Embedding information in a digital image digitized from a developed photographic film

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for embedding hidden data in digital images created from scanning developed photographic film. A film development system develops exposed photographic film to produce developed photographic film. A scanner then scans the developed film to produce a digital image. Film properties are extracted from the developed film, such as the dimensions of the image and/or the graininess or other attributes associated with the image on the film. These properties are stored in memory of a programmed computer system, which includes a digital watermark encoder for embedding information in digital images. The digital watermark encoder reads the film properties and possibly other input parameters supplied by a user, and in response, embeds associated information into the digital image. The embedding process modifies pixel values of the digital image to embed the associated information. Preferably, the modifications to the pixel values are slight so that they do not substantially alter the quality of the digital image. The digital image may be printed, in which case, the embedded information is invisible in the printed image. The digital image may also be stored in a portable storage device, such as a CD, or transmitted electronically over a network, such as the Internet. A variety of data may be embedded in the image, including authentication information, sound data, film speed, exposure information, etc.

1 . Apparatus for embedding information in a digital image digitized from a developed photographic film in response to a film property and information to be embedded into the digital image, comprising 
 a) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    b) means for storing the film property;    c) input means for storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image; and    d) means responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image, wherein the embedded information can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the digital image.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further including means responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image wherein the embedded information is invisible.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including means for storing the modified digital image on a medium which can be used for subsequent printing of the modified digital image.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the embedded information includes user input information.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for embedding information in a digital image digitized from an exposed photographic film in response to a film property and user provided information to be embedded into the digital image, comprising 
 a) means for developing the exposed photographic film to produce a developed photographic film and for extracting the film property related to the film;    b) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    c) means for storing the extracted the film property;    d) user input means for providing and storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image; and    e) means responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image, wherein the embedded information can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the digital image.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further including means responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image wherein the embedded information is invisible.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further including means for storing the modified digital image on a medium which can be used for subsequent printing of the modified digital image.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for producing an image on a receiver which includes invisible embedded information in response to an image digitized from a developed photographic film, comprising 
 a) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    b) means for storing a film property of the developed photographic film;    c) user input means for providing and storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image;    d) means responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image; and    e) printer means responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image on the receiver wherein the embedded information is invisible and can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the image on the receiver.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the film property comprises a film speed or exposure information.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the film property is embedded into the digital image.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the film property is embedded into the digital image.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the film property comprises dimensions of the image scanned from the developed photographic film.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the associated information is embedded in the digital image to optimize redundancy of the embedded information.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the associated information is embedded in the digital image to optimize redundancy of the embedded information based on the film property.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus for embedding information in a digital image digitized from a developed photographic film in response to a film property and information to be embedded into the digital image, comprising 
 a) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    b) memory for storing the film property;    c) an input device for storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image; and    d) an encoder responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image, wherein the embedded information can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the digital image.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  further including means responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image wherein the embedded information is invisible.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27  further including means for storing the modified digital image on a medium which can be used for subsequent printing of the modified digital image.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the embedded information includes user input information.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus for embedding information in a digital image digitized from an exposed photographic film in response to a film property and user provided information to be embedded into the digital image, comprising 
 a) a film development system for developing the exposed photographic film to produce a developed photographic film and device for determining the film property related to the film;    b) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    c) memory for storing the extracted the film property;    d) user input device for providing and storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image; and    e) an encoder responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image, wherein the embedded information can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the digital image.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 35  further including means responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image wherein the embedded information is invisible.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35  further including means for storing the modified digital image on a medium which can be used for subsequent printing of the modified digital image.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.  
     
     
         42 . Apparatus for producing an image on a receiver which includes invisible embedded information in response to an image digitized from a developed photographic film, comprising 
 a) a scanner for scanning the image on the developed photographic film to produce the digital image;    b) memory for storing a film property of the developed photographic film;    c) a user input device for providing and storing information associated with the image and to be embedded in the digital image;    d) an encoder responsive to the stored film property and the associated information for modifying a predeterinined number of pixel values with the associated information in the digital image so that the associated information is embedded in the digital image; and    e) a printer responsive to the modified digital image for printing a human visible image on the receiver wherein the embedded information is invisible and can subsequently be extracted.    
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the modified pixels in the digital image do not substantially alter the quality of the image on the receiver.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the embedded information includes authentication information.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the embedded information includes sound information.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 42  wherein the film property includes one or more of the following: the film speed, the film type, the dimensional format of the film, and the exposure conditions.