Abstract:
An improved method of watermarking picture identification documents (IDs) such as passports, driver's licenses, identification cards and the like which combines biometric information with digital watermarking to provide an improved secure picture ID document and authentication of same. A facial image—that is part of the identification document—is processed such that particular facial features are extracted from the overall facial image. The extracted features are used to generate a watermark key that is subsequently used to embed a unique watermark into the facial image or other location on the identification document.
Abstract:
A digital image is processed to hide information, by generally inconspicuous adjustments thereof. These adjustments can define a pattern that extends across some or all of the image. Desirably, the pattern is adapted to the particular image being encoded, so as to better conceal the encoding.
Abstract:
An interface system for enabling a user to instruct a computer system to perform an operation via an interface surface including an interface, the interface including visibly printed graphical information and substantially invisible coded data printed in infra-red ink, the coded data comprising a plurality of substantially undifferentiated marks positioned relative to a predetermined pattern, wherein each mark has a minimum radius and a maximum radius and wherein the length of a mark's minimum radius is greater than 40% of the length of that mark's maximum radius; and a sensing device which, when placed by the user into an operative position relative to the interface surface to designate at least some of the graphical information, senses at least some of the coded data and generates indicating data indicative of the operation using the sensed coded data; the computer system being configured to: receive the indicating data from the sensing device; and perform the operation indicated by the indicating data; wherein the graphical information designated by the user is at least partially indicative, to the user, of the operation, and wherein the coded data indicative of the operation is substantially coincident with graphical information indicative of the operation.
Abstract:
An interactive product is provided. The product comprises a surface having a writing position-code region. The writing position-code region has a first subset of a position-code provided thereon which codes a plurality of positions on the writing position-code region to enable electronic recording of information which is being written on the writing surface position-code region, by means of a sensing device which detects the position-codes. At least one activation icon is coded by a second subset of the position-code representing the activation icon and coding at least one position. The activation icon, when detected by the sensing device, causes the sensing device to initiate a predetermined operation. The sensing device detects the activation icon by reading a flag from at least the second subset of the position-code. The flag distinguishes the second subset of position-code from the first subset of the position-code.
Abstract:
A pen system for recording a track of handwritten information created by the pen device is provided. The pen system comprises: a handheld pen device for recording the information in a digital format; and a memory for storing the recorded information. The memory includes: a first memory unit located in the hand-held pen device; and a second memory unit located in an external data storage device. The memory units are connected in such a way that transmission of the recorded information is caused to occur automatically from the first memory unit to the second memory unit, and through transmission of the recorded information from the first memory unit to the second memory unit. The recorded information can exceed the storage capacity of the first memory unit and thereby, from the point of view of the user the first memory unit and second memory unit form a coherent memory unit.
Abstract:
Security of photographic identification documents is enhanced by embedding within the photographic image encoded information that may be correlated to other information pertaining to the individual represented by the image, such other information being, for example, printed on the document adjacent to the photograph.
Abstract:
A printer for printing an interface onto a surface is provided. The interface is comprised of visible data and machine-readable coded data. The visible data is based at least partially on document data which includes identity data indicative of an identity associated with a region of the interface. The printer comprises an input port for receiving the document data; a printhead and a processor for generating dot data for the printhead using the document data. The processor includes a coded data generator configured to generate the coded data based at least partially on the identity data. Further, printhead comprises ink channels dedicated for printing the visible data and a coded data ink channel dedicated for printing the coded data.
Abstract:
A print unit, that has one or more printhead assemblies, an individual printhead assembly having one or more printheads, the one or more printheads of the one or more printhead assemblies collectively configured to span the width of the media substrate; and one or more servicing assemblies, an individual servicing assembly configured for movement between a retracted position and a service position to service the one or more printheads on the individual printhead assembly.
Abstract:
A watermark embedder transforms a media signal from its perceptual domain to frequency domain regions and embeds a hash of data from one frequency domain region into a watermark in another frequency domain region. Alternatively, it encodes instances of the same message into the frequency domain regions. To detect alteration of the media signal, a watermark decoder transforms a suspect signal into the frequency domain regions, extracts the watermark message from a first frequency domain region and compares it with a reference derived from another frequency domain region. The reference signal is either a hash computed from the other frequency domain region of the watermarked signal, or another instance of the same message embedded into the other frequency domain region. The decoder can be used to detect alteration of the signal, such as alteration that occurs with reproduction (printing, scanning, copying, D/A-A/D conversion, etc.), compression, cropping or swapping of media signal content, etc.
Abstract:
A system for determining a route is provided. The system comprises a map of a geographic area, a sensing device and a computer system. The map includes coded data indicative of the map and a plurality of reference points on the map. The sensing device is operable to sense the coded data, generate indicating data relating to the map's identity and one or more of the reference points, and communicate the indicating data to the computer system. The computer system is operable to receive the indicating data, identify a geographic location from the indicating data and determine a route incorporating the geographic location.