Paper-based control of computer systems

• US 20060149843A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: MacIntosh, Brian T., Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,444,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/333 Watermarks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• 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 19/18 Constructional details
• 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 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• 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: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00884 involving a watermark, i.e. a barely perceptible transformation of the original data which can nevertheless be recognised by an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00891 embedded in audio data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 : of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

In one implementation of the present invention, a method is provided including: receiving a request to register with an online computer; receiving account holder information to register with the online central computer; establishing an account using at least the account holder received information including establishing a user-login that is associated with the account; allowing an account holder to select a graphic or image from a gallery of graphics or images maintained by the online computer, wherein a selected graphic or image becomes a representation that is associated with the account or user-login; and providing a selected graphic or image from the online computer as a representation of association with at least one of the account holder, account and user-login.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to register with an online computer;

receiving account holder information to register with the online central computer;

establishing an account using at least the account holder received information including establishing a user-login that is associated with the account;

allowing an account holder to select a graphic or image from a gallery of graphics or images maintained by the online computer, wherein a selected graphic or image becomes a representation that is associated with the account or user-login; and

providing a selected graphic or image from the online computer as a representation of association with at least one of the account holder, account and user-login.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected image is associated with the account or user-login through a unique identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the unique identifier is steganographically embedded in the selected image or graphic.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the user-login comprises a password and username.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the online computer comprises a distributed system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving account holder information comprises wireless communication.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected graphic or image comprises a digital watermark.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a request to register with an online computer;

receiving account holder information to register with the online central computer;

establishing an account using at least the account holder received information including establishing a user-login that is associated with the account;

allowing an account holder to do at least one of;

i. select a graphic or image from a gallery of graphics or images maintained by the online computer, wherein a selected graphic or image becomes a representation that is associated with the account or user-login; and

ii. upload a graphic or image, wherein an uploaded graphic or image becomes a representation that is associated with the account or user-login; and

providing at least one of i. a selected graphic or image, and ii. an uploaded graphic or image from the online computer as a representation of association with at least one of the account holder, account and user-login.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected image is associated with the account or user-login through a unique identifier.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the unique identifier is steganographically embedded in the selected or uploaded image or graphic.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the user-login comprises a password and username.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the online computer comprises a distributed system.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving account holder information comprises wireless communication.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected graphic or image comprises a digital watermark.