Digital Watermarking Apparatus and Methods

A method of managing documents comprising:

• encoding a document with a digital watermark including a document history identifier;
• storing the document history identifier in a database, and associating related document history with the document history identifier;
• and
• upon receipt of a decoded digital watermark identifier, utilizing an electronic processor configured for indexing the database with the identifier to access the related document history.

A handheld device comprising:

• a camera to capture image or video data;
• a display, said display being operable to at least display:
• i) captured image or video data, and ii) graphics;
• a keyboard or mouse to allow user data entry;
• an input to receive data;
• an electronic processor configured as a digital watermark embedder, said digital watermark embedder operable to encode digital watermarks in:
• i) audio or video files received via said input;
• and ii) image or video data captured by said camera,
• in which digital watermarks inserted by said digital watermark embedder comprise a device identifier that is uniquely associated with the handheld device.

A handheld apparatus comprising:

• an input for receiving image or video data representing a banknote or physical currency;
• a multi-purpose electronic processor configured for:
• decoding digital watermarking from said received image or video data, the digital watermarking having been embedded in the banknote or physical currency, the digital watermarking including data corresponding to a denomination of the banknote or physical currency;
• based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object;
• controlling output of the feedback.