EP0913989A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Methods and apparatus for visually identifying an area on a photograph or image where digital data is stored
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1998-10-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-10-16
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for generating images and/or photographs from digital data files with data, for example, audio data, stored on the photograph are described. Ink which is invisible or almost invisible to the human eye but which can be detected using an optical reader is used for printing the data on the photograph. When the ink used for printing audio data is slightly noticeable to a human, the color or colors of the photo are adjusted to mask the visual effect of the ink. In order to identify the presence and/or location of printed audio data, the audio data region (50) on the photograph is identified using a non-destructive technique. In one embodiment, the optical density of all or a portion of the image area corresponding to the audio data region of a photograph is reduced slightly from that of the original image to identify the presence and location of the printed audio data (40). This approach identifies the presence and location of audio data without destroying the content of the image on which the audio data is printed. In another embodiment, audio data markers (70), for example, in the form of small lines or marks, are printed on the photograph to identify the presence and/or location of printed audio data. To avoid destroying the image content of the photograph the audio data region identification marks may be printed on the edges or boarder of the photograph. The audio data may be read and played using a hand held scanner.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter P. c/o Eastman Kodak Company Soscia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3261; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of generating a printed image, the method
characterized by the steps of: processing data representing an image to add visible printed data
identification indicia to the image; printing both the image including the visible printed data
identification indicia (40) and data to be stored on the printed image, the data to be
stored being printed in a manner that results in non-visible machine readable data
being included on the printed image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing data
representing an image to add visible printed data identification indicia to the
image is characterized by the step of: processing a portion of the image to reduce the optical density of
the processed image portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the processed image portion
corresponds to at least a portion of an image area in which the data to be stored is
to be printed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the processing of the portion of
the image is characterized by the step of reducing the optical density of the
processed image portion by approximately 2-3%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing data
representing an image to add visible printed data identification indicia to the
image is characterized by the step of: processing a portion of the image corresponding to at least a
portion of the area in which the data to be stored is to be recorded to brighten the
portion of the image being processed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing data
representing an image to add visible printed data identification indicia to the
image is characterized by the step of: adding a boarder to the image; and including in the boarder visible marks (70) identifying the location
within the printed image of at least a portion of the non-visible machine readable
data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the boarder is a first color and
the visible marks are a second color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the first color is black and the
second color is white.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the first color is white and the
second color is black.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing data
representing an image to add visible printed data identification indicia to the
image is characterized by the step of: adding visible marks identifying the location within the printed
image of at least a portion of the non-visible machine readable data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the visible marks are added
to an outer peripheral portion of the image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, further characterized by the step of: determining the size of the area to be used for recording the data to
be stored as a function of the amount of data to be stored.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 12, further characterized by the step of: identifying an area of the image of the determined size having a
high optical density relative to other areas of the image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the step of printing the data
to be stored is characterized by the step of: printing the data to be stored in the identified area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the step of processing data
representing the image, further characterized by the step of: modifying one or more image colors in the identified area of the
image to compensate for any effect the printing of the data to be stored will have
on the perceived color of the printed image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing data
representing the image, further characterized by the step of: modifying one or more image colors in the identified area of the
image to compensate for any effect the printing of the data to be stored will have
on the perceived color of the printed image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the data is audio data, and wherein the step of processing data representing an image is further
characterized by the steps of: selecting, as a function of the optical density of the image, a
location within the image where the data to be stored is to be
printed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A printed image, characterized by: a printing substrate; a first layer of ink representing non-visible machine readable data; a layer of visible ink representing an image, the layer of visible ink
including visual indicia of the presence of non-visible machine readable data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The printed image of claim 18, wherein the visual indicia of
the presence of non-visible machine readable data indicates the location on the
printing substrate of at least a portion of the non-visible machine readable data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The printed image of claim 19, wherein the visual indicia of
the presence of non-visible machine readable data is a lightened area within the
image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The printed image of claim 19, wherein the visual indicia of
the presence of non-visible machine readable data are marks in a boarder forming
the outside of the image.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The printed image of claim 19, wherein the non-visible
machine readable data is audio data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The printed image of claim 22, wherein the printed image is a
photograph.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for processing and printing an image and data,
the image processing system characterized by: means for selecting an area within the image to print the data; means for processing the image to add visual indicia indicating the
location of the selected area; and printing means for printing both the image including the visual
indicia of the location in the image of the selected area and for printing the data in
the selected area in a manner that renders it invisible to the human eye.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 24, further characterized by: a digital camera coupled to the selecting and processing means, the
digital camera generating the image to be printed from an optical input and
generating the data to be printed from an audio input.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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