US6804377B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Detecting information hidden out-of-phase in color channels
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2002-04-02
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Granted: 2004-10-12
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Expires: 2022-04-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to detecting steganographically hiding images and information. In a preferred embodiment, an image is hidden within a media signal. The media preferably includes a cyan (C) color plane, a magenta (M) color plane, a yellow (Y) color plane and a black (K) color plane. In an alternative embodiment, the media includes a spot color. The image is converted into a black color channel image and is then applied to the media's K channel. The black channel image is inverted and the inverted image is applied to the media's CMY (or spot) color planes. For detection, the embedded media is illuminated with infrared light, which emphasizes the black color plane. An input device captures a digital image of the illuminated media. The image is detected or displayed based on the emphasized black plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Alastair M. Reed
- 👤 Trent J. Brundage
- 👤 Jeremy Cattone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:06
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32229; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32293; H04N1/32309; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method to detect a first image hidden in a second image, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the first image in the second image comprises at least hiding a first image component in a first of the plurality of color channels, and in the same second image location, hiding the component in a second of the plurality of channels, the second channel component being inverted with respect to the first channel component, said method comprising: illuminating the embedded second image with infrared light; capturing a digital image of the illuminated second image; and analyzing the captured illuminated digital image to detect the first image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method to detect a first image hidden in a second image, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the first image in the second image comprises at least hiding a first image component in a first of the plurality of color channels, and in the same second image location, hiding the component in a second of the plurality of channels, the second channel component being inverted with respect to the first channel component, said method comprising: illuminating the embedded second image with infrared light; capturing a digital image of the illuminated second image; and analyzing the captured illuminated digital image to detect the first image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first image comprises at least one of a photograph, graphic, logo, barcode, digital watermark, image, text, message and orientation fiducial.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first color channel comprises black, and the second color channel comprises cyan, magenta and yellow channels, wherein the second channel component is embedded in each of the cyan, magenta and yellow components, the second channel component being inverted in each of the cyan, magenta and yellow channels with respect to the first channel component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first color channel comprises black and the second color channel comprises cyan, magenta and yellow channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein at least said black color channel conforms to standard web offset press (SWOP) standards.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the first color channel comprises black, and the second color channel comprises a spot color.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the inverted nature of the second channel component with respect to the first channel component cancels localized luminance attributable to the hiding of the first channel component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising shielding the media from visible light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of filtering visible light before said step of capturing a digital image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A method to detect a digital watermark embedded in media, wherein the media includes a plurality of color planes and the digital watermark includes at least a first component and a second component, wherein the second component is embedded in a second color plane at a first media location so as to be inverted in the same media location with respect to the first component embedded in a first color plane so as to cancel luminance attributable to the first component, said method comprising illuminating the media with infrared light or ultraviolet light, and detecting the digital watermark from the illuminated media.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
102 words
A method to detect a digital watermark embedded in media, wherein the media includes a plurality of color planes and the digital watermark includes at least a first component and a second component, wherein the second component is embedded in a second color plane at a first media location so as to be inverted in the same media location with respect to the first component embedded in a first color plane so as to cancel luminance attributable to the first component, said method comprising illuminating the media with infrared light or ultraviolet light, and detecting the digital watermark from the illuminated media.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of color planes includes at least a black color plane and the second component is embedded in the black color plane.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of detecting an orientation fiducial steganographically hidden in a second image to help resolve image distortion, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the orientation fiducial in the second image comprises hiding the fiducial in a first of the plurality of color channels, and hiding the fiducial in a second of the plurality of channels at the same location as the hidden first channel fiducial, the second channel fiducial being inverted with respect to the first channel fiducial so as to cancel localized luminance attributable to the first channel fiducial, said method comprising the steps of illuminating the second image with infrared light, capturing a digital image of the illuminated second image, and analyzing the captured illuminated digital image to detect the fiducial.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of detecting an orientation fiducial steganographically hidden in a second image to help resolve image distortion, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the orientation fiducial in the second image comprises hiding the fiducial in a first of the plurality of color channels, and hiding the fiducial in a second of the plurality of channels at the same location as the hidden first channel fiducial, the second channel fiducial being inverted with respect to the first channel fiducial so as to cancel localized luminance attributable to the first channel fiducial, said method comprising the steps of illuminating the second image with infrared light, capturing a digital image of the illuminated second image, and analyzing the captured illuminated digital image to detect the fiducial.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the fiducial comprises an indication of an original scale and orientation of at least one of the orientation fiducial and second image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing the orientation and scale of the detected fiducial to an expected orientation and scale to rescale and reorient the second image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said image further comprises a third channel with the fiducial hidden therein at the same spatial location as the hidden first channel fiducial, the image further comprising a fourth channel with the fiducial hidden therein at the same spatial location as the hidden first channel fiducial, wherein the second channel fiducial is inverted with respect to the third channel fiducial and the fourth channel fiducial so as to cancel at least some localized liminance attibutable to the third channel fiducial and fourth channel fiducial.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method to detect a digital watermark embedded in printed media, wherein the printed media includes a plurality of color planes and the digital watermark includes at least a first component and a second component, wherein the second component is embedded so as to visually effect a first spatial area, wherein the embedded second embodiment component reduces at least some visual artifacts at the first spatial area that are attributable to the embedded first component, said method comprising illuminating the media at least one of infrared light and ultraviolet light, and detecting the digital watermark from an image captured from the illuminated media.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
103 words
A method to detect a digital watermark embedded in printed media, wherein the printed media includes a plurality of color planes and the digital watermark includes at least a first component and a second component, wherein the second component is embedded so as to visually effect a first spatial area, wherein the embedded second embodiment component reduces at least some visual artifacts at the first spatial area that are attributable to the embedded first component, said method comprising illuminating the media at least one of infrared light and ultraviolet light, and detecting the digital watermark from an image captured from the illuminated media.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of color planes includes at least a black color plane and the second component is embedded in the black color plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of color planes includes a cyan color plane, a magenta color plane and a yellow color plane, and the first component is embedded in each of the cyan color plane, magenta color plane and yellow color plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the first component is embedded at different strengths in at least one of the cyan color plane, magenta color plane and yellow color plane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the visual artifacts comprise a change in luminance that is attributable to the embedded first component.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
130 words
A method to detect a first image hidden in a second image, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the first image in the second image comprises at least hiding a first image component in a first of the plurality of color channels, and hiding the component in a second of the plurality of channels, the second channel component being hidden so as to be spatially registered with the first image component to reduce at least some visual artifacts that are attributable to the first image component, said method comprising; illuminating the second image with at least of infrared light and ultraviolet light; optically capturing an image of the illuminated second image; and analyzing the captured illuminated image to detect the first image component.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
130 words
A method to detect a first image hidden in a second image, the second image comprising a plurality of color channels, wherein the hiding of the first image in the second image comprises at least hiding a first image component in a first of the plurality of color channels, and hiding the component in a second of the plurality of channels, the second channel component being hidden so as to be spatially registered with the first image component to reduce at least some visual artifacts that are attributable to the first image component, said method comprising; illuminating the second image with at least of infrared light and ultraviolet light; optically capturing an image of the illuminated second image; and analyzing the captured illuminated image to detect the first image component.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the second color channel comprises black, and the first color channel comprises cyan, magenta and yellow channels, wherein the first image component is embedded in each of the cyan, magenta and yellow channels, the second image component being spatially registered with the first image components to reduce at least some visual artifacts that are attributable to the first image component in each of the cyan, magenta and yellow channels.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the second channel component is hidden so as to be spatially registered with the first image component to cancel at least some localized luminance that is attributable to the hiding of the first image component.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein the first image comprises at least one of a photograph, graphic, logo, barcode, digital watermark, image, text, message and orientation fiducial.
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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) | 2007-10-12 | 2008-04-12 | 2008-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-10-12 | 2012-04-12 | 2012-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-10-12 | 2016-04-12 | 2016-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |