Abstract: In order to encrypt a part of an input image in such a manner that the encrypted part can be located for decryption, means for regularly converting pixel values in the area to be encrypted and generating a pattern unique to the pixel value conversion in order to encrypt the area to be encrypted; means for setting a specified positioning marker for locating an encryption position at two or more of the four corners of the area to be encrypted; and means for setting one or more checking marks for verifying appropriateness of a decrypted image in the encrypted area before the decryption are included.

Abstract: A contents border detection apparatus and monitoring method. The apparatus comprises a digital watermark detector for detecting a digital watermark embedded in contents for which a time element is provided; and a border detector for detecting border locations for the contents corresponding to the state of the digital watermark detected by the digital watermark detector. The border detector includes a first border specification device for specifying the border locations for the contents based on information, written in the digital watermark, that is detected by the digital watermark detector and includes a second border specification device for specifying the border locations for the contents based on bit patterns embedded as the digital watermark. The border locations for the contents are detected by using the process result obtained both by the first and the second border specification devices.

Abstract: A hardware device that includes a first interface, a second interface, at least one memory unit, a data analyzer circuitry, and decryption circuitry. The first interface receives image information that is sent to a display. The data analyzer circuitry analyzes the image information to detect encrypted image information. The decryption circuitry decrypts the detected encrypted image information to provide the decrypted image information to replace the encrypted image information to provide modified image information. The second interface sends the modified image information to the display so that the display displays a modified image. The at least one memory unit stores at least a portion of at least one out of the image information, the modified image information and at least one decryption key.

Abstract: In an image encryption apparatus for visually encrypting an input image, an encryption area selector selects an encryption area within an input image including an area to be encrypted. An image converter divides the encryption area into a plurality of blocks. The image converter divides each block of the encryption area into a plurality of sub-blocks. An image converter performs an image conversion including rotation and mirror-reverse in accordance with an encryption key on the image in each sub-block. The image converter scrambles the image on a block-by-block basis in accordance with the encryption key. A pixel value converter converts a pixel value of a minimal area in a block so that a position of the block may be detected.

Abstract: A display processor displays on a display screen an encrypted image accepted by an image data acceptor. An encrypted region acquirer extracts encrypted regions contained on the encrypted image. A target region selector or an authorized target region selector selects decryption target regions from among encrypted regions contained in the encrypted image. A decryption order determiner determines a decryption order of the decryption target regions. The display processor displays on the display screen a prompt for inputting a decryption key (or a password) used for decryption of the encrypted image in each of the decryption target regions in accordance with the decryption order. A decryption key acceptor accepts the decryption key input by a decryption user. An image decryptor performs a decryption process on the encrypted image in the decryption target regions in accordance with the decryption order. A decrypted image of each decryption target region is output.

Abstract: In an image encryption apparatus, each of pixel-value inverse-converters applies pixel-value inverse-conversion on an input image in each of previously-encrypted areas. An image combiner superimposes images with inversely-converted pixels in the previously-encrypted areas to the input image to obtain a ready-to-encrypt image. An image encryptor scrambles blocks in the ready-to-encrypt image. A pixel-value converter applies pixel-value conversion on each of scrambled blocks to obtain a multiply-encrypted image. In an image decryption apparatus, a pixel-value inverse-converter applies pixel-value inverse-conversion on each scrambled block in the multiply-encrypted image to obtain a dot-erased image. An image decryptor inversely scrambles the scrambled blocks in the dot-erased image to obtain a decrypted image. Each of pixel-value converters applies pixel-value conversion on the decrypted image in each of previously-encrypted areas.

Abstract: A discrimination medium for objects by which counterfeiting can be prevented, authenticity of the article can be easily and reliably determined, and the production cost can be reduced is provided. In the discrimination medium, the support body 31 and the pattern 20 appear to be the same color when viewed from a specific angle (for instance, viewing from the front). On the other hand, when the viewing angle is increased, the color of the pattern 20 composed of a multilayer thin film changes by color shift, whereby the pattern 20 becomes a color different from the support body 31.

Abstract: When a decrypting apparatus receives an encrypted image, the apparatus detects the state of the encrypted image and determines whether the encrypted image is an image passed through only a digital medium or an analog medium, according to the state of the encrypted image. When the encrypted image is determined to be the image passed through only the digital medium, the decrypting apparatus switches to perform a digital decryption process and, when the encrypted image is determined to be the image passed through the analog medium, the decrypting apparatus switches to perform an analog decryption process.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology is described herein for deriving robust non-local characteristics and quantizing such characteristics for blind watermarking of a digital good. This technology finds the proper balance between minimizing the probability of false alarms (i.e., detecting a non-existent watermark) and the probability of misses (i.e., failing to detect an existing watermark). The technology, described herein, performs quantization index modulation (QIM) based upon non-local characteristics of the digital good. Non-local characteristics may include statistics (e.g., averages, median) of a group of individual parts (e.g., pixels) of a digital good. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: A method for detecting against unauthorized transmission of digital works comprises the steps of maintaining a registry of information permitting identification of digital copyrighted works, monitoring a network for transmission of at least one packet-based digital signal, extracting at least one feature from the at least one digital signal, comparing the extracted at least one feature with registry information and applying business rules based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A digital watermark embedding device and method uses block correlation to perform motion detection on temporally sequential digital video signals after performing preprocessing such as division into blocks. The device and method evaluate a plurality of motion information which are calculated for blocks by using a technique such as determination by majority or weighting. Based on the detected motion information, by moving a digital watermark pattern to follow a picture, the digital watermark information can be superimposed on an input digital video signal so as to match human visual characteristics by using a technique such as emphasizing a portion on which the human eye is easily turned.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for watermarking a document, the method comprising: associating the document with an identification number; generating (70) a first set of numbers using a seed for the number generation comprising or derived from the identification number; applying a transform (62) to at least a portion of an image of the document to form a transform of the image; defining a second set of numbers comprising transform coefficients from the transform of the image; forming a modified second set of numbers based on the first set and the second set; substituting the modified second set for the second set in the transform of the image to form a modified transform (72); and applying an inverse (74) of the transform to the modified transform to thereby produce a modified image of the document; whereby the modified image of the document or an output of the modified image constitutes the watermarked document.

Abstract: The computational cost of embedding information in a digital representation is reduced by making a set of at least two copies of the digital representation and altering subdivisions of the copies so that corresponding subdivisions in the copies are distinguishable from each other. The subdivisions may be arbitrary or may be functional subdivisions of the digital representation. The subdivisions may be distinguishable by features such as watermarks that do not affect the way in which the digital representation is normally used. The marked copy in which the information is embedded is then made by selecting a given subdivision in the marked copy from one of the set of copies. Selection may be done using a selection string that has an element for each subdivision. The value of the element indicates which of the set of digital representations the subdivision corresponding to the element is to be selected from.

Abstract: An encoding device to encode an object image to be encoded includes a reference information generating unit that generates reference information with respect to a key image different from the object image, and a code generating unit that generates code data of the reference information generated by the reference information generating unit as code data of at least a portion of the object image.

Abstract: A content playback apparatus prevents related content recorded on separate media that make up a virtual package from being played separately, thereby restricting playback of the content to only when the virtual package is assembled as intended by the creator, and protecting copyright of the content. A key obtaining unit obtains a second key, with use of key management information recorded on a recording medium on which related content relating to the encrypted content is also recorded. An information obtaining unit obtains the encrypted content and key generation information that relates to generation of the first key, from a source other than the recording medium. A key generation unit generates the first key with use of the second key and the obtained key generation information. A decryption unit decrypts the encrypted content with use of the first key.

Abstract: Hashes are short summaries or signatures of data files which can be used to identify the file. Hashing multimedia content (audio, video, images) is difficult because the hash of original content and processed (e.g. compressed) content may differ significantly. The disclosed method generates robust hashes for multimedia content, for example, audio clips. The audio clip is divided (12) into successive (preferably overlapping) frames. For each frame, the frequency spectrum is divided (15) into bands. A robust property of each band (e.g. energy) is computed (16) and represented (17) by a respective hash bit. An audio clip is thus represented by a concatenation of binary hash words, one for each frame. To identify a possibly compressed audio signal, a block of hash words derived therefrom is matched by a computer (20) with a large database (21). Such matching strategies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing metadata embedded in a color measurement target to uniquely identify the target through color measurement. A color measurement target is used for color calibration, color characterization, color adjustment and/or color correction of a color output device and includes a collection of color patches imaged by the output device, wherein metadata is embedded directly into the color patches of the color measurement target to uniquely identify the target through color measurement. The metadata-bearing patches in the target are used to communicate information through color measurement, and can contribute to the color characterization.

Abstract: A method for determining an access code comprising a predetermined number of input symbols. The access code is determined from input symbols and the position thereof when inputted. The number of possible input positions for the input symbols is greater than the predetermined number of input symbols. An input device detects the input symbols and the positions thereof in an input field. An access code is determined therefrom and compared in a comparator with a references access code. If compatibility is established, access to the system is authorized.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the steps of: dividing digital content into run-lengths each including one or more consecutive pixels having an identical color; and embedding digital watermark information in the run-lengths while saving topology (first topology preservation law).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of forming a securitized image comprising: obtaining a host image which is to be visible to an observer, obtaining a latent image to be concealed within the host image, adjusting the saturation of regions of at least one of the host image and the latent image such that when the latent image and the host image as adjusted are subsequently combined, the saturation of the combined regions will more closely approximate the saturation of corresponding regions of the original host image; and combining the latent image, and host image as adjusted to form a securitized image.

Abstract: This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. In one implementation, a method of embedding auxiliary information within original data is provided. The original data is divided into a series of groups, with each group in the series of groups associated with a value. The method includes: investigating a first group to determine a presence of a local masking opportunity; and if there exists a presence of a local masking opportunity with the first group, embedding data by setting a value of one or more groups in a neighborhood of the first group, including the first group, in accordance with a value associated with at least a portion of the auxiliary data. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well.

Abstract: A multiplexing technique for optical communications used to create a pseudo-random communications signal in the optical domain such that only the sender and/or receiver can decode the signal. The multiplexing technique may include one or more information-bearing optical signals combined with one or more dynamic pseudo-randomly-generated optical signals to create a combined dynamic subcarrier multiplexed privacy-protected output signal. The information-bearing signal is protocol-independent and can be of mixed type, such as RF, analog, and/or digital. Only the receiver of the privacy-protected signal may decode the pseudo-random signal so as to disclose the information-bearing signal. The present invention may use dynamic subcarrier multiplexing selection based on standard digital encryption and the use of optical range time to ensure synchronization.

Abstract: In an image processing system according to the present invention, a first device encrypts image data generated by reading an image in a document, stores a decryption key for decrypting the image data, and transmits the image data to a data storing device. A second device receives the image data from the data storing device, sends a request for the decryption key to the first device and receives the decryption key, decrypts the image data with the decryption key, and performs print processing on the image data. Thus, users can easily perform print processing without the need to remember authentication and printer information.

Abstract: It is a source of security digital characters, incomprehensible to the naked eye, which can only be identified when the transparent substrate (acrylic, plastic or another material) is placed over the substrate on which they were printed (paper, PVC, polyester, film or others), or over the screen where they are displayed (CRT, LCD, plasma, acrylic or others), and the characters that are unreadable characters may be embedded or may be part of photos, images, drawings, illustrations, logos or figures, and the transparent base contains the remaining and complementary parts of the characters already printed or displayed on the screen, in a manner that their combination with the characters printed or displayed on the screen reveals them or make them comprehensible and identifiable, being that each substrate, described thus, may reveal or make comprehensible a series of documents containing these sources printed or displayed on the screen, or may even reveal and make the characters printed or displayed on the screen

Abstract: A method for embedding and detecting watermarks in digital data. Data is analysed by an independent component analysis to derive a transform matrix W encoding properties of the data. The data is encoded using this transform matrix W, and a watermark is embedded into it. Then the inverse of the transform matrix is applied to obtain watermarked data. The presence of the watermark is found by applying the transform matrix again, and examining the result for the presence of the watermark.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for detecting a watermark using informed detection. A first signal potentially having a watermark embedded is received (601) as is a second signal corresponding to the original signal. The signals are segmented (605) into symbol segments. For each symbol segment a first characteristic is determined (607) for a first section and a second characteristic is determined (609) for a second section in response to the first and second signals in those sections. Specifically, ratios between average envelopes are determined. Thus, the first and second characteristic is indicative of the variations of the envelope during a watermark symbol. A watermark symbol estimate is determined (611) from the first and second characteristic. A sequence of estimated watermark symbols is compared to reference watermark symbols and the presence of a watermark symbol is determined (615) depending on the comparison.

Abstract: A method of fragile watermarking is characterized by the step of generating at least a first ill-conditioned operator, said ill-conditioned operator being related to values extracted from an image or portion thereof A.

Abstract: In an MFP, an image on an original is read and the image is stored as a document (input image) in an HDD. A marking-information generation module generates marking information (two-dimensional code information) expressing at least one of information relating to storage of the document and an output parameters of the document. A document-relevance-information management module relates the marking information to the stored image, and an encryption/decryption module encrypts the marking information. A marking generation module generates a marking image from the encrypted marking information, and the marking image is printed out.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The encoding data processor is arranged to form other code words of the set by cyclically shifting a first code word. The system includes a detecting data processor operable to identify the code word in the marked material item. The detecting data processor is operable to recover the code word from the marked material item and to form a Fourier transform of the recovered code word and a Fourier transform of the first code word of the set. The data detecting processor forms correlation samples by forming an inverse transform of a combination of the recovered and the first code word. Each of the correlation value samples provides the correlation value for one of the set of code words.

Abstract: At every reproduction of a moving image, a tamper resistant module (TRM) randomly selects any one of plural electronic watermark inserting modules, and incorporates the module selected into an area randomly selected from among plural non-operation (NOP) areas in an MPEG expansion module. The module can be switched for each image in a series of the moving images. Since an algorithm for inserting the electronic watermark differs for each moving image or each image, elimination of the electronic watermark by means of analysis, particularly, complete elimination from all the images, is extremely difficult.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide a digital watermark processing apparatus, which can embed a digital watermark while minimizing quality deterioration of objective contents. The image segmentation step segments objective contents into a plurality of partial contents. The encryption step encrypts designated one of the plurality of partial contents. The digital watermarking step embeds a digital watermark in the encrypted partial contents by a scheme corresponding to the characteristics or the purpose of use of an image. The decryption step decrypts the encrypted partial contents embedded with the digital watermark.

Abstract: A method for encrypting and decrypting data prevents counterfeiting or forgery of various on-line or off-line prints. A graphical image or text to be encrypted is fragmented into minute pixels as basic units. In connection with a shadow, a color, and a size of the fragmented pixels, a pixel having a predetermined characteristic value is defined as a reference pixel, and then non-reference pixels having different characteristic values with respect to the reference pixel are defined. A predetermined data value is allotted to each of the non-reference pixels, and the fragmented reference pixels are one-to-one substituted by the non-reference pixels. Thereby, desired information data can be inserted without changing the state of an original file to be encrypted.

Abstract: Embodiments of a printed security mark and a process are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention describes an ultrafast secure data communication system that can link remote users to an encrypted database with holographic-stored data and a high security and ultrafast transfer rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided through which marks are generated for combination with a host image, in which source or user information is encoded into the mark either as a visually perceptibly unobtrusive pattern, or encoded by an arrangement of visually perceptible marks. Systems and methods are also provided for decoding or estimating the user information from images that contain the marks and determining the user or source that the mark indicates within a measure of certainty.

Abstract: The present document describes a hand-held decoder card for revealing information hidden in a printed material and information hidden in a color image and method of making the same. The hand-held decoder card comprises: translucent material having a parallax barrier portion comprising parallel barrier lines for revealing the information hidden in the printed material; and the translucent material having a light filtering portion comprising a light filter for revealing the information hidden in the color image. According to various embodiments, the hand-held decoder card is in a transactional card format. The card may include only the parallax barrier portion or the light filtering portion. Also, the hand-held card may be a monocoque card or a laminated card.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving data encrypted with a first encryption method and sent from a host device; a decryption unit for decrypting the data thus encrypted; an embedded data generation unit for re-editing the data thus decrypted to generate embedded information; an embedded information encryption unit for encrypting the embedded information with a second encryption method; and an image forming unit for forming the embedded information thus encrypted on a medium as a base emblem pattern.

Abstract: A method for embedding a digital watermark includes a step of inputting digital watermark information; a step of inputting an image; a step of dividing the image into a plurality of areas; a step of ordering the plurality of areas according to a predetermined ordering criterion; a step of embedding the digital watermark information over the plurality of areas that have been ordered; and a step of outputting an image with the digital watermark information embedded therein.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of inserting a message in an image, the message comprising binary symbols which are each referenced by an index, characterized in that it comprises, for a coefficient (Yn) of the image, the steps of: determining (E9) a watermarked value (Y?n) of the coefficient, according to the binary value (b) of a symbol of the message and according to the index (i) of the symbol, inserting (E11) the watermarked value in place of the value of the coefficient.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for processing documents each represented by a document description (12) encoded in a page description language supportive of reusable data includes a page description language interpreter (14) that receives the document description (12) and parses the document description (12) into document components. An imager (16), communicating with the interpreter (14), creates image representations of received document components. A reusable document component repository (32) stores image representations derived from a plurality of processed documents. The reusable document component repository (32) communicates with the interpreter (14) and the imager (16) to supply those ones of the image representations corresponding to selected document components of the processed documents and to receive selected image representations created by the imager (16) during the processing of documents.

Abstract: Described herein is a technology for facilitating watermark detection. Spread-spectrum watermarking is a commonly employed technique for hiding data in digital goods (e.g., multimedia signals). Such watermarks may be potentially vulnerable to so-called “watermark estimation-based attacks.” At least one implementation, described herein, is an advancement over the traditional spread-spectrum watermark detector. At least one implementation, described herein, greatly discourages an estimation-based attack by an adversary. At least one implementation, described herein, determines whether a digital good has likely been subjected to an estimation-based attack and, at least, approximately reverses such attack. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.

Abstract: An apparatus receives a document image and digital-watermark information and determines an embedding capacity based on a number of the letters in the document image. The apparatus determines whether or not the entire digital-watermark information is capable of being embedded in the document image based on the determined embedding capacity and embeds the digital-watermark information in the document image based on a result of the determination of whether or not the entire digital-watermark information is capable of being embedded in the document image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for securing digital imagery are provided. In one respect, embedding, compression, encryption, data hiding, and other imaging processing techniques and systems may be provided for digital image security. In one non-limiting example, a method for producing a compressed and encrypted image is provided. An image may be converted into a binary bit stream, and the bit stream may be decomposed into a plurality of segments. A binary sequence based on a first key may be generated and may be used to generate a code matrix. A distance between the code matrix and the distance may be determined for each of the plurality of segments. Using a combined first and second key, a compressed and encrypted image may be obtained.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method of managing an electronic circuit of the type comprising a memory (EEPROM) for the storage of confidential information, the method comprising masking variations of the electrical current (I) consumed by the electronic circuit, during a fraction of the time only (ti-tj), at least during the portion(s) of time during which an instruction bearing on confidential data is executed, and notably an instruction for reading out from the memory (EEPROM).

Abstract: An item handling system, comprising: at least one item preparation station for printing machine-readable symbols on items; and at least one item handling station for receiving items from the at least one item preparation station and being operable to machine read and process information contained in the symbols printed on the items; wherein: the at least one item handling station includes a messaging unit for generating messages representative of the readability of symbols read thereby and transmitting the messages to the at least one item preparation station; and the at least one item preparation station includes an indicator for providing an indication of a readability of symbols printed thereby in response to messages received from the at least one item handling station.

Abstract: A multiple-layered watermark is generated to be placed on document, to protect against counterfeiting and forgery. Hidden information embedded into each of the watermark's layers is only detectable by using a corresponding decoder. Because of the multiple-layered structure, it is difficult to reverse engineer the optical watermark. The generalized watermark structure significantly increases the “key space” of the decoder.

Abstract: This invention allows the encryption side to set whether an image playback apparatus should play back image data in a scrambled state or a non-scrambled state. When a code-block of input image data is an object to be encrypted, it is encrypted. In playing back the data, it is determined whether playback is to be executed by using the encrypted code-block (the scrambling playback mode is to be set). To inhibit use of the encrypted code-block, a terminating marker is placed at the start of the code-block. To use the encrypted code-block, the terminating marker is placed at the end of the code-block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to embedding data in material. Material means one or more of video material, audio material and data material. Video material in this context may be still images or moving images. There is provided an apparatus comprising a transformer for transforming transform domain data into spatial domain data and a combiner for receiving material and combining said spatial domain data with said material to form data embedded material. Hence, the material is not subject any transformation at all.

Abstract: Digital data is rapidly embedded in color/grayscale digital data by switching between a set of multi-level screens or quantizers. Each screen can be tuned to maximize the quality of the digital data product on the intended display medium, so that the quality of the displayed product does not suffer. The data embedding method/algorithm of the invention generally involves generating a set of multi-level screens, each of which is generated by selecting a set of colors that comprise the colors that can be output by that multi-level screen; screening the input digital medium with the generated multi-level screens using a dither matrix and a set of level matrices; and selecting, for each of select number of pixel locations in the input digital medium, one of the level matrices, based on a message symbol to be embedded at that pixel location, to create an output.

Abstract: A method and system for issuing secure documentation, such as tickets or coupons. The method includes producing a secure document having printed information and coded data thereon, the coded data including a unique identifier indicative of the secure document. A correspondence is recorded, in a computer system, between the secure document and validity status and/or authenticity information relating to the document. A sensing device is provided, adapted to sense the coded data on the secure document. The sensing device is further adapted for communication with said computer system, whereby the validity status and/or authenticity of said document can be determined by sensing said coded data to obtain the secure document unique identifier and communicating with the computer system to determine the validity status and/or authenticity information corresponding thereto.