Methods involving maps, imagery, video and steganography

• US 9,792,661 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Tony F., Brundage, Trent J., Shovoly, Steven Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Park, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/643,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20160035059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0064 Geometric transfor invariant watermarking, e.g. affine transform invariant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/28 involving image processing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0052 Embedding of the watermark in the frequency domain
• 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 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

The disclosure describes methods and apparatus of providing steganographic indicia or digital watermarking in image or video data. One implementation provides a method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, with watermark embedding occurring on-chip with the imager. Another implementation provides a method of managing images. Each of the images comprises plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, with the plural-bit data corresponding to a geo-location. Yet another implementation provides a method of identifying locations on a map, with the map being for display via a computer display. Still another implementation provides a method of introducing a watermark message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image from an imager including a digital watermark embedded by a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information;

determining viewing angle specifics of the received image;

decoding the digital watermark to obtain the location information;

identifying a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics, and

providing the map for access over a computer network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising graphically identifying locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein graphically identifying locations on the map comprises receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, and identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the image includes receiving an image captured from a cell phone, wherein the cell phone provides location information that is steganographic embedded with the image.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an imager configured to capture an image;

a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module;

a display configured to present the captured image; and

a processor configured to receive the image capture from the imager and embed a digital watermark together with the image into an image file, wherein the watermark embedding occurs on-chip with the imager, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information, wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine viewing angle specifics of the received image;

decode the digital watermark in the image tile to obtain the location information;

identify a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics; and

present the map on the display including the location and the captured image.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to graphically identify locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor graphically identifies locations on the map by receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to present on the map an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map identifies a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.

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

instructions for receiving an image from an imager including a digital watermark embedded by a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information;

instructions for determining viewing angle specifics of the received image;

instructions for decoding the digital watermark to obtain the location information;

instructions for identifying a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics; and

instructions for providing the map for access over a computer network.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for graphically identifying locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein graphically identifying locations on the map comprises receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, and identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein instructions for receiving the image includes receiving an image captured from a cell phone, wherein the cell phone provides location information that is steganographic embedded with the image.