links to a copy of the first image.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the link links to metadata associated with the first image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of audio, video, text, or document files.

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

instructions to receive data representing a first image;

instructions to analyze the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein, wherein the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image, and wherein the information is steganographically encoded in the form of a digital watermark;

instructions to provide a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is configured to be displayed via a computer display; and

instructions to visually or graphically identify a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

11. A device, comprising:

a memory configured to store image data; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive data representing a first image;

analyze the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein, wherein the information comprises or links to first location information associated with the first image, and wherein the information is steganographically encoded in the form of a digital watermark;

provide a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is configured to be displayed via a computer display; and

visually or graphically identify a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.