Methods involving maps, imagery, video and steganography
The disclosure describes methods and apparatus of providing steganographic indicia or digital watermarking in image or video data. One implementation provides a method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, with watermark embedding occurring on-chip with the imager. Another implementation provides a method of managing images. Each of the images comprises plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, with the plural-bit data corresponding to a geo-location. Yet another implementation provides a method of identifying locations on a map, with the map being for display via a computer display. Still another implementation provides a method of introducing a watermark message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.
1. A method comprising:
receiving an image from an imager including a digital watermark embedded by a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information;
determining viewing angle specifics of the received image;
decoding the digital watermark to obtain the location information;
identifying a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics, and
providing the map for access over a computer network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising graphically identifying locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein graphically identifying locations on the map comprises receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, and identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the image includes receiving an image captured from a cell phone, wherein the cell phone provides location information that is steganographic embedded with the image.
8. An apparatus comprising:
an imager configured to capture an image;
a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module;
a display configured to present the captured image; and
a processor configured to receive the image capture from the imager and embed a digital watermark together with the image into an image file, wherein the watermark embedding occurs on-chip with the imager, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine viewing angle specifics of the received image;
decode the digital watermark in the image tile to obtain the location information;
identify a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics; and
present the map on the display including the location and the captured image.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to graphically identify locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor graphically identifies locations on the map by receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to present on the map an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map identifies a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.
14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
instructions for receiving an image from an imager including a digital watermark embedded by a watermark embedder co-located on-chip with the imager, wherein the watermark embedder includes a signal generator and a signal combiner, wherein the watermark embedder further includes a human visual system module, wherein the digital watermark comprises location information;
instructions for determining viewing angle specifics of the received image;
instructions for decoding the digital watermark to obtain the location information;
instructions for identifying a map depicting a location and viewing angle corresponding to the location information and viewing angle specifics; and
instructions for providing the map for access over a computer network.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising instructions for graphically identifying locations on the map similarly-located to a user-selected image.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein graphically identifying locations on the map comprises receiving data representing a first image and analyzing the data to obtain information steganographically encoded therein.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the information steganographically encoded includes first location information associated with the first image.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising providing a map including an area associated with the first location information, wherein the map is to be displayed via a computer display, and identifying a first location on the map that is associated with the first location information.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein identification of the first location includes providing a visual object on the map at or near a map location that is associated with the first location information.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein instructions for receiving the image includes receiving an image captured from a cell phone, wherein the cell phone provides location information that is steganographic embedded with the image.