Geographically watermarked imagery and methods

• US 20060072783A1
• Filed: 09/27/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0061 Embedding of the watermark in each block of the image, e.g. segmented watermarking
• 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 2201/3204 of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3284 for error correction

Abstract

An image is digitally watermarked to convey position data about the subject of the image, such as latitude, longitude and elevation of a point depicted therein. Additional information, e.g., about camera attributes, camera angle, and 3D warp-characterizing polynomial coefficients, can also be included. In another implementation, a method includes receiving data representing an image or video, and embedding the data with a digital watermark. The digital watermark includes a plural-bit payload having information to: i) identify a spatial position or area depicted in the image and designated as an origin, and ii) identify a position or direction relative to the origin.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data representing an image or video;

encoding the data with multiple instances of a digital watermark, wherein each instance of the digital watermark varies to indicate its relative relationship to one or more other digital watermark instances encoded within the data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image or video depicts a region associated with one or more geo-locations.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a depicted geo-location is determined through analysis of a first digital watermark instance relative to at least a second digital watermark instance.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein digital watermark instances are tiled across the data.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein each digital watermark instance includes a plural-bit payload.

6. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 1.

7. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 2.

8. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 3.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the origin comprises an arbitrary origin.

9. A method comprising:

receiving data representing an image or video;

embedding the data with a digital watermark, wherein the digital watermark comprises a plural-bit payload including information to;

i) identify a spatial position or area depicted in the image and designated as an origin, and ii) identify a position or direction relative to the origin.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the position or direction information comprises a vector.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the position or direction information comprises a distance relative to the origin.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the position or direction information comprises a position relative to the origin.

14. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 9.

15. A method comprising:

receiving data representing an image or video;

embedding a first digital watermark in the data, wherein the first digital watermark includes a first plural-bit payload carrying or pointing to coordinates associated with at least one geo-location depicted in the image or video; and

embedding a second, different digital watermark in the data, wherein the second digital watermark includes a second plural-bit payload carrying or pointing to geographical information associated with the at least one geo-location depicted in the image or video.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the geographical information comprises at least one of elevation, terrain, directional view and overlay information.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the data is associated with pixels, and wherein the first digital watermark is embedded in first data associated with a first group of pixels and the second digital watermark is embedded in second data associated with a second group of pixels.

18. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 15.

19. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 16.

20. A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon for carrying out the method of claim 17.