US6580819B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of producing security documents having digitally encoded data and documents employing same
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 1999-04-07
•
Granted: 2003-06-17
•
Expires: 2019-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Machine readable data is digitally watermarked into banknotes by slight alterations to ink color, density, distribution, etc., or by texturing the microtopology of the banknote surface. Such watermarking can be optically sensed and detected by scanners, photocopiers, or printers. In response, such devices can intervene to prevent banknote reproduction. This arrangement addresses various problems, e.g., the use of digital image editing tools to circumvent prior art banknote anti-copy systems. In some embodiments, visible structures characteristic of banknotes are also detected (e.g. by pattern recognition analysis of image data), and reproduction can be halted if either the visible structures or the digital watermark data are detected. In other embodiments, automatic teller machines that accept, as well as dispense, banknotes can check for the presence of digitally watermarked data to help confirm the authenticity of banknotes input to the machines. In other embodiments, scanners, printers and photocopiers can be provided with digital watermarking capabilities so that image data, or printed output, produced by such devices includes digital watermark data, permitting subsequent identification of the particular device used.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:31
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of producing a banknote having digital data encoded therein, the method comprising: slightly altering an original image but without leaving any substantially human-apparent evidence of image alteration, and printing the banknote with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the banknote yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of producing a banknote having digital data encoded therein, the method comprising: slightly altering an original image but without leaving any substantially human-apparent evidence of image alteration, and printing the banknote with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the banknote yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which the digital data comprises plural bits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 in which said plural bits are encoded redundantly across the banknote, rather than the banknote being marked in a single localized region only.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the encoding makes use of a code signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the encoding makes use of a discrete cosine transform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 which includes encoding with two different digital watermarks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 in which the two different digital watermarks are of different robustness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 in which the two watermarks are encoded in accordance with different code signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 which also includes providing the banknote with a hologram.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 which includes encoding a calibration signal with the digital data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 in which the calibration signal is adapted to facilitate decoding of the digital data from the encoded banknote notwithstanding rotation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of enhancing the security of a banknote, the method including digitally watermarking a banknote with machine readable, generally imperceptible, digital data, characterized by generating a pattern corresponding to said digital data, and physically texturing the surface of the banknote in accordance with said pattern, said texturing being independent of printing on the banknote.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of enhancing the security of a banknote, the method including digitally watermarking a banknote with machine readable, generally imperceptible, digital data, characterized by generating a pattern corresponding to said digital data, and physically texturing the surface of the banknote in accordance with said pattern, said texturing being independent of printing on the banknote.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 in which said digital data comprises plural bits.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 in which said plural bits are encoded redundantly across the banknote, rather than the banknote being marked in a single localized region only.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 in which the encoding makes use of a code signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 in which the encoding makes use of a discrete cosine transform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12 which includes encoding with two different digital watermarks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 in which the two different digital watermarks are of different robustness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 in which the two watermarks are encoded in accordance with different code signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 which also includes providing the banknote with a hologram.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 which includes encoding a calibration signal with the digital data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 in which the calibration signal is adapted to facilitate decoding of the digital data from the encoded banknote notwithstanding rotation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 12 in which visible light scanning of the banknote yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of producing a security document having digital data encoded therein comprising: slightly altering an original image, said alterations varying across the image in accordance with local image characteristics rather than being uniform thereacross, and printing the security document with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the security document yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of producing a security document having digital data encoded therein comprising: slightly altering an original image, said alterations varying across the image in accordance with local image characteristics rather than being uniform thereacross, and printing the security document with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the security document yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of producing a security document having digital data encoded therein, the method comprising: slightly altering an original image but without leaving any substantially human-apparent evidence of image alteration, and printing the security document with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the security document yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of producing a security document having digital data encoded therein, the method comprising: slightly altering an original image but without leaving any substantially human-apparent evidence of image alteration, and printing the security document with the altered image, wherein visible light scanning of the security document yields scan data from which the digital data can be decoded, yet rendering of the scan data for human viewing does not reveal the existence of said encoded digital data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25 in which the digital data comprises plural bits.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26 in which said plural bits are encoded redundantly across the security document, rather than the security document being marked in a single localized region only.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 26 in which the encoding makes use of a code signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 26 in which the encoding makes use of a discrete cosine transform.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 26 which includes encoding with two different digital watermarks.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 30 in which the two different digital watermarks are of different robustness.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 30 in which the two watermarks are encoded in accordance with different code signals.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25 which also includes providing the security document with a hologram.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25 which includes encoding a calibration signal with the digital data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 40 in which the calibration signal is adapted to facilitate deconding of the digital data from the encoded security document notwithstanding rotation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the security document comprises a passport.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the security document comprises a check.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the security document comprises a lable.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the security document comprises a tag.
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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) | 2006-06-16 | 2006-12-16 | 2007-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-16 | 2010-12-16 | 2011-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-16 | 2014-12-16 | 2015-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |