Abstract: A forensic feature for a secure document comprises a base document layer and a covert material applied to the base document layer. The covert material includes a carrier and forensic material within the carrier. The forensic material includes a ratio of salts or oxides of metals, such as rare earth metals. The ratio is selected to correspond with a source of the document. The forensic material may be mixed into a coating or ink that is applied at predetermined locations on a secure document. The ratio is then measurable from metal ion signals of the salts or oxides. This ratio, or some metric derived from it, may be linked with information embedded elsewhere in the document to enable verification of the document. Another forensic document feature has a forensic metric that is measurable from a covert material in the document, and this forensic metric corresponds to a source of the document.

Abstract: A system includes an image repository that maintains a plurality of images submitted by submitting users. Upon submitting an image, the submitting user may specify one or more communicative actions to be launched in the event that a searching user presents the same image to the repository. The presented image is searched against every image in the repository using image matching technology. If a match is found—that is, if the presented image is substantially the same as an image previously submitted and stored in the repository (i.e., the same image or a photograph thereof)—then one or more communicative actions, previously defined by the submitting user and associated with the stored image, are launched towards the searching user.

Abstract: A system includes an image repository that maintains a plurality of images submitted by submitting users. Upon submitting an image, the submitting user may specify one or more communicative actions to be launched in the event that a searching user presents the same image to the repository. The presented image is searched against every image in the repository using image matching technology. If a match is found—that is, if the presented image is substantially the same as an image previously submitted and stored in the repository (i.e., the same image or a photograph thereof)—then one or more communicative actions, previously defined by the submitting user and associated with the stored image, are launched towards the searching user.

Abstract: A forensic feature for a secure document comprises a base document layer and a covert material applied to the base document layer. The covert material includes a carrier and forensic material within the carrier. The forensic material includes a ratio of salts or oxides of metals, such as rare earth metals. The ratio is selected to correspond with a source of the document. The forensic material may be mixed into a coating or ink that is applied at predetermined locations on a secure document. The ratio is then measurable from metal ion signals of the salts or oxides. This ratio, or some metric derived from it, may be linked with information embedded elsewhere in the document to enable verification of the document. Another forensic document feature has a forensic metric that is measurable from a covert material in the document, and this forensic metric corresponds to a source of the document.

Abstract: A forensic feature for a secure document comprises a base document layer and a covert material applied to the base document layer. The covert material includes a carrier and forensic material within the carrier. The forensic material includes a ratio of salts or oxides of metals, such as rare earth metals. The ratio is selected to correspond with a source of the document. The forensic material may be mixed into a coating or ink that is applied at predetermined locations on a secure document. The ratio is then measurable from metal ion signals of the salts or oxides. This ratio, or some metric derived from it, may be linked with information embedded elsewhere in the document to enable verification of the document. Another forensic document feature has a forensic metric that is measurable from a covert material in the document, and this forensic metric corresponds to a source of the document.

Abstract: A shelf code in a machine readable format, such as on a QR code on a printed card, is provided where bulk merchandise displayed in a bin. When the bin is stocked from a case bearing a case code, the case code is associated with the shelf code. Lot-specific and lot-independent information previously associated with the case code is then linked to the shelf code. Consumers scan the shelf code with a mobile device to establish a communication channel to access the linked information. Retailers and producers use the channel to reach the consumer, and to solicit feedback from the consumer at a known time and location. A mobile device can also be used to associate quality assessments of merchandise to the shelf code. Analysis of consumer ratings and quality inspection assessments that are tied to time and location can provide valuable insights to both producers and retailers.

Abstract: Traceability codes on perishable products facilitate the correlation of product data from the origin of a distribution chain to quality assessments of the perishable products made at points along the distribution chain. The product data is initially associated with the code, the product is marked with the code, and then the product is distributed. Receipt of a code after the perishable product enters the distribution chain establishes an elapsed time. Location information submitted with the code can also establish a traversed distance. A quality assessment submitted with the code can be associated with both time and distance. Consumers, for example, may submit codes, provide assessments and locations, and in return access product data linked to the specific products they consider in retail stores, purchase, and use. Inspectors can likewise submit quality assessments from locations earlier in the distribution chain as well as in retail stores.

Abstract: Traceability codes on perishable products facilitate the correlation of product data from the origin of a distribution chain to quality assessments of the perishable products made at points along the distribution chain. The product data is initially associated with the code, the product is marked with the code, and then the product is distributed. Receipt of a code after the perishable product enters the distribution chain establishes an elapsed time. Location information submitted with the code can also establish a traversed distance. A quality assessment submitted with the code can be associated with both time and distance. Consumers, for example, may submit codes, provide assessments and locations, and in return access product data linked to the specific products they consider in retail stores, purchase, and use. Inspectors can likewise submit quality assessments from locations earlier in the distribution chain as well as in retail stores.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking and steganographic data hiding. In one embodiment a method of rendering content to a user is provided. The rendered content includes a digital watermark embedded therein. In another embodiment, digital watermarking is utilized to facilitate purchase or lease of audio or video content over a network or with a remote computer. In still another embodiment, a compression characteristic is determined, and subsequent steganographic embedding is influenced based on the characteristic. Other embodiments are provided as well.

Abstract: Traceability codes on perishable products facilitate the correlation of product data from the origin of a distribution chain to quality assessments of the perishable products made at points along the distribution chain. The product data is initially associated with the code, the product is marked with the code, and then the product is distributed. Receipt of a code after the perishable product enters the distribution chain establishes an elapsed time. Location information submitted with the code can also establish a traversed distance. A quality assessment submitted with the code can be associated with both time and distance. Consumers, for example, may submit codes, provide assessments and locations, and in return access product data linked to the specific products they consider in retail stores, purchase, and use. Inspectors can likewise submit quality assessments from locations earlier in the distribution chain as well as in retail stores.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations.

Abstract: A watermark-based age verification system is provided in one implementation. The verification system may also verify a biometric template against a biometric sample. Shelf-life identification documents are provided in another implementation. Another aspect of the present invention analyzes image data to identify a face region or silhouette associated with a human subject depicted in the image data. The image data is adjusted, e.g., to center or align a face region within an image frame. A digital watermark is embedded after realignment. Another aspect authenticates or handles digital images that are captured at a first location and transferred to a second location via watermarking. In another implementation, first machine-readable code on an identification document layer is cross-correlated with second machine-readable code on the identification document.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to information encoding, data hiding, steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites: using a programmed electronic processor, encoding content with a plural-bit digital watermark in accordance with initial encoding parameters; determining an assessment of the encoded plural-bit digital watermark in each of two or more portions of the content; for each of the two or more portions of the content, adjusting at least one of the initial encoding parameters according to a determined assessment for a respective portion of the content; and using a programmed electronic processor, encoding the content with said plural-bit watermark in accordance with adjusted encoding parameters. Other claims are provided as well.

Abstract: A shelf code in a machine readable format, such as on a QR code on a printed card, is provided where bulk merchandise displayed in a bin. When the bin is stocked from a case bearing a case code, the case code is associated with the shelf code. Lot-specific and lot-independent information previously associated with the case code is then linked to the shelf code. Consumers scan the shelf code with a mobile device to establish a communication channel to access the linked information. Retailers and producers use the channel to reach the consumer, and to solicit feedback from the consumer at a known time and location. A mobile device can also be used to associate quality assessments of merchandise to the shelf code. Analysis of consumer ratings and quality inspection assessments that are tied to time and location can provide valuable insights to both producers and retailers.

Abstract: Clamshells for packaging produce, or other unit packaging, are labeled with unique codes. Harvest crates for transporting filled clamshells from the harvest, or other containers for transporting unit packaging, are also labeled with unique codes. A plurality of labeled un-filled clamshells are nested together and placed into each harvest crate before the harvest, and the codes from the clamshells and the harvest crate are stored in association. In some instances, clamshells are de-nested, labeled with pre-printed labels, and nested again before being placed into the harvest crates. At the harvest the clamshells are removed from the harvest crate, de-nested, filled with produce, packed back into the harvest crate, and moved into the distribution chain. The unique codes are further associated with other information such as harvest data.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to signal processing of media content, e.g., audio or video content. One form of signal processing derives identifying information from media content. One claim recites a method including: upon encountering audio or video content, and using a programmed electronic processor, attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the encountered audio or video content; if a digital watermark is not obtained from the data representing the encountered audio or video content, modifying the encountered audio or video content; and then attempting to attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the modified audio or video content. Of course, other claims are provided too.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking holographic structures. One method recites: creating a computer model; executing a transform domain iterative method to convert the computer model into a holographic structure; combining a digital watermark with the holographic structure; and conveying the combined digital watermark and holographic structure to a surface. Other combinations are provided and claimed as well.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for associating traceability codes on clamshells with unique identifiers on containers in which the empty clamshells are packed for later use. In various methods, the clamshells are marked with traceability codes and stacked together, one traceability code is read from one of the clamshells in each stack, a unique identifier is read from a container, and the stack is placed in the container. The traceability code is stored in association with the unique identifier for later retrieval. An exemplary table for making clamshell-to-container associations comprises a scanner for reading traceability codes and rails for positioning stacks of clamshells proximate to the scanner. The table can also comprise a second scanner positioned to read unique identifiers from containers placed proximate thereto. The table can further comprise a computing system to make and store the associations.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to steganography, digital watermarking and data hiding. In one embodiment a method is provided including: processing data representing content; analyzing the data to determine whether a plural-bit identifier is steganographically encoded therein, the plural-bit identifier encoded in the data through modifications to the data, the modifications steganographically hiding the presence of the plural-bit identifier; and upon detection of the plural-bit identifier, redundantly carrying out an action while attempting to conceal the action from one or more users of the content. Of course, other embodiments are described and claimed as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to identification documents. One claim recites an apparatus to authentic an identification document. The identification document comprising first machine-readable information including a first plural-bit message, and semantic information carried on or in the identification document. The apparatus includes: a first reader to read the first machine-readable information to obtain the first plural-bit message; a second reader to obtain information from the semantic information carried on or in the identification document; an electronic processor programmed as a decryption unit to decrypt the first plural-bit message or the information obtained from the semantic information; and an electronic processor programmed as a decision unit to determine whether the identification document is authentic based at least in part on the first plural-bit message and the semantic information. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.