US7076084B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and objects employing machine readable data
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2005-04-13
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Granted: 2006-07-11
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Expires: 2025-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A tangible object (such as a microprocessor, wristwatch, pharmaceutical, compact disc, vehicle part, etc) is surface-textured to encode a plural-bit code thereon. In one arrangement, this encoding conveys date information. In use, the object can be imaged by a scanner apparatus, and the resulting scan data analyzed to discern the plural-bit code. The decoded date information can be used in a determination relating to the object. For example, at a port of entry, date information encoded on a Rolex wristwatch can be used to determine whether importation of the wristwatch should be permitted. The texture-encoded data can also convey other information, such as a vehicle identifier for an automotive part, a place of fabrication, a specification with which the part complies, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce L. Davis
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0032; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G07F7/1016; G07F7/12; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00166; G11B20/00876; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/66; H04B1/665; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00071; H04N1/00074; H04N1/00079; H04N1/00838; H04N1/0084; H04N1/00843; H04N1/00846; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; H10; H10W; H10W42/00; H10W42/40; H10W46/00; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0052; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91321; H04N2005/91335; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3207; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/328; H10W46/601; H10W46/607; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/828
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising using a handheld device equipped with visible light sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured visible light image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising using a handheld device equipped with visible light sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured visible light image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 that includes capturing the image data from an integrated circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the integrated circuit was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the integrated circuit conveys digital information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a mechanical bolt.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a mechanical bolt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the bolt was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the bolt conveys digital information.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a pharmaceutical tablet.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from a pharmaceutical tablet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 6 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the tablet was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the tablet conveys digital information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
83 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from packaging for a pharmaceutical product.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from packaging for a pharmaceutical product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 8 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the packaging was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the packaging conveys digital information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from an automotive component.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
81 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; wherein said capturing includes capturing the image data from an automotive component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 in which the image data corresponds to a texture pattern with which the component was marked, wherein such marking does not alert a viewer that the component conveys digital information.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
103 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; the method further including comparing at least part of said decoded information with data that should correspond thereto and which is conveyed by the object, in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A method to help determine whether an object is legitimate, comprising: using a handheld device equipped with an optical sensing capability to capture image data corresponding to a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information; analyzing the captured image data to decode digital watermark information steganographically encoded therein; and using the decoded information in a determination of whether the object is legitimate; the method further including comparing at least part of said decoded information with data that should correspond thereto and which is conveyed by the object, in a determination of whether the object is legitimate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the object is visibly marked with an indication of a purported property thereof, and the object property is also indicated by certain of said digital watermark information, and the method includes comparing said visibly marked indication with said property as indicated by said digital watermark information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said property is a speed property associated with said object.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
50 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and permitting an action only if said current temporal information is before said identified temporal information.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
50 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and permitting an action only if said current temporal information is before said identified temporal information.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and taking an action based on a result of said comparison; wherein said set of data is optically sensed from a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and taking an action based on a result of said comparison; wherein said set of data is optically sensed from a utilitarian object, said object having utility other than serving to convey or represent information.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
49 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and refusing an action if said current temporal information is after said identified temporal information.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
49 words
A method comprising: decoding digital watermark information steganographically encoded in a set of data; identifying from said decoded information a portion thereof representing temporal information; comparing said identified temporal information with current temporal information; and refusing an action if said current temporal information is after said identified temporal information.
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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) | 2009-07-10 | 2010-01-09 | 2010-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-01-09 | 2014-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-07-10 | 2018-01-09 | 2018-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |