Digital asset management, targeted searching and desktop searching using digital watermarks

1. A method of obtaining metadata for a first imagery or audio file comprising:

determining other imagery or audio files that were created within a predetermined window of a creation time for the first imagery or audio file;

gathering metadata associated with the other imagery or audio files; and

associating at least some of the metadata with the first imagery or audio file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the other imagery or audio files comprise content portions and metadata portions, and said gathering comprises copying at least some of the metadata portions.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting gathered metadata for user selection through a graphical user interface.

4. A method of authoring metadata for an image or audio file or file directory via a computer comprising:

providing a graphical user interface through which a user can select a category of metadata from a plurality of categories of metadata; and

once selected, applying the selected category of metadata to a file or contents in a directory through a mouse cursor or touch screen, whereby the selected category of metadata is associated with the image or audio file or file directory.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the mouse cursor changes its graphical appearance when a category of metadata is selected.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein a graphical representation of a file changes color when the selected category of metadata is applied thereto.

7. A desktop searching tool comprising:

executable instructions stored in computer memory for execution by electronic processing circuitry, said instructions comprising instructions to:

i. search one or more computer directories for imagery or audio files;

ii. upon discovery of an imagery or audio file, analyze the file for a digital watermark embedded therein, and if a digital watermark is embedded therein to, recover a plural-bit identifier;

iii. obtain metadata from the imagery or audio file; and

iv. query a remote database with the plural-bit identifier to determine whether the file metadata is current.

8. The desktop searching tool of claim 7 further comprising instructions to refresh the file metadata with metadata from the remote database when the file metadata is not current.

9. The desktop searching tool of claim 8 wherein a timestamp or last edited field is used to determine whether the file metadata is current.

10. The desktop searching tool of claim 7 further comprising instructions to upload the imagery or audio file when the file is not stored on the remote database.

11. The desktop searching tool of claim 7 further comprising instructions to generate a searchable index reflecting at least the metadata.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising generating a searchable index reflecting at least the metadata.

13. A method of controlling a desktop searching tool comprising:

searching one or more computer directories for imagery or audio files;

upon discovery of an imagery or audio file, analyzing the file for a digital watermark embedded therein, and if a digital watermark is embedded therein, recovering a plural-bit identifier carried by the digital watermark;

obtaining metadata from the imagery or audio file; and

querying a remote database with the plural-bit identifier to determine whether the file metadata is current.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising refreshing the file metadata with metadata from the remote database when the file metadata is not current.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein a timestamp or last edited field is used to determine whether the file metadata is current.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising uploading the imagery or audio file when the file is not stored in the remote database.

17. A method of searching a network for watermarked content comprising:

receiving one or more keywords associated with watermarked content;

providing the one or more keywords to a network search engine;

obtaining from the network search engine a listing of URLs that are associated with the one or more keywords;

analyzing content at websites associated with the URLs for digital watermarking;

obtaining at least one watermark identifier from the digital watermarking; and

reporting at least one watermark identifier and a corresponding URL location.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the watermark identifier and URL location are reported to a remote server.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the watermark identifier and URL location are reported directly to a copyright owner associated with the watermark identifier.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more keywords comprises a watermark indicator.

21. A method of searching a network for watermarked content comprising:

monitoring network traffic patterns associated with a network resource comprising watermarked content stored thereon;

directing a watermark reader in a direction of the traffic patterns in search of watermarked content.

22. A method of categorizing content by a search engine comprising:

examining metadata associated with a website, the metadata reflecting a presence of digital watermarking; and

providing a presence of digital watermarking indicator that is associated with the website, wherein the presence of digital watermarking indicator is searchable through the search engine.

23. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 1 .

24. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 4 .

25. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 13 .

26. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 17 .

27. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 21 .

28. A computer readable medium comprising instructions or circuitry to perform the method of claim 22 .