IP Library Granted Patent US 7,171,020
Granted Patent B2
US 7,171,020 · App. 10/723,731 · Granted Jan 30, 2007

Method for utilizing fragile watermark for enhanced security

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,171,020
App. No.
10/723,731
Granted
Jan 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fragile watermark is embedded in a document. The fragile watermark provides enhance security. In one implementation, a method is provided for embedding information in an image so that the image will have different information when a scanning or printing process reproduces the image. The method includes embedding digital information in an image; printing the embedded digital information and the image to produce a original printed image; scanning the original printed image to obtain a digital image of the embedded information and the image; determining the signal strength of the original image; and comparing the signal strength of a printed image with the signal strength of the original printed image to determine whether or not the printed image is a copy of the original printed image.

Claims (19)

1. A method for embedding information in an image so that the image will have different information when the image is reproduced by a scanning or printing process, the method comprising:

embedding digital information in an image;

printing the embedded digital information and the image to produce an original printed image;

scanning the original printed image to obtain a digital image of the embedded information and the image;

determining the signal strength of the original image; and

comparing the signal strength of a printed image with the signal strength of the original printed image to determine whether or not the printed image is a copy of the original printed image.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image is a graphic.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein a bit map file is created for the original printed image.

4. The method claimed in claim 1 , wherein the comparing step further comprises:

measuring the signal strength of the original printed image to set a threshold value for the original printed image and copies of the original printed image.

5. The method claimed in claim 4 , whereby if the signal strength of a printed image is greater than the threshold value the printed image is the original printed image.

6. The method claimed in claim 4 , whereby if the signal strength of a printed image is less than the threshold value the printed image is not the original printed image.

7. A method to determine whether an image or video has been reproduced, the method comprising:

receiving an image or video, wherein the image or video includes information steganographically hidden therein;

detecting signal characteristics associated with the steganographically hidden information from the image or video;

determining whether detected signal characteristics correspond to predetermined signal characteristics in an expected manner,

wherein a reproduction is determined when the detected characteristics do not correspond to the predetermined characteristics in the expected manner.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the information steganographic hidden in the image or video comprises two or more steganographic watermarks.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined characteristics correspond to a signal relationship between the two or more steganographic watermarks.

Assignments (6)
MERGER Recorded Nov 2, 2010
From: DMRC LLC
To: DMRC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025227/0808 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 2, 2010
From: DMRC CORPORATION
To: DIGIMARC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025227/0832 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2010
From: DIGIMARC CORPORATION (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
To: DMRC LLC
Reel/Frame 025217/0508 →
MERGER Recorded May 12, 2010
From: DIGIMARC CORPORATION (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
To: DIGIMARC CORPORATION (AN OREGON CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 024369/0582 →
CONFIRMATION OF TRANSFER OF UNITED STATES PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 5, 2008
From: L-1 SECURE CREDENTIALING, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS DIGIMARC CORPORATION)
To: DIGIMARC CORPORATION (FORMERLY DMRC CORPORATION)
Reel/Frame 021785/0796 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2004
From: RHOADS, GEOFFREY B.; GUSTAFSON, AMMON E.
To: DIGIMARC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015378/0721 →