US7377421B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and systems for interacting with printed articles, such as posters
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 2004-04-02
•
Granted: 2008-05-27
•
Expires: 2024-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A user detects data from a poster using a handheld appliance. The appliance then contacts a remote computer based on the data obtained from the poster, and can perform any of a variety of functions, such as purchasing tickets to a concert or movie, or downloading music. The data can be obtained from the poster in various ways, such as by optical sensing (e.g., of digital watermarks or bar codes) or by electromagnetic detection.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/306; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/305; B42D25/20; B42D25/23; B42D25/333; 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; G06Q20/308; G06Q20/32; G06Q20/321; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F17/26; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00962; H04N1/00973; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32229; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0064; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the appliance includes an output device, and the method includes presenting information to a user based on data obtained from said remote computer using said output device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the appliance includes an output device, and the method includes presenting information to a user based on data obtained from said remote computer using said output device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the machine-readable digital data is electromagnetically, and not optically, received from the poster.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 4 in which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting electronic content to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which electronic content is stored.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the method includes communicating over said link to cause electronic content to be transferred, and said electronic content comprises a song.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the method includes communicating over said link to cause electronic content to be transferred, and said electronic content comprises a song.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the machine-readable digital data is electromagnetically, and not optically, received from the poster.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action, said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 9 in which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting audio to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which audio is stored.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the poster is printed, and the printing includes a plural-bit code steganographically encoded therein.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the poster is printed, and the printing includes a plural-bit code steganographically encoded therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 11 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action, said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 13 which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting electronic content to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which electronic content is stored.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the appliance transmits at least some of the machine-readable data to a remote database, and the method further includes: determining, at said remote database, a URL corresponding to said machine-readable data, and transmitting data identifying said URL to the appliance; and at said appliance, fetching information from said URL.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: using a handheld appliance, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; and by reference to said machine-readable data received from the poster, establishing a link to a remote computer; wherein the appliance transmits at least some of the machine-readable data to a remote database, and the method further includes: determining, at said remote database, a URL corresponding to said machine-readable data, and transmitting data identifying said URL to the appliance; and at said appliance, fetching information from said URL.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the machine-readable digital data is electromagnetically, and not optically, received from the poster.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action, said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 18 in which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting electronic content to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which electronic content is stored.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
99 words
A system comprising: a poster presenting visible information to a viewer; and a handheld appliance, the appliance including means for obtaining digital data from the poster, said obtained digital data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster, and acting based thereon, wherein said digital data comprises first and second data fields, one of said fields serving to identify an internet address, and a second of said fields serving to convey identification data that can be passed to said internet address to elicit a response corresponding to said poster.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
99 words
A system comprising: a poster presenting visible information to a viewer; and a handheld appliance, the appliance including means for obtaining digital data from the poster, said obtained digital data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster, and acting based thereon, wherein said digital data comprises first and second data fields, one of said fields serving to identify an internet address, and a second of said fields serving to convey identification data that can be passed to said internet address to elicit a response corresponding to said poster.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: through use of a wireless, handheld device, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; by reference to said sensed data and a database, determining an address; and communicating with said address to trigger downloading of music to a user; wherein said machine-readable digital data is steganographically encoded in artwork printed on said poster.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of interacting with a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, the method comprising: through use of a wireless, handheld device, receiving machine-readable digital data from the poster, said data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; by reference to said sensed data and a database, determining an address; and communicating with said address to trigger downloading of music to a user; wherein said machine-readable digital data is steganographically encoded in artwork printed on said poster.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action, said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 23 in which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting audio to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which audio is stored.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: encoding payload data in a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, said payload data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; reading the payload data from the poster using a wireless, handheld device; and using the data read by the handheld device to provide a commerce opportunity involving music promoted by said poster.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
69 words
A method comprising: encoding payload data in a poster that presents visible information to a viewer, said payload data being manifested in a manner such that its existence is not apparent from visual inspection of the poster; reading the payload data from the poster using a wireless, handheld device; and using the data read by the handheld device to provide a commerce opportunity involving music promoted by said poster.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the machine-readable digital data is electromagnetically, and not optically, received from the poster.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said poster, from which image the digital data is then decoded.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 25 that includes presenting plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action, said plural options depending on said digital data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 28 in which said options include plural of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting audio to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which audio is stored.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
61 words
A method comprising: encoding payload data in a poster that presents visible information to a viewer; reading the payload data from the poster using a wireless, handheld device; and using the data read by the handheld device to provide a commerce opportunity involving music promoted by said poster; wherein said payload data is steganographically encoded in artwork printed on said poster.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
61 words
A method comprising: encoding payload data in a poster that presents visible information to a viewer; reading the payload data from the poster using a wireless, handheld device; and using the data read by the handheld device to provide a commerce opportunity involving music promoted by said poster; wherein said payload data is steganographically encoded in artwork printed on said poster.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of interacting with a printed article, for situations where marking of the article with a barcode may be undesirable for aesthetic purposes, the article being printed with artwork intended for viewing by a viewer, the method comprising the acts: capturing image data from the article using a handheld appliance, said image data comprising data representing said artwork; deriving, from the captured data representing the artwork, an identifier corresponding thereto; by reference to said identifier, accessing corresponding data in a remote computer; and as a consequence of the foregoing, presenting information corresponding to said printed article on an output device of the handheld appliance; wherein the present method is suitable for situations where aesthetic considerations make use of bar codes undesirable, because the present identifier is derived from the artwork intended for viewing by a human viewer.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of interacting with a printed article, for situations where marking of the article with a barcode may be undesirable for aesthetic purposes, the article being printed with artwork intended for viewing by a viewer, the method comprising the acts: capturing image data from the article using a handheld appliance, said image data comprising data representing said artwork; deriving, from the captured data representing the artwork, an identifier corresponding thereto; by reference to said identifier, accessing corresponding data in a remote computer; and as a consequence of the foregoing, presenting information corresponding to said printed article on an output device of the handheld appliance; wherein the present method is suitable for situations where aesthetic considerations make use of bar codes undesirable, because the present identifier is derived from the artwork intended for viewing by a human viewer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the artwork comprises a photograph, and the method includes deriving the identifier based, at least in part, on the data representing said photograph.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the artwork comprises a photograph of a person, and the method includes deriving the identifier based, at least in part, on the data representing said photograph.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 in which the presented information comprises a song.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the article comprises a promotional poster.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 in which the presented information invites a user of said appliance to enter into a commercial transaction relating to a subject promoted by said poster.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 in which the presented information invites a user of said appliance to enter into a commercial transaction.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 in which the presented information includes plural options from which a user can select a desired follow-up action.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 38 in which said plural options depend, at least in part, on said derived identifier.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 39 in which said options include at least one of the following actions: linking to a fan web site, downloading audio to said appliance, requesting electronic content to be downloaded to a storage site distinct from said appliance, and ordering physical media on which electronic content is stored.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 31 in which the deriving comprises applying an algorithm that takes image pixel values as input, and provides the identifier as output.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 41 in which the algorithm comprises a steganographic decoding algorithm.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 31 in which said appliance includes functions of both a palmtop computer and a digital camera, and the method includes—under control of a user of said appliance—snapping an image of said article, from which image the identifier is derived.
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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) | 2011-05-27 | 2011-11-26 | 2012-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-05-27 | 2015-11-26 | 2016-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-05-27 | 2019-11-26 | 2020-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |