Paper-based control of computer systems
AssigneeDigimarc Corporation
InventorsTony F. Rodriguez, Jonathan Scott Carr, Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Digital data is steganographically encoded in printed materials, and—when sensed by an appropriately-equipped webcam or other imaging device—can be used to link to associated electronic resources. Data hidden in a business card, for example, may enable linking to a person's electronic calendar—showing the person's schedule availability. Likewise, data hidden in a corporate ID badge may serve to unlock doors at a corporate office, or to enable access to corporate computers. Many other such applications are detailed.
Claims28
A method comprising:
- presenting a business card of an individual to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data;
- decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data;
- and
- using said plural-bit data to establish a link to an internet address having data relating to the proprietor of said business card.
A method comprising:
- presenting a printed promotion to an optical sensor at a first site, the optical sensor producing output data;
- decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data;
- using said data to establish a link to an internet site relating to a company, product, or service promoted by said printed promotion;
- and
- transferring to from the internet site to the first site additional information relating to said company, product, or service.
A method comprising:
- presenting a printed identification badge to an optical sensor, the optical sensor producing output data corresponding to optical characteristics of the face of said badge;
- decoding steganographically-encoded plural-bit data from the sensor output data;
- checking the plural-bit data to determine whether it corresponds to a valid access card;
- and
- unlocking a lock depending on the outcome of the foregoing checking operation.
A business card comprising a substrate with printing thereon, characterized in that the printing includes a steganographic pattern encoding plural-bit auxiliary data, said pattern not being evident upon human inspection but being discernable by visible light scanning of the card and processing the scan data produced thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.