The US Patent Office issues new patents on Tuesdays. Issued patents and published applications may be early indicators of the kinds of issues being addressed by inventors and/or the companies for whom they work. Both of today's patents deal with watermarking. Assigned to Fuji Xerox, the first addresses ways of embedding data by dimensional compression and expansion. Assigned to Philips, the second patent addresses recording information with a watermark related to a prerecorded medium mark on an information carrier.
In the category of patent numerology, numbers are now beyond 7,000,000, which was issued to Dupont for " Polysaccharide fibers ."
6,999,598, "Systems and methods for embedding data by dimensional compression and expansion," assigned to Fuji Xerox.
Abstract
The systems and methods of this invention watermark an original data file using dimensional compression and expansion. The original data file extends along a given dimension and has portions that extend along that given dimension. The information is embedded into the data file by selectively dimensionally compressing or expanding a size of each of some or all of the portions along the given dimension, which can be space or time. The portions of the data file are selectively dimensionally expanded or compressed according to a given encoding scheme. This encoding scheme can use the kind of modification, the relationships between the type of modification between adjacent portions, or the duration or degree of compression or expansion to store a portion of the embedded information. The portions of the embedded information can be individual bits of binary or trinary information, or can be a portion of analog
7,000,113, "Recording information with a watermark related to a prerecorded medium mark on an information carrier," assigned to Philips.
Abstract
A system for copy protection of recorded information is disclosed, including an information carrier, a recorder and a player. The information carrier, e.g. an optical disc, includes a medium mark representing a first bitpattern, which medium mark cannot be copied on standard recording devices. The recorded information includes a watermark representing a second bitpattern, which second bitpattern has a predefined relationship to the first bitpattern. The watermark cannot be manipulated without disturbing the quality of the reproduction of the information. The relationship, preferably a one-way function, between the watermark and the medium mark requires that an illegal copy also has the corresponding medium mark. As neither the watermark nor the medium mark can be manipulated, a strong protection against illegal copying is achieved. The recorder includes encoder means for embedding the watermark in the information and generator means for generating the second bitpattern according to said relationship. The player includes verification means for verifying said relationship.
