Method of steganographically embedding geo-location data in media

• US 7,099,492 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chauhan, Ulka
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chow, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US10/778,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20040161131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 382/100, 382/286, 380/287, 726/26
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7854 using shape G06F16/7837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32154 Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32299 using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• 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

Abstract

Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with map data, such as is acquired by satellite and other aerial sensors, and as may be generated from databases based on such aerial data. For example, an image including steganographically hidden location data is analyzed and a refinement to the location data is made. The refined location data is then steganographically hidden in the image. In one implementation a method of steganographically embedding auxiliary data in imagery is provided. The method includes receiving imagery including a first geolocation estimate steganographically embedded therein. The first geolocation estimate corresponds to at least one area depicted in the imagery. The method further includes determining a second geolocation estimate, the second geolocation estimate comprising a more precise geolocation estimate, relative to the first geolocation estimate, for the at least one area depicted in the imagery, and steganographically embedding the second geolocation estimate in the imagery.

Claims

1. A method of steganographically embedding auxiliary data in imagery comprising:

receiving imagery including a first geolocation estimate steganographically embedded therein, wherein the first geolocation estimate corresponds to at least one area depicted in the imagery;

determining a second geolocation estimate, the second geolocation estimate comprising a more precise geolocation estimate, relative to the first geolocation estimate, for the at least one area depicted in the imagery; and

steganographically embedding the second geolocation estimate in the imagery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geolocation estimate overwrites the first geolocation estimate.

3. The method of claim 1, where the second geolocation estimate overlays the first geolocation estimate.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first geolocation estimate is steganographically embedded in the imagery through alterations to at least some data representing the imagery.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the data representing the imagery comprises at least one of DCT or wavelet coefficients.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the data representing the imagery comprises pixel values.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the data representing the media comprises sample values, wherein the sample values are altered during steganographic hiding.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the imagery comprises aerial imagery.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the media is originally captured from an aerial platform.

4. A method comprising:

receiving an image including first geographic information steganographically embedded therein, wherein the first geographic information corresponds to at least one location depicted in the image;

determining second geographic information, the second geographic information comprising a refinement relative to the first geographic information for the at least one location depicted in the image; and

steganographically embedding the second geolocation estimate in the imagery.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second geographic information overwrites the first geographic information.

6. The method of claim 4, where the second geographic information overlays the first geographic information.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said determining comprises at least decoding the first geographic information steganographically embedded in the image.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the second geographic information is steganographically hidden in the media through alterations to at least some data representing the media.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the data representing the media comprises at least one form of data from a group comprising DCT coefficients and wavelet coefficients.

19. The method of claim 4 wherein the image comprises an aerial image.

8. A method comprising:

obtaining media including first geographic information steganographically hidden therein, wherein the first geographic information corresponds to at least one location or area represented in the media;

obtaining second geographic information, the second geographic information comprising a refinement relative to the first geographic information for the at least one location or area represented in the media; and

steganographically hiding the second geographic information in the media.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second geographic information overwrites the first geographic information.

10. The method of claim 8, where the second geographic information overlays the first geographic information.

11. The method of claim wherein said obtaining second geographic information comprises at least decoding the first geographic information steganographically hidden in the media.