Patent US6681028B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6681028B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paper-based control of computer systems
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 1999-05-19
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Granted: 2004-01-20
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Expires: 2019-05-19
Abstract
Abstract Digital data is steganographically encoded in printed materials, and—when sensed by an appropriately-equipped webcam or other imaging device—can be used to link to associated electronic resources. Data hidden in a business card, for example, may enable linking to a person's electronic calendar—showing the person's schedule availability. Likewise, data hidden in a corporate ID badge may serve to unlock doors at a corporate office, or to enable access to corporate computers. Many other such applications are detailed.
Inventors
- 👤 Tony F. Rodriguez
- 👤 Jonathan Scott Carr
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:05
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/22; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/32; G06Q20/321; 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; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F17/26; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A method comprising: presenting a business card of an individual to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; and using said plural-bit data to establish a link to an internet address having data relating to the proprietor of said business card.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
52 words
A method comprising: presenting a business card of an individual to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; and using said plural-bit data to establish a link to an internet address having data relating to the proprietor of said business card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 which includes obtaining from said internet site calendar data detailing certain activities of the individual.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 in which the amount of calendar data obtained depends on an authorization level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3 in which the authorization level is reflected in the plural-bit data encoded in the individual's business card, wherein an individual can distribute differently-encoded cards to different recipients, to grant the recipients different access rights to said calendar data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 in which the optical sensor is a business card reader that also serves to input textual information from business cards into a personal information manager.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5 which includes storing an internet address discerned from the steganographically-encoded plural-bit data into said personal information manager.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the optical sensor is a digital camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 in which the digital camera is mounted to a computer display device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 in which the digital camera is head-mounted on a user thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the decoding includes sensing a subliminal graticule signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent rotation of the sensor output data from an original orientation of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
73 words
A method comprising: presenting a printed promotion to an optical sensor at a first site, the optical sensor producing output data; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; using said data to establish a link to an internet site relating to a company, product, or service promoted by said printed promotion; and transferring to from the internet site to the first site additional information relating to said company, product, or service.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
73 words
A method comprising: presenting a printed promotion to an optical sensor at a first site, the optical sensor producing output data; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; using said data to establish a link to an internet site relating to a company, product, or service promoted by said printed promotion; and transferring to from the internet site to the first site additional information relating to said company, product, or service.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 in which the decoding includes sensing a subliminal graticule signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent rotation of the sensor output data from an original orientation of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: presenting a printed identification badge to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data corresponding to optical characteristics of the face of said badge; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; checking the plural-bit data to determine whether it corresponds to a valid access card; and unlocking a lock depending on the outcome of the foregoing checking operation.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
64 words
A method comprising: presenting a printed identification badge to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data corresponding to optical characteristics of the face of said badge; decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data; checking the plural-bit data to determine whether it corresponds to a valid access card; and unlocking a lock depending on the outcome of the foregoing checking operation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19 in which the decoding includes sensing a subliminal graticule signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent rotation of the sensor output data from an original orientation of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the decoding includes discerning an apparent scaling of the sensor output data from an original scale of the encoding, and compensating therefor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
A business card comprising a substrate with printing thereon, characterized in that the printing includes a steganographic pattern encoding plural-bit auxiliary data, said pattern not being evident upon human inspection but being discernable by visible light scanning of the card and processing the scan data produced thereby.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A business card comprising a substrate with printing thereon, characterized in that the printing includes a steganographic pattern encoding plural-bit auxiliary data, said pattern not being evident upon human inspection but being discernable by visible light scanning of the card and processing the scan data produced thereby.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The card of claim 24 wherein the same printing that conveys the steganographic pattern also conveys information evident upon human inspection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The card of claim 25 wherein the steganographic pattern has a strength that varies across the business card in accordance with local characteristics thereof, so as to aid concealment of the encoding.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The card of claim 26 wherein the steganographic pattern has a strength that varies across the business card in accordance with local characteristics thereof, so as to aid concealment of the encoding.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The card of claim 20 wherein the steganographic pattern substantially spans the business card rather than being localized in one excerpt thereof.
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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) | 2007-01-19 | 2007-07-21 | 2008-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-19 | 2011-07-21 | 2012-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-19 | 2015-07-21 | 2016-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |