Abstract:
A wireless phone is equipped with a 2D optical sensor, enabling a variety of applications. For example, such a phone may also be provided with a digital watermark decoder, permitting decoding of steganographic data on imaged objects. Movement of a phone may be inferred by sensing movement of an imaged pattern across the optical sensor's field of view, allowing use of the phone as a gestural input device through which a user can signal instructions to a computer-based process. A variety of other arrangements by which electronic devices can interact with the physical world are also detailed, e.g., involving sensing and responding to digital watermarks, bar codes, RFIDs, etc. Other novel arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed.
Abstract:
Stationery, or other printable media, is encoded with a digital watermark. The watermark is not conspicuous to a human observer of the media, yet conveys plural bits of auxiliary information when optically scanned and digitally processed. The watermark can be formed by ink-jet printing, or otherwise. The encoded information can be used for various purposes, including authenticating the document as an original, linking to associated on-line resources, and distinguishing seemingly-identical versions of the same document (document serialization).
Abstract:
An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed.
Abstract:
Various arrangements for use of biometric data are detailed. For example, a police officer may capture image data from a driver license (e.g., by using a camera cell phone). Facial recognition vectors are derived from the captured image data corresponding to photo on the license, and compared against a watch list. In another arrangement, a watch list of facial image data is compiled from a number of government and private sources. This consolidated database is then made available as a resource against which facial information from various sources can be checked. In still another arrangement, entities that issue photo ID credentials check each newly-captured facial portrait against a consolidated watch list database, to identify persons of interest. In yet another arrangement, existing catalogs of facial images that are maintained by such entities are checked for possible matches between cataloged faces, and faces in the consolidated watch list database.
Abstract:
Colored images are divided into color planes and watermarks are inserted into the individual color planes. One or more watermarks can be inserted into one or more of the color planes. In order to print a color image the image is divided into color planes corresponding to the colors of ink used for printing. A separate plate is used to print each color. The different plates must be precisely aligned. Any misalignment will cause blurring in the image and may make it difficult or impossible to read a watermark in the image. Misalignment of the plates can cause the watermark data in one color plane to, in effect, cancel out the watermark data in a different color plane. With the present invention a watermark is inserted into a selected color plane only, thus there is no cancellation due to misalignment of color plates. The watermark detection and reading can be done after the image is divided into color planes.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process to manufacture an object using at least one granular material (16) having a large particle size, for example greater than or equal to 0.1 mm, such process being characterised by the following stages: the granular material or materials are placed in a mould (2) at the same dimensions as the object to be made and incorporating at least one evacuation opening (6), said opening being of a size that is less than the particle size of the material, a liquid-phase binder (21) is poured into the mould, the binder is mixed between the grains of material and the excess binder is drained off through the evacuation opening using suction means (11). Application in the manufacture of igniting tubes or propellant charges for artillery ammunition.
Abstract:
Content identifiers are associated with respective metadata. Through use of the metadata, a user's experience with the content can be enhanced. A variety of other arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
A number of novel watermarking applications, and improvements to watermarking methods, are disclosed. Included are techniques for encoding printed circuit boards and street signs with watermarks, deterring credit card fraud and controlling software licensing using watermarks, registering collectibles via watermarks, encoding the margins of printed pages with watermarks, and using watermarks to convey extra information in video by which fidelity of the rendered video may be improved. One particular arrangement is a method in which a PDA, wristwatch, or other portable device with a display screen presents a pattern that includes a machine-readable identifier. This image is sensed by a separate device, such as a webcam or a camera-equipped cell phone. The sensing device can then take an action based on the identifier. In some arrangements, the action is personalized to the user.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus employing digital watermarking and/or steganography. In one implementation a printer includes watermarking capabilities to facilitate image management. Other implementations are detailed herein as well.