Patent US6526155B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6526155B1
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Systems and methods for producing visible watermarks by halftoning
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1999-11-24
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2019-11-24
Abstract
Abstract Visible digital watermarks enable a robust tracking method to be associated with one or more input images. Specifically, by modifying a halftone screen within a certain area by setting a gray-scale range within that area to a threshold, and halftoning an input image based on this modified halftone screen, visible watermarks can be embedded into an input image.
Inventors
- 👤 Shen-ge Wang
- 👤 Keith T. Knox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A system that embeds a visible watermark in an input image comprising: a halftone screen modifier that modifies a halftone screen having a set of threshold values, wherein the halftone screen modifier modifies at least one of the threshold values of the halftone screen based on at least one selected gray scale range of the input image; and a halftoning circuit that halftones the input image based on the modified halftone screen to embed the visible watermark.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
77 words
A system that embeds a visible watermark in an input image comprising: a halftone screen modifier that modifies a halftone screen having a set of threshold values, wherein the halftone screen modifier modifies at least one of the threshold values of the halftone screen based on at least one selected gray scale range of the input image; and a halftoning circuit that halftones the input image based on the modified halftone screen to embed the visible watermark.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the halftone screen modifier selects at least one portion of the halftone screen corresponding to at least one location in the input image where the visible watermark is to be embedded.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 2 , wherein the halftone screen modifier modifies at least one threshold value of the halftone screen that is within the selected gray-scale range and is within the at least one portion of the input image that is to be embedded with the visible watermark.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the halftone screen modifier sets the at least one threshold value of the halftone screen that is within the selected gray-scale range to a predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the input image is at least one of a color and a black and white image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the visible watermark is at least one of a logo, a texture, a symbol, a word, a letter, a pattern and a signature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a watermark storage device that stores one or more visible watermarks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the input image is a color image and the visible watermark is embedded in one or more color separation layers of the input color image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for embedding a visible watermark in an input image comprising: determining a portion of the input image to embed with the visible watermark; determining at least one gray-scale range of values within the determined portion of the input image; modifying a halftone screen based on the determined portion and the at least one gray-scale range of values; and halftoning the input image with the modified halftone screen.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for embedding a visible watermark in an input image comprising: determining a portion of the input image to embed with the visible watermark; determining at least one gray-scale range of values within the determined portion of the input image; modifying a halftone screen based on the determined portion and the at least one gray-scale range of values; and halftoning the input image with the modified halftone screen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein modifying the halftone screen comprises setting, to a predetermined value, at least one threshold value of the halftone screen that is within the at least one determined gray-scale range and is within the determined portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the input image is at least one of a color and a black and white image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the visible watermark is at least one of a logo, a texture, a symbol, a word, a letter, a pattern and a signature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising inputting one or more visible watermarks from a watermark storage device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising embedding one or more visible watermarks into one or more color separation layers of an input color image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
An information storage medium for embedding a visible watermark in an input image comprising: information that determines a portion of the input image to embed with the visible watermark; information that determines at least one threshold of a halftone screen that is within at least one gray-scale range to modify; information that modifies a halftone screen based on the determined portion and the at least one gray-scale range; and information that halftones the input image with the modified halftone screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
An information storage medium for embedding a visible watermark in an input image comprising: information that determines a portion of the input image to embed with the visible watermark; information that determines at least one threshold of a halftone screen that is within at least one gray-scale range to modify; information that modifies a halftone screen based on the determined portion and the at least one gray-scale range; and information that halftones the input image with the modified halftone screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The information storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising information that sets, to at least one predetermined value, the at least one threshold that is within the at least one gray-scale range and is within the determined portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The information storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the input image is at least one of a color and a black and white image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The information storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the visible watermark is at least one of a logo, a texture, a symbol, a word, a letter, a pattern and a signature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The information storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising information that inputs one or more visible watermarks from a watermark storage device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The information storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising information that embeds one or more visible watermarks into one or more color separation layers of an input color image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |