Image management system and methods using digital watermarks

• US 9,363,409 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B., Lofgren, Neil E., Patterson, Philip R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Riegler, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLICOS, NICHOLAS GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US10/423,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046774A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,792 Days
• Field of Search: 715/802, 715/808, 715/835, 701/211, 345/231.9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• 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 1/32149 Methods relating to embedding, encoding, decoding, detection or retrieval operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3232 Robust embedding or watermarking
• 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 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• 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 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory

Abstract

The present invention relates to image management systems and methods. In one implementation we provide a method to provide geo-location feedback corresponding to an image area selected by a user. A digital watermark embedded in the selected image area is decoded, and the decoded digital watermark includes or points to geo-location information associated with the selected image location. In another implementation we provide an alert engine to notify a network station that information associated with a digital watermark identifier is available.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying an image on a system display, wherein the image comprises a plurality of imperceptible digital watermarks;

receiving input corresponding to an image area within the image pointed to by a cursor, wherein the image area has a first digital watermark of the plurality of imperceptible watermarks embedded therein, wherein the first digital watermark is embedded through imperceptible changes to data representing the image area, wherein the first digital watermark comprises an identifier that links to a separate data record including geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor, and wherein the identifier is obtained by decoding the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

determining, by a processor, a cursor location from the received input relative to a watermark location of the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

realigning the image using an orientation component to correct an image distortion of the image, wherein one of the plurality of digital watermarks comprises the orientation component;

accessing, using the identifier, the separate data record to determine the geo-coordinates; and

providing geo-location feedback via the system display based on the decoded first digital watermark, the geo-coordinates, and the cursor location, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises dynamic information related to the cursor location, and wherein the dynamic information comprises at least one of analyst reports related to the image area and current weather conditions for the image area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor is controlled by at least one of a mouse or touch-screen display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises the geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the geo-coordinates correspond to a particular grid cell of the image, wherein the image comprises a plurality of grid cells, and wherein each grid cell has corresponding geo-coordinates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geo-location feedback is provided via a graphical user interface displayed by the system display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises an audio clip.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises a multimedia presentation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data record further comprises a plurality of geo-coordinates that are each spatially registered to the image, and wherein accessing the data record to determine the geo-coordinates comprises determining which of the plurality of geo-coordinates corresponds to the image area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cursor location from the received input relative to the watermark location comprises a horizontal and vertical pixel distance.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first digital watermark is redundantly embedded at different resolutions in the image area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate data record comprises at least one of a geographic information system (GIS) layer and an XML file.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the distance from the user pointer to the location of the first digital watermark comprises a horizontal and vertical amount of block areas, wherein each block area comprises a defined block of pixels of the image.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a second digital watermark of the plurality of imperceptible digital watermarks is embedded in a second image area of the image, and further wherein the second digital watermark comprises a second identifier that links to the separate data record.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second identifier corresponds to a second geo-coordinates in the separate data record associated with the second image area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second identifier comprises a databased identifier or location where the separate data record is stored.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second identifier corresponds to information in the separate data record pertaining to at least one of an event, people, and animals in the second image area.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of imperceptible digital watermarks comprises a robust watermark and a copy-tamper fragile watermark.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second digital watermark comprises a source type indicator used to regulate access to the image.

19. A system, comprising:

a processor configured to;

display an image on a system display, wherein the image comprises a plurality of imperceptible digital watermarks;

receive input corresponding to an image area within the image pointed to by a cursor, wherein the image area has a first digital watermark of the plurality of imperceptible watermarks embedded therein, wherein the first digital watermark is embedded through imperceptible changes to data representing the image area, wherein the first digital watermark comprises an identifier that links to a separate data record including geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor, and wherein the identifier is obtained by decoding the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

determine a cursor location from the received input relative to a watermark location of the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

realign the image using an orientation component to correct an image distortion of the image, wherein one of the plurality of digital watermarks comprises the orientation component;

access, using the identifier, the separate data record to determine the geo-coordinates; and

provide geo-location feedback via the system display based on the decoded first digital watermark, the geo-coordinates, and the cursor location, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises dynamic information related to the cursor location, and wherein the dynamic information comprises at least one of analyst reports related to the image area and current weather conditions for the image area.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the cursor is controlled by at least one of a mouse or touch-screen display.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises the geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the geo-coordinates correspond to a particular grid cell of the image, wherein the image comprises a plurality of grid cells, and wherein each grid cell has corresponding geo-coordinates.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the data record further comprises a plurality of geo-coordinates that are each spatially registered to the image, and wherein to determine the geo-coordinates the processor is configured to determine which of the plurality of geo-coordinates corresponds to the image area.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the geo-location feedback is provided via a graphical user interface displayed by the system display.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the cursor location from the received input relative to the watermark location comprises a horizontal and vertical pixel distance.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the first digital watermark is redundantly embedded at different resolutions in the image area.

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

instructions to display an image on a system display, wherein the image comprises a plurality of imperceptible digital watermarks;

instructions to receive input corresponding to an image area within the image pointed to by a cursor, wherein the image area has a first digital watermark of the plurality of imperceptible watermarks embedded therein, wherein the first digital watermark is embedded through imperceptible changes to data representing the image area, wherein the first digital watermark comprises an identifier that links to a separate data record including geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor, and wherein the identifier is obtained by decoding the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

instructions to determine a cursor location from the received input relative to a watermark location of the first digital watermark embedded in the image area;

instructions to realign the image using an orientation component to correct an image distortion of the image, wherein one of the plurality of digital watermarks comprises the orientation component;

instructions to access, using the identifier, the separate data record to determine the geo-coordinates; and

instructions to provide geo-location feedback via the system display based on the decoded first digital watermark, the geo-coordinates, and the cursor location, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises dynamic information related to the cursor location, and wherein the dynamic information comprises at least one of analyst reports related to the image area and current weather conditions for the image area.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the cursor is controlled by at least one of a mouse or touch-screen display.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the geo-location feedback comprises the geo-coordinates associated with the image area pointed to by the cursor.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the geo-coordinates correspond to a particular grid cell of the image, wherein the image comprises a plurality of grid cells, and wherein each grid cell has corresponding geo-coordinates.

31. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the data record further comprises a plurality of geo-coordinates that are each spatially registered to the image, and wherein determining the geo-coordinates comprises determining which of the plurality of geo-coordinates corresponds to the image area.

32. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the geo-location feedback is provided via a graphical user interface displayed by the system display.