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.
Abstract:
Various improvements to data processing systems involve enhancements to BIOS functionality, use of identifiers associated with specific instances of hardware, and data hiding techniques—sometimes alone, sometimes in combination. Many of these improvements can be applied to increase the security of computer systems, and networks of which they form part.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems to improve network searching for watermarked content. In some implementations we employ keyword searching to narrow the universe of possible URL candidates. A resulting URL list is searched for digital watermarking. A system is provided to allow customer input. For example, a customer enters keywords or network locations. The keywords or network locations are provided to a watermark-enabled web browser which accesses locations associated with the keywords or network locations. Some implementations of the present invention employ a plurality of distributed watermark-enabled web browsers. Other aspects of the invention provide methods and system to facilitate desktop searching and automated metadata gathering and generating. In one implementation a digital watermark is used to determine whether metadata associated with an image or audio file is current or fresh. The metadata is updated when it is out of date. Watermarks can also be used to link to or facilitate so-called on-line “blogs” (or online conversations).
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems to improve network searching for watermarked content. In some implementations we employ keyword searching to narrow the universe of possible URL candidates. A resulting URL list is searched for digital watermarking. A system is provided to allow customer input. For example, a customer enters keywords or network locations. The keywords or network locations are provided to a watermark-enabled web browser which accesses locations associated with the keywords or network locations. Some implementations of the present invention employ a plurality of distributed watermark-enabled web browsers. Other aspects of the invention provide methods and system to facilitate desktop searching and automated metadata gathering and generating. In one implementation a digital watermark is used to determine whether metadata associated with an image or audio file is current or fresh. The metadata is updated when it is out of date. Watermarks can also be used to link to or facilitate so-called on-line “blogs” (or online conversations).
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:
A method for decoding auxiliary data from media signals in multimedia content decodes auxiliary data, including digital watermarks, from different media signals and uses the watermarks to control processing of the multimedia content. A copy control method decodes a watermark from one of the media signals in multimedia content, and uses the watermark to control processing of the multimedia content. Another method uses a watermark decoded from a first media signal to decode a second media signal. Yet another method uses a watermark decoded from a media signal to decode metadata associated with the media signal. Finally, another method forms a key for decoding data from at least first and second watermarks extracted from first and second media signals.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a method of securing messages steganographically embedded in media (e.g., printed or electronic objects, audio and video). In one implementation, a message includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first message and a first checksum, which are encrypted with a private key. The encrypted first portion is combined with the second portion. The second portion includes a second message and as second checksum. The combined encrypted first portion and the second portion form a signature. The signature is encrypted with a common or universal key, perhaps after error correction coding. The private key is uniquely associated with an entity such as a document issuing jurisdiction. In another implementation, a method appends information to a watermark message received from a remote device. The information preferably corresponds to the remote device or to a user of the remote device. In yet another implementation, a method provides standardized watermark payloads from various input data, regardless of the size of the input data.
Abstract:
A system where collateral information in a file or image is used together with information concerning a particular user's characteristics to direct a user to a particular web site. A user is direct to a web site and presented with information based both upon the original collateral information and information from the data base of user's characteristics. In one embodiment, a file or data stream includes collateral data that identifies the URL of a central web site. When a file containing the collateral data is transferred to a browser, the central web site is accessed and it interrogates a data base containing various information. The output of the data base search is another URL that directs the browser that received the original collateral data to another web site which then sends information to the user. In an alternate embodiment, a user uses a handheld digital camera to gather information from images such as magazine covers or product boxes. The images contain digital watermarks that carry collateral data. The collateral data is used to interrogate either a local or a remote database which contains information pertinent to the particular user's characteristics.
Abstract:
An underground sprinkler system including a tank having an inner cavity adapted to hold chemicals, a distribution pipe fluidly connected to the inner cavity of the tank allowing chemicals to be added to the tank; a mixer connector pipe fluidly connected to the inner cavity of the tank and to a water source hose; a pump disposed in the tank for pumping the chemicals out of the inner cavity of the tank and into the water source hose via the mixer connector pipe; and a secondary connector pipe fluidly connected to the inner cavity of the tank and to the water source hose, the secondary connector pipe allows water from the water source hose to enter into the inner cavity of the tank.