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. In one implementation, a method is provided including: accessing a data repository including a library; obtaining a graphic or image from the library, wherein the graphic or image comprises a plural-bit identifier steganographically embedded therein; and, once obtained, applying the steganographically embedded image or graphic to a security document, the plural-bit identifier providing information associated with an authorized bearer of the security document or with the security document. Of course, other implementations are provided as well.

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. A watermark orientation signal is embedded in a wavelet decomposed signal to facilitate detection of the watermark in a geometrically distorted version of the embedded signal. In some configurations, the watermark signal forms a pattern in a transform domain used to perform synchronization of the watermark. The pattern has attributes used to determine orientation of the watermark in a geometrically distorted version of the media signal. The attributes carry two or more auxiliary message symbols in the watermark, and the attributes both carry the two or more auxiliary message symbols and form the pattern used to perform synchronization of the watermark.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems that are helpful authentication of physical and electronic documents like financial documents and identification documents. Steganographic indicia plays a role in some of our implementations. In other implementations we bind design features to a user or to a document. In still other implementations we provide authentication methods to evaluate security documents.

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: Paper is textured with a pattern that yields a known signature signal when transformed to the frequency domain. This signature can be used for various purposes, including determining the angular orientation of the paper when scanned, conveying a plural-bit digital watermark, and for simple document recognition purposes (e.g., photocopiers that refuse to reproduce banknotes). The texturing can be effected during the paper-making process, e.g., by shaping the surface of a de-watering element accordingly.

Abstract: This disclosure describes several video watermarking and fingerprinting enhancements. These enhancements include synchronizing watermark detectors with one-dimensional calibration signals, layering digital watermarks, watermarks for version control, compressed domain watermarking, watermarking of video object layers, key channel watermark embedding for video, robust fingerprinting of video and watermarking of scalable video.

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 techniques that are helpful in resolving the authentication of an identification document or banknote. The document or banknote includes a security enhancer. The enhancer can be a graphic or artwork design, or can be realized with line art. In the case of an identification document, the spatial characteristics of the security enhancer are preferably altered in accordance with information contained in the identification document. For example, if the ID document includes a photograph, a hashing algorithm will reduce the photograph to a number. The number is used to set a repeated spacing distance of elements in the security enhancer. The repeated spacing yields an identifiable frequency response that is related to the identification document photograph.

Abstract: A watermark decoding method makes use of a line-finding algorithm (e.g., the Radon transform) to determine rotation of an image from an initial orientation. Once rotation has been characterized, differential scaling of the image can readily be determined.

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: Paper is textured with a pattern that yields a known signature signal when transformed to the frequency domain. This signature can be used for various purposes, including determining the angular orientation of the paper when scanned, conveying a plural-bit digital watermark, and for simple document recognition purposes (e.g., photocopiers that refuse to reproduce banknotes). The texturing can be effected during the paper-making process, e.g., by shaping the surface of a de-watering element accordingly.

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 wavelet domain watermark encoder and decoder embed and detect auxiliary signals (1300, 1302) in a media signal (1306), such as a still image, video or audio signal. A watermark orientation signal (1302) is embedded in a wavelet decomposed signal (1304) to facilitate detection of the watermark in a geometrically distorted version of the embedded signal.

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: A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. To verify the object, the digital watermark payload is extracted and compared with the data about the object. The combined digital watermark and content signature is also evaluated to authenticate the media signal on the media object. Biometric information may also be embedded in a machine readable code in the object or indexed via the machine readable code.

Abstract: This disclosure describes several video watermarking and fingerprinting enhancements. These enhancements include synchronizing watermark detectors with one-dimensional calibration signals, layering digital watermarks, watermarks for version control, compressed domain watermarking, watermarking of video object layers, key channel watermark embedding for video, robust fingerprinting of video and watermarking of scalable video.

Abstract: Paper is textured with a pattern that yields a known signature signal when transformed to the frequency domain. This signature can be used for various purposes, including determining the angular orientation of the paper when scanned, conveying a plural-bit digital watermark, and for simple document recognition purposes (e.g., photocopiers that refuse to reproduce banknotes). The texturing can be effected during the paper-making process, e.g., by shaping the surface of a de-watering element accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques that are helpful in resolving the authentication of an identification document or banknote. The document or banknote includes a security enhancer. The enhancer can be a graphic or artwork design, or can be realized with line art. In the case of an identification document, the spatial characteristics of the security enhancer are preferably altered in accordance with information contained in the identification document. For example, if the ID document includes a photograph, a hashing algorithm will reduce the photograph to a number. The number is used to set a repeated spacing distance of elements in the security enhancer. The repeated spacing yields an identifiable frequency response that is related to the identification document photograph.

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. A watermark orientation signal is embedded in a wavelet decomposed signal to facilitate detection of the watermark in a geometrically distorted version of the embedded signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving motion analysis in fade regions where motion compensation systems based on block matching typically fail to accurately encode images. A previous image is selected from an image sequence. A base image is calculated by adjusting the brightness of the previous image. A displacement vector representing the magnitude and direction of the displacement between at least one region in a target image and a corresponding region in the base image is determined. The displacement vector is applied to a corresponding region in a previous reconstructed image to form a predicted image, and is then encoded. Pixel values in the predicted image are subtracted from corresponding pixel values in the target image to form an error image which is also encoded.