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 identification documents. In one implementation, a provided method includes: obtaining optical scan data associated with text characters provided on an identification document to obtain first data; using at least a portion of the first data to facilitate decryption of information—not the text characters—carried on or in the identification document. The information corresponds to the identification document or to an authorized bearer of the identification document. In another implementation, a method is providing including: obtaining optical scan data associated with an identification document to obtain first data; obtaining second data from the identification document, the second data comprising encrypted data; communicating the encrypted data and the first data to a remote device, the remote device decrypting the encrypted data with at least reference to the first data; and receiving decrypted data from the remote device.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to monitoring and providing information regarding usage or presentment of a driver's license, passport, or other government-issued identification documents. One claim recites: a method of operating a data repository including storing data relating to use or presentment of a person's identification credential in first and second different contexts; analyzing the data for evidence of fraudulent usage based on at least predetermined criteria; and if there is evidence of fraudulent usage, notifying the person to the fraudulent usage. Another claim recites: obtaining information from a government-issued identification document for a person, the information initially gathered from the government-issued identification document during presentation at a first location; providing the information to a data center or data repository; and providing a notification to the person concerning said presentation, the notification including data identifying the first location.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking, steganographic data hiding, and data compression. One claim recites a method including: obtaining media comprising imagery or audio; obtaining plural-bit data; embedding the plural-bit data in the media with digital watermarking, the digital watermarking altering data representing the media; and adjusting compression of the media in accordance with at least one characteristic associated with the digital watermarking. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to methods and apparatus associated with steganographic encoding (e.g., data hiding). One claim recites a method including: obtaining plural-bit auxiliary information; and during communication between a first computer and a second computer over a network, modulating timing or phase of a clock signal generated by the first computer so as to steganographically hide the plural-bit auxiliary information in a communications signal sent between the first computer and the second computer. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to steganographic encoding. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing a first graphic; utilizing a multi-purpose computer processor configured for steganographically data hiding to hide a signal in the data representing the first graphic; obtaining a copy of the first graphic including a steganographically hidden signal therein; storing the copy of the first graphic in electronic memory or integrated circuitry. A steganographically hidden signal in the data representing the first graphic and the steganographically hidden signal in the copy of the first graphic are related. Of course, other combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: Driver's licenses and other security documents include one or more machine-readable features, each conveying plural bits of information. These features are used in a variety of ways to increase security, and/or to enhance functionality. In one embodiment, data encoded on a driver's license is used at airport check-in, to link to a state DMV database and obtain information by which the document, and its custodian, can be authenticated. In like fashion, a license can be used to authenticate a bearer and/or his/her age prior to the sale of alcohol or tobacco products. In other embodiments, different elements of a driver's license (e.g., the substrate, photo, text data, and machine-readable data) are logically bound together (e.g., interlinked through payloads conveyed by different machine-readable features) as a deterrent against counterfeiting. Driver's licenses can be similarly logically bound to personal checks and other documents. Many other arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various improvements to data processing systems involve enhancements to BIOS functionality, use of identifiers associated with specific instances of hardware, and data hiding techniques—sometimes alone, sometimes in combination. Many of these improvements can be applied to increase the security of computer systems, and networks of which they form part.

Abstract: Steganographic methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One claim recites an object comprising: a first graphic provided on an object surface, and a storage device carried by the object. The storage device includes a second graphic stored therein. The first and second graphics are related graphics, and the second graphic includes first steganographic encoding including a plural-bit payload. Of course, other combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: Methods are provided for marking products with unique identification codes, associating times with at least some of the unique identification codes, and associating other times with certain events pertaining to the production of the marked products. These times can be used to subsequently determine whether a marked product belongs to a population that was produced before or after an event.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems to improve network searching for watermarked content. In some implementations we employ keyword searching to narrow the universe of possible URL candidates. A resulting URL list is searched for digital watermarking. A system is provided to allow customer input. For example, a customer enters keywords or network locations. The keywords or network locations are provided to a watermark-enabled web browser which accesses locations associated with the keywords or network locations. Some implementations of the present invention employ a plurality of distributed watermark-enabled web browsers. Other aspects of the invention provide methods and system to facilitate desktop searching and automated metadata gathering and generating. In one implementation a digital watermark is used to determine whether metadata associated with an image or audio file is current or fresh. The metadata is updated when it is out of date.

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: In one embodiment a document authentication station, for use with passports or the like, includes a 2D image sensor (e.g., CCD- or CMOS-based video camera), and a computer device. The image sensor produces produce image data corresponding to a presented document. From this image data, the computer extracts two or more identification data. One is a digital watermark. The other can be a bar code, data glyphs, OCR data, etc. The processor then proceeds to check that the two identification data correspond in an expected fashion. If not, the document is flagged as suspect or fake. Reliability of detection can be enhanced by processing plural frames of data from the image sensor before issuing a result.

Abstract: Steganographic methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One claim recites an object comprising: a first graphic provided on an object surface, and a storage device carried by the object. The storage device includes a second graphic stored therein. The first and second graphics are related graphics, and the second graphic includes first steganographic encoding including a plural-bit payload. Of course, other combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to monitoring and providing information regarding usage or presentment of a driver's license, passport, or other government-issued identification documents. One claim recites: a method of operating a data repository including storing data relating to use or presentment of a person's identification credential in first and second different contexts; analyzing the data for evidence of fraudulent usage based on at least predetermined criteria; and if there is evidence of fraudulent usage, notifying the person to the fraudulent usage. Another claim recites: obtaining information from a government-issued identification document for a person, the information initially gathered from the government-issued identification document during presentation at a first location; providing the information to a data center or data repository; and providing a notification to the person concerning said presentation, the notification including data identifying the first location.

Abstract: Various improvements to data processing systems involve enhancements to BIOS functionality, use of identifiers associated with specific instances of hardware, and data hiding techniques—sometimes alone, sometimes in combination. Many of these improvements can be applied to increase the security of computer systems, and networks of which they form part.

Abstract: A document authentication station, for use with passports or the like, includes a 2D image sensor (e.g., CCD- or CMOS-based video camera), and a computer device. The image sensor produces produce image data corresponding to a presented document. From this image data, the computer extracts two or more identification data. One is a digital watermark. The other can be a bar code, data glyphs, OCR data, etc. The processor then proceeds to check that the two identification data correspond in an expected fashion. If not, the document is flagged as suspect or fake. Reliability of detection may be enhanced by processing plural frames of data from the image sensor before issuing a result.

Abstract: To more rapidly redress identity theft, reports are issued to a person detailing instances in which that person's driver's license, passport, or other government-issued identification documents are presented as a form of ID. These reports can be issued periodically (e.g., integrated with monthly reports aggregating bank and brokerage account information, of the sort provided by Yahoo! and Microsoft Money software), or can be issued by email or text messaging, etc., each time an ID presentment is reported. Upon receiving a report of unfamiliar ID usage (e.g., a report that a driver's license was presented as evidence of age to purchase alcohol in a remote state), the person can take early action to redress apparent identity theft.

Abstract: Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. In one implementation, an identification document includes electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry includes an image of an authorized bearer of the identification document. The image includes first digital watermarking having a plural-bit identifier. In some cases, the identification document includes a printed image of the authorized bearer of the identification document. The printed image includes second digital watermarking therein. The first digital watermarking and the second digital watermarking can be cross-correlated for authentication of the identification document.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to validating and providing physical objects. In one implementation, a physical object includes a first digital watermark carried thereon. The first digital watermark includes a first plural-bit message representing at least a reduced-bit representation of a biometric corresponding to an authorized bearer of the physical object. The physical object further includes semantic information carried thereon. At least a portion of the semantic information corresponds to the authorized bearer of the physical object. In another implementation, an apparatus is provided to validate physical objects. In some cases the objects include identification documents.