US6744906B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and systems using multiple watermarks
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2001-12-07
•
Granted: 2004-06-01
•
Expires: 2021-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Two or more digital watermarks, with different characteristics, are embedded in a document. The characteristics are chosen so that the watermarks will be affected in different manners if the document is subsequently copied or reproduced. The detection process or mechanism reads two or more of the watermarks and compares their characteristics. While wear and handling may change the characteristics of the digital watermarks in a document, the relationship between the characteristics of the multiple digital watermarks in a document will nevertheless give an indication as to whether a document is an original or a copy of an original. Document wear can be independently assessed and used as an aid in interpreting the detected watermark characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
- 👤 Ammon E. Gustafson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:38
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06T1/0071; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/12; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00092; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32304; H04N1/32309; H04N1/32315; H04N1/32331; H04N1/32352; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051; G06T2201/0052; G06T2201/0202; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30144; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of determining whether a document is likely an original document, the document comprising a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, said method comprising: reading a first characteristic related to the first steganographic watermark; reading a second characteristic related to the second steganographic watermark; reading a third characteristic related to the document's physical condition; and with reference to the first, second and third characteristics, assessing whether the document is likely an original document.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of determining whether a document is likely an original document, the document comprising a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, said method comprising: reading a first characteristic related to the first steganographic watermark; reading a second characteristic related to the second steganographic watermark; reading a third characteristic related to the document's physical condition; and with reference to the first, second and third characteristics, assessing whether the document is likely an original document.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the physical condition comprises at least one of wear, handling and soiling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic each comprise a power level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic each comprise a grain level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic comprises a first geometric assignment of pixels and the second characteristic comprises a second geometric assignment of pixels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first characteristic comprises a color transformation characteristic and the second characteristic comprises at least a first bias characteristic.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining whether a printed object is likely an original printed object, the printed object comprising at least a first digital watermark and a second digital watermark, said method comprising: detecting a first characteristic related to the first digital watermark; detecting a second characteristic related to the second digital watermark; and comparing the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine whether the printed object is likely an original printed object.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for determining whether a printed object is likely an original printed object, the printed object comprising at least a first digital watermark and a second digital watermark, said method comprising: detecting a first characteristic related to the first digital watermark; detecting a second characteristic related to the second digital watermark; and comparing the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine whether the printed object is likely an original printed object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic each comprise a power level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 8 , wherein a comparison of the first power level and the second power level comprises a power ratio.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of detecting a third characteristic related to the document's physical condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein the document's physical condition comprises at least one of wear, handling and soiling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A document including a substrate with printing thereon, the printing comprising at least a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, the first steganographic watermark corresponding with a first characteristic and the second steganographic watermark corresponding with a second characteristic, wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a first corruption process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
A document including a substrate with printing thereon, the printing comprising at least a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, the first steganographic watermark corresponding with a first characteristic and the second steganographic watermark corresponding with a second characteristic, wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a first corruption process.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The document of claim 12 , wherein the first corruption process includes wear, and wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a second corruption process, and wherein the second corruption process includes scanning and printing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The document of claim 12 , wherein the first corruption process comprises a color transformation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The document of claim 14 , wherein the first characteristic comprises a first color.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The document of claim 14 , wherein the second characteristic comprises a second color.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The document of claim 16 , wherein the second color is out of gamut with respect to the first color.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The document of claim 14 , wherein the color transformation comprises scanning.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The document of claim 14 , wherein the color transformation comprises a digital transformation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The document of claim 14 , wherein the color transformation comprises printing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of making a printed document so as to allow differentiation of the printed document from a copy of the printed document, the printed document to include a substrate and printing on the substrate, said method comprising steps of: receiving artwork including at least a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, the first steganographic watermark corresponding with a first characteristic and the second steganographic watermark corresponding with a second characteristic, wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a first corruption process; and printing the artwork on the substrate.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of making a printed document so as to allow differentiation of the printed document from a copy of the printed document, the printed document to include a substrate and printing on the substrate, said method comprising steps of: receiving artwork including at least a first steganographic watermark and a second steganographic watermark, the first steganographic watermark corresponding with a first characteristic and the second steganographic watermark corresponding with a second characteristic, wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a first corruption process; and printing the artwork on the substrate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the first corruption process includes wear, and wherein the first and second characteristics are affected in a different manner when the document is subjected to a second corruption process, and wherein the second corruption process includes scanning and printing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the first corruption process comprises a color transformation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the first characteristic comprises a first color.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the second characteristic comprises a second color.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the second color is out of gamut with respect to the first color.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the printed document comprises an identification document.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the color transformation comprises scanning.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the color transformation comprises a digital transformation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the color transformation comprises printing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the artwork comprises at least image data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the artwork comprises at least background texture.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the artwork comprises at least background texture and image data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the printed document comprises an identification document.
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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) | 2007-06-01 | 2007-12-01 | 2008-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-01 | 2011-12-01 | 2012-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-01 | 2015-12-01 | 2016-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |