Wireless methods and devices employing steganography

• US 8,027,663 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2007
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/875,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/426.2, 380/23, 380/252, 713/176, 382/100, 370/493, 370/495, 375/200, 375/206, 445/410
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• 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 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 20/341 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: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0081 whereby both original and watermarked images are required at decoder, e.g. destination-based, non-blind, non-oblivious
• 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 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 20/00891 : embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0662 : with particular pseudorandom sequence generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 : with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 : Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• 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 1/00079 : remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00846 : based on detection of a dedicated indication, e.g. marks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00875 : Inhibiting reproduction, e.g. by disabling reading or reproduction apparatus
• 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 1/32251 : 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 2201/0091 : Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 : Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 : Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 : Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]

Abstract

A wireless device includes a data capture system, a radiant-energy data transmission system, and a steganographic encoder that hides a plural-bit auxiliary code within data captured by the data capture system prior to its transmission by the data transmission system. An illustrative system, operable with audio input data, is a cell phone that steganographically encodes a user'"'"'s voice. In some arrangements the steganographic encoding depends on data wirelessly received from a remote location. A variety of other arrangements and systems are also detailed.

Claims

1. A method of steganography usage in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

receiving data wirelessly sent from a remote transmitter;

generating encoding data that depends on the received data wirelessly sent from the remote location;

altering digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

wirelessly transmitting the steganographically-encoded data from the wireless communications device to a remote location.

2. A method of steganography usage in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

generating encoding data, by reference to input digital data and to plural-bit auxiliary data, that represents the plural-bit auxiliary data and that depends, in part, on the input digital data;

altering the input digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

wirelessly transmitting from the wireless communications device the steganographically-encoded data to a remote location.

3. A method of steganography usage in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

wirelessly communicating plural-bit auxiliary data from the wireless communications device to a remote location; and

separately, conveying at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data from the wireless communications device to the remote location through use of steganographic encoding of information data transmitted by the wireless communications device, wherein the at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data is sent from the wireless communications device in two different manners.

4. A method of steganography usage in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

steganographically encoding information with first encoding data;

transmitting the steganographically-encoded information from the wireless communications device;

steganographically encoding the information with second encoding data different than the first;

transmitting the steganographically-encoded information with the second encoding data from the wireless communications device, wherein the first and second encoding data differ by reason of at least one of the following;

different first and second data wirelessly received by the wireless communications device from a remote location, wherein the encoding data depends on the first and second data;

or

the first encoding data encodes a first identifier, and the second encoding data also encodes the first identifier, but represents the first identifier with a different encoding than the first encoding data.

5. A method of steganography usage in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

processing information data to steganographically encode the information data with auxiliary data, wherein the auxiliary data comprises an identifier; and

transmitting from the wireless communications device the steganographically-encoded information data, wherein the identifier comprises data uniquely identifying the wireless communications device.

6. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wireless communications device, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations comprising:

receiving data wirelessly sent from a remote transmitter;

generating an encoding data that depends on the received data wirelessly sent from the remote location;

altering digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

wirelessly transmitting the steganographically-encoded data to a remote location.

7. A wireless communications device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive data wirelessly sent from a remote transmitter;

a processor configured to;

generate an encoding data that depends on the received data wirelessly sent from the remote location; and

alter digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the steganographically- encoded data to a remote location.

8. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wireless communications device, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations comprising:

generating an encoding data, by reference to input digital data and to plural-bit auxiliary data, that represents the plural-bit auxiliary data and that depends, in part, on the input digital data;

altering the input digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

wirelessly transmitting the steganographically-encoded data to a remote location.

9. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processor configured to;

generate an encoding data, by reference to input digital data and to plural-bit auxiliary data, that represents the plural-bit auxiliary data and that depends, in part, on the input digital data; and

alter the input digital data in accordance with the encoding data to yield steganographically-encoded data; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the steganographically- encoded data to a remote location.

10. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wireless communications device, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations comprising:

wirelessly communicating plural-bit auxiliary data to a remote location; and

communicating at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data to the remote location through use of steganographic encoding of information data, wherein the at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data is sent in two different manners.

11. A wireless communications device comprising:

a transmitter configured to;

wirelessly communicate plural-bit auxiliary data to a remote location; and

communicate at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data to the remote location through use of steganographic encoding of information data, wherein the at least a portion of the plural-bit auxiliary data is sent in two different manners.

12. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wireless communications device, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations comprising:

steganographically encoding information with a first encoding data;

transmitting the steganographically-encoded information;

steganographically encoding the information with a second encoding data different than the first;

transmitting the steganographically-encoded information with the second encoding data, wherein the first and second encoding data differ by reason of at least one of the following;

different first and second data wirelessly received from a remote location, wherein the encoding data depends on the first and second data;

or

the first encoding data encodes a first identifier, and the second encoding data also encodes the first identifier, but represents the first identifier with a different encoding than the first encoding data.

13. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processor configured to;

steganographically encode information with a first encoding data; and

steganographically encode the information with a second encoding data different than the first; and

a transmitter configured to;

transmit the steganographically-encoded information; and

transmit the steganographically-encoded information with the second encoding data, wherein the first and second encoding data differ by reason of at least one of the following;

different first and second data wirelessly received from a remote location, wherein the encoding data depends on the first and second data;

or

the first encoding data encodes a first identifier, and the second encoding data also encodes the first identifier, but represents the first identifier with a different encoding than the first encoding data.

14. A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wireless communications device, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations comprising:

processing information data to steganographically encode the information data with auxiliary data, wherein the auxiliary data comprises an identifier; and

transmitting the steganographically-encoded information data, wherein the identifier comprises data uniquely identifying the wireless communications device.

15. A wireless communications device comprising:

a processor configured to;

process an information data to steganographically encode the information data with auxiliary data, wherein the auxiliary data comprises an identifier; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the steganographically-encoded information data, wherein the identifier comprises data uniquely identifying the wireless communications device.