System and method to automatically establish preferred area for image-wise watermark
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsReiner Eschbach, Shen-ge Wang, Zhigang Fan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for determining preferred image locations for placing watermark information (both hidden and obvious). The disclosure includes at least three criteria (image similarity, contrast, and image value range) that may be used alone or in combination to determine a preferred area of the target image for placing the watermark depending upon the user's intent for the mark (hiding or showing watermark).
Claims20
A method for determining a location for an image-wise watermark in relation to a target image, comprising:
- analyzing the target image by dividing the target image into a plurality of smaller areas and determining a characteristic metric for the areas thereof;
- and
- determining, based upon the characteristic metric, at least one location for the watermark image to be overlaid onto the target image.
The method of claim 4, wherein the characteristic metric is image similarity and is determined as a function of a variance between average gray levels for the areas of the target image and the watermark image.
A print production system for determining a location for an image-wise watermark in relation to a target image, comprising:
- a processor for analyzing the target image by dividing the target image into a plurality of smaller areas and determining a characteristic metric for the areas thereof;
- memory for recording the characteristic metric data for each of the areas analyzed by the processor;
- said processor further determining, based upon the characteristic metric, at least one location for a watermark image to be overlaid onto the target image, and overlaying said watermark image on the target image in the at least one location;
- and
- a printing engine for receiving the target image with the overlaid watermark image and rendering the image on a substrate.
A method for printing variable data with a watermark, comprising:
- receiving a target image into which an image-wise watermark is to be embedded;
- receiving a watermark image;
- analyzing the target image by dividing the target image into a plurality of smaller areas and determining a characteristic metric for the areas thereof;
- analyzing the watermark image by dividing the watermark image into a plurality of smaller areas and determining a characteristic metric for the areas thereof;
- and
- determining, based upon at least one of the characteristic metrics, at least one location for the watermark image to be overlaid onto the target image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.