Watermark systems and methods

• US 8,750,556 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: McKinley, Tyler J., Seder, Phillip Andrew, Rodriguez, Tony F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bali, Vikkram
• Application Number:
  US11/548,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,800 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/183, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/494
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/1063 Personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/125 by manipulating the program code, e.g. source code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/16 Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6272 by registering files or documents with a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2153 Using hardware token as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467

Abstract

A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for encoding printed circuit boards and street signs with watermarks, deterring credit card fraud and controlling software licensing using watermarks, registering collectibles via watermarks, encoding the margins of printed pages with watermarks, and using watermarks to convey extra information in video by which fidelity of the rendered video may be improved. One particular arrangement is a method in which a PDA, wristwatch, or other portable device with a display screen presents a pattern that includes a machine-readable identifier. This image is sensed by a separate device, such as a webcam or a camera-equipped cell phone. The sensing device can then take an action based on the identifier. In some arrangements, the action is personalized to the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing, by a camera-equipped system, a pattern displayed on a screen of a portable device, wherein the pattern is derived based on an identification number associated with the portable device;

generating output data corresponding to the pattern;

decoding plural-bit information from the output data; and

accessing a network account associated with a user of the portable device based at least in part on the decoded plural-bit information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network account is accessed based at least in part on personalization data stored on the camera-equipped system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern is unique to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining corresponding information related to the decoded plural-bit information from a data structure, wherein the network account is accessed based at least in part on the corresponding information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the network account comprises an e-mail account.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises an arrangement of pixels on the display of the portable device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera-equipped system comprises a camera-equipped cell phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding comprises decoding digital watermark information from the pattern.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the decoding comprises decoding barcode information from the pattern.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an imaging device configured to sense a pattern displayed on a screen of a portable device, wherein the pattern is derived based on an identification number associated with the portable device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the imaging device, wherein the processor is configured to;

generate output data corresponding to the pattern;

decode plural-bit information from the output data; and

access a network account associated with a user of the portable device based at least in part on the decoded plural-bit information.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pattern includes information associated with the user.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pattern includes a picture of the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pattern includes information identifying the user.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pattern comprises a first pattern of a plurality of distinct patterns.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first pattern is selectable through an interface of the portable device.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portable device is configured to be worn on a wrist of the user.

18. An apparatus comprising:

means for sensing a pattern displayed on a screen of a portable device, wherein the pattern is derived based on an identification number associated with the portable device;

means for generating output data corresponding to the pattern;

means for decoding plural-bit information from the output data; and

means for accessing a network account associated with a user of the portable device based at least in part on the decoded plural-bit information.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the pattern includes digital watermark information.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for storing personalization data corresponding to the user, wherein the network account is accessed based at least in part on the personalization data.

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

instructions to generate output data corresponding to a pattern, wherein the pattern is displayed on a screen of a portable device, and wherein the pattern is derived based on an identification number associated with the portable device;

instructions to decode plural-bit information from the output data; and

instructions to access a network account associated with a user of the portable device based at least in part on the decoded plural-bit information.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the pattern comprises an arrangement of pixels on the display of the portable device.

23. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising instructions to store personalization data corresponding to the user, wherein the network account is accessed based at least in part on the personalization data.