Abstract: Methods and apparatus for embedding digital watermarks into a digital host content are provided. A digital host content is received, e.g., at a receiver or other device incorporating a receiver. One or more watermark embedding technologies is selected. Multiple embedding opportunities are identified within the host content. A subset of the identified embedding opportunities is selected. A multiplicity of digital watermarks are then embedded into the host content in accordance with the selected subset of embedding opportunities utilizing the one or more selected watermark embedding technologies. The selecting of the subset of embedding opportunities may be adapted to provide a desired tradeoff between levels of robustness, security, and transparency of the watermark. A plurality of watermarking embedding technologies may be selected and used in the embedding step.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing the robustness of watermark extraction from digital host content are provided. Embedded watermarks may be extracted from received digital host content in accordance with a stego key. A first watermark is extracted and a number of errors in the first extracted watermark is assessed. If the number of errors is above a first pre-determined value, at least a second watermark is extracted from the host content. A number of errors in at least the second extracted watermark is assessed. If the number of errors in at least the second extracted watermark is above a second pre-determined value, the extraction results for the extracted watermarks are combined in order to cumulatively assess the validity of the first extracted watermark and at least the second extracted watermark.

Abstract: Methods for adapting the operation of a system in response to the detection of embedded watermarks from a digital host content are provided. A digital host content is received and examined for the presence of watermarks. In response to the detection of embedded watermarks and in accordance with the value, type, density or spacing of the detected watermarks, one or more system reactions may take place. These reactions include conditionally allowing the system to resume its normal operation, prohibiting the system from resuming its normal operation, degrading the quality of the digital host content or changing the security status of the digital host content. In response to the extraction of weak watermarks that do not meet the desired system requirements, the extraction operation may be modified or extended to enable the detection of strong watermarks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying a copy-deterrent pattern (104) within a digital motion picture in order to discourage recording of the motion picture using a video camera or other sampling recording device. A copy-deterrent pattern (104) could be, for example, one or more symbols, a random pattern, a digital watermark or a text message (106). The copy-deterrent pattern (104) comprises a plurality of pixels within each frame of the digital motion picture, and the displayed pixel intensities are modulated at a temporal frequency using modulation characteristics deliberately selected to be imperceptible to human observers while simultaneously producing objectionable aliasing in any copy made using a video camera.

Abstract: Methods are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content signal which reduce the memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. In one embodiment, a first reduced-scale signal is produced which corresponds to the host content embedded with a first logical value and producing a second reduced-scale signal corresponding to the host content embedded with a second logical value. A first set of segments from the first reduced-scale signal may be combined with a second set of segments from the second reduced-scale signal in a pre-defined manner to produce a composite embedded host content. Thus the storage and transmission requirements of the watermarking system are reduced to having to deal with only the original content plus two reduced-scale signals.

Abstract: An output print produced by an image processing apparatus comprising a substrate having an image thereon and a machine readable marking identifying a data source used to process the image provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a substantially invisible watermark or copy-deterrent pattern within a motion picture frame that utilizes spectral image data in order to apply a pattern that is not objectionable to a viewer, but that can be sensed and recorded by a video camera device. A digital watermark or copy deterrent pattern, message, animation, or obscuring effect can be formed to identify a legally distributed copy, degrade the quality of an illegally recorded copy, or expand the storage requirements for an illegally recorded copy using this technique. The pattern is applied using some combination of UV and IR light sources just outside the visible range, displayed on the movie screen. An illegally recorded copy may bear a visible watermark or copy-deterrent pattern which can be detected upon playback. A copy-deterrent pattern can also be used to make video compression techniques less effective, requiring that an illegally recorded copy require excessive amounts of storage media.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring transmissions of media content (such as audio and audiovisual content) in order to obtain independent and objective data regarding the use of specific media content recordings or works within the transmissions. Processing and reporting of such data is provided in various ways to serve a variety of business needs. Methods for employing content identification technology to efficiently and automatically obtain reliable, accurate, and precise monitoring data are also disclosed. Various information products and services based on such monitoring systems are proposed.

Abstract: A printer with donor and receiver media supply trays each adapted to allow a printer to sense type of media therein, and method of assembling the printer and trays. Donor and receiver media supply trays to be loaded into the printer are adapted to allow the printer to sense type of media therein. Each supply tray comprises a tray body having a supply of the media (i.e., donor or receiver) therein. A transceiver is disposed proximate the trays. The transceiver is capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field A first transponder is integrally connected to the receiver supply tray and has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of receiver media. A second transponder is integrally connected to the donor supply tray and also has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of donor media.

Abstract: An apparatus for donor colorant detection and donor pick sensing employs N light sources of distinct wavelengths paired with N photosensors. Measured light values for a donor are combined to form an N-dimensioned coordinate value which is then compared against N-dimensioned reference values to determine a color or donor picking condition. The decision algorithm uses a decision rule based on Maximum Likelihood Decoding methods, whereby an Euclidean distance is computed between the measured N-dimensioned coordinate value and each of a set of reference N-dimensioned coordinate values. The apparatus and method detect which donor color has been picked and also detects and identifies multi-pick and pick failure conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying a copy-deterrent pattern (104) within a digital motion picture in order to discourage recording of the motion picture using a video camera or other sampling recording device. A copy-deterrent pattern (104) could be, for example, one or more symbols, a random pattern, a digital watermark or a text message (106). The copy-deterrent pattern (104) comprises a plurality of pixels within each frame of the digital motion picture, and the displayed pixel intensities are modulated at a temporal frequency using modulation characteristics deliberately selected to be imperceptible to human observers while simultaneously producing objectionable aliasing in any copy made using a video camera.

Abstract: A print having information associated with the print stored in a memory coupled to the print. A print, processed by an image processing apparatus, having an attached memory for storing detailed information about the print and allowing contactless access using an electromagnetic frequency signal. A transceiver, connected to a control logic device, communicates with a transponder that is attached to the print substrate and is integrally coupled to the memory. The transponder is capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field (frequency) from the transceiver and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generates a second electromagnetic field (frequency) in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory.

Abstract: A print having attached audio data storage and method of providing same. A print, generated by an image processing apparatus, has an attached memory with recorded audio data related to the print, which memory allows contactless access to the data using an electromagnetic frequency signal. A transceiver communicates with a transponder that is attached to the print substrate and is integrally coupled to the memory. The transponder is capable of receiving a first electromagnetic frequency from the transceiver and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second electromagnetic frequency in response, where the second electromagnetic frequency is characteristic of the recorded audio data stored in memory.

Abstract: A system that redefines how data is distributed on a conventional writable compact disc (CD-R/E). A rearrangement of the data on the disc provided during the writing operation preserves eight-to-fourteen channel frames and the control and display (C&D) channel and burst error mitigation while providing a direct access storage device (DASD) format and capability. The CD-DASD format is suitable for preformatting the CDs and has constant size sectors recorded contiguously along the spiral track. Each sector is independently addressable and synchronous with the C&D data word and ATIP channel words on the CD-R disc. The system uses the components of a conventional CD device and a mapping controller address translator to encode and decode the data bytes using a conventional CIRC encoder/decoder. A rectangular product code of C1 and C2 CIRC subcodes is provided that is interleaved to mitigate the effects of handling.