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Methods and systems for marking printed documents

Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2002-06-06
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Granted: 2004-06-22
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Expires: 2022-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract Line structures are provided for printed documents to encode plural-bit digital information. The encoded information can be decoded using suitably-equipped processing equipment and used to identify the printed documents. In one implementation the information is repeated differently in a two dimensional pattern of line structures according to a key.

Inventors

  • 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 13:16
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; G06T1/005; G06T1/0064; G06T1/0071; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00092; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00244; H04N1/00856; H04N1/00859; H04N1/00864; H04N1/00867; H04N1/0087; H04N1/00875; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32219; H04N1/32261; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32304; H04N1/32309; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/1418; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051; G06T2201/0065; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3207; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3239; H04N2201/3246; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
A banknote having a watermarked line art image formed thereon, the image formed according to a method of watermarking a line art image to convey auxiliary data, the line art image including at least one line art element having a contour, the method being characterized by spatially shifting the location of said contour to effect a change in luminosity of at least one image region through which the element passes, the auxiliary data being detectable through the luminosity change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 79 words
A banknote having a watermarked line art image formed thereon, the image formed according to a method of watermarking a line art image to convey auxiliary data, the line art image including at least one line art element having a contour, the method being characterized by spatially shifting the location of said contour to effect a change in luminosity of at least one image region through which the element passes, the auxiliary data being detectable through the luminosity change.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein the ink droplets include a diameter of approximately 3 μm.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 74 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein the ink droplets include a diameter of approximately 3 μm.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 73 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein the ink droplets are provided as a Gaussian profile.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 73 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein the ink droplets are provided as a Gaussian profile.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein relatively dark colored ink droplets are provided to the region to decrease the luminosity in the region.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein relatively dark colored ink droplets are provided to the region to decrease the luminosity in the region.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein relatively light colored ink droplets are provided to the region to increase the luminosity in the region.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 81 words
A method of watermarking an image to convey auxiliary data, the image including at least one image region, the image region including at least one element, the method being characterized by providing ink droplets in the region while leaving spacing or dimensions of the element otherwise unchanged, the provided ink droplets changing the luminance in the region to convey the auxiliary data, and wherein relatively light colored ink droplets are provided to the region to increase the luminosity in the region.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of generating a machine readable code for a printed document to convey auxiliary data, the printed document to include at least one region, the region to include two dimensional pattern of line structures, the method being characterized by: providing an overt structure for geometric registration; generating auxiliary data comprising message values; mapping the message values so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures; and repeating the auxiliary data in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the repeated auxiliary data is represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to an independent code signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 105 words
A method of generating a machine readable code for a printed document to convey auxiliary data, the printed document to include at least one region, the region to include two dimensional pattern of line structures, the method being characterized by: providing an overt structure for geometric registration; generating auxiliary data comprising message values; mapping the message values so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures; and repeating the auxiliary data in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the repeated auxiliary data is represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to an independent code signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the code signal comprises a key.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the document comprises a check.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the document comprises a security document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the document comprises an identification document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the document comprises a passport.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising printing the document so as to include the machine readable code.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising printing the machine readable code on the document.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the document comprises a check.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the document comprises a banknote.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the document comprises a passport.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the document comprises a security document.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the document comprises an identification document.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 14 words
A document having a machine-readable code produced in accordance with claim 6 formed thereon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method comprising printing a document that includes a machine-readable code generated in accordance with claim 6 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the machine readable code is steganographic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the steganographic machine readable code comprises a digital watermark.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method comprising: receiving scan data corresponding to a document that includes a machine-readable code generated in accordance with claim 6 , and decoding the scan data to obtain the auxiliary data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the scan data is obtained through visible light scanning of the document.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the message values comprise plural bits.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the code signal comprises a spreading signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the code signal comprises a cryptographic key.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the repeated auxiliary data, which is represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to an independent code signal, comprises tiling of the auxiliary data in the two dimensional pattern of line structures.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising error correcting the message values.
Claim 36
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of generating a machine readable code for a check, the machine readable code conveying auxiliary data, the check to include at least one region, the one region to include a two dimensional pattern of line structures, said method comprising steps of: providing a visible structure for geometric registration; generating auxiliary data comprising message values; mapping the message values so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures; and repeating the auxiliary data in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the repeated auxiliary data is represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to a key.
Claim 37
Independent Claim 106 words
A method of generating a machine readable code for a check, the machine readable code conveying auxiliary data, the check to include at least one region, the one region to include a two dimensional pattern of line structures, said method comprising steps of: providing a visible structure for geometric registration; generating auxiliary data comprising message values; mapping the message values so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures; and repeating the auxiliary data in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the repeated auxiliary data is represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to a key.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising printing the machine readable code on the check.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 14 words
A check having a machine-readable code produced in accordance with claim 30 formed thereon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method comprising printing a check that includes a machine-readable code generated in accordance with claim 30 .
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the machine readable code is steganographic.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 34 , wherein the steganographic machine readable code comprises a digital watermark.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method comprising: receiving scan data corresponding to a check that includes a machine-readable code generated in accordance with claim 30 , and decoding the scan data to obtain the auxiliary data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein the scan data is obtained through visible light scanning of the check.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the message values comprise plural bits.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising error correcting the message values.
Claim 47
Independent Claim 93 words
A method comprising: receiving artwork including a machine readable code, the artwork characterized by: an overt structure for geometric registration; and a two-dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the machine readable code comprises auxiliary data, and wherein the auxiliary data is mapped so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures, the auxiliary data being repeated in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, but represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to a key; and printing a document in accordance with the received artwork.
Claim 48
Independent Claim 93 words
A method comprising: receiving artwork including a machine readable code, the artwork characterized by: an overt structure for geometric registration; and a two-dimensional pattern of line structures, wherein the machine readable code comprises auxiliary data, and wherein the auxiliary data is mapped so as to be conveyed through the two dimensional pattern of line structures, the auxiliary data being repeated in the two dimensional pattern of line structures, but represented differently in the two dimensional pattern of line structures according to a key; and printing a document in accordance with the received artwork.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the auxiliary data comprises error correction coding.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the key comprises a cryptographic key.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the auxiliary data comprises plural bits.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the machine readable code is steganographic.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 44 , wherein the steganographic machine readable code comprises a digital watermark.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method comprising: receiving scan data corresponding to the document printed according to claim 40 , and decoding the scan data to obtain the auxiliary data.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 46 , wherein the scan data is obtained through visible light scanning of the document.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the document comprises a check.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the document comprises a banknote.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the document comprises a passport.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the document comprises a security document.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 40 , wherein the 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) 2007-06-22 2007-12-22 2008-06-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2011-06-22 2011-12-22 2012-06-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2015-06-22 2015-12-22 2016-06-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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