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US6628801B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image marking with pixel modification

Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 1999-10-12
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Granted: 2003-09-30
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Expires: 2019-10-12
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Abstract

Abstract A method and system for embedding signatures within visual images in both digital representation and print or film. A signature is inseparably embedded within the visible image, the signature persisting through image transforms that include resizing as well as conversion to print or film and back to digital form. Signature points are selected from among the pixels of an original image. The pixel values of the signature points and surrounding pixels are adjusted by an amount detectable by a digital scanner. The adjusted signature points form a digital signature which is stored for future identification of subject images derived from the image. In one embodiment, a signature is embedded within an image by locating relative extrema in the continuous space of pixel values and selecting the signature points from among the extrema. Preferably, the signature is redundantly embedded in the image such that any of the redundant representations can be used to identify the signature. Identification of a subject image includes ensuring that the subject image is normalized with respect to the original image or the signed image. Preferably, the normalized subject image is compared with the stored digital signature.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert D. Powell
  • 👤 Mark J. Nitzberg

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06T1/0064; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06T1/0028; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/004; G07D7/0047; G07D7/005; G07D7/0054; G07D7/0056; G07D7/06; G07D7/12; G07D7/20; G07D7/2008; G07D7/202; G07D7/2033; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/12; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32229; H04N1/32245; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/3232; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051; G06T2201/0081; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3235; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of placing a watermark on a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a digital original image; providing a digital watermark image; and, producing a watermarked image by superimposing the watermark image on the original image without changing the chromaticities of pixels of the original image as watermarked.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of placing a watermark on a digital image, comprising the steps of: providing a digital original image; providing a digital watermark image; and, producing a watermarked image by superimposing the watermark image on the original image without changing the chromaticities of pixels of the original image as watermarked.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of producing comprises the step of: for a selected number of points, modifying the corresponding pixel of the original image by changing the brightness but not the color.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of producing comprises the step of: for a selected number of relative extrema, modifying the corresponding pixel of the original image by changing the brightness but not the color.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original image comprising the step of applying the watermark to the original image as a percentage correction on pixel sample values of the original image in a linear color space such that the chromaticities of the pixels are not changed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 50 words
A method of applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original image comprising the step of applying the watermark to the original image as a percentage correction on pixel sample values of the original image in a linear color space such that the chromaticities of the pixels are not changed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 50 words
A system for placing a watermark on a digital image, comprising: a storage device having a digital original image and a digital watermark stored therein; and, means for producing a watermarked image by superimposing the watermark on the original image without changing the chromaticities of the original image as watermarked.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 50 words
A system for placing a watermark on a digital image, comprising: a storage device having a digital original image and a digital watermark stored therein; and, means for producing a watermarked image by superimposing the watermark on the original image without changing the chromaticities of the original image as watermarked.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the means for producing comprises: means for modifying each selected pixel of the original image corresponding to a selected point, by changing the brightness but not the color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 34 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the means for producing comprises: means for modifying each selected pixel of the original image corresponding to a relative extrema, by changing the brightness but not the color.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 93 words
A system for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising: means for identifying a subset of pixels of the original image that will be modified as a result of applying the watermark; a programmed processor operable to determine a modification corresponding to a percentage adjustment based on the values of the color components for each of the pixels in the subset, means for multiplying each of the color components of each of the pixels in the subset by its percentage adjustment, and means for storing a resulting watermarked image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 93 words
A system for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising: means for identifying a subset of pixels of the original image that will be modified as a result of applying the watermark; a programmed processor operable to determine a modification corresponding to a percentage adjustment based on the values of the color components for each of the pixels in the subset, means for multiplying each of the color components of each of the pixels in the subset by its percentage adjustment, and means for storing a resulting watermarked image.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising the steps of: identifying a subset of pixels of the original image to be modified; for each pixel in said subset of pixels, determining a percentage value based on the values of the color components of said pixel; and, multiplying each component of said pixel by said percentage value, and, storing a resulting watermarked image.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising the steps of: identifying a subset of pixels of the original image to be modified; for each pixel in said subset of pixels, determining a percentage value based on the values of the color components of said pixel; and, multiplying each component of said pixel by said percentage value, and, storing a resulting watermarked image.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising the steps of: identifying a subset of pixels of the original image to be modified; for each pixel in said subset of pixels, determining a percentage value based on the values of the color components of said pixel; and, modifying each component of said pixel by said percentage value, and, storing a resulting watermarked image.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 69 words
A method for applying an imperceptible digital watermark to an original digital image, comprising the steps of: identifying a subset of pixels of the original image to be modified; for each pixel in said subset of pixels, determining a percentage value based on the values of the color components of said pixel; and, modifying each component of said pixel by said percentage value, and, storing a resulting watermarked image.

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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) 2006-09-29 2007-03-31 2007-09-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-09-29 2011-03-31 2011-09-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-09-29 2015-03-31 2015-09-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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