Abstract: Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark.

Abstract: A method of video fingerprinting computes statistics for video frames and forms a fingerprint used to identify the video as a change in the statistics over the video frames. Another method of video fingerprinting computes values representing motion between different portions of the video and forms a fingerprint to identify the video utilizing data associated with at least the values. Yet another method of video fingerprinting computes values associated with luminance for a first video portion, computes values associated with luminance for a second video portion, determines changes in luminance between the first video portion and the second video portion, and forms a fingerprint to identify the video based at least in part on data associated with the changes.

Abstract: A text watermarking method embeds an auxiliary message in an original electronic text document to form a watermarked text document. The method applies a spreading function to message symbols to spread the symbols over a carrier, which forms a modulated carrier. It maps elements of the modulated carrier to corresponding inter-word spaces in the electronic text document, and applies an embedding function to modify the corresponding inter-word spaces according to elements of the modulated carrier signal such that the modified inter-word spaces hide the modulated carrier signal in the watermarked text document. The message symbols are automatically decodable from the watermarked document without the original electronic text document. A compatible decoder extracts the auxiliary message from a printed or electronic watermarked text document. The decoder automatically measures inter-word spaces in the watermarked text document.

Abstract: A data set is transformed to a domain in which values are robust to distortion. The values are then expanded to carry auxiliary data. To recover the data, the data set is transformed into the domain, further transformed to get a set of possibly expanded data, and then processed to extract auxiliary data from the expanded values.

Abstract: A text watermarking method embeds an auxiliary message in an original electronic text document to form a watermarked text document. The method applies a spreading function to message symbols to spread the symbols over a carrier, which forms a modulated carrier. It maps elements of the modulated carrier to corresponding inter-word spaces in the electronic text document, and applies an embedding function to modify the corresponding inter-word spaces according to elements of the modulated carrier signal such that the modified inter-word spaces hide the modulated carrier signal in the watermarked text document. The message symbols are automatically decodable from the watermarked document without the original electronic text document. A compatible decoder extracts the auxiliary message from a printed or electronic watermarked text document. The decoder automatically measures inter-word spaces in the watermarked text document.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus that are helpful for identifying or protecting video. One claim recites a method including: receiving data representing picture elements of video; transforming the data into a frequency domain; comparing characteristics associated with the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the first video type; and if the characteristics do not coincide, comparing the characteristics of the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the second video type.

Abstract: Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark. Another implementation computes a semi-sensitive hash of the host signal, such as a low pass filtering of the signal, and embeds the hash into the watermark. The watermark signal may be content dependent by making the watermark key dependent on some attribute of the signal in which the watermark is embedded.

Abstract: A content watermarking method derives a watermark key from data representing content. In one particular method, a plural symbol message is algorithmically transformed in dependence on the derived watermark key. In another arrangement, the key specifies how or where the message is embedded in the content. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A data set is transformed to a domain in which values are robust to distortion. The values are then expanded to carry auxiliary data. To recover the data, the data set is transformed into the domain, further transformed to get a set of possibly expanded data, and then processed to extract auxiliary data from the expanded values.

Abstract: Methods for embedding digital watermarks in compressed video include perceptual adapting a digital watermark in predicted and non-predicted data based on block activity derived from the compressed video stream, embedding in predicted objects in a video stream having separately compressed video objects, and bit rate control of watermarked video.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus that are helpful for identifying or protecting video. One claim recites a method including: receiving data representing picture elements of video; transforming the data into a frequency domain; comparing characteristics associated with the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the first video type; and if the characteristics do not coincide, comparing the characteristics of the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the second video type.

Abstract: Reversible watermarking methods enable auxiliary data to be embedded in data sets, such as images, audio, video and software. The reversible nature of the method enables the original data set to be perfectly restored. Control systems with feedback loops are used to optimize embedding based on distortion or auxiliary data capacity constraints. The watermarking may be applied recursively to embed several layers, where subsequent layers are embedded into a previously watermarked data set. To recover the original data, each layer is extracted and the data restored in reverse order of the embedding. Sets of elements that are expanded to carry auxiliary data in each layer overlap or are interleaved to maximize embedding capacity or quality of the host data.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems that are helpful for authenticating or protecting physical and electronic documents like financial documents and identification documents. One claim recites a method including: receiving digital data corresponding to a physical document; transforming the digital data into a frequency domain; comparing characteristics associated with the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the physical document is of the first document type; and if the characteristics do not coincide, comparing the characteristics of the transformed digital data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second document type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the physical document is of the second document type. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: Methods for embedding digital watermarks in compressed video include perceptual adapting a digital watermark in predicted and non-predicted data based on block activity derived from the compressed video stream, embedding in predicted objects in a video stream having separately compressed video objects, and bit rate control of watermarked video.

Abstract: A digital watermark detection method uses a matched filtering technique on a log polar re-mapping of a watermarked signal to detect peaks associated with a repetitive structure of a watermark.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes to encode substrates (e.g., paper, synthetics, etc.) with information, and substrates including signals encoded therein. One claim recites a substrate-making process including: obtaining an element to be utilized in a substrate-making process, the element including a property to introduce a texture pattern including an encoded signal into a substrate, the encoded signal being machine-detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern, the encoded signal including a variable component; and utilizing the element to impart the texture pattern into a substrate during the substrate-making process. Another claim recites a physical substrate including: a surface having a texture pattern provided in the surface during a substrate-making process. The texture pattern includes a machine-readable signal that is detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern.

Abstract: Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark. Another implementation computes a semi-sensitive hash of the host signal, such as a low pass filtering of the signal, and embeds the hash into the watermark. The watermark signal may be content dependent by making the watermark key dependent on some attribute of the signal in which the watermark is embedded.

Abstract: A wavelet domain watermark encoder and decoder embed and detect auxiliary signals in a media signal, such as a still image, video or audio signal. The watermark encoders and decoders employ techniques that take advantage of processing plural levels of resolution of the signal to embed and detect auxiliary information in the media signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus to encode substrates (e.g., paper, synthetics, etc.) with information. In one implementation a method is provided including: receiving data that corresponds to a two-dimensional signal that encodes plural bits of data; receiving data that corresponds to a frequency-domain signal, the data corresponding to a representation in a spatial domain through inverse transforming the frequency-domain signal; and defining characteristics for an element of a substrate-making process, the characteristics including at least a pattern representing the spatial domain representation and the two-dimensional signal.

Abstract: Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark. Another implementation computes a semi-sensitive hash of the host signal, such as a low pass filtering of the signal, and embeds the hash into the watermark. The watermark signal may be content dependent by making the watermark key dependent on some attribute of the signal in which the watermark is embedded.