Method and system for digital image signatures
US5721788A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/327
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for embedding signatures within visual images in both digital representation and print or film. A signature is inseparably embedded within the visible image, the signature persisting through image transforms that include resizing as well as conversion to print or film and back to digital form. Signature points are selected from among the pixels of an original image. The pixel values of the signature points and surrounding pixels are adjusted by an amount detectable by a digital scanner. The adjusted signature points form a digital signature which is stored for future identification of subject images derived from the image. In one embodiment, a signature is embedded within an image by locating relative extrema in the continuous space of pixel values and selecting the signature points from among the extrema. Preferably, the signature is redundantly embedded in the image such that any of the redundant representations can be used to identify the signature. Identification of a subject image includes ensuring that the subject image is normalized with respect to the original image or the signed image. Preferably, the normalized subject image is compared with the stored…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.