Digital watermarking methods, apparatus and systems

1. A method comprising:

obtaining first color data and second color data, the first color data and the second color data represent data from a color image signal or color video signal;

obtaining a digital watermark pattern, the pattern aiding detection of a watermark message;

separating the digital watermark pattern into first frequency components and second frequency components;

utilizing a programmed electronic processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the first color data by hiding the first frequency components therein; and

utilizing a programmed electronic processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the second color data by hiding the second frequency components therein.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising obtaining the watermark message and steganographically embedding the watermark message in a luminance channel of the color image signal or color video signal.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the first frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the first color data comprises a red-green color data, and the second color data comprises a blue-yellow color data.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising obtaining the watermark message and embedding the watermark message in a luminance channel of the color image signal or color video signal.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to perform or control the method of claim 5 .

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to perform or control the method of claim 1 .

8. A method comprising:

obtaining first color data, second color data and third data, the first color data, the second color data and third data each represent components of a color image signal or color video signal;

obtaining a digital watermark signal, the digital watermark signal serving to facilitate detection of a watermark message;

separating the digital watermark signal into first frequency components, second frequency components and third frequency components;

utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the first color data by hiding the first frequency components therein;

utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the second color data by hiding the second frequency components therein; and

utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the third data by hiding the third frequency components therein.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the third frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components and to the first frequency components, and the second frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the first frequency components.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the second color data comprises red-green color data, and the first color data comprises blue-yellow color data.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining the watermark message and embedding the watermark message in the third data.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 10 .

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising obtaining the watermark message and steganographically embedding the watermark message in the third data.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising, prior to said act of separating the digital watermark signal, combining the watermark message with the digital watermark signal.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 14 .

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 8 .

17. An apparatus comprising:

electronic memory;

one or more electronic processors; and

instructions stored in said electronic memory for execution by said one or more electronic processors, said instructions comprising instructions for:

i) obtaining first color data and second color data, the first color data and the second color data represent data from a color image signal or color video signal; ii) obtaining a digital watermark signal, the signal serving to facilitate detection of a watermark message; iii) separating the digital watermark orientation pattern into first frequency components and second frequency components; iv) modifying the first color data by hiding the first frequency components therein; and v) modifying the second color data by hiding the second frequency components therein.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising instructions for obtaining the watermark message and to hide the watermark message in luminance data of the color image signal or color video signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the first frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the first color data comprises red-green color data, and the second color data comprises blue-yellow color data.

21. An apparatus comprising:

electronic memory;

means for obtaining first color data and second color data, the first color data and the second color data represent data from a color image signal or color video signal;

means for obtaining a digital watermark signal, the signal serving to facilitate detection of a watermark message;

means for separating the digital watermark orientation pattern into first frequency components and second frequency components;

means for modifying the first color data by hiding the first frequency components therein; and

means for modifying the second color data by hiding the second frequency components therein.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising means for obtaining the watermark message and to hide the watermark message in luminance data of the color image signal or color video signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 in which the first frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the first color data comprises red-green color data, and the second color data comprises blue-yellow color data.