Image analysis – Applications
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-10
2001-10-09
Johns, Andrew W. (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Applications
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301369
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a method of and system for encoding a signature into a digital image and auditing a digital subject image to determine if it was derived from the encoded image.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various images in traditional print or photographic media are commonly distributed to many users. Examples include the distribution of prints of paintings to the general public and photographs and film clips to and among the media. Owners may wish to audit usage of their images in print and electronic media, and so require a method to analyze print, film and digital images to determine if they were obtained directly from the owners or derived from their images. For example, the owner of an image may desire to limit access or use of the image. To monitor and enforce such a limitation, it would be beneficial to have a method of verifying that a subject image is copied or derived from the owner's image. The method of proof should be accurate and incapable of being circumvented. Further, the method should be able to detect unauthorized copies that have been resized, rotated, cropped, or otherwise altered slightly.
In the computer field, digital signatures have been applied to non-image digital data in order to identify the origin of the data. For various reasons these prior art digital signatures have not been applied to digital image data. One reason is that these prior art digital signatures are lost if the data to which they are applied are modified. Digital images are often modified each time they are printed, scanned, copied, or photographed due to unintentional “noise” created by the mechanical reproduction equipment used. Further, it is often desired to resize, rotate, crop or otherwise intentionally modify the image. Accordingly, the existing digital signatures are unacceptable for use with digital images.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention includes a method and system for embedding image signatures within visual images, applicable in the preferred embodiments described herein to digital representations as well as other media such as print or film. The signatures identify the source or ownership of images and distinguish between different copies of a single image.
In a preferred embodiment described herein, a plurality of signature points are selected that are positioned within an original image having pixels with pixel values. The pixel values of the signature points are adjusted by an amount detectable by a digital scanner. The adjusted signature points form a digital signature that is stored for future identification of subject images derived from the image.
The foregoing and other features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2630525 (1953-03-01), Tomberlin et al.
patent: 3562420 (1971-02-01), Thompson
patent: 3838444 (1974-09-01), Loughlin et al.
patent: 3845391 (1974-10-01), Crosby
patent: 3984624 (1976-10-01), Waggener
patent: 4225967 (1980-09-01), Miwa et al.
patent: 4230990 (1980-10-01), Lert, Jr. et al.
patent: 4231113 (1980-10-01), Blasbalg
patent: 4237484 (1980-12-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4238849 (1980-12-01), Gassmann
patent: 4313197 (1982-01-01), Maxemchuk
patent: 4367488 (1983-01-01), Leventer et al.
patent: 4379947 (1983-04-01), Warner
patent: 4389671 (1983-06-01), Posner et al.
patent: 4425642 (1984-01-01), Moses et al.
patent: 4425661 (1984-01-01), Moses et al.
patent: 4495620 (1985-01-01), Steele et al.
patent: 4528588 (1985-07-01), Löfberg
patent: 4644582 (1987-02-01), Morishita et al.
patent: 4672605 (1987-06-01), Hustig et al.
patent: 4677466 (1987-06-01), Lert, Jr. et al.
patent: 4697209 (1987-09-01), Kiewit et al.
patent: 4703476 (1987-10-01), Howard
patent: 4750173 (1988-06-01), Blüthgen
patent: 4775901 (1988-10-01), Nakano
patent: 4855827 (1989-08-01), Best
patent: 4866771 (1989-09-01), Bain
patent: 4876617 (1989-10-01), Best et al.
patent: 4908836 (1990-03-01), Rushforth et al.
patent: 4920503 (1990-04-01), Cook
patent: 4939515 (1990-07-01), Adelson
patent: 4941150 (1990-07-01), Iwasaki
patent: 4943973 (1990-07-01), Werner
patent: 4943976 (1990-07-01), Ishigaki
patent: 4963998 (1990-10-01), Maufe
patent: 4969041 (1990-11-01), O'Grady et al.
patent: 4972471 (1990-11-01), Gross et al.
patent: 4979210 (1990-12-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 5063446 (1991-11-01), Gibson
patent: 5073899 (1991-12-01), Collier et al.
patent: 5075773 (1991-12-01), Pullen et al.
patent: 5079648 (1992-01-01), Maufe
patent: 5083224 (1992-01-01), Hoogendoorn et al.
patent: 5103459 (1992-04-01), Gilhousen et al.
patent: 5113437 (1992-05-01), Best et al.
patent: 5134496 (1992-07-01), Schwab et al.
patent: 5146457 (1992-09-01), Veldhuis et al.
patent: 5161210 (1992-11-01), Druyvesteyn et al.
patent: 5200822 (1993-04-01), Bronfin et al.
patent: 5212551 (1993-05-01), Conanan
patent: 5228056 (1993-07-01), Schilling
patent: 5243423 (1993-09-01), DeJean et al.
patent: 5257119 (1993-10-01), Funada et al.
patent: 5278400 (1994-01-01), Appel
patent: 5315098 (1994-05-01), Tow
patent: 5319735 (1994-06-01), Preuss et al.
patent: 5327237 (1994-07-01), Gerdes et al.
patent: 5337361 (1994-08-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5374976 (1994-12-01), Spannenburg
patent: 5394274 (1995-02-01), Kahn
patent: 5410598 (1995-04-01), Shear
patent: 5436653 (1995-07-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5453968 (1995-09-01), Veldhuis et al.
patent: 5510900 (1996-04-01), Shirochi et al.
patent: 5537216 (1996-07-01), Yamashita et al.
patent: 5541741 (1996-07-01), Suzuki
patent: 5719984 (1998-02-01), Yamagata et al.
patent: 5790932 (1998-08-01), Kamaki et al.
patent: 5907443 (1999-05-01), Hirata
patent: 5930377 (1999-07-01), Powell et al.
patent: 2943436 A1 (1981-05-01), None
patent: 0058482 A1 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 0372601 A1 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 0493091 A1 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 2063018 A (1981-05-01), None
patent: 2196167 A (1988-04-01), None
patent: WO89/08915 A1 (1989-09-01), None
Hara et al., “An Improved Method of Embedding Data into Pictures by Modulo Masking,”IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 36, No. 3, Mar. 1988, pp. 315-331.*
Komatsu et al., “Authentication System Using Concealed Image in Telematics,”Memoirs of the School of Science&Engineering, Waseda Univ., No. 52, 1988, pp. 45-60.*
Gabor, et al., “Theory of Communication,”J. Inst. Elect. Eng.93, 1946, pp. 429-441.
Roberts, “Picture Coding Using Pseudorandom Noise,”IRE Trans. on Information Theory, vol. 8, No. 2, Feb., 1962, pp. 145-154.
Jain, “Image Coding Via a Nearest Neighbors Image Model,”IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. COM-23, No. 3, Mar. 1975, pp. 318-331.
Szepanski, “Optimization of Add-On Signals by Means of a Modified Training Algorithm for Linear Classifiers,”IEEE Int'l Symp. On Info. Theory, Oct. 10, 1977, pp. 27-28.
Szepanski, “Binary Data Transmission Over Video Channels with Very Low Amplitude Data Signals,”Fernseh- und Kino-Technik, vol. 32, No. 7, Jul., 1978, pp. 251-256. (German text with full English translation).
Szepanski, “A Signal Theoretic Method for Creating Forgery-Proof Documents for Automatic Verification,”Proceedings 1979 Carnahan Conference on Crime Countermeasures, May 16, 1979, pp. 101-109.
Szepanski, “Compatibility Problems in Add-On Data Transmission for TV-Channels,”2d Symp. and Tech. Exh. On Electromagnetic Compatibility, Jun. 28, 1977, pp. 263-268.
Szepanski, Additive Binary Data Transmission for Video Signals, Conference of the Communications Engineering Society, 1980,NTG Technical Reports, vol. 74, pp. 343-351. (German text with full English translation).
Pickholtz et al., “Theory of Spread-Spectrum Communications—A Tutorial,”Transactions on Communications, vol. COM-30, No. 5, May, 1982, pp. 855-884.
Wagner, “Fingerprinting,” 1983 IEEE, pp. 18-22.
Sklar, “A Structured Overview of Digital Communications—a Tutorial Review—Part I,”IEEE Communications Magazine, Aug., 1983, pp. 1-17.
Sklar, “A Structured Overview of Digital Communications—a Tutorial Review—Part II,”IEEE Communications Magazine, Oct., 1983, pp. 6-21.
Nitzberg Mark J.
Powell Robert D.
Conwell William Y.
Digimarc Corporation
Johns Andrew W.
LandOfFree
Image marking to permit later identification does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image marking to permit later identification, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image marking to permit later identification will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2612894