Abstract: In one arrangement, information useful in understanding the content of user speech (e.g., phonemes identified by a speech recognition algorithm, data indicating the gender of the speaker, etc.) is determined at an apparatus (e.g., a cell phone), and accompanies speech data sent from that apparatus. (Steganographic encoding of the speech data can be employed to convey this information.) A receiving device can use this accompanying information to better understand the content of the speech. A great variety of other features and arrangements—some dealing with imagery rather than audio—are also detailed.

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: Systems and methods for efficiently obtaining a summary from and locating data in a log file allow a user to efficiently obtain summary information and locate specific data records even in large log files. The system includes a configuration program, a log writing program, and a log reading program. The configuration program allows the user to control the duration of monitoring and the frequency of summary record creation by the log writing program. The log writing program writes data records, summary records, and summary information to a log file in response to monitored events. The log reading program retrieves summary records and data records from the log file using summary information in response to user requests.

Abstract: A system and method for sharing data polling and buffering for multiple requesters are provided. With the present invention, a user/computing device may register with a data polling system whose purpose is to periodically poll computer system resources for data. This data is stored in a common storage buffer with pointers to the data being stored in index data structures for a plurality of users. More than one user index data structure may have a pointer to the same data location in the common storage buffer. In addition, a mechanism for aligning data pollings among a plurality of users/computing devices is provided so as to increase the amount of sharing of data stored in the common storage buffer.

Abstract: A digital watermark (DWM) content identifier is steganographically embedded in content. The DWM content identifier provides a link to a rights registry storing usage rights associated with the content. In some implementations the rights registry provides an association between the DWM content identifier and a digital rights management (DRM) content identifier. The DRM content identifier is used to find associated usage rights. The DWM content identifier can also be used to transfer content from a first DRM system to a second DRM system.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and devices to manage media content. In one implementation, a method receives a media identifier that is generated by a user device. The media identifier is determined from at least a portion of a media signal. The method further includes determining a media title that corresponds to the media identifier; determining usage rights associated with at least one of the title and a user of the user device; and controlling access to the media title based at least in part on the usage rights. Another implementation provides a related user device.

Abstract: The present invention provides digital watermarks through multiple channels. The channels can include, e.g., visible, ultraviolet and infrared channels. The non-visible channels can be selected to fluoresce either in the visible or IR/UV spectrums upon the appropriate illumination in the infrared or ultraviolet spectrums. The watermarks in the various multiple channels can cooperate to facilitate watermark detection or to authenticate an object in which the watermarks are embedded. In other implementations the multiple watermarks include so-called orientation components. A relative relationship between the orientation components is used to convey data.

Abstract: Embedded data in gaming objects is used to authenticate the gaming object and to enhance the gaming experience in gambling venues.