US6763121B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Halftone watermarking method and system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 2000-06-14
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Granted: 2004-07-13
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Expires: 2020-06-14
Abstract
Abstract The watermark system and method. The watermark system includes a watermarking module for generating a half-tone image with a watermark (a watermarked halftone image) and a watermark recovery module for receiving a scanned image of a hard copy of the watermarked halftone image and recovering a watermark that is embedded in or specified by the scanned image. A print engine can be provided to receive the watermarked halftone image and generate a hard copy of the watermarked half-tone image. A scanner can be provided to scan a hard copy of a watermarked half-tone image and to generate a scanned image that can be provided to the watermark recovery module.
Inventors
- 👤 Doron Shaked
- 👤 Izhak Baharav
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of generating a watermarked half-tone image from a continuous-tone image, the method comprising: performing error diffusion half-toning on the continuous-tone image; and adding a watermark to the half-tone image during the half-toning; wherein error caused by adding the watermark is diffused into the half-tone image; and wherein the error diffusion-halftoning includes adding information regarding the continuous-tone image to the error to obtain a desired value selecting one of the desired value and a watermark value as a pre-threshold value based on a watermark location; and generating a halftone value based on a relationship between the pre-threshold value and a threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of generating a watermarked half-tone image from a continuous-tone image, the method comprising: performing error diffusion half-toning on the continuous-tone image; and adding a watermark to the half-tone image during the half-toning; wherein error caused by adding the watermark is diffused into the half-tone image; and wherein the error diffusion-halftoning includes adding information regarding the continuous-tone image to the error to obtain a desired value selecting one of the desired value and a watermark value as a pre-threshold value based on a watermark location; and generating a halftone value based on a relationship between the pre-threshold value and a threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the watermark includes: receiving predetermined watermark locations; and imposing the watermark at the watermark locations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined watermark locations are one of random locations and evenly spaced locations.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a location for the watermark in the half-tone image during the half-toning based on prediction tables and a neighborhood of previously rendered pixels in the half-tone image as the half-tone image is being rendered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting one of the desired value and the watermark value as the pre-threshold value based on the watermark location includes: providing a watermark value wherein the watermark value is a minimal intervention value which after thresholding generates a desired half-tone value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer readable medium for a processor, the medium storing a program for causing the processor to perform the method of claim 1 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A watermarking system for generating a watermarked halftone image from a continuous tone image, the system comprising: a watermarking module for performing error diffusion halftoning on the continuous tone image, and adding a watermark to the halftone image during the half-toning, the error diffusion half-toning including generating a desired value by adding information from the continuous tone image to an error value, and selecting one of the desired value and a watermark value as a pre-threshold value based on a watermark location; wherein error caused by adding the watermark is diffused into the halftone image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A watermarking system for generating a watermarked halftone image from a continuous tone image, the system comprising: a watermarking module for performing error diffusion halftoning on the continuous tone image, and adding a watermark to the halftone image during the half-toning, the error diffusion half-toning including generating a desired value by adding information from the continuous tone image to an error value, and selecting one of the desired value and a watermark value as a pre-threshold value based on a watermark location; wherein error caused by adding the watermark is diffused into the halftone image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The watermarking system of claim 7 further comprising: a watermark recovery module including a first input for receiving a scanned image and a second input for receiving the watermark locations, and based thereon for recovering the watermark.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The watermarking system of claim 8 further comprising: a scan engine coupled to the watermark recovery module for receiving a hard copy of a watermarked half-tone image, generating a scanned version of the watermarked half-tone image, and providing the scanned version to the watermark recovery module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The watermarking system of claim 7 further comprising: a print engine coupled to the watermarking module for receiving the watermarked half-tone image and based thereon for generating a hard copy of the watermarked half-tone image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 7 , wherein the watermark value is a minimal intervention value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 7 , further comprising determining a location for the watermark in the halftone image, by comparing predetermined neighborhood patterns to causal neighborhoods of a current pixel location as the halftone image is being rendered; and selecting the location of a causal neighborhood that matches one of the predetermined patterns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
A watermarking system comprising a watermarking module including a first input for receiving a continuous tone image, a second input for receiving a watermark, and a third input for receiving watermark locations, the watermarking module for generating a half-tone image with the watermark imposed at the watermark locations in the half-tone image, the watermarking module including: a minimal intervention module coupled to receive the watermark and based thereon for generating a minimal intervention pre-threshold value; and a threshold module coupled to the minimal intervention module for receiving the minimal intervention pre-threshold value and for generating a desired half-tone value based on the watermark.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A watermarking system comprising a watermarking module including a first input for receiving a continuous tone image, a second input for receiving a watermark, and a third input for receiving watermark locations, the watermarking module for generating a half-tone image with the watermark imposed at the watermark locations in the half-tone image, the watermarking module including: a minimal intervention module coupled to receive the watermark and based thereon for generating a minimal intervention pre-threshold value; and a threshold module coupled to the minimal intervention module for receiving the minimal intervention pre-threshold value and for generating a desired half-tone value based on the watermark.
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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) | 2007-07-13 | 2008-01-12 | 2008-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-13 | 2012-01-12 | 2012-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-13 | 2016-01-12 | 2016-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |