Layered security in digital watermarking

• US 8,190,901 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Barr, John Kennedy, Bradley, Brett A., Hannigan, Brett T., Alattar, Adnan M., Durst, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MOORTHY, ARAVIND K
• Application Number:
  US10/449,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,288 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176, 713/182, 713/186, 713/200
• US Class Current: 713/176
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0028 Adaptive watermarking, e.g. Human Visual System [HVS]-based watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0071 using multiple or alternating watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0083 whereby only watermarked image required at decoder, e.g. source-based, blind, oblivious
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32283 Hashing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3235 Checking or certification of the authentication information, e.g. by comparison with data stored independently
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3239 using a plurality of different authentication information

Abstract

A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. Biometric information may also be embedded in a machine readable code in the object or indexed via the machine readable code. This biometric information is used to generate biometric templates, and facilitate or enhance biometric comparison for one to one or one to many verification.

Claims

1. A method for creating an identification credential having a biometric image, comprising:

identifying a feature of the biometric image;

generating a rectangular digital watermark signal tile; and

embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of a corner of the digital watermark signal tile is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the biometric image comprises a facial image.

3. A method for creating an identification credential having a biometric image, comprising:

identifying a feature of the biometric image;

generating a digital watermark signal; and

embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

wherein the digital watermark signal carries a variable message payload including, at least in part, information related to other information on the identification credential.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the digital watermark carries an image signature derived from the biometric image.

5. A method for creating an identification credential having a facial image, comprising:

identifying a feature of the facial image;

generating a digital watermark signal;

embedding the digital watermark signal in the facial image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the feature;

dividing the facial image into tiles;

calculating image signatures for two or more of the tiles; and

embedding the image signatures in the two or more of the tiles.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one tile boundary is based at least in part on the location of the feature.

7. A method for creating an identification credential having a biometric image, comprising:

identifying a feature of the biometric image;

generating a digital watermark signal;

embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

calculating two or more image signatures for portions of the biometric image that are based at least in part on symmetric properties of the biometric image; and

embedding the two or more signatures in the biometric image.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for identifying a feature of the biometric image;

instructions for generating a rectangular digital watermark signal tile; and

instructions for embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of a corner of the digit al watermark signal tile is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature.

9. A method of creating an identification credential having an image, the method comprising:

generating a first digital watermark signal that carries a variable message payload including information related to information located on the identification credential separate from the image;

generating a second digital watermark signal that carries an image signature of the image; and

embedding the first and second digital watermark signals in the image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the image signature is derived from a frequency domain transform of the image.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the signature is derived from a DCT transform of the image.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the second digital watermark signal is based at least in part on the first digital watermark signal.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second digital watermark signals are generated by modulating a pseudorandom carrier signal.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the image is divided into blocks, and each block is embedded with a first and second digital watermark signal.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the identification credential is authenticated by comparing an image signature of the image with an image signature extracted from the second digital watermark signal.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the variable message payload includes biometric information derived from the image.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the image comprises a facial image and the biometric information includes facial biometric information derived from the facial image.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for generating a first digital watermark signal that carries a variable message payload including information related to information located on the identification credential separate from the image;

generating a second digital watermark signal that carries an image signature of the image; and

instructions for embedding the first and second digital watermark signals in the image.

19. A method of creating an identification credential having a biometric image comprising:

deriving biometric information from the biometric image;

deriving an image signature that is separate from the biometric image;

generating a variable digital watermark message including the biometric information; and

embedding a digital watermark in the biometric image such that the digital watermark is based at least in part on the image signature and carries the variable digital watermark message.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the biometric image comprises a facial image.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the biometric information comprises information used to create a biometric template for facial recognition.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the biometric information includes information about eye location.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for deriving biometric information from the biometric image;

instructions for deriving an image signature that is separate from the biometric image;

instructions for generating a variable digital watermark message including the biometric information; and

embedding a digital watermark in the biometric image such that the digital watermark is based at least in part on the image signature and carries the variable digital watermark message.

24. A method for creating an identification credential conveying biometric information, comprising:

analyzing the biometric information to identify a feature on a host image therein;

determining a current location of the feature;

creating a coordinate system on the host image wherein the current location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

locating encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the coordinate system.

25. A method for creating an identification credential conveying biometric information, comprising:

analyzing the biometric information to identify a feature therein;

determining a current location of the feature; and

locating encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the current location;

wherein;

the credential comprises an identification credential;

the biometric information comprises a facial image; and

the feature comprises a point at which a line passing through eyes in the image intersects with a line passing through a nose and a mouth in the image.

26. An identification credential comprising:

encoded information at a location on a host image on the identification credential, wherein the location is based at least in part on a coordinate system, wherein a reference point for the coordinate system is based on a determined location of a feature, and wherein the feature is identified from a biometric information.

27. A method for creating an identification credential conveying biometric information, comprising:

analyzing the biometric information to identify a feature on a host image therein;

determining a current location of the feature;

creating a coordinate system on the host image wherein the current location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

encoding data in the identification credential at a location based on the coordinate system.

28. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a feature of a biometric image;

generate a rectangular digital watermark signal tile; and

embed a digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of a corner of the digital watermark signal tile is based at least in part on a location of the feature.

29. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a feature of a biometric image;

generate a digital watermark signal; and

embed the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the feature;

wherein the digital watermark signal carries a variable message payload including, at least in part, information related to other information on an identification credential.

30. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a feature of a facial image to be placed on an identification credential;

divide the facial image into a plurality of tiles;

generate a digital watermark signal;

embed the digital watermark signal in the facial image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the feature;

calculate image signatures for two or more of the tiles; and

embed the image signatures in two or more of the tiles.

31. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a feature of a biometric image to be placed on an identification credential;

generate a digital watermark signal;

embed the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

calculate two or more image signatures for portions of the biometric image that are based at least in part on symmetric properties of the biometric image; and

embed the two or more signatures in the biometric image.

32. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

generate a first digital watermark signal that carries a variable message payload including information related to information located on an identification credential separate from an image on the identification credential;

generate a second digital watermark signal that carries an image signature of the image; and

embed the first and second digital watermark signals in the image.

33. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

derive biometric information from a biometric image on an identification credential;

derive an image signature that is separate from the biometric image;

generate a variable digital watermark message including the biometric information; and

embed a digital watermark in the biometric image such that the digital watermark is based at least in part on the image signature and carries the variable digital watermark message.

34. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

analyze a biometric information conveyed on an identification credential to identify a feature on a host image therein;

determine a location of the feature;

create a coordinate system on the host image wherein the location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

locate encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the coordinate system.

35. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

analyze a biometric information conveyed on an identification credential to identify a feature therein;

determine a current location of the feature; and

locate encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the current location, wherein the credential comprises an identification credential, wherein the biometric information comprises a facial image, and wherein the feature comprises a point at which a line passing through eyes in the image intersects with a line passing through a nose and a mouth in the image.

36. A digital watermark embedder comprising:

a processor configured to;

analyze a biometric information conveyed on an identification credential to identify a feature on a host image therein;

determine the location of the feature;

create a coordinate system on the host image wherein the location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

encode data in the identification credential at a location based on the coordinate system.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for identifying a feature of a biometric image on an identification credential;

instructions for generating a digital watermark signal; and

instructions for embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

wherein the digital watermark signal carries a variable message payload including, at least in part, information related to other information on the identification credential.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for identifying a feature of a facial image on an identification credential;

instructions for generating a digital watermark signal;

instructions for embedding the digital watermark signal in the facial image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

instructions for dividing the facial image into tiles;

instructions for calculating image signatures for two or more of the tiles; and

instructions for embedding the image signatures in two or more of the tiles.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for identifying a feature of a biometric image on an identification credential;

instructions for generating a digital watermark signal;

instructions for embedding the digital watermark signal in the biometric image such that a location of the digital watermark is based at least in part on a location of the identified feature;

instructions for calculating two or more image signatures for portions of the biometric image that are based at least in part on symmetric properties of the biometric image; and

instructions for embedding the two or more signatures in the biometric image.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for analyzing a biometric information on an identification credential to identify a feature on a host image therein;

instructions for determining a current location of the feature;

instructions for creating a coordinate system on the host image wherein the current location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

instructions for locating encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the coordinate system.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising

instructions for analyzing a biometric information on an identification credential to identify a feature therein;

instructions for determining a current location of the feature; and

instructions for locating encoded information in the credential at a location based at least in part on the current location;

wherein;

the credential comprises an identification credential;

the biometric information comprises a facial image; and

the feature comprises a point at which a line passing through eyes in the image intersects with a line passing through a nose and a mouth in the image.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium on which is stored instructions comprising:

instructions for analyzing a biometric information to be embedded on an identification credential to identify a feature on a host image therein;

instructions for determining a current location of the feature;

instructions for creating a coordinate system on the host image wherein the current location of the feature comprises a reference point for the coordinate system; and

instructions for encoding data in the identification credential at a location based on the coordinate system.