Steganographic messaging through imagery

Abstract

Imagery is steganographically encoded with message data to serve a variety of purposes. For example, a photograph can be embedded with a message that identifies a corresponding record in a database, where the database record details information relating to the photograph (e.g., the photographer's name or address). Photocollages can be formed of plural photographic images, each encoded with a different steganographic message. Medical imagery can be embedded with steganographic messages, e.g., to aid in authentication of the images.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of creating a photocollage, including: 
 providing plural photographic images;    encoding each of the photographic images with a different steganographic message;    the steganographic messages serving to associate with each photographic image, information corresponding thereto; and    printing the encoded photographic images on a common page.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    in which the information comprises data identifying a person associated with the corresponding photographic image.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2    in which the person is a photographer of the photographic image.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1    in which each message identifies a corresponding record in a database, each record including information specific to a corresponding photographic image.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1    in which the steganographic message conveys plural digital bits of information.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1    in which at least one of the steganographic messages is dispersed across the corresponding photographic image, rather than being localized in a limited portion.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1    in which each steganographic message is encoded in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    in which each of the photographic images comprises pixels, and the encoding changes the luminance of a majority of the pixels of each photographic image.  
     
     
         9 . A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions for performing the method of    claim 1   .  
     
     
         10 . A photocollage produced by the method of    claim 1   .  
     
     
         11 . A storage medium having represented thereon a photocollage, the photocollage comprising: 
 plural photographic images, each embedded with a different steganographic message;    the steganographic messages serving to associate with each photographic image, information corresponding thereto.    
     
     
         12 . The invention of    claim 11    in which the information comprises data identifying a person associated with the corresponding photographic image.  
     
     
         13 . The invention of    claim 12    in which the person is a photographer of the photographic image.  
     
     
         14 . The invention of    claim 11    in which each message identifies a corresponding record in a database, each record including information specific to a corresponding photographic image.  
     
     
         15 . The invention of    claim 11    in which the steganographic message conveys plural digital bits of information.  
     
     
         16 . The invention of    claim 11    in which at least one of the steganographic messages is dispersed across the corresponding photographic image, rather than being localized in a limited region thereon.  
     
     
         17 . The invention of    claim 11    in which each steganographic message is encoded in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.  
     
     
         18 . A method comprising encoding a photograph with a steganographic message, the message serving to identify a corresponding record in a database, the database record detailing information relating to the photograph.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 18    in which the message comprises an index number.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 18    in which the information relating to the photograph includes information identifying a person associated with the photograph.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 20    in which the person is a photographer of the photographer.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 18    in which the information relating to the photograph includes contact information, such as an address.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 18    in which the steganographic message conveys plural digital bits of information.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 18    in which the steganographic message is dispersed across the photograph, rather than being localized in a limited portion.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 18    in which the steganographic message is encoded in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 18    in which the photograph comprises pixels, and the encoding changes the luminance of a majority of the pixels.  
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 18    in which the steganographic message is a code pre-exposed on emulsion media, onto which media a photographic image is later exposed.  
     
     
         28 . A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer instructions for performing the method of    claim 18   .  
     
     
         29 . A photograph produced in accordance with the method of    claim 18   .  
     
     
         30 . A storage medium, such as paper, film, or computer storage media, the storage medium having represented thereon a photograph, characterized in that the photograph is encoded with a steganographic message, the message serving to identify a corresponding record in a database, the database record detailing information relating to the photograph.  
     
     
         31 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the message comprises an index number.  
     
     
         32 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the information relating to the photograph includes information identifying a person associated with the photograph.  
     
     
         33 . The invention of    claim 32    in which the person is a photographer of the photographer.  
     
     
         34 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the information relating to the photograph includes contact information, such as an address.  
     
     
         35 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the steganographic message conveys plural digital bits of information.  
     
     
         36 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the steganographic message is dispersed across the photograph, rather than being localized in a limited portion.  
     
     
         37 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the steganographic message is encoded in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.  
     
     
         38 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the photograph comprises pixels, and the encoding changes the luminance of a majority of the pixels.  
     
     
         39 . The invention of    claim 30    in which the steganographic message is a code pre-exposed on emulsion media, onto which media a photographic image is later exposed.  
     
     
         40 . A storage medium, such as film or computer storage media, having represented thereon a medical image embedded with a steganographic message, the message aiding in authentication of the medical image.  
     
     
         41 . The invention of    claim 40    in which the message aids in protecting the medical image against undetected tampering.  
     
     
         42 . The invention of    claim 40    in which the steganographic message is dispersed across the medical image, rather than being localized in a limited portion.  
     
     
         43 . The invention of    claim 40    in which the steganographic message is encoded in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.  
     
     
         44 . The invention of    claim 40    in which the medical image comprises pixels, and the encoding changes the luminance of a majority of the pixels.