Methods are provided for encoding watermark information into media data containing a series of digital samples in a sample domain. The methods involve: dividing the series of digital samples into a plurality of sections in the sample domain, each section comprising a corresponding plurality of samples; processing the corresponding plurality of samples in each section to obtain a single energy value associated with each section; grouping the sections into groups, each group containing three or more sections; for each group, assigning a nominal bit value according to a bit assignment rule, assigning a watermark bit value and comparing the watermark bit value to the nominal bit value. If the nominal bit value and the watermark bit value do not match, modifying one or more energy values of one or more corresponding sections in the group where re-application of the bit assignment rule would assign the watermark bit value to the group.

In one example, a system including an isolation engine, a normalization engine, and a channel engine is described. In the example, the isolation engine generates mark data using a mark technique based on a first input color channel and a second input color channel, the normalization engine scales intensity values of a set of pixels of the mark data to a greater range, and the channel engine generates output channel data for a plurality of output color channels from normalized mark data based on the scaled intensity values.

Methods, systems, devices and applications for adaptive content protection for image data for use with interactive media display systems are disclosed. Initially, image data is obtained for display. A generated graphical obscuring element is then provided for the image data, the obscuring element generated for display overlaying the image data, wherein the obscuring element is generated to obscure, to a moderate degree, at least a portion of an underlying displayed image. On display of the image and the overlaying obscuring element, and in response to a prompt, the degree to which the obscuring element obscures the underlying displayed image is altered.

A device comprising: an input for receiving images captured by a camera, of an environment illuminated by light from a light source; an image processing module; and a verification module. The image processing module is configured to process one or more of the images to decode a timestamp modulated into the light, and to output an indication of the decoded timestamp. The verification module is arranged to receive the indication of the decoded timestamp output by the image processing module, and based thereon to perform an at least partially automated verification of a time at which the one or more images were captured.

An image forming apparatus includes a first image forming unit, a second image forming unit, and a generator. The first image forming unit forms a first image on a basis of first image data. The second image forming unit forms a light-emittable second image on a basis of second image data. The generator generates the first image data on a basis of print data, and generates the second image data to cause the second image to be overlaid on part or all of the first image.

An information processing system includes a server, and a terminal device communicable with the server via a network. The terminal device includes a display, an image capturing device to capture a marker image and a first image formed on a recording medium, the marker image indicating a condition of displaying information on the display, and circuitry to extract an identifier of the marker image from the captured marker image, transmit identification information of the terminal device or user and the extracted identifier of the captured marker image to the server, receive data of a second image associated with the identification information of the terminal device or user and the identifier of the marker image from the server, and superimpose the second image over the first image to cause the display to display the second image and the first image while the recording medium is being captured.

The present invention provides a printer responsive to commands from printer driver software. The printer driver software is characterized by being responsive to two types of input data. One of the types includes text data, and the other of the types includes watermark data. The two types of data are separately applied to printer driver software, rather than integrated together prior to application to the printer driver software.

An imaging system may output embedded data in an output frame. Selected bits of pixel data words, corresponding to data read out from imaging pixels and non-imaging pixels, may be modified to correspond to bits of embedded data. Modifying pixel data words may include receiving a pixel data word and decatenating the pixel data words into fragments of the data word. A first fragment may correspond to bits of the data word that are replaced by embedded data bits output from an embedded data engine. A second fragment may be modified using arithmetic circuitry based on whether the embedded data bits that replace the first fragment are the same as bits of the first fragment. An output data word may be produced that includes embedded data bits at its least significant bits, most significant bits, or intermediate bits.

A method and apparatus for concealing data. Frequency information is identified for a number of data object types of a set of data objects in the data using a frequency map. A set of pixel values is assigned to the set of data objects based on the frequency information for use in encrypting the set of data objects to form encrypted data. An image is generated that includes a set of pixels that represents the encrypted data. Each pixel in the set of pixels has a pixel value from the set of pixel values that is assigned to a corresponding data object of the set of data objects.

An image processing apparatus includes a print data acquisition unit configured to acquire print data to be printed on a printing medium, and a generation unit configured to generate multiplexed data by multiplexing a first predetermined pattern with a printing area where the print data is printed among areas of the printing medium and multiplexing a second predetermined pattern with a marker area different from the printing area among the areas of the printing medium, wherein the multiplexed second predetermined pattern has a density lower than that of the multiplexed first predetermined pattern on the printing medium.