Metadata management and generation using digital watermarks

US 20060115108A1

(io) Pub. No.: US 2006/0115108 Al (43) Pub. Date: Jun. 1, 2006

(54) METADATA MANAGEMENT AND GENERATION USING DIGITAL WATERMARKS

(76) Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Portland, OR (US);

Sean Calhoon, Lake Oswego, OR
(US); Alastair M. Reed, Lake Oswego,
OR (US)

Correspondence Address: DIGIMARC CORPORATION 9405 SW GEMINI DRIVE BEAVERTON, OR 97008 (US)

(21) Appl. No.: 11/152,685

(22) Filed: Jun. 13, 2005

Related U.S. Application Data

(60) Provisional application No. 60/673,022, filed on Apr. 19, 2005. Provisional application No. 60/656,642, filed on Feb. 25, 2005. Provisional application No. 60/582,280, filed on Jun. 22, 2004.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.

G06K 9/00 (2006.01)
G06F 17/30 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 382/100; 707/3

(57) ABSTRACT

The present invention provides methods and systems to improve network searching for watermarked content. In some implementations we employ keyword searching to narrow the universe of possible URL candidates. A resulting URL list is searched for digital watermarking. A system is provided to allow customer input. For example, a customer enters keywords or network locations. The keywords or network locations are provided to a watermark-enabled web browser which accesses locations associated with the keywords or network locations. Some implementations of the present invention employ a plurality of distributed watermark-enabled web browsers. Other aspects of the invention provide methods and system to facilitate desktop searching and automated metadata gathering and generating. In one implementation a digital watermark is used to determine whether metadata associated with an image or audio file is current or fresh. The metadata is updated when it is out of date. Watermarks can also be used to link to or facilitate so-called on-line "blogs" (or online conversations).