Method for generating and detecting marks

A method of embedding a watermark into an image, said method comprising the step of:

• maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

A method of embedding a watermark into an image, said method comprising the step of:

• maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

A method of detecting a watermark from an image, said watermark having a first basis pattern embedded, said method comprising the steps of:

• maintaining a second basis pattern;
• and
• detecting said first basis pattern in said image using said second basis pattern, said first and second basis patterns being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

A method of adding registration marks to an image, said method comprising the step of:

• maintaining at least one basis pattern, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant;
• adding said basis pattern(s) to said image at at least three predetermined offsets relative to a center of said image.

An image processing apparatus for embedding a watermark into an image, said apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• means for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

An image processing apparatus for embedding a watermark into an image, said apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• means for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

An image processing apparatus for embedding a watermark into an image, said apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• means for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

An image processing apparatus for detecting a watermark from an image, said watermark having a first basis pattern embedded, said apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining a second basis pattern;
• and
• means for detecting said first basis pattern in said image using said second basis pattern, said first and second basis patterns being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

An image processing apparatus for adding registration marks to an image, said apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining at least one basis pattern, said basis pattern(s) being formed substantially from a basis function, wherein said basis function is defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant;
• means for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image at at least three predetermined offsets relative to a center of said image.

A program stored in a memory medium for embedding a watermark into an image, said program comprising:

• code for maintaining at least one basis pattern;
• and
• code for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image, wherein said basis pattern(s) is formed substantially from a basis function, said basis function being defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

A program stored in a memory medium for detecting a watermark from an image, said watermark having a first basis pattern embedded, said program comprising:

• code for maintaining a second basis pattern;
• and
• code for detecting said first basis pattern in said image using said second basis pattern, wherein said first and second basis patterns are formed substantially from a basis function, said basis function being defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant.

A program stored in a memory medium for adding registration marks to an image, said program comprising:

• code for maintaining at least one basis pattern, wherein said basis pattern(s) is formed substantially from a basis function, said basis function being defined such that said basis function when correlated with a scaled and rotated version of said basis function is substantially equal to the auto-correlation of said function within a complex multiplicative constant;
• code for adding said basis pattern(s) to said image at at least three predetermined offsets relative to a center of said image.