US6546112B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security document with steganographically-encoded authentication data
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 1998-11-23
•
Granted: 2003-04-08
•
Expires: 2018-11-23
Abstract
Abstract Security of a document is enhanced by steganographically embedding, within a graphic on the document, data that can be used in conjunction with text on the document to authenticate the document.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:24
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/23; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K19/06046; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G06K19/18; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1447; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/80; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0032; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07D7/0047; G07D7/005; G07D7/20; G07D7/2016; G07D7/202; G07D7/2033; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G07F7/1016; G07F7/12; G07F7/122; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00115; G11B20/00166; G11B20/00181; G11B20/0021; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/66; H04B1/665; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00071; H04N1/00074; H04N1/00079; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; H04N19/00; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; B42D25/30; B42D25/309; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0052; G06T2201/0064; G06T2201/0065; G07C2209/00; G07C2209/40; G07C2209/41; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91321; H04N2005/91335; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3207; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
A photo identification document, characterized by steganographic encoding representing multi-bit data, said multi-bit data being computer-discernable from analysis of visible light scan data, but the existence of said encoded data not being evident to human observers of the document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A photo identification document, characterized by steganographic encoding representing multi-bit data, said multi-bit data being computer-discernable from analysis of visible light scan data, but the existence of said encoded data not being evident to human observers of the document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
8 words
A plastic document according to claim 1 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
8 words
A driver's license according to claim 1 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
A plastic-encased driver's license according to claim 1 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding is locally scaled in amplitude in accordance with visible features on the document.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the steganographic encoding spans some, but not all, of the document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the steganographic encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or image thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises slight changes to a visible image, the changes being tailored in accordance with local characteristics of the image so as to minimize impairing the aesthetics thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which each bit of the multi-bit data is encoded in plural locations across the document, but the encoding thereof is different at different locations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises a texture imparted to a surface of said document.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 in which the encoding comprises a calibration signal, said signal aiding the later decoding of said multi-bit data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The photo identification document of claim 11 wherein the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 having human-readable information formed thereon, and wherein the steganographic encoding represents data that is redundant with at least some of said human-readable information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 having human-readable information formed thereon, and wherein the steganographic encoding represents data that is correlated with, but not redundant of, the human-readable information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The photo identification document of claim 1 having both human-readable information and a barcode formed thereon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the multi-bit data comprises an index into a registry containing additional information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 in which the encoding is locally scaled in amplitude in accordance with visible features on the document.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the photo identification document comprises a plastic document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the photo identification document comprises a driver's license.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein some regions of the document are not steganographically encoded.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the encoding slightly changes a visible image on the document to encode the multi-bit data therein, the changes being adjusted in accordance with local characteristics of the visible image so as to avoid impairing the aesthetics thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 in which each bit of the multi-bit data is encoded at plural locations across the document, but the encoding of each said bit takes different forms at different locations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 in which the encoding includes texturing a surface micro-topology of the document to encode the plural binary bits therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 , further characterized by encoding a calibration signal in the photo, said calibration signal aiding the later decoding of the multi-bit data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 24 in which the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 in which said encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or photo thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 , further characterized by encoding a calibration signal in the photo, said calibration signal aiding the later decoding of the multi-bit data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 27 in which the calibration signal is not apparent to human observers of the document.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 in which said encoding encompasses regions of the document distinct from any text or photo thereon.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of processing a photo identification document comprising: using an inspection device, scanning the photo identification document using visible light to produce scan data; decoding steganographically-encoded information from the scan data; and presenting data related to said decoded information to an operator of the inspection device.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of processing a photo identification document comprising: using an inspection device, scanning the photo identification document using visible light to produce scan data; decoding steganographically-encoded information from the scan data; and presenting data related to said decoded information to an operator of the inspection device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 30 that includes: encrypting information from the inspection device; transmitting the encrypted information to a remote processor; and wherein said presenting comprises presenting information returned from said remote processor to the operator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-07 | 2006-10-07 | 2007-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-07 | 2010-10-07 | 2011-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-07 | 2014-10-07 | 2015-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |