Digital Watermarking Applications

Abstract

The disclosure relates generally to methods and systems including, e.g.,: (1) steganographically embedding location information in image or audio content, where the location information is obtained from remote sources like a cell phone network or remote GPS receiver; (2) steganographically embedding participant IDs in content to ensure proper billing and royalty tracking; (3) providing fair-use content management based upon digital watermark-tracked usage; (4) providing micro-payments based upon watermarked objects for retailers; and/or (5) providing watermarked logon cards, such as watermarked hotel room keys, to better provide internet logon access control. Other systems and methods are provided as well.

1 . A method of steganographically embedding geo-location information in an image or audio captured by a sensor associated with a cell phone, said method comprises:
 determining geo-location information based on attributes associated with a cell phone network; and   steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell phone network comprises a signal tower, and the attributes are associated with the tower. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cell phone communicates a signal, and wherein the attributes comprise strength of the signal as received by the tower and a direction associated with the signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell phone network comprises a plurality of towers, and wherein the cell phone communicates a signal, the attributes comprising an evaluation of the signal as received by the plurality of towers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the evaluation considers relative reception timing of the signal as received by each of the plurality of towers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the evaluation involves triangulation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell phone comprises a steganographic embedder, and uses the embedder to steganographically embed the geo-location information in the image or audio. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell phone network comprises a steganographic embedder located remotely from the cell phone, and wherein the embedder steganographically embeds the geo-location information in the image or audio. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising communicating the embedded image or embedded audio to the cell phone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steganographic embedding comprises digital watermarking. 
     
     
         11 . A method of steganographically embedding geo-location information in an image or audio captured by a sensor which is integrated with a cell phone, wherein the cell phone comprises a wireless interface, said method comprises:
 communicating with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which is remotely located from the cell phone via the wireless interface;   receiving geo-location information from the GPS receiver; and   steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the geo-location information and image or audio are communicated to a cell phone network server which includes a steganographic embedder, and wherein the cell phone network server performs said step of steganographically embedding the geo-location information in the image or audio. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing internet access for a computer user comprising:
 issuing the user a digital watermarked object, wherein the digital watermarked object comprises a digital watermark embedded therein, the digital watermark comprising an identifier;   associating the identifier with the user via a data repository;   receiving optical scan data corresponding to a portion of the object, the portion comprising the digital watermark;   decoding the digital watermark from the scan data to obtain the identifier;   verifying that the identifier is valid; and   enabling internet access for the user when the identifier is valid.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the object comprises at least a hotel room key or another object provided by a hotel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising associating a bill for internet access with the user via the identifier. 
     
     
         16 . A method of accumulating financial charges attributable to a customer so as to minimize transaction fees, the customer has possession of a digitally watermarked object, the digitally watermarked object comprising a digital watermark including an identifier, said method comprising:
 receiving scan data associated with the digitally watermarked object;   analyzing the scan data to obtain the identifier from the object;   accessing a data record that is associated with the identifier;   updating the data record to reflect a monetary amount owed for a transaction;   accumulating a plurality of such monetary amounts in the data record; and   forwarding the accumulated amounts for payment at least when one of the following occur: a predetermined amount for the accumulated amount is reached or after a predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the aggregated monetary amounts are forwarded to the customer for payment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the aggregated monetary amounts are forwarded to a credit agency for payment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the credit agency comprises at least one of a bank or credit card company. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the identifier comprises information personal to the customer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the identifier comprises a hash of the personal information. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the identifier is combined with information provided by the customer to access the data record that is associated with the identifier. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the digital watermark further comprises a biometric, and said method further comprises comparing a biometric sample of the customer to the biometric carried by the digital watermark. 
     
     
         24 . A method to regulate protected content while allowing fair use of the content, wherein the content includes a digital watermarking embedded therein, the digital watermarking including at least a copy protection indicator and a time interval indicator, said method comprising:
 recognizing the content as protected content by reference to the copy protection indicator; and   upon recognition of the content as protected content, and using a programmed processor,
 measuring the amount of content rendered by reference to the time interval indicator, and 
 disabling rendering after a predetermined amount of content has been rendered, the predetermined amount corresponding to predetermined fair use of the content.