Gamma watermarking
Abstract
A covert, gamma-ray "signature" is used as a "watermark" for property identification. This new watermarking technology is based on a unique steganographic or "hidden writing" digital signature, implemented in tiny quantities of gamma-ray-emitting radioisotopic material combinations, generally covertly emplaced on or within an object. This digital signature may be readily recovered at distant future times, by placing a sensitive, high energy-resolution gamma-ray detecting instrument reasonably precisely over the location of the watermark, which location may be known only to the object's owner; however, the signature is concealed from all ordinary detection means because its exceedingly low level of activity is obscured by the natural radiation background (including the gamma radiation naturally emanating from the object itself, from cosmic radiation and material surroundings, from human bodies, etc.). The "watermark" is used in object-tagging for establishing object identity, history or ownership. It thus may serve as an aid to law enforcement officials in identifying stolen property and prosecuting theft thereof. Highly effective, potentially very low cost identification-on demand of items of most all types is thus made possible.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1174865
- Patent Number(s):
- 6740875
- Application Number:
- 09/502,859
- Assignee:
- University Of California, The Regents Of
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B41 - PRINTING B41M - PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Citation Formats
Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L., Lougheed, Ronald W., Moody, Kenton J., and Wang, Tzu-Fang. Gamma watermarking. United States: N. p., 2004.
Web.
Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L., Lougheed, Ronald W., Moody, Kenton J., & Wang, Tzu-Fang. Gamma watermarking. United States.
Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Wood, Lowell L., Lougheed, Ronald W., Moody, Kenton J., and Wang, Tzu-Fang. Tue .
"Gamma watermarking". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1174865.
@article{osti_1174865,
title = {Gamma watermarking},
author = {Ishikawa, Muriel Y. and Wood, Lowell L. and Lougheed, Ronald W. and Moody, Kenton J. and Wang, Tzu-Fang},
abstractNote = {A covert, gamma-ray "signature" is used as a "watermark" for property identification. This new watermarking technology is based on a unique steganographic or "hidden writing" digital signature, implemented in tiny quantities of gamma-ray-emitting radioisotopic material combinations, generally covertly emplaced on or within an object. This digital signature may be readily recovered at distant future times, by placing a sensitive, high energy-resolution gamma-ray detecting instrument reasonably precisely over the location of the watermark, which location may be known only to the object's owner; however, the signature is concealed from all ordinary detection means because its exceedingly low level of activity is obscured by the natural radiation background (including the gamma radiation naturally emanating from the object itself, from cosmic radiation and material surroundings, from human bodies, etc.). The "watermark" is used in object-tagging for establishing object identity, history or ownership. It thus may serve as an aid to law enforcement officials in identifying stolen property and prosecuting theft thereof. Highly effective, potentially very low cost identification-on demand of items of most all types is thus made possible.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2004},
month = {5}
}