Providing travel-logs based geo-locations relative to a graphical map

• US 8,447,064 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Lofgren, Neil E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROOKS, JULIAN D
• Application Number:
  US11/538,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20080080737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,422 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/113, 382/313, 713/176, 715/700, 715/864, 715/968
• 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: 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

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to generating travel-logs or geographical representation of encountered media. One claim recites a method including obtaining a plurality of imagery, wherein each item of imagery from the plurality of imagery comprises steganographic encoding, the steganographic encoding altering data representing the imagery, the steganographic encoding comprising multi-bit data, and wherein the presence of the multi-bit data is imperceptible to a human observer of the imagery absent machine-detection; detecting the multi-bit data from the plurality of imagery, wherein the multi-bit data is associated with geolocation metadata; and providing a geographic path associated with the plurality of imagery based at least in part on the geolocation metadata. The geographic path is provided for display to a user relative to a graphical map. Of course, other different claims are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a digital image over a network, wherein the digital image includes a plurality of digital watermarks steganographically embedded therein;

using one or more processors, decoding the plurality of digital watermarks to obtain a plurality of plural-bit payloads, wherein each of the plurality of plural-bit payloads includes distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein each individual plural bit payload of the plurality of plural bit payloads is specific to a distinct region depicted in the digital image, and wherein the digital image includes a plurality of regions; and

generating a travel-log relative to a graphical map for access over the network based at least in part on the geolocation metadata, wherein the travel-log is for display relative to the graphical map.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein data representing the digital image comprises transform domain values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein data representing the digital image comprises spatial domain values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel-log comprises a geographical path associated with the plurality of digital image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel-log is provided for access over the network in conjunction with copies of the digital image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geolocation metadata comprises at least geocoordinates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises a wireless network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plural-bit payloads further comprise at least a timestamp.

9. A computer comprising:

an input to receive a digital image, wherein the digital image includes a plurality of digital watermarks steganographically embedded therein;

a digital watermark decoder to decode the plurality of digital watermarks from the digital image to obtain a plurality of plural-bit payloads, wherein each of the plurality of plural-bit payloads includes distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein each individual plural bit payload of the plurality of plural bit payloads is specific to a distinct region depicted in the digital image, and wherein the digital image includes a plurality of regions;

a processor configured to generate a travel-log associated with the digital image based at least in part on the geolocation metadata; and

an output configured to provide access to the travel-log, wherein the output comprises a graphical display to display the travel-log relative to a graphical map.

10. The computer of claim 9, wherein data representing the digital image comprises transform domain values.

11. The computer of claim 9, wherein data representing the digital image comprises spatial domain values.

12. The computer of claim 9, wherein the output comprises a communications output.

13. A method comprising:

obtaining an item of imagery, wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of instances of steganographic encoding, wherein the steganographic encoding alters data representing the item of imagery;

using one or more processors, detecting multi-bit data from each instance of steganographic encoding in the item of imagery, wherein the multi-bit data is associated with distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein multi-bit data from each individual instance of the plurality of instances of steganographic encoding is specific to a distinct region depicted in the item of imagery, and wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of regions; and

providing a geographic path associated with the item of imagery based at least in part on the geolocation metadata, wherein the geographic path is provided for relative to a graphical map.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data representing the item of imagery comprises transform domain values.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the data representing the item of imagery comprises spatial domain values.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

instructions to obtain an item of imagery, wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of instances of steganographic encoding, wherein the steganographic encoding alters data representing the item of imagery;

instructions to detect multi-bit data from each instance of steganographic encoding in the item of imagery, wherein the multi-bit data is associated with distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein multi-bit data from an individual instance of the plurality of instances of steganographic encoding is specific to a distinct region depicted in the item of imagery, and wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of regions;

instructions to provide a geographic path associated with the item of imagery based at least in part on the geolocation metadata, wherein the geographic path is provided for display relative to a graphical map.

17. A programmed computing device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a digital image over a network, wherein the digital image includes a plurality of digital watermarks steganographically embedded therein, and

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver and configured to;

decode the plurality of digital watermarks to obtain a plurality of plural-bit payloads, wherein each of the plurality of plural-bit payloads includes distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein each individual plural bit payload of the plurality of plural bit payloads is specific to a distinct region depicted in the digital image, and wherein the digital image includes a plurality of regions; and

generate a travel-log relative to a graphical map for access over the network based at least in part on the geolocation metadata, wherein the travel-log is for display relative to the graphical map.

18. A programmed computing device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an item of imagery, wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of instances of steganographic encoding, wherein the steganographic encoding alters data representing the item of imagery; and

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to;

detect multi-bit data from each instance of steganographic encoding in the item of imagery, wherein the multi-bit data is associated with distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein multi-bit data from each individual instance of the plurality of instances of steganographic encoding is specific to a distinct region depicted in the item of imagery, and wherein the item of imagery includes a plurality of regions;

generate a geographic path associated with the item of imagery based at least in part on the geolocation metadata, wherein the geographic path is generated for display relative to a graphical map.

19. A programmed computing device comprising:

an input configured to receive data representing a digital image;

a memory for buffering the data, wherein the data includes a plurality of pieces of information steganographically hidden therein;

a processor configured to;

extract the plurality of pieces of information from the data, wherein each piece of information includes distinct geolocation metadata, and wherein each individual piece of information of the plurality of pieces of information is specific to a distinct region depicted in the digital image, wherein the digital image includes a plurality of regions; and

control communication of the information to a remote computer; and

an interface configured to display graphics received from the remote computer, wherein the graphics represent geographical locations associated with the digital image.

20. The programmed computing device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to control communication of location information associated with the data to the remote computer.

21. The programmed computing device of claim 19, wherein the input comprises a camera.

22. The programmed computing device of claim 19, wherein the programmed computing device communicates with the remote computer via at least a wireless network.

23. The programmed computing device of claim 19, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) unit for providing location information.