US6324573B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linking of computers using information steganographically embedded in data objects
Assignee: Digimarc Corp
•
Filing: 1998-08-06
•
Granted: 2001-11-27
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Expires: 2018-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A given data object was effectively contain both a graphical representation to a network user and embedded information, such as the URL address of another network node, thereby to permit the object itself to serve as an automated hot link. The underlying development tools and web site browsers create and identify such an object for use in a manner similar to a hot link, as provided on the World Wide Web.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey B. Rhoads
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/1439; G06K7/1447; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F21/00; G06F21/10; G06F21/16; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/36; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06037; G06K19/06046; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; G06K19/18; G06K7/1408; G06K7/1417; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/341; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G06Q20/4014; G06Q20/40145; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0021; G06T1/0028; G06T1/005; G06T1/0057; G06T1/0064; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/22; G07C9/25; G07C9/253; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/003; G07D7/0032; G07D7/0034; G07D7/004; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/16; G07F17/26; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07F7/086; G07F7/10; G07F7/1008; G07F7/1016; G07F7/12; G10; G10L; G10L19/00; G10L19/018; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/00086; G11B20/00094; G11B20/00166; G11B20/0021; G11B20/00884; G11B20/00891; H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/66; H04B1/665; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00002; H04N1/00005; H04N1/00026; H04N1/00037; H04N1/00071; H04N1/00074; H04N1/00079; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32144; H04N1/32149; H04N1/32154; H04N1/3216; H04N1/32203; H04N1/32208; H04N1/32251; H04N1/32288; H04N1/32352; H04N19/00; H04N19/46; H04N19/467; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/238; H04N21/2389; H04N21/23892; H04N21/80; H04N21/83; H04N21/835; H04N21/8358; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/913; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2107; G06F2221/2119; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06253; G06T2201/00; G06T2201/005; G06T2201/0052; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32122; H04N2005/91307; H04N2005/91321; H04N2005/91335; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/3207; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3226; H04N2201/3233; H04N2201/3249; H04N2201/3269; H04N2201/327; H04N2201/3271; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/328
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of initiating access to a first computer process from a second computer process, said first and second computer processes being capable of operating upon data objects and content files, the method comprising: creating a data object which contains particular information that can be used to initiate a particular action in said first computer process; steganographically embedding said data object in a content file which can be operated upon by said second computer process; operating upon said content file by said second computer process; and said second computer process utilizing said particular information to initiate a link to said first computer process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of initiating access to a first computer process from a second computer process, said first and second computer processes being capable of operating upon data objects and content files, the method comprising: creating a data object which contains particular information that can be used to initiate a particular action in said first computer process; steganographically embedding said data object in a content file which can be operated upon by said second computer process; operating upon said content file by said second computer process; and said second computer process utilizing said particular information to initiate a link to said first computer process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the creating step includes the substep of including in the content file a human-perceptible indicium for indicating the presence of the steganographically embedded data object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steganographically embedded data object includes a URL address.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the steganographically embedded data object includes an index number for use in accessing a data base in the first computer process.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for initiating access to a first computer process from a second computer process, said first and second computer processes being capable of operating upon data objects an content files, said system comprising: a data object which contains particular information which can be used to initiate a particular action in said first computer process; a content file accessible to said second computer process which has steganographically embedded therein said data object; and means in said second computer process for operating upon said content file and for using said data object to initiate a link to said first computer process.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for initiating access to a first computer process from a second computer process, said first and second computer processes being capable of operating upon data objects an content files, said system comprising: a data object which contains particular information which can be used to initiate a particular action in said first computer process; a content file accessible to said second computer process which has steganographically embedded therein said data object; and means in said second computer process for operating upon said content file and for using said data object to initiate a link to said first computer process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the data object distributable over a computer network that has sites with discrete addresses, the data object including: user interface information presentable to a user at one of the network sites in audio or visual form; and address information steganographically embedded in the content file, the address information being indicative of a discrete address of a site of one of said computer processes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 6 in which the data object further includes an icon presentable to a user at one of the network sites in audio or visual form, the icon being indicative of the presence of the steganographically embedded address information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the user interface information is graphic data visually presented to a user at one of the network sites.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system according to claim 5 implemented as a computer network system that has a plurality of sites, each site having a discrete address, the system including means for distributing a hypertext document that comprises said data object and an attached header file, an improved hypertext document comprising a data object having address information embedded therein and improved user interface programs which automatically recognize the existence of the address information, and which automatically route users to that address after user instructions to do so.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the data object includes function code defining a linking function; the second computer process, including: means for extracting the function code from the decoded data object; and means for executing the linking function in accordance with the function code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 10 in which the function code includes software operable on the second computer process to route the user to the address in the decoded data object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 10 in which the first computer analyzes the data object to determine whether it recognizes and can execute the function code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 11 in which the data file includes a hypertext document.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the data object includes a URL comprising an address and the first computer process includes means responsive to initiation of the link for sending a data file to the second computer process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 5 in which the network includes a data communications medium by which the first and second computer process are connected, each computer process on the network having a unique address.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 15 in which the data communications medium includes an internet connection and the first and second computer processes each have one said address which includes a domain name, the data object including the domain name of the first computer process.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 5 including means for imprinting the steganographically embedded data object in a visible image and means for inputting a data file defining the visible image as the content file into the first computer process.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-26 | 2005-05-28 | 2005-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | 2009-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-26 | 2013-05-28 | 2013-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |