US7330563B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Documents, articles and authentication of documents and articles
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2006-05-09
•
Granted: 2008-02-12
•
Expires: 2026-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to physical articles, e.g., such as documents, and authenticating physical articles. One claim recites a method of determining authenticity of an analog form (e.g., a printed document such as legal tender, currency or identification documents). The analog form includes a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon. The signal is based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and is machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but the signal is imperceptible upon human inspection of the analog form. The method includes acts of: collecting visible light data corresponding to the analog form; transforming the visible light data to a complementary domain; inspecting the transformed data for the rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern indicates presence of the signal; and taking an action based on presence of the signal. Other combinations and physical articles are provided as well.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:55
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/23; G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K19/06046; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G06K19/18; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1447; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/005; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/80; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0032; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07D7/0047; G07D7/005; G07D7/20; G07D7/2016; G07D7/202; G07D7/2033; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G07F7/1016; G07F7/12; G07F7/122; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00115; G11B20/00166; G11B20/00181; G11B20/0021; 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; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; H04N19/00; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; B42D25/30; B42D25/309; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0052; G06T2201/0064; G06T2201/0065; G07C2209/00; G07C2209/40; G07C2209/41; 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; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for determining authenticity of an analog form, the analog form comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but the signal being steganographically hidden in the analog form, the apparatus comprising: a visible light scanner that scans the analog form; a reader that reads the scan data corresponding to the analog form to detect the signal steganographically embedded therein; and an authenticator that determines whether the analog form is authentic by reference to the signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus for determining authenticity of an analog form, the analog form comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but the signal being steganographically hidden in the analog form, the apparatus comprising: a visible light scanner that scans the analog form; a reader that reads the scan data corresponding to the analog form to detect the signal steganographically embedded therein; and an authenticator that determines whether the analog form is authentic by reference to the signal.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of authenticating a digital representation of an analog form comprising: producing first information from the analog form, the first information comprising data from visible light reading of the analog form, the analog form comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but said signal being imperceptible upon human inspection of the analog form; and analyzing the data to determine status of the analog form.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of authenticating a digital representation of an analog form comprising: producing first information from the analog form, the first information comprising data from visible light reading of the analog form, the analog form comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but said signal being imperceptible upon human inspection of the analog form; and analyzing the data to determine status of the analog form.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of determining authenticity of an analog form, the analog form including a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but the signal being imperceptible upon human inspection of the analog form, the method comprising: collecting visible light data conesponding to the analog form; transforming the visible light data to a complementary domain; inspecting the transformed data for the rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern indicates presence of the signal; and taking an action based on presence of said signal.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of determining authenticity of an analog form, the analog form including a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light reading of the analog form, but the signal being imperceptible upon human inspection of the analog form, the method comprising: collecting visible light data conesponding to the analog form; transforming the visible light data to a complementary domain; inspecting the transformed data for the rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern indicates presence of the signal; and taking an action based on presence of said signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method set forth in claim 3 wherein: the analog form is a document.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: the document is a cash document.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein: the action comprising preventing copying of the cash document.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: the document is an identification document, the identification document being issued by an issuing authority.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein: the identification document is a bankcard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical scanning device characterized in that: the optical scanning device employs the method set forth in claim 4 to determine authenticity of a document scanned thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A printed article, comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light scan data taken from said article, but said signal being generally imperceptible upon human inspection of said article, said signal indicating a status of said printed article to a compliant apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A printed article, comprising a machine-detectable signal represented in printing formed thereon, the signal being based on a rotationally symmetric pattern and being machine-detectable from visible light scan data taken from said article, but said signal being generally imperceptible upon human inspection of said article, said signal indicating a status of said printed article to a compliant apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
An article of legal tender according to claim 10 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
9 words
An article of identification according to claim 10 .
Claim 17
Independent Claim
61 words
A method comprising: collecting visible light scan data from a physical article; transforming the scan data to a complementary domain, in which said transforming generates transform data based on a Fourier transform; inspecting the transformed data for a telltale pattern, wherein presence of said pattern indicates a presence of a signal; and taking an action based on presence of said signal.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
61 words
A method comprising: collecting visible light scan data from a physical article; transforming the scan data to a complementary domain, in which said transforming generates transform data based on a Fourier transform; inspecting the transformed data for a telltale pattern, wherein presence of said pattern indicates a presence of a signal; and taking an action based on presence of said signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 in which the telltale pattern is rotationally symmetric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising filtering the transformed scan data prior to inspecting same for the telltale pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the physical article comprises legal tender and the action comprises prohibiting reproduction of the legal tender.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of representing a signal in a printed document, so that the signal can readily be machine-sensed from visible light data acquired from imaging the document no matter what orientation the document is in when the data is acquired, characterized by printing the document with a pattern that hides the signal as a subtle pattern, said subtle pattern being derived from a rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern in a printed document serves to indicate to compliant apparatus that the document should not be reproduced, and providing the printed document for distribution.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of representing a signal in a printed document, so that the signal can readily be machine-sensed from visible light data acquired from imaging the document no matter what orientation the document is in when the data is acquired, characterized by printing the document with a pattern that hides the signal as a subtle pattern, said subtle pattern being derived from a rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern in a printed document serves to indicate to compliant apparatus that the document should not be reproduced, and providing the printed document for distribution.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
80 words
A printed document, comprising a signal that can readily be machine-sensed from visible light data acquired from imaging the document no matter what orientation the document is in when the data is acquired, the document including a pattern that hides the signal as a subtle pattern, said subtle pattern being derived from a rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern in the printed document serves to indicate to a compliant apparatus that the printed document should not be reproduced.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
A printed document, comprising a signal that can readily be machine-sensed from visible light data acquired from imaging the document no matter what orientation the document is in when the data is acquired, the document including a pattern that hides the signal as a subtle pattern, said subtle pattern being derived from a rotationally symmetric pattern, wherein presence of said pattern in the printed document serves to indicate to a compliant apparatus that the printed document should not be reproduced.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
10 words
A printed document according to claim 18 comprising legal tender.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
8 words
An identification document according to claim 18 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
A document having a pattern formed over at least a portion thereof, characterized in that the pattern hides a signal that indicates, to compliant equipment, that the document should not be copied, the signal-hiding pattern being detectable by computer analysis of visible light scan data conesponding to said document, the pattern being based on a rotationally symmetric feature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
58 words
A document having a pattern formed over at least a portion thereof, characterized in that the pattern hides a signal that indicates, to compliant equipment, that the document should not be copied, the signal-hiding pattern being detectable by computer analysis of visible light scan data conesponding to said document, the pattern being based on a rotationally symmetric feature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The document of claim 21 wherein the pattern yields a distinctive pattern when transformed to a complementary domain.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The document of claim 21 wherein the pattern yields a distinctive pattern when processed with a transform of a Fourier type.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
9 words
The document according to claim 21 comprising legal tender.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2943436A1
Cited
US4590366A
Cited
US4675746A
Cited
US4689477A
Cited
US4736109A
Cited
US4728984A
Cited
US4874936A
Cited
US5018767A
Cited
US4972476A
Cited
US5237164A
Cited
US5319453A
Cited
JPH03185585A
Cited
US5337361C1
Cited
US5471533B1
Cited
US5471533A
Cited
US5337361A
Cited
US5091966A
Cited
US6076738A
Cited
EP0493091A1
Cited
US5329108A
Cited
US5221833A
Cited
US5515451A
Cited
US5495581A
Cited
US5284364A
Cited
US5721788A
Cited
US5864622A
Cited
US5379345A
Cited
US5436970A
Cited
US6292092B1
Cited
EP0629972A2
Cited
US5384846A
Cited
EP0642060B1
Cited
US5652626A
Cited
US5768426A
Cited
US7043052B2
Cited
US6546112B1
Cited
US6343138B1
Cited
US6289108B1
Cited
US5629770A
Cited
US5449896A
Cited
US5845008A
Cited
US5787186A
Cited
US5912974A
Cited
US5907149A
Cited
WO1996003286A1
Cited
US5694471A
Cited
US5646997A
Cited
US5659726A
Cited
US5799092A
Cited
EP0736860B1
Cited
US5748783A
Cited
US5636292A
Cited
US5636292C1
Cited
US6408082B1
Cited
US6424725B1
Cited
US6024287A
Cited
US5835639A
Cited
US5949055A
Cited
US6751336B2
Cited
US6243480B1
Cited
US6263087B1
Cited
US7239734B2
Cited
US6674886B2
Cited
US6727996B1
Cited
US6830196B1
Cited
US7099019B2
Cited
US7080041B2
Cited
US7181042B2
Cited
US6871789B2
Cited
US6782116B1
Cited
US7072490B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-02-11 | 2011-08-13 | 2012-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-02-11 | 2015-08-13 | 2016-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-02-11 | 2019-08-13 | 2020-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |