An image processing method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium detect low-detectability regions in a digital image already containing embedded digital watermarking and selectively re-embed the watermarking in those regions. For plural regions of the digital image, detectability measures are determined, including a first measure corresponding to a synchronization component and a second measure corresponding to a message component of the watermarking. A robustness map is algorithmically generated from the detectability measures and indicates detectability of the digital watermarking at each pixel, groups of pixels, or image areas of the digital image. The robustness map serves as a mask to identify one or more areas in which the indicated detectability falls short of a predetermined threshold. The digital watermarking is automatically re-embedded in the identified areas using a stronger embedding strength or a different type of encoding protocol.
The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing including digital watermarking. Digital watermarking can be used to prevent counterfeiting by binding or tying together digital imagery, products depicted in the digital imagery, and website hosting address information associated with the digital imagery. Various combinations and technology are described in this patent document and claims.
The present disclosure relates to generally to digital watermarking, non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) and smart contracts. One aspect of the disclosure describes embedding a digital watermark into digital content, the digital watermark includes a message that can be used to prove authenticity, origin, content integrity and/or a creator associated with an NFT. This technology will help protect and authenticate an NFT and its digital content. Related technology and methodologies are also described.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
A frictionless checkout system identifies items in retail transactions using multiple cameras and image processing. Ceiling-, bagging area- and/or shelf-mounted cameras capture video frames of items in a shopping cart from different perspectives to form an initial list of items associated with a shopper. A bagging-area camera captures video frames as items are removed from the cart and placed into bags. An image processing system, comprising object segmentation, digital watermark reading, and complementary methods such as barcode detection and object recognition, identifies the items and updates a transaction tally. Prior to unloading, the system maintains a global state of items and their positions in the cart. As items are removed, changes in this state are detected and verified at the bagging area. The system provides real-time identification, reduces manual scanning, and generates alerts when items detected in the cart are not added to the transaction tally.
G06V 20/52 - Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects
G06V 10/143 - Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
G06V 10/26 - Segmentation of patterns in the image fieldCutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniquesDetection of occlusion
G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects
G06V 10/82 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using neural networks
H04N 23/90 - Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
5.
Neural-Network Based Visibility Modeling Using Just Noticeable Difference Training Data
A neural-network is trained to produce a visibility model based on just noticeable difference training data. The trained network is used to generate visibility masks to control the visual quality of image processing operations, such as digital watermarking, compression and other image editing operations. The visibility model is refined by iteratively adjusting for over and under predictions of a just noticeable difference threshold via an interactive user interface that pinpoints visual artifacts and captures updates from users, who provide adjustments such that the artifact is below what they perceive to be a just noticeable difference. Image processing, such as digital watermarking is performed in real time to provide the user with feedback to ascertain just noticeable difference levels corresponding to watermark embedding operations.
The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for value documents. One aspect of the technology relates to authentication of value documents comprising line art patterns. In one example, authentication relies of detection of signals encoded within the line art, and expected frequency domain analysis of the line art. Other combinations are described as well. For example, authentication may rely on detection of signals encoded within encoded and then printed documents, expected frequency domain characteristics encoded signals, presence or absence of halftoning, a color check and/or trained classifier analysis. Other aspects, technology, claims and combinations are described as well.
The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for value documents. One aspect of the technology relates to authentication of value documents comprising line art patterns. In one example, authentication relies of detection of signals encoded within the line art, and expected frequency domain analysis of the line art. Other combinations are described as well. For example, authentication may rely on detection of signals encoded within encoded and then printed documents, expected frequency domain characteristics encoded signals, presence or absence of halftoning, a color check and/or trained classifier analysis. Other aspects, technology, claims and combinations are described as well.
The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking systems that may use visual masks to optimize watermark embedding in digital imagery. A visual mask provides guidance for adjusting digital watermark signal strength, enabling improved trade-offs between watermark imperceptibility and robustness. Multiple embodiments generate visual masks including: (1) a Perceptual Modeling Candidate approach using contrast masking and texture classification based on standard deviation mapping; (2) a wavelet-based approach using Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform for translation-invariant frequency analysis; (3) artificial intelligence approaches employing convolutional neural networks trained to optimize embedding strength while minimizing perceptual distance metrics such as LPIPS; and (4) LPIPS threshold masking that determines optimal embedding strengths by testing multiple candidate strengths. Visual masks enable content-adaptive digital watermarking that places stronger signals in textured regions while maintaining imperceptibility in flat regions, improving visibility-robustness performance compared to uniform embedding approaches.
Systems, methods and technology for authenticating multi-layered objects using encoded signals such as digital watermarking. In one implementation, a value document includes a substrate and a removable overlayer, with a security feature comprising a digital watermark signal printed to cover portions of both the substrate and overlayer. The digital watermark signal includes spatially arranged signal elements forming a frame of reference. Tampering is detected by evaluating offset values associated with the signal elements, where misalignment within the frame of reference indicates tampering. In some implementations, the value document includes a first digital watermark on the substrate with synchronization and payload components, a token with a second digital watermark, and a removable sticker with a third digital watermark. Additional security features include split-mark configurations, tamper mark configurations, holographic foils with overprinted digital watermarks, and fragile tamper-deterrent features that deform upon tampering attempts, causing detectable signal distortion. Other combinations are also provided.
Systems, methods and technology for authenticating multi-layered objects using encoded signals such as digital watermarking. In one implementation, a value document includes a substrate and a removable overlayer, with a security feature comprising a digital watermark signal printed to cover portions of both the substrate and overlayer. The digital watermark signal includes spatially arranged signal elements forming a frame of reference. Tampering is detected by evaluating offset values associated with the signal elements, where misalignment within the frame of reference indicates tampering. In some implementations, the value document includes a first digital watermark on the substrate with synchronization and payload components, a token with a second digital watermark, and a removable sticker with a third digital watermark. Additional security features include split-mark configurations, tamper mark configurations, holographic foils with overprinted digital watermarks, and fragile tamper-deterrent features that deform upon tampering attempts, causing detectable signal distortion. Other combinations are also provided.
G07D 7/0043 - Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip using barcodes
G07D 7/0047 - Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency using digital security elements, e.g. information coded on a magnetic thread or strip using checkcodes, e.g. coded numbers derived from serial number and denomination
G07D 7/005 - Testing security markings invisible to the naked eye, e.g. verifying thickened lines or unobtrusive markings or alterations
G07D 7/12 - Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
G07D 7/00 - Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of valuable papers or for segregating those which are unacceptable, e.g. banknotes that are alien to a currency
A decade from now, a visit to the supermarket will be a very different experience than the familiar experiences of decades past. Product packaging will come alive with interactivity—each object a portal into a rich tapestry of experiences, with contributions authored by the product brand, by the store selling the product, and by other shoppers. The present technology concerns arrangements for authoring and delivering such experiences. A great variety of other features and technologies are also detailed.
One aspect of the technology includes recovering image affine transforms via CNN-based classification and regression. Another aspect of the technology is a CNN-based network to detect a presence/absence of a digital watermark signal and recovery of affine transform coefficients associated with an image template. Other aspects, features and arrangements are also described and claimed.
One aspect of the technology includes recovering image affine transforms via CNN-based classification and regression. Another aspect of the technology is a CNN-based network to detect a presence/absence of a digital watermark signal and recovery of affine transform coefficients associated with an image template. Other aspects, features and arrangements are also described and claimed.
G06T 3/4046 - Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting using neural networks
G06T 3/60 - Rotation of whole images or parts thereof
G06T 7/73 - Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras using feature-based methods
G06V 10/44 - Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersectionsConnectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
G06V 10/52 - Scale-space analysis, e.g. wavelet analysis
G06V 10/764 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using classification, e.g. of video objects
G06V 10/766 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using regression, e.g. by projecting features on hyperplanes
G06V 10/77 - Processing image or video features in feature spacesArrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using data integration or data reduction, e.g. principal component analysis [PCA] or independent component analysis [ICA] or self-organising maps [SOM]Blind source separation
The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing including digital watermarking. Digital watermarking can be used to detect manifest swapping in, e.g., C2PA protected content. Various combinations and technology are described in this patent document and claims.
The present technology relates to image signal processing. One aspect of the present technology involves analyzing reference imagery gathered by a camera system to determine which parts of an image frame offer high probabilities of—relative to other image parts—containing decodable signal data. Another aspect of the present technology whittles-down such determined image frame parts based on detected content (e.g., a cereal box) vs expected background within such determined image frame parts.
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
An electronic device and related technology for activating a physical product is described. During operation, the electronic device may activate the product based at least in part on a context of the product, including: a Factory that produces the product, a zone in the Factory that produces the product, and/or a purchase order specifying the product. Then, the electronic device may pair or associate at least one unique identifier (or serial identification) of the product with a non-unique identifier of the product (such as a product type). Next, the electronic device may provide, addressed to the computer, information specifying the context, the at least one unique identifier and the non-unique identifier. This information may correspond to a digital twin of the activated product, which is generated and maintained by the computer. The digital twin may allow global production and/or a lifecycle of the product to be tracked, thereby reducing or eliminating intentional duplication or overproduction of other instances of the product, e.g., at the Factory.
A retail checkout system decodes machine-readable indicia from a composite image frame produced from a sequence of captured image frames. Different regions in the composite image are derived from different ones of the image frames in the captured sequence. Another embodiment generates a composite image frame from image frames captured with different camera focus settings. Still other embodiments concern neural networks, including their training to segment different items presented on a retail checkout surface. Other neural network embodiments discern on which of two items a machine readable indicia appears, when the visual context is ambiguous. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
G06V 10/25 - Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI]
G06V 10/26 - Segmentation of patterns in the image fieldCutting or merging of image elements to establish the pattern region, e.g. clustering-based techniquesDetection of occlusion
18.
DIGITAL WATERMARKING FOR VALIDATION OF AUTHENTICITY
The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing including digital watermarking. Digital watermarking can be used to prevent counterfeiting by binding or tying together digital imagery, products depicted in the digital imagery, and website hosting address information associated with the digital imagery. Various combinations and technology are described in this patent document and claims.
The present disclosure relates to generally to digital watermarking, non-fungible tokens ("NFTs") and smart contracts. One aspect of the disclosure describes embedding a digital watermark into digital content, the digital watermark includes a message that can be used to prove authenticity, origin, content integrity and/or a creator associated with an NFT. This technology will help protect and authenticate an NFT and its digital content. Related technology and methodologies are also described.
G06F 21/16 - Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
G06F 21/64 - Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
H04L 9/00 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols
A retail checkout system decodes machine-readable indicia from a composite image frame produced from a sequence of captured image frames. Different regions in the composite image are derived from different ones of the image frames in the captured sequence. Another embodiment generates a composite image frame from image frames captured with different camera focus settings. Still other embodiments concern neural networks, including their training to segment different items presented on a retail checkout surface. Other neural network embodiments discern on which of two items a machine readable indicia appears, when the visual context is ambiguous. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06V 10/82 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using neural networks
G06V 10/80 - Fusion, i.e. combining data from various sources at the sensor level, preprocessing level, feature extraction level or classification level
21.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR DIGITAL MARKING AND READING OF ITEMS, USEFUL IN RECYCLING
Images depicting items in a waste flow on a conveyor belt are provided to two analysis systems. The first system processes images to decode digital watermark payload data found on certain of the items (e.g., plastic containers). This payload data is used to look up corresponding attribute metadata for the items in a database, such as the type of plastic in each item, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. The second analysis system can be a spectroscopy system that determines the type of plastic in each item by its absorption characteristics. When the two systems conflict in identifying the plastic type, a sorting logic processor applies a rule set to arbitrate the conflict and determine which plastic type is most likely. The item is then sorted into one of several different bins depending on a combination of the final plastic identification, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06V 30/224 - Character recognition characterised by the type of writing of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
G06T 7/90 - Determination of colour characteristics
B07C 5/34 - Sorting according to other particular properties
B07C 5/342 - Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
B65G 47/49 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to bodily destination marks on either articles or load-carriers without bodily contact between article or load-carrier and automatic control device
G05B 13/02 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric
H04N 23/56 - Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensorsControl thereof provided with illuminating means
H04N 23/73 - Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene by influencing the exposure time
G06V 10/80 - Fusion, i.e. combining data from various sources at the sensor level, preprocessing level, feature extraction level or classification level
G06V 10/82 - Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding using pattern recognition or machine learning using neural networks
G06V 10/44 - Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersectionsConnectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
22.
METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO UTILIZE END-OF-LIFE DATA GENERATED DURING RECYCLING AND WASTE SORTATION FOR COUNTERFEIT DETERRENCE AND OTHER ACTIONS
A waste stream is analyzed during recycling or waste sortation. Certain features of the technology allow identification of waste stream items, context aggregation associated with the items, and information management for counterfeit deterrence and supply chain management. A variety of further features and arrangements are also detailed.
2D machine readable symbologies are stylized and made aesthetically-appealing, facilitating their use to convey plural-symbol data on product packaging and other articles. In some arrangements, symbologies are stylized by geometric transformations (e.g., by multiple rotation and/or mirroring operations) to develop tiles having organized geometric structures. Such stylized symbologies can be decoded by existing code readers. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
A sequence of images depicting an object is captured, e.g., by a camera at a point-of-sale terminal in a retail store. The object is identified, such as by a barcode or watermark that is detected from one or more of the images. Once the object's identity is known, such information is used in training a classifier (e.g., a machine learning system) to recognize the object from others of the captured images, including images that may be degraded by blur, inferior lighting, etc. In another arrangement, such degraded images are processed to identify feature points useful in fingerprint-based identification of the object. Feature points extracted from such degraded imagery aid in fingerprint-based recognition of objects under real life circumstances, as contrasted with feature points extracted from pristine imagery (e.g., digital files containing label artwork for such objects). A great variety of other features and arrangements—some involving designing classifiers so as to combat classifier copying—are also detailed.
G06F 21/16 - Program or content traceability, e.g. by watermarking
G06V 10/24 - Aligning, centring, orientation detection or correction of the image
G06V 20/20 - ScenesScene-specific elements in augmented reality scenes
G06F 18/214 - Generating training patternsBootstrap methods, e.g. bagging or boosting
G06F 18/2413 - Classification techniques relating to the classification model, e.g. parametric or non-parametric approaches based on distances to training or reference patterns
G06V 10/774 - Generating sets of training patternsBootstrap methods, e.g. bagging or boosting
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Computer software for steganography applications, namely, software to embed and detect digital watermarks in images, print, physical products and packages; computer software for steganography application software for use in a smart phone, laptop or other hardware device; Computer software for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software development tools; computer software for use as application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing and transmitting electronic media or information via computer and communication networks; computer software for tracking physical items; computer software for detecting and processing identifiers carried by physical items; computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items; computer software for counterfeit deterrence of physical items; computer software for aggregating information associated with digital identities for physical items; computer software for enterprise resource planning; computer software for data management; computer software to maintain and operate cloud-based repositories for physical item information and physical item lifecycle information; computer software for associating programmable rules for user engagement and network interactions with digital identities for physical items; computer software and communication networks for providing information associated with digital identities of physical items; computer software for enabling detection and sorting of physical items. Providing consumer product information regarding products for use with the creation of a unique digital identity for physical items. Technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; digital watermarking; design of machine-readable codes for object sortation; design of machine-readable codes for recycling; providing technical information about product container recycling; design of machine-readable pattern on labels using software; providing online non-downloadable software for reading a machine-readable pattern on product labels and retrieving information related to that product; providing online non-downloadable software for creating labels with a machine-readable pattern; providing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; providing temporary use of an online non-downloadable computer application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing a website featuring on-line non-downloadable software that enables users to apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; services in the field of designing machine-readable codes for recycling; providing technical information in the field of steganography; providing software for providing digital identification of products; decoding information provided in a digital watermark, quick response code, scannable barcode, radio frequency identification or near field communication tag; computer services, namely, connecting information provided in a digital watermark, quick response code, scannable barcode, radio frequency identification or near field communication tag with non-downloadable software that acts on such information in a predetermined manner; computer services, namely, creating cloud-based data repositories to host product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product, object, and document authentication and tracking; computer services, namely, monitoring and providing protection against counterfeiting, tampering and diversion; developing services to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; providing authentication software to validate products associated with digital identities over communication networks; providing digital identities for physical objects and information associated therewith; platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and services, namely, for digitally identifying products; software-as-a-service for issuing and managing digital identities for physical products; developing services for creating digital identities for product; developing services for providing digital representations of physical products; services for providing a uniform resource locator for an end user application engagement (or scan) of packages; computer service for managing multiple identifiers to support the use of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, quick response codes, scannable barcodes, near field communications, and radio frequency identification; providing application programming interfaces (APIs) and programming tools containing programmable rules logic to support applications with product data; providing technical information associated with product items, namely packages, through dashboard interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs).
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Computer software for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software development tools; computer software for use as application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing and transmitting electronic media or information via computer and communication networks; computer software for tracking physical items; computer software for detecting and processing identifiers carried by physical items; computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items; computer software for counterfeit deterrence of physical items; computer software for aggregating information and scan event data associated with digital identities for physical items; computer software for inventory management; computer software for data management and analytics; computer software for supply chain management of physical items; computer software to maintain and operate cloud-based repositories for physical item information and physical item lifecycle information; computer software and communication networks for providing information associated with digital identities of physical items; computer software for enabling detection and sortation of physical items. Marketing, advertising and promotion services; market research and business information services; promoting the goods and services of others via computer and communication networks; market intelligence and brand integrity services; inventory and supply chain management services rendered through online computerized networks; providing business reports concerning products and product information relating to lifecycles of physical products; providing consumer product information regarding products from searchable indexes and databases of information, including text, electronic documents, databases, graphics and audio visual information, on computer and communication networks, all for use with a unique digital identity for physical items. Providing access to computer, electronic and online databases; telecommunications services, namely, electronic transmission of data, messages and information; providing online communications links which transfer Web site users to other local and global Web pages; providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among users in the field of general interest; audio, text and video broadcasting services over computer or other communication networks, namely, uploading, posting, displaying, tagging, and electronically transmitting data, information, audio and video images; providing an online information transmission network service that enables users to transfer product data to and share product data with and among multiple computer devices; providing an online forum for transmission of information among computer devices concerning the lifecycle of products and materials and exchanging of sourcing data via a computerized network. Product container recycling information services; packaging waste sortation services. Design and development services for computer hardware and software; computer programming; installation, maintenance and repair of computer software services; computer consultancy services; design and graphic arts designing services for the creation of web sites; design services in the field of websites, computers, computer software; computer services, namely, creating cloud-based data repositories to host product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; creating authentication software to validate products associated with digital identities over communication networks; creating supply chain and inventory management software associated with digital identities; computer services, namely, hosting software applications to organize, store and share information; application service provider (ASP) services, namely, hosting computer software applications; application service provider (ASP) services featuring providing software to enable or facilitate the uploading, downloading, posting, displaying, linking, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information over communication networks; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software applications to organize, store and share information; providing digital identities for physical objects and information associated therewith; platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and services, namely, for digitally identifying products; providing machine-readable codes for object sortation; software-as-a-service for issuing and managing digital identities for physical products; software as a service for managing data from and about physical products; developing services for creating digital identities for product; developing services for creating digital identities for physical product items at product manufacture; developing services for providing digital representations of physical products; computer services for providing physical product attribute data about digitized products, namely, product size, color of the product, raw materials making up the product, price of the product, environmental information concerning the product, and supply chain steps for the product; computer services for providing a uniform resource locator for an end user application engagement (or scan) of packages; computer services for managing multiple identifiers to support the use of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, quick response codes, near field communications, and radio frequency identification; providing programmable rules logic to support applications with product data through application programming interfaces (APIs) and programming tools; providing technology information associated with product items through dashboard interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs); product authentication services; providing software for providing digital identification of products.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Computer software for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software development tools; computer software for use as application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing and transmitting electronic media or information via computer and communication networks; computer software for tracking physical items; computer software for detecting and processing identifiers carried by physical items; computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items; computer software for counterfeit deterrence of physical items; computer software for aggregating information and scan event data associated with digital identities for physical items; computer software for inventory management; computer software for data management and analytics; computer software for supply chain management of physical items; computer software to maintain and operate cloud-based repositories for physical item information and physical item lifecycle information; computer software and communication networks for providing information associated with digital identities of physical items; and computer software for enabling detection and sortation of physical items (1) Marketing, advertising and promotion services; market research and business information services; promoting the goods and services of others via computer and communication networks; market intelligence and brand integrity services; inventory and supply chain management services rendered through online computerized networks; product authentication services; product container recycling information services; packaging waste sortation services; services for providing digital identification of products; providing reports and information relating to lifecycles of physical products; providing consumer product information regarding products from searchable indexes and databases of information, including text, electronic documents, databases, graphics and audio visual information, on computer and communication networks, all for use with a unique digital identity for physical items
(2) Providing access to computer, electronic and online databases; telecommunications services, namely, electronic transmission of data, messages and information; providing online communications links which transfer Web site users to other local and global Web pages; providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among users in the field of general interest; audio, text and video broadcasting services over computer or other communication networks, namely, uploading, posting, displaying, tagging, and electronically transmitting data, information, audio and video images; providing an online information transmission network service that enables users to transfer product data to and share product data with and among multiple computer devices; providing an online forum for transmission of information among computer devices concerning the lifecycle of products and materials and exchanging of sourcing data via a computerized network
(3) Design and development services for computer hardware and software; computer programming; installation, maintenance and repair of computer software services; computer consultancy services; design and graphic arts designing services for the creation of web sites; design services in the field of websites, computers, computer software; computer services, namely, creating cloud-based data repositories to host product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; creating authentication software to validate products associated with digital identities over communication networks; creating supply chain and inventory management software associated with digital identities; computer services, namely, hosting software applications to organize, store and share information; application service provider (ASP) services, namely, hosting computer software applications; application service provider (ASP) services featuring providing software to enable or facilitate the uploading, downloading, posting, displaying, linking, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information over communication networks; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software applications to organize, store and share information; providing digital identities for physical objects and information associated therewith; platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and services, namely, for digitally identifying products; providing machine-readable codes for object sortation; software-as-a-service for issuing and managing digital identities for physical products; software as a service for managing data from and about physical products; services for creating digital identities for product items; services for providing digital identities for physical product items at product manufacture; services for providing digital representations of physical products; services for providing physical product attribute data about digitized products, namely, product size, color, raw materials, price, environmental information, and supply chain steps; services for providing a uniform resource locator for an end user application engagement (or scan); services for managing multiple identifiers to support the use of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, QR codes, barcodes, near field communications, and radio frequency identification; providing programmable rules logic to support applications with product data through application programming interfaces (APIs) and programming tools; and providing information associated with product items through dashboard interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs)
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
(1) Computer software for steganography applications, namely, software to embed and detect digital watermarks in images, print, physical products and packages; computer software for steganography application software for use in a smart phone, laptop or other hardware device; computer software for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; downloadable computer software development kits for creating and developing business applications; computer software for use as application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; computer software in the field of media and object identification for enabling uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing, and transmitting images, audio files, videos, PDFs, word documents and text data, metadata, embedded tags, object identification data, product information, supply chain data, serialized codes, and digital watermarks via computer and communication networks; computer software for tracking physical items; computer software for detecting and processing identifiers carried by physical items; computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items; computer software in the field of data carriers on objects for deterring counterfeiting of physical items; computer software for aggregating information associated with digital identities for physical items; computer software for enterprise resource planning; computer software for database management; computer software to maintain and operate cloud-based repositories for physical item information and physical item lifecycle information; computer software for associating programmable rules for user engagement and network interactions with digital identities for physical items; computer software and communication networks for providing information associated with digital identities of physical items; and computer software for enabling detection and sorting of physical items. (1) Technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; services for embedding digital watermarks; providing machine-readable codes for object sortation; providing machine-readable codes for recycling; software-a-service for providing product container recycling information in response to digital watermarks being read from those containers; providing a machine-readable pattern on labels using software; providing online non-downloadable software for reading a machine-readable pattern on product labels and retrieving information related to that product; providing online non-downloadable software for creating labels with a machine-readable pattern; providing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; providing temporary use of an online non-downloadable computer application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing a website featuring on-line non-downloadable software that enables users to apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; services in the field of designing machine-readable codes for recycling; providing technical information in the field of steganography; services for providing digital identification of products; determining information provided in a digital watermark, QR code, scannable barcode, radio frequency identification or near field communication tag; software-as-a service for connecting information embedded in, represented by, or transmitted by in a digital watermark, QR code, scannable barcode, radio frequency identification or near field communication tag for accessing an online database and providing a programmatic response; providing consumer product information regarding products for use with the creation of a unique digital identity for physical items; computer services, namely, creating cloud-based data repositories to host product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product, object, and document authentication and tracking; anti-counterfeiting, anti-tampering, and anti-product diversion services; software development services in the field of secure document and branded product authentication and counterfeit deterrence; providing authentication software to validate products associated with digital identities over communication networks; providing digital identities for physical objects and information associated therewith; platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and services, namely, for digitally identifying products; software-as-a-service for issuing and managing digital identities for physical products; services for creating digital identities for product items; services for providing digital representations of physical products; software as a service (SaaS) featuring software for collecting, organizing, and managing user-submitted data and automatically generating, assigning, and linking that input to corresponding uniform resource locators (URLs) for use in digital content management, product authentication, tracking, and facilitating end user engagement through application scans; services for managing multiple identifiers to support the use of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, QR codes, scannable barcodes, near field communications, and radio frequency identification; providing online non-downloadable software and application programming interfaces (APIs) to support the development of business applications utilizing product-identifying data; and providing information associated with product items through dashboard interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs).
2D code patterns, such as digital watermark patterns, are formed on plastic objects by injection molding. In some implementations, a marked cell of the code pattern is not formed by a single mark on the mold surface, but by multiple discrete marks. Such marks can be exceedingly small (e.g., 50 microns or less - smaller than the width of a human hair), yet the resulting code pattern on the molded object is still readable from a distance. The small scale of the marks assures that the code pattern does not detract from object aesthetics, while also speeding the mold-marking process. Style transfer networks are employed in some implementations. The detailed technologies facilitate digital marking and identification of a great number of consumer plastic objects, thereby aiding recovery of such objects for recycling. Many other features and arrangements are also detailed.
In one aspect, a method of fast data compression operates on input data comprising plural J-bit bytes (e.g., 16-bit bytes). The method computes a first difference value between one pair of the input J-bit bytes, and determines that this first difference value can be represented by K bits, where K
H04N 19/426 - Methods or arrangements for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals characterised by implementation details or hardware specially adapted for video compression or decompression, e.g. dedicated software implementation characterised by memory arrangements using memory downsizing methods
A thermoplastic resin is molded to define a container bearing a surface 2D code signal, such as a digital watermark pattern. In some arrangements, the mold dimensions are tailored, and process parameters are selected, so that an indentation in the mold gives rise to a corresponding indentation - rather than a corresponding protrusion - in the shaped plastic. In other arrangements, a metal mold is provided with a patterned resin on its surface to define the 2D code signal. The resin may take the form of a rigid or non-rigid insert that can be removed or re-worked to change the code signal without changing the metal mold. A variety of other improvements and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
Image data depicting a 2D machine-readable code is up-sampled and compressed with a lossy compression process before being sent from a client device to a remote server for code reading. The remote server decompresses the sent information, extracts a payload from the machine-readable code, and causes result information to be sent back to the client device for display or other action. The up-sampling and compression operations performed on the client device can employ software instructions that are downloaded to, and executed by, browser software on the client device. Many other features and arrangements are also detailed.
H04N 19/132 - Sampling, masking or truncation of coding units, e.g. adaptive resampling, frame skipping, frame interpolation or high-frequency transform coefficient masking
H04N 19/12 - Selection from among a plurality of transforms or standards, e.g. selection between discrete cosine transform [DCT] and sub-band transform or selection between H.263 and H.264
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Downloadable computer software for use with creating a unique
digital identity for physical items; Downloadable computer software
development tools; Downloadable computer software for use as
application programming interfaces (APIs) namely, for use with
creating a unique digital identity for physical items; Downloadable
computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing,
posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing and transmitting
electronic media and information via computer and communication
networks; Downloadable computer software for tracking physical
items; ; Downloadable computer software for data management;
Downloadable computer software to maintain and operate cloudbased repositories for physical item information and physical item
lifecycle information; Downloadable computer software and
communication software, namely, for providing information
associated with digital identities of physical items Maintaining registries of digital identities for physical objects and information associated therewith; providing consumer product information regarding products for use with the creation of a unique digital identity for physical items; computer services, namely, providing an on-line cloud-based database for product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; Providing consumer production information namely, providing digital identification of products relating to consumer products via the internet Providing online non-downloadable software for reading a machinereadable pattern on product labels and retrieving information related
to that product; providing online non-downloadable software for
creating labels with a machine-readable pattern; providing temporary
use of online non-downloadable computer application software for
embedding watermarks in image content; providing a website
featuring on-line non-downloadable software that enables users to
apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; providing
technical information in the field of digital steganography; Software
as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for determining
information provided in a digital watermark, two-dimensional bar
code, scannable barcode, radio frequency identification or near field
communication tag; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring
software for connecting information provided in a digital watermark,
two-dimensional bar code, scannable barcode, radio frequency
identification or near field communication tag with non-downloadable
software that acts on such information in a predetermined manner;
platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms
for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and
services, namely, for digitally identifying products; Software as a
service (SAAS) services featuring software for issuing and managing
digital identities for physical products; Providing online nondownloadable software for creating digital identities for physical
products; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software
for providing a uniform resource locator for an end user application
engagement and scanner; Software as a service (SAAS) services
featuring software for managing multiple identifiers to support the use
of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, twodimensional bar codes, scannable barcodes, near field
communications, and radio frequency identification; Software as a
service (SAAS) services featuring software for providing
programmable rules logic to support applications with product data
through application programming interfaces (APIs) and programming
tools; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for
providing information associated with product items through
dashboard interfaces and application programming interfaces (APIs)
40 - Treatment of materials; recycling, air and water treatment,
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Providing access to computer, electronic and online databases; telecommunications services, namely, electronic transmission of data, messages and information; providing online communications links which transfer Web site users to other local and global Web pages; audio and video broadcasting services over computer or other communication networks; electronic transmission of data, information, audio and video images; providing online information transmission services via digital networks that enables users to transfer product data to and share product data with and among multiple computer devices Providing information in the field of product container recycling Downloadable computer software for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; Downloadable computer software development tools; Downloadable computer software for use as application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with creating a unique digital identity for physical items; Downloadable computer software to enable uploading, downloading, accessing, posting, displaying, tagging, linking, sharing and transmitting electronic media or information via computer and communication networks; Downloadable computer software for tracking physical items; Downloadable computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items; Downloadable computer software for authenticating and verifying physical items for the purpose of counterfeit deterrence of physical items; Downloadable computer software for inventory management; Downloadable computer software for supply chain management of physical items; Downloadable computer software to maintain and operate cloud- based repositories for physical item information and physical item lifecycle information; Downloadable computer software provided via communication networks for providing information associated with digital identities of physical items; Downloadable computer software for enabling detection and sorting of physical items Marketing, advertising and promotion services; market research and business information services; promoting the goods and services of others via computer and communication networks; market intelligence and brand integrity evaluation services; Providing a website for connecting sellers with buyers, namely, buyer to supplier matching services in the field of marketing, advertising and promotion services rendered through an online computerized network; inventory and supply chain management services rendered through online computerized networks; Providing marketing reports and business information in the field of lifecycles of physical products; providing consumer product information relating to products from searchable indexes and databases of information, namely, text, electronic documents, databases, graphics and audio visual information, via computer and electronic communication networks, all for use with a unique digital identity for physical items Design and development services for computer hardware and software; computer programming; installation, maintenance and repair of computer software; computer software consultancy services; Design of computer databases services, namely, creating cloud-based data repositories to host product information and lifecycle data associated with digital identities, where the digital identities correspond to physical products; creating authentication software to validate products associated with digital identities over communication networks; creating supply chain and inventory management software associated with digital identities; computer services, namely, hosting computer software applications of others to organize, store and share information; application service provider (ASP) services featuring software for use in enabling and facilitating the uploading, downloading, posting, displaying, linking, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information over communication networks; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software applications to organize, store and share information; platform as a service (PaaS) featuring computer software platforms for use in connection with consumer and commercial products and services, namely, for digitally identifying products; providing graphic design of machine-readable codes for object sortation; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for use in issuing and managing digital identities for physical products; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for use in managing data from and about physical products; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for use in creating digital identities for product items; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for use in providing digital identities for physical product items at product manufacture; Graphic design services for providing digital representations of physical products; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for use in providing a uniform resource locator for an end user application engagement; Software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software for managing multiple identifiers to support the use of a physical tagging system, namely, digital watermarks, two-dimensional bar code readers, barcodes, near field communications, and radio frequency identification; providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software program development tools for use in creating programmable rules logic to support applications with product data through application programming interfaces (APIs); consumer packaged goods product authentication services; Services for providing digital identification of products, namely, digital authentication of consumer package goods
A waste stream is analyzed and sorted to segregate different items for recycling. Certain features of the technology improve the accuracy with which waste stream items are diverted to collection repositories. Other features concern adaptation of neural networks in accordance with context information sensed from the waste. Still other features serve to automate and simplify maintenance of machine vision systems used in waste sorting. Yet other aspects of the technology concern marking 2D machine readable code data on items having complex surfaces (e.g., food containers with integral ribbing for structural strength or juice pooling), to mitigate issues that such surfaces can introduce in code reading. Still other aspects of the technology concern prioritizing certain blocks of conveyor belt imagery for analysis. Yet other aspects of the technology concern joint use of near infrared spectroscopy, artificial intelligence, digital watermarking, and/or other techniques, for waste sorting. A variety of further features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
A waste stream is analyzed and sorted to segregate different items for recycling. Certain features of the technology improve the accuracy with which waste stream items are diverted to collection repositories. Other features concern adaptation of neural networks in accordance with context information sensed from the waste. Still other features serve to automate and simplify maintenance of machine vision systems used in waste sorting. Yet other aspects of the technology concern marking 2D machine readable code data on items having complex surfaces (e.g., food containers with integral ribbing for structural strength or juice pooling), to mitigate issues that such surfaces can introduce in code reading. Still other aspects of the technology concern prioritizing certain blocks of conveyor belt imagery for analysis. Yet other aspects of the technology concern joint use of near infrared spectroscopy, artificial intelligence, digital watermarking, and/or other techniques, for waste sorting. A variety of further features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
37.
ENCODING SIGNALS ON FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATES TO ENABLE TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT
The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.
B32B 7/03 - Layered products characterised by the relation between layers Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers with respect to the orientation of features
C08F 299/02 - Macromolecular compounds obtained by interreacting polymers involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bond reactions, in the absence of non-macromolecular monomers from unsaturated polycondensates
G03C 5/08 - PhotoprintingProcesses or means for preventing photoprinting
A surface is laser-etched to convey a 2D machine-readable code pattern. Various strategies are detailed to minimize the etching time. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to reduce a path length traveled by the laser. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to make it sub-optimal, i.e., making the code pattern a less-faithful approximation of an ideal code pattern. In some embodiments the etched surface is the surface of a plastic container, and the code pattern conveys information indicating the type of plastic of which the container is manufactured. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
A thermoplastic resin, such as PET, is molded to define a 2D code signal, such as a digital watermark pattern. The mold can comprise an array of hole or spike features, some of which are directly vented to atmospheric pressure. A network of channels can link the other features to the directly-vented features, so all features are vented. A mold comprising spike features can form a digital watermark pattern on an item such that the watermark payload is decodable both from the side of the item that contacted the mold, and also from the opposite, non-contact side of the item. To aid entry of viscous thermoplastic among the very fine elemental features of a mold representing a watermark signal pattern, the features can be overlapped, forming a connected binary mark having larger features. A variety of other improvements and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
B29C 33/42 - Moulds or coresDetails thereof or accessories therefor characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
Images depicting items in a waste flow on a conveyor belt are provided to two analysis systems. The first system processes images to decode digital watermark payload data found on certain of the items (e.g., plastic containers). This payload data is used to look up corresponding attribute metadata for the items in a database, such as the type of plastic in each item, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. The second analysis system can be a spectroscopy system that determines the type of plastic in each item by its absorption characteristics. When the two systems conflict in identifying the plastic type, a sorting logic processor applies a rule set to arbitrate the conflict and determine which plastic type is most likely. The item is then sorted into one of several different bins depending on a combination of the final plastic identification, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
A computer that generates a product tag for a product is described. During operation, the computer may obtain information specifying multiple document locations associated with the product based at least in part on different environmental conditions of the product. Then, the computer may generate the product tag (or additional information specifying the product tag), where the product tag includes location information specifying the document locations. Moreover, given location information is associated with a given functional ink or is associated with a given state of a circuit in the product tag that is responsive to a given environmental condition. Furthermore, the environmental conditions for different functional inks or different states of the circuit are different, such that, at a given time, the product tag presents location information for a given one of the document locations. Next, the computer may provide the additional information specifying the product tag to the electronic device.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
G06Q 10/087 - Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
G06F 16/955 - Retrieval from the web using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
42.
COLOR MANAGED EMBEDDING SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDING SIGNALS IN COLOR ARTWORK
The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects such as product packaging, labels and hangtags. One implementation obtains a color image representing CMY color channels, and alters the color image to include an encoded signal by altering values representing CIELAB a* and b*, all the while keeping L* on or within a predetermined tolerance of a contour representing a constant value. Other implementations are provided.
A vector graphics file includes at least one artwork layer and at least one watermark layer. The watermark layer comprises a pattern of vector graphics primitives, each of which is filled with a color that is a tinted variant of the color of the location in the artwork that the primitive overlies. Such layered arrangement enables the watermark to be added or omitted, and varied in strength, payload and appearance, at will. Yet the artwork layer is left unchanged through such manipulations. In some embodiments the watermark conveys a multi-symbol Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), and the file is used to generate a label or packaging for a food or general merchandise retail item. A great number of other arrangements, features and advantages are also detailed.
In accordance with one aspect of the technology, handwritten works (e.g., notes) produced using computer devices are encoded with digital information that is persistently bound with such works, even after conversion into analog form. In accordance with another aspect of the technology, strokes of artwork or handwriting, or glyphs of computer-rendered text, are encoded in a form that permits any alteration of such work to be detected. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
2D machine readable symbologies are stylized and made aesthetically-appealing, facilitating their use to convey plural- symbol data on product packaging and other articles. In some arrangements, a symbology is mimicked as a collage of excerpts from a style image (e.g., a photograph or other artwork). To human viewers, the stylized symbology resembles the style image, rather than the 2D symbology. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, can convey two distinct digital watermarks, encoded using two distinct signaling protocols. A first, printed label watermark conveys a retailing payload, including a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used by a point-of-sale scanner in a retail store to identify and price the item when presented for checkout. A second, plastic texture watermark may convey a recycling payload, including data identifying the composition of the plastic. The use of two different signaling protocols assures that a point-of-sale scanner will not spend its limited time and computational resources working to decode the recycling watermark, which may lack data needed for retail checkout. In some embodiments, a recycling apparatus makes advantageous use of both types of watermarks to identify the plastic composition of the item (e.g., relating GTIN to plastic type using an associated database), thereby increasing the fraction of items that are correctly identified for sorting and recycling. In other embodiments the plastic item (or a label thereon) bears only a single watermark. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
B29B 17/02 - Separating plastics from other materials
B29C 59/00 - Surface shaping, e.g. embossingApparatus therefor
B65D 1/00 - Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, can convey two distinct digital watermarks, encoded using two distinct signaling protocols. A first, printed label watermark conveys a retailing payload, including a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) used by a point-of-sale scanner in a retail store to identify and price the item when presented for checkout. A second, plastic texture watermark may convey a recycling payload, including data identifying the composition of the plastic. The use of two different signaling protocols assures that a point-of-sale scanner will not spend its limited time and computational resources working to decode the recycling watermark, which may lack data needed for retail checkout. In some embodiments, a recycling apparatus makes advantageous use of both types of watermarks to identify the plastic composition of the item (e.g., relating GTIN to plastic type using an associated database), thereby increasing the fraction of items that are correctly identified for sorting and recycling. In other embodiments the plastic item (or a label thereon) bears only a single watermark. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
G06K 19/063 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code the carrier being marginally punched or notched, e.g. having elongated slots
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
B29B 17/02 - Separating plastics from other materials
Methods employ sensors in portable devices (e.g., smartphones) both to sense content information (e.g., audio and imagery) and context information. Device processing is desirably dependent on both. For example, some embodiments activate certain processor intensive operations (e.g., content recognition) based on classification of sensed content and context. The context can control the location where information produced from such operations is stored, or control an alert signal indicating, e.g., that sensed speech is being transcribed. Some arrangements post sensor data collected by one device to a cloud repository, for access and processing by other devices. Multiple devices can collaborate in collecting and processing data, to exploit advantages each may have (e.g., in location, processing ability, social network resources, etc.). A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.
G10L 19/00 - Speech or audio signal analysis-synthesis techniques for redundancy reduction, e.g. in vocodersCoding or decoding of speech or audio signals, using source filter models or psychoacoustic analysis
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
G06K 9/62 - Methods or arrangements for recognition using electronic means
Artwork carrying machine readable data is generated by editing artwork according to a data signal or transforming the data signal into artwork. The machine readable data signal is generated from a digital payload and converted into an image tile. Artwork is edited according to the image tile by moving graphic elements, adapting intersections of lines, or altering line density, among other techniques. Artwork is generated from the data signal by skeletonizing it and applying morphological operators to a skeletal representation, such as a medial axis transform. Artistic effects are introduced by filtering the data signal with directional blurring or shape filters.
In an illustrative system, a point-of-sale scanner is equipped to respond to multiple different symbologies printed on a single product. The scanner captures many frames per second, as products are swiped through a viewing volume. Each frame is decoded, yielding one or more payloads. A reconciliation module compares each newly-decoded payload against a list of payloads previously output by the module, to determine if the current payload is semantically- equivalent to a previously-output payload. If so, the previously-output payload is output again, in lieu of the just-decoded payload. If no equivalent is found, the current payload is output and added to the list for comparison against future payloads. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Optical code signal components are generated and then transformed into signal bearing art that conveys machine readable data. The components of an optical code are optimized to achieve improved signal robustness, reliability, capacity and/or visual quality. An optimization program can determine spatial density, dot distance, dot size and signal component priority to optimize robustness. An optical code generator transforms tiles of an optical code or image embedded with the optical code into signal-bearing art using stipple, Voronoi, Delaunay or other graphic drawing methods so as to retain prioritized components of the optical code. The optical code is merged into a host image, such as imagery, text and graphics of a package or label, or it may be printed by itself, e.g., on an otherwise blank label or carton. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Software for processing images and graphics; computer
software for signal processing and print applications;
computer software for processing audio; computer software
for encoding image data so as to embed identification
information therein; computer software for encoding machine
readable information in image and audio signals; computer
software that encodes electronic content or physical items
with data to identify such content or items; computer
software for encoding machine readable information in images
rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software
for creating digital product packaging design files encoded
with machine readable information; computer software for
creating label files encoded with machine readable
information; signal processing software for encoding
information in digitally designed, produced or distributed
media content and physical objects; software for decoding
encoded data to recover the identification information
therefrom; computer software for recognizing objects and
audio signals; computer software for decoding digital
information from image and audio signals; computer software
for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical
or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and
other internet or global communications network connected
sites or computers based upon such captured signals;
computer programs for retrieving information about goods or
physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer
software for discovering electronic content or physical
items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or
items; computer software for discovering information
associated with electronic content or physical items;
computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers,
data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic
readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image
signals or audio signals, and for providing users with
information based upon such recognition; computer programs
for use in the retrieval of data from third-party websites;
computer software for use in gaining access to and
interfacing with third-party e-commerce information;
computer programs for providing customers access to mobile
marketing campaigns, social media, education and
entertainment; computer programs for facilitating customer
engagements with goods and service providers; computer
software for recognizing image signals captured by optical
sensors and for providing information to users based upon
such captured signals; computer software for decoding
information from an object for use in the fields of
e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory
control, quality control, tracking and authentication;
computer programs for the management, inventory and
procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer
products; computer software for point-of-sale systems;
computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other
internet or global communications network connected sites or
computers based upon digital information in printed objects
or image signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand
held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers
and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual
media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking
users to e-commerce and other internet or global
communications network connected sites or computers based
upon such optical codes. Business information management; preparation of business
reports; preparation of business reports based on
information decoded from image or audio signals; e-commerce
services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with
goods and service providers; providing online commercial and
business information via digital watermarking in the fields
of e-commerce and supply chain management; product
information services, namely, providing information about
the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile
telephones and portable communications devices; market
research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites
generated by machine readable information for business
purposes; compilation of business information in the nature
of utilizing machine readable information to facilitate
e-commerce transactions; compilation of business information
in the nature of utilizing machine readable information to
facilitate product purchases; preparation of business
reports based on information decoded from product packaging,
labels and other physical items; commercial evaluation and
rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine
readable information prior to purchase; providing business
information about digital watermarking use in the fields of
e-commerce and supply chain management; providing business
information about digital watermarking. Providing access to an online computer database in the field
of information about telecommunications, namely,
informational references to network services that correspond
to recognized image signals captured by computer devices;
providing access to machine readable information for
communicating information concerning physical and electronic
media objects using the internet. Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of
encoding machine readable information in image signals;
educational services, namely, instruction in the use and
benefits of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply
chain management; educational services, namely, instruction
in the field of steganography; training services in the
field of encoding machine readable information in images;
computer education training; teaching and training in
business, industry and information technology; providing
on-line electronic publications in the field of
steganography; training in the use and operation of encoding
machine readable information in electronic media;
educational services namely, instruction in the field of
encoding information in digitally designed, produced or
distributed media content and physical objects. Consulting services in the field of steganography; computer
services, namely, encoding machine readable information in
image signals; software as a service, namely, software for
embedding of machine readable information into images;
software as a service featuring software for encoding files
with identification information therein; computer services,
namely, custom programming services for others; computer
services, namely, custom programming services for others in
the field of software integration and application program
development; consulting services in the fields of signal
processing, print technologies and print processes;
consulting services in the field of steganography including
encoding and decoding hidden information; software as a
service featuring software for connecting mobile device
users to a uniform resource locator associated with an
embedded identification number in physical items; software
as a service featuring software for connecting mobile device
users to a uniform resource locator associated with an
embedded identification number in audio; software as a
service featuring software for providing website links to
computers; online services, namely, providing temporary use
of online non-downloadable software for managing and
tracking projects and results relating to images and audio
with embedded machine readable information; computer
services, namely, encoding machine readable information in
digital product packaging design files for reproducing the
information on packaging produced from such digital product
packaging design files; development and consulting services
in the field of product packaging design; design services
for packaging; quality evaluation and rating of physical
items encoded with machine readable information; computer
security consultancy services; computer services, namely,
electronic detection of copied content; hosting computer
application software in the field of knowledge management
for searching and retrieving information from databases and
computer networks; computer security services in the nature
of monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized
copying of online content, namely, e-books, literary works
and other publications, and reporting of the same;
monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying
of brand assets and reporting of the same; monitoring online
activity to prevent unauthorized copying of intellectual
property assets and reporting of the same; computer security
services, namely, preparation of reports to others regarding
unauthorized online copying.
53.
Methods and arrangements including data migration among computing platforms, e.g. through use of audio encoding
An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations are shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer. A great variety of other technologies and arrangements are also detailed.
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Instruction sheet in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials on the design of packages for watermark enhancement; physical product packaging with hidden digital information encoded therein; physical product packaging with digital information encoded therein; printed labels with digital information encoded therein; printed thermal labels with digital information encoded therein; printed labels with a machine-readable pattern on them; printed labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; printed graphics with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed educational publications, namely, training manuals in the field of encoding digital information; printed materials with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; printed materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; printed materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data. Packaging for goods of others, said packaging having digital information encoded therein; packaging for others. Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine-readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine-readable information in images; providing on-line digital publications in the field of steganography via the internet; providing on-line digital publications, in the nature of technical information and training materials, in the field of steganography via the internet; training in the use of encoding machine-readable information in electronic media; educational services for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects in the field of steganography; educational services in the field of print production; educational services in the field of label formatting; educational services in the field of thermal label design; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes serving as design elements; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; educational services in the creation of materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; educational services in the creation of materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; educational services in the creation of materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; educational services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; computer education training; teaching and training in business, industry and information technology. Encoding thermal labels with digital information; providing a machine-readable pattern on labels using software; reading with software a machine-readable pattern on product labels for retrieving information related to that product; creating labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product and document authentication and tracking, and brand monitoring and protection, to protect against counterfeiting, tampering, and diversion, and to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; developing and establishing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; providing temporary use of a web application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing temporary use of a web application for applying a machine-readable pattern on image content, namely, labels; providing a website featuring on-line software that enables users to apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; computer services, namely creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; computer services, namely creation of images with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; computer services, namely creation of images whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; computer services, namely creation of images whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; computer services, namely creation of printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data; computer services, namely encoding machine readable codes in goods and materials to assist with recycling of such goods and materials; encoding laminate materials with hidden digital information; authentication of laminate materials by decoding hidden digital information in such materials; encoding containers, pallets and crates with digital information; encoding industrial goods with digital information; authentication of containers, pallets, and crates by decoding digital information in such containers, pallets and crates; encoding of labels with digital information for application of the encoded labels to objects through in-mold labeling; encoding of design files for in-mold labels with digital information; encoding mold design files with digital information; encoding molds with digital information; encoding of 3D models with machine readable information for application of the machine readable information to objects created from the 3D models; encoding images with digital information for integration of the digital information into 3D models of objects; services for the encoding of digital information in storage containers; services for the encoding of digital information in transportation pallets; services for the encoding of digital information in storage crates.
55.
GENERATING AND READING OPTICAL CODES WITH VARIABLE DENSITY TO ADAPT FOR VISUAL QUALITY AND RELIABILITY
A variety of arrangements for producing 2D optical codes, allowing for variable spatial density of marking elements, are detailed. Such arrangements achieve highly reliable data transfer (in conjunction with a compliant decoder) while efficiently using a small number of marking elements (dots), and/or a low density of dots per unit area. Most of the codes are formed from (a) a message component that conveys a payload, and (b) a reference component that enables geometric synchronization. Dots can be allocated to serve one or both of these purposes. In a particular embodiment, parameters of an optical code are optimized to achieve improved signal robustness, reliability, capacity and/or visual quality. An optimization program can determine spatial density, dot distance, dot size and signal component priority to optimize robustness. An optical code generator employs these parameters to produce an optical code at the desired spatial density and robustness. The optical code may be merged into a host image, such as imagery, text and graphics of a package or label, or it may be printed by itself, e.g., on an otherwise blank label or carton. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
A neural network is applied to imagery including a machine readable code, to transform its appearance while maintaining its machine readability. One particular method includes training a neural network with a style image having various features. The trained network is then applied to an input pattern that encodes a plural-symbol payload. The network adapts features from the style image to express details of the input pattern, to thereby produce an output image in which features from the style image contribute to encoding of the plural-symbol payload. This output image can then be used as a graphical component in product packaging, such as a background, border, or pattern fill. In some embodiments, the input pattern is a watermark pattern, while in others it is a host image that has been previously watermarked. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
Software for processing images and graphics; computer software for signal processing and print applications; computer software for processing audio; computer software for encoding image data so as to embed identification information therein; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software that encodes electronic content or physical items with data to identify such content or items; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for creating label files encoded with machine readable information; signal processing software for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; software for decoding encoded data to recover the identification information therefrom; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for discovering electronic content or physical items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for discovering information associated with electronic content or physical items; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users with information based upon such recognition; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data from third-party websites; computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party e-commerce information; computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media, education and entertainment; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for decoding information from an object for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer software for point-of-sale systems; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects or image signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes. Business information management; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; product information services, namely, providing information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate e-commerce transactions; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate product purchases; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels and other physical items; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management. Providing an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized image signals captured by computer devices; providing access to machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects using the internet; provision of telecommunication links to computer databases and websites online. Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use and benefits of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine readable information in images; computer education training; teaching and training in business, industry and information technology; providing on-line electronic publications; training in the use and operation of encoding machine readable information in electronic media; educational services for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; providing business information about digital watermarking; providing on-line digital publications, in the nature of technical information and training materials, in the field of steganography via the internet; educational services in the field of print production; educational services in the field of label formatting; educational services in the field of thermal label design; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes serving as design elements; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; educational services in the creation of materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; educational services in the creation of materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; educational services in the creation of materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; educational services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling. Consulting services in the field of steganography; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image signals; online services, namely, for embedding of machine readable information into images; software as a service for encoding files with identification information therein; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration and application program development; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; software as a service for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in physical items; software as a service for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in audio; online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking projects and results relating to images and audio with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; development and consulting services in the field of product packaging; design services for packaging; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information; computer security consultancy services; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content; services in the nature of searching and retrieving information available on a global computer network; encoding thermal labels with digital information; providing a machine-readable pattern on labels using software; reading with software a machine-readable pattern on product labels for retrieving information related to that product; creating labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product and document authentication and tracking, and brand monitoring and protection, to protect against counterfeiting, tampering, and diversion, and to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; developing and establishing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; providing temporary use of a web application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing temporary use of a web application for applying a machine-readable pattern on image content namely labels; providing a website featuring on-line software that enables users to apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; services in the creation of images whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; services in the creation of images whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; services in the creation of printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data; services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; encoding industrial goods with digital information; encoding of labels with digital information for application of the encoded labels to objects through in-mold labeling; encoding of design files for in-mold labels with digital information; encoding mold design files with digital information; encoding molds with digital information; encoding of 3D models with machine readable information for application of the machine readable information to objects created from the 3D models; encoding images with digital information for integration of the digital information into 3D models of objects. Monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of online content, namely, e-books, literary works and other publications, and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of brand assets and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of intellectual property assets and reporting of the same; providing reports to others regarding unauthorized copying.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
(1) Software for processing images and graphics; computer software for signal processing; computer software for processing digital watermarks and other machine-readable codes embedded in print media; computer software for processing digital watermarks embedded in audio media; computer software for encoding image data so as to embed identification information therein; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software that encodes electronic content or physical items with data to identify such content or items; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for creating label files encoded with machine readable information; signal processing software for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; software for decoding encoded data to recover the identification information therefrom; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for discovering electronic content or physical items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for discovering information associated with electronic content or physical items; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users with information based upon such recognition; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data from third-party websites; computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party e-commerce information; computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media, education and entertainment; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for decoding information from an object for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer software for point-of-sale systems; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects or image signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes. (1) Business information management; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; product information services, namely, providing information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information; brand promotion services, namely, utilizing machine readable information to direct consumers to e-commerce platforms and other brand related Internet sites; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels and other physical items; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; providing business information about digital watermarking.
(2) Providing online access to a database in the field of media and object identification, namely informational references to network services that correspond to recognized image signals captured by computer devices; providing access to machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects using the internet.
(3) Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use and benefits of digital watermarking in e commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine readable information in images; computer education training; teaching and training relating to digital watermarking technology; online electronic publishing of product and service documentation; training in the use and operation of encoding machine readable information in electronic media; educational services for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects.
(4) Providing on-line digital publications, in the nature of technical information and training materials, in the field of steganography via the internet; educational services in the field of print production; educational services in the field of label formatting; educational services in the field of thermal label design; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes serving as design elements; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; educational services in the creation of materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; educational services in the creation of materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; educational services in the creation of materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; educational services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling.
(5) Consulting services in the field of steganography; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image signals; online services, namely, for embedding of machine readable information into images; software as a service for encoding files with identification information therein; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration and application program development; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; software as a service for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in physical items; software as a service for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in audio; online services for providing website links to computers corresponding to recognized image and audio signals captured by computer devices; online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking projects and results relating to images and audio with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; development and consulting services in the field of product packaging; design services for packaging; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information; computer security consultancy services; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content.
(6) Encoding thermal labels with digital information; providing a machine-readable pattern on labels using software; software-as-service (SAAS) featuring software for scanning a machine-readable patterns on product packaging to retrieve information relating to that product; design of labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product and document authentication and tracking, and brand monitoring and protection, to protect against counterfeiting, tampering, and diversion, and to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; developing and establishing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; providing temporary use of a web application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing temporary use of a web application for applying a machine-readable pattern on image content namely labels; providing online non-downloadable web-based software that enables users to generate and apply a machine-readable patterns to image content; design services for the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; design services in for the creation of images with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; design services for the creation of images whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; design services for the creation of images whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; design services in for the creation of printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine readable data; design services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; encoding industrial goods with digital information; encoding of labels with digital information for application of the encoded labels to objects through in-mold labeling; encoding of design files for in-mold labels with digital information; encoding mold design files with digital information; encoding molds with digital information; encoding of 3D models with machine readable information for application of the machine readable information to objects created from the 3D models; encoding images with digital information for integration of the digital information into 3D models of objects.
(7) Monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of online content, namely, e-books, literary works and other publications, and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of brand assets and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of intellectual property assets and reporting of the same; copyright watch services.
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Instruction sheet in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials on the design of packages for watermark enhancement; physical product packaging, namely boxes of paper or cardboard, paperboard cartons, containers of paper or cardboard for packaging, and bags, envelopes and pouches of paper or plastic for packaging, with hidden digital information encoded therein; physical product packaging, namely boxes of paper or cardboard, paperboard cartons, containers of paper or cardboard for packaging, and bags, envelopes and pouches of paper or plastic for packaging, with digital information encoded therein; printed labels with digital information encoded therein; printed thermal labels with digital information encoded therein; printed labels with a machine-readable pattern on them; printed labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; printed graphics with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed educational publications, namely, training manuals in the field of encoding digital information; printed materials with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; printed materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; printed materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data. (1) Packaging for goods of others, said packaging having digital information encoded therein; packaging for others.
(2) Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine-readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine-readable information in images; providing on-line digital publications in the field of steganography via the internet; providing on-line digital publications, in the nature of technical information and training materials, in the field of steganography via the internet; training in the use of encoding machine-readable information in electronic media; educational services for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects in the field of steganography; educational services in the field of print production; educational services in the field of label formatting; educational services in the field of thermal label design; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes serving as design elements; educational services in the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; educational services in the creation of materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; educational services in the creation of materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; educational services in the creation of materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; educational services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; computer education training; teaching and training in business, industry and information digital watermarking technology.
(3) Encoding thermal labels with digital information; encoding machine-readable patterns on labels using software; software-as-a-service (SAAS) featuring software for scanning machine-readable patterns on product packaging to retrieve information relating to that product; design of labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product and document authentication and tracking, and brand monitoring and protection, to protect against counterfeiting, tampering, diversion, and to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; developing and establishing technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; providing temporary use of a web application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing temporary use of a web application for applying a machine-readable pattern on image content, namely, labels; providing online non-downloadable web-based software that enables users to generate and apply machine-readable patterns to image content; design services for the creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; design services for the creation of images with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; design services for the creation of images whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; design services for the creation of images whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; design services for the creation of printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data; design services in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; encoding industrial goods with digital information; encoding laminate materials with hidden digital information; authentication of laminate materials by decoding hidden digital information in such materials; encoding containers, pallets and crates with digital information; encoding industrial goods with digital information; authentication of containers, pallets, and crates by decoding digital information in such containers, pallets and crates; encoding of labels with digital information for application of the encoded labels to objects through in-mold labeling; encoding of design files for in-mold labels with digital information; encoding mold design files with digital information; encoding molds with digital information; encoding of 3D models with machine readable information for application of the machine readable information to objects created from the 3D models; encoding images with digital information for integration of the digital information into 3D models of objects; services, namely, encoding digital information in storage containers; services, namely, encoding digital information in transportation pallets; services, namely, encoding digital information in storage crates.
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Instruction sheet in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials in the field of steganography; printed materials, namely, training materials on the design of packages for watermark enhancement; physical product packaging with hidden digital information encoded therein; physical product packaging, namely, paper and cardboard packaging, with digital information encoded therein; printed labels, namely, adhesive labels and printed paper labels, with digital information encoded therein; printed adhesive thermal labels with digital information encoded therein; printed labels, namely, printed adhesive labels, with a machine-readable pattern on them; printed labels, namely, printed adhesive labels, with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; graphic prints with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed educational publications, namely, training manuals in the field of encoding digital information; printed materials, namely, printed adhesive labels in the field of consumer products, with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed materials, namely, printed packaging in the nature of boxes, cartons, storage containers, and packaging containers made of paper or cardboard, bottle envelopes of cardboard or paper, paper pouches for packaging in the field of consumer products with hidden digital information encoded therein; printed materials, namely, printed adhesive labels in the field of consumer products, with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; printed materials, namely, printed packaging in the nature of boxes, cartons, storage containers, and packaging containers made of paper or cardboard, bottle envelopes of cardboard or paper, paper pouches for packaging in the field of consumer products with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; printed materials, namely, printed adhesive labels in the field of consumer products, whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed packaging in the nature of boxes, cartons, storage containers, and packaging containers made of paper or cardboard, bottle envelopes of cardboard or paper, paper pouches for packaging in the field of consumer products, whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed adhesive labels in the field of consumer products, whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed packaging in the nature of boxes, cartons, storage containers, and packaging containers made of paper or cardboard, bottle envelopes of cardboard or paper, paper pouches for packaging, in the field of consumer products, whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; printed materials, namely, printed artwork in the nature of art prints infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data Educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine-readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine-readable information in images; providing on-line digital publications in the nature of technical briefs, business briefs, technical papers and articles in the field of steganography via the internet; providing on-line digital publications in the nature of training materials in the field of steganography via the internet; training in the use of encoding machine-readable information in electronic media; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects in the field of steganography; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of print production; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of label formatting; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of thermal label design; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of creation of images with machine-readable codes serving as design elements; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of creation of images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of creation of materials with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of creation of materials whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of creation of materials whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of machine-readable codes for recycling; computer education training; teaching and training in business, industry and information technology Providing a machine-readable pattern on labels using software; providing online non-downloadable software for reading with software a machine-readable pattern on product labels and retrieving information related to that product; providing online non-downloadable software for creating labels with a machine-readable pattern in the background of said label; computer software design and implementation of software and technology solutions for the purpose of product and document authentication and tracking, and brand monitoring and protection, to protect against counterfeiting, tampering, and diversion, and to ensure the integrity of genuine products and documents; development of technical parameters and guidelines for using digital watermarking; technical consultancy in respect of digital watermarking; providing temporary use of an online non-downloadable computer application for embedding watermarks in image content; providing temporary use of an online non-downloadable computer application for applying a machine-readable pattern on image content, namely, labels; providing a website featuring on-line non-downloadable software that enables users to apply a machine-readable pattern in image content; services in the designing of digital images with machine-readable codes inseparable from the design; services in the designing of digital images with machine-readable codes represented by design elements; services in the designing of digital images whose appearance represents machine-readable codes; services in the designing of digital images whose aesthetic characteristics represent machine-readable codes; services in the designing of printed artwork infused with graphical design elements conveying machine-readable data; services in the field of designing machine-readable codes for recycling; providing online non-downloadable software for authentication of laminate materials by decoding hidden digital information in such materials; computer services, namely, using software to encode digital information in computer design files for in-mold labels with digital information; computer programming services, namely, using software to encode digital information in computer mold design files with digital information; computer programming services, namely, using software to encode molds with digital information; computer programming services, namely, using software to encode 3D models with machine readable information for application of the machine readable information to objects created from the 3D models; computer programming services, namely, using software to encode images with digital information for integration of the digital information into 3D models of objects; providing technical information in the field of steganography via the internet
The geometric pose of a patch of watermark data is estimated based on the position of a similar, but non-identical, patch of information within a data structure. The information in the data structure corresponds to a tiled array of calibration patterns that is sampled along at least three non-parallel paths. In a particular embodiment, the calibration patterns are sampled so that edges are globally-curved, yet locally-flat. Use of such information in the data structure enables enhanced pose estimation, e.g., speeding up operation, enabling pose estimation from smaller patches of watermark signals, and/or enabling pose estimation from weaker watermark signals. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
providing an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized image signals captured by computer devices; providing access to machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects using the internet software for processing images and graphics; computer software for signal processing and print applications; computer software for processing audio; computer software for encoding image data so as to embed identification information therein; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software that encodes electronic content or physical items with data to identify such content or items; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for creating label files encoded with machine readable information; signal processing software for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; software for decoding encoded data to recover the identification information therefrom; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for discovering electronic content or physical items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for discovering information associated with electronic content or physical items; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users with information based upon such recognition; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data from third-party websites; computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party e-commerce information; computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media, education and entertainment; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for decoding information from an object for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer software for point-of-sale systems; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects or image signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes business information management; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; product information services, namely, providing information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information for business purposes; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate e-commerce transactions; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate product purchases; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels and other physical items; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management educational services, namely, instruction in the field of encoding machine readable information in image signals; educational services, namely, instruction in the use and benefits of digital watermarking in e-commerce and supply chain management; educational services, namely, instruction in the field of steganography; training services in the field of encoding machine readable information in images; computer education training; teaching and training in business, industry and information technology; providing on-line electronic publications in the field of steganography; training in the use and operation of encoding machine readable information in electronic media; educational services namely, instruction in the field of encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; providing business information about digital watermarking consulting services in the field of steganography; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image signals; software as a service, namely, software for embedding of machine readable information into images; software as a service featuring software for encoding files with identification information therein; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration and application program development; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; software as a service featuring software for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in physical items; software as a service featuring software for connecting mobile device users to a uniform resource locator associated with an embedded identification number in audio; software as a service featuring software for providing website links to computers; online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking projects and results relating to images and audio with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; development and consulting services in the field of product packaging design; design services for packaging; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information; computer security consultancy services; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content; services in the nature of searching and retrieving information available on a global computer network; computer security services in the nature of monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of online content, namely, e-books, literary works and other publications, and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of brand assets and reporting of the same; monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of intellectual property assets and reporting of the same; computer security services, namely, providing reports to others regarding unauthorized online copying
63.
PREDICTING DETECTABILITY AND GRADING PRIOR TO PRINTING
The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing, including encoding signals for image data or artwork. A color blend/print model is used to predict signal detectability and visibility as is printed on a particular substrate, which facilitates object grading prior to print runs.
The present disclosure relates generally to signal processing techniques for content signals such as audio, images and video signals. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to processing content signals to facilitate recognition of ambient content signals using digital watermarks and/or digital fingerprints.
This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. We disclose methods, systems and apparatus for determining which ink(s) should be selected to carry an encoded signal for a given machine-vision wavelength for a retail package or other printed design. We also disclose retail product packages and other printed objects, and methods to generate such, including a sparse mark in a first ink and an overprinted ink flood in a second ink. The first ink and the second ink are related through tack and spectral reflectance difference. Of course, other methods, packages, printed objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.
A steganographic digital watermark signal is decoded from host imagery without requiring a domain transformation for signal synchronization, thereby speeding and simplifying the decoding operation. In time-limited applications, such as in supermarket point-of-sale scanners that attempt watermark decode operations on dozens of video frames every second, the speed improvement allows a greater percentage of each image frame to be analyzed for watermark data. In battery-powered mobile devices, avoidance of repeated domain transformations extends battery life. A great variety of other features and arrangements, including machine learning aspects, are also detailed.
H04N 19/467 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
H03M 13/15 - Cyclic codes, i.e. cyclic shifts of codewords produce other codewords, e.g. codes defined by a generator polynomial, Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem [BCH] codes
G06N 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Computer software for signal processing; computer software
for processing audio; computer software for processing
digital images; computer software for steganography
applications; computer software for steganographically
encoding information in images and for decoding such
information therefrom; computer software for incorporating
digital data into media content; computer software for
incorporating digital data into physical items; computer
software for encoding digital information in image signals;
signal processing software for encoding information in
digitally designed, produced or distributed media content;
signal processing software for encoding information in
digitally designed, produced or distributed physical
objects; computer software for encoding digital information
in image signals for reproducing the information in physical
items; computer software for encoding digital information in
design files of physical items; computer software for
encoding digital information in images rendered on digital
displays; computer software for creating product packaging
design files encoded with digital information; computer
software for inserting digital information in audio signals;
computer software for a printer that encodes digital
information in items to be printed; computer software for
steganographically encoding digital information in image
signals; computer software for steganographically encoding
digital information in audio signals; computer software for
steganographically encoding digital information in product
packaging design files for reproducing such information on
packaging produced from such product packaging design files;
computer software for steganographically encoding digital
information in packaging label files for reproducing such
information on packaging labels produced from such product
packaging label files; computer software for creating
product packaging design files steganographically encoded
with digital information; computer programs for the
identification of goods in the field of decoding
stenographically encoded information on goods or on
packaging for goods; computer programs for the
identification of physical objects; computer software for
decoding digital information from image signals; computer
software for decoding digital information from audio
signals; computer software for recognizing objects; computer
software for recognizing audio signals; computer software
for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture
equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers or
scanners, for recognizing printed objects; computer software
for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture
equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers or
scanners, for recognizing image signals; computer software
for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture
equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers or
scanners, for recognizing audio signals; computer software
for decoding stenographically encoded information from
physical items, namely, products and product packaging,
encoded with stenographic information; computer software for
discovering media content or physical items, namely products
or product packaging, by decoding data that was in such
content or items and retrieving information associated with
the decoded data; computer software for discovering
information relating to media content or physical items,
namely products or product packaging; computer software for
decoding information from an object for use in the fields of
e-commerce, marketing, self-checkout, variable weight
labeling, manufacturing, quality control, inventory,
reordering, product recall, logistics or product tracking;
computer software for point-of-sale systems, namely,
software for point-of-sale scanners or optical code readers;
computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers,
tablets, optical readers, electronic readers or scanners,
for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed
objects or image signals, and for linking users to
e-commerce or other internet or global communications
network connected sites or computers based upon such optical
codes; computer software for recognizing image signals
captured by optical sensors and for linking users to
e-commerce or other internet or global communications
network connected sites or computers based upon such
captured signals; computer software for recognizing audio
signals captured by audio sensors and for linking users to
e-commerce or other internet or global communications
network connected sites or computers based upon such
captured signals; computer software for decoding
steganographically encoded digital information from image or
audio signals; computer software for decoding
steganographically encoded information from packaging or
packaging labels; computer software for detecting
steganographically encoded information in image signals;
computer software for detecting steganographically encoded
information in audio signals; computer software for
detecting steganographically encoded information on physical
objects. Preparation of business reports; providing business
information to facilitate e-commerce transactions; business
services, namely, consulting services in the field of using
steganographically encoded digital codes in marketing or
product sales for business purposes; preparation of business
reports based on steganographically encoded information
decoded from image or audio signals; preparation of business
reports based on steganographically encoded information
decoded from product packaging; preparation of business
reports based on decoded steganographically encoded product
codes; preparation of business reports based on decoded
steganographically encoded product codes from product
packaging. Consulting services in the field of audio signal
recognition. Consulting services in the field of software for signal
processing; consulting services in the field of print
technologies; consulting services in the field of
steganography development or consulting services in the
field of product packaging digital watermarking in the
nature of providing identifiers for products, assets,
locations or services for trade in commerce; online
services, namely, providing temporary use of online
non-downloadable software for managing or tracking projects
or results relating to images or audio; providing
information about digital watermarking use in the fields of
e-commerce or supply chain management; consulting services
in the field of using steganography in business
applications; computer services, namely encoding digital
identification information in product packaging design files
for reproducing the information on packaging produced from
such product packaging design files; computer services,
namely, encoding digital information within physical items,
namely products and product packaging; online services,
namely, encoding of digital identification information into
images or audio to provide website links to computers;
computer services, namely, encoding digital identification
information in image or audio signals; computer services,
namely, steganographically encoding digital identification
information in image or audio signals; computer services,
namely, steganographically encoding digital identification
information in image signals for reproducing the information
on packaging; computer services, namely, steganographically
encoding digital identification information in product
packaging design files for reproducing the information on
packaging produced from such product packaging design files;
computer services, namely, steganographically encoding
digital identification information in product packaging;
consulting services in the field of adding
steganographically encoded identification information in and
retrieving such information from product packaging.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
Software for processing images, graphics and text; computer
software for encoding machine readable information in image
and audio signals; computer software for encoding machine
readable information in image signals for reproducing the
information on product packaging, labels, tags, receipts,
coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical
displays; computer software for encoding machine readable
information in design files of product packaging, labels,
tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store
signage and physical displays; computer software for
incorporating machine readable information in package,
label, tag, coupon, magazine, circular, in-store signage and
physical display designs; computer software for encoding
machine readable information in images rendered on screens
or digital displays; computer software that adds
functionality to photographs, movies, music, television,
financial instruments and industrial parts with machine
readable information; computer software that encodes
electronic content or physical items with data to identify
such content or items; computer software for decoding
digital information from image and audio signals; computer
software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer
software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by
optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce
and other internet or global communications network
connected sites or computers based upon such captured
signals; computer software for recognizing image signals
captured by optical sensors and for providing product
information to users based upon such captured signals;
computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers,
data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic
readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image
signals or audio signals; computer software for linking
users to e-commerce and other internet or global
communications network connected sites or computers based
upon digital information in printed objects, image signals
or audio signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand
held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers
and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals
or audio signals, and for providing users product
information based upon such recognition; computer software
for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical
readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding
optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or
image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other
internet or global communications network connected sites or
computers based upon such optical codes; computer software
for decoding information from packaging, labels, tags,
receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage
and physical displays encoded with such information;
computer software for decoding information from an object
for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing,
manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality
control, tracking and authentication; computer software for
point-of-sale systems, namely, software for point-of-sale
scanners, optical code readers and printers; computer
software for creating digital product packaging design files
encoded with machine readable information; computer software
for processing audio; computer software for image and audio
signal recognition to facilitate location specific
applications; computer software for decoding information
encoded in audio being provided in noisy environments;
computer software for steganography applications; computer
software for signal processing and print applications;
signal processing software for encoding information in
digitally designed, produced or distributed media content
and physical objects; computer programs for the
identification of goods or physical objects; computer
software used to obtain information about products,
photographs, movies, music, television and industrial parts;
computer programs for retrieving information about goods or
physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer
software for discovering electronic content or physical
items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or
items; computer software for the identification of consumer
brand impressions; computer software for discovering
information associated with electronic content or physical
items; computer programs for the management, inventory and
procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer
products; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data
from third-party websites; computer software for use in
gaining access to and interfacing with third-party
e-commerce information; computer programs for providing
customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social
media, education, entertainment and targeted and optimized
messages; computer programs for facilitating customer
engagements with goods and service providers; computer
programs for facilitating comparative shopping by online
shoppers; computer programs for facilitating the mapping of
the local availability of products. Business consulting services in the field of steganography,
namely, utilizing machine readable information to direct
customers to e-commerce and other brand related network
services; business consulting services in the field of using
coded information, including hidden digital codes, in
marketing, product tracking and product sales; market
research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites
generated by machine readable information; business services
utilizing machine readable information to facilitate
e-commerce transactions; business services utilizing machine
readable information to facilitate product purchases;
cataloguing and indexing media objects with machine readable
information; preparation of business reports; preparation of
business reports based on information decoded from image or
audio signals; preparation of business reports based on
information decoded from product packaging, labels, tags,
coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical
displays; provision of marketing reports relating to
e-commerce and other internet or global communications
network connected sites or computers that are accessed based
upon recognized image or audio signals; services to monitor
internet websites and online publications for
customer-specified topics and to capture relevant content on
those topics, and providing documentation and analysis of
that online content to others for business purposes;
shopping facilitation services, namely, facilitating online
comparison shopping that identifies products being viewed
and that provides access to databases containing comparative
purchasing information for such products; e-commerce
services, namely, making information available via
telecommunication networks for advertising and sales
purposes; product information services, namely, providing
information about the goods of others via a global computer
network, mobile telephones and portable communications
devices; data processing services for managing product data
and compilation and systemization of product data into
computer databases; commercial information services being
the evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods
encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase;
e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer
engagement with goods and service providers; business
information management; providing online commercial and
business information via digital watermarking in the fields
of e-commerce and supply chain management; providing
business information about digital watermarking use in the
fields of e-commerce and supply chain management. Providing access to an online computer database in the field
of information about telecommunications, namely, providing
access to an online computer database of informational
references to network services that correspond to recognized
signals, such access to an online computer database being
provided to mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture
equipment, tablets, or other communications devices by
recognizing image or audio signals captured by such devices;
providing access to machine readable information for
communicating information concerning physical and electronic
media objects using the internet. Design services for packaging; computer services, namely,
encoding machine readable information in image and audio
signals; computer services, namely, encoding machine
readable information in digital product packaging design
files for reproducing the information on packaging produced
from such digital product packaging design files; adding
machine readable information to product packaging, labels,
tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store
signage and physical displays; design, development and
consulting services in the field of product packaging;
online information technology [IT] services, namely, for
embedding of machine readable information into images and
audio to provide website links to computers; information
technology [IT] consulting services in the field of
steganography including encoding and decoding hidden
information; information technology [IT] consulting services
in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and
print processes; information technology [IT] consulting
services in the fields of object recognition and audio
signal recognition; graphic design services, namely,
including machine readable information in electronic media
in the form of graphic designs; computer services, namely,
custom programming services for others in the field of
software integration, application program development, and
machine readable information in electronic media; providing
identifiers for products, assets, locations and services for
trade in commerce using digital watermarking; computer
security consultancy services; online services, namely,
providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software
for managing and tracking projects and results relating to
images and audio with embedded machine readable information;
computer security services, namely, electronic detection of
copied content; providing search engine services in the
nature of searching and retrieving information, sites, data
and other resources available on a global computer network;
quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with
machine readable information. Monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying
of content, e-books, literary works and other publications,
and providing electronic reports to others regarding such
unauthorized copying; issuing notice and takedown requests
in response to online copyright infringement.
69.
Mobile device positioning in dynamic groupings of communication devices
A RF based mobile positioning system determines mobile device positioning by count stamped packets communicated between the mobile device and access points according to a standard wifi protocol. Ad-hoc groups of wifi network nodes are formed and then broken with a mobile device as that mobile devices moves relative to fixed nodes, such as access points. Within an ad-hoc group, the nodes count stamp packets by latching a local counter within each node. Count-stamps are collected and used to generate ranges for a mobile device relative to nodes in an ad hoc group. A positioning services determines the position of the mobile device from the ranges.
The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). One particular aspect of the technology concerns complementing primary content viewed on one screen (e.g., a television screen) with auxiliary content displayed on a second screen (e.g., a cell phone screen). Different auxiliary content can be paired with the primary content, depending on the profile of the user (e.g., age, location, etc.). Some embodiments make use of location information provided by the primary screen device. Other embodiments make use of content identification data provided by the primary screen device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
H04N 21/41 - Structure of clientStructure of client peripherals
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfacesContent or additional data rendering
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or servicesEnd-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/4722 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or servicesEnd-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content for requesting additional data associated with the content
H04N 21/442 - Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed or the storage space available from the internal hard disk
H04N 21/258 - Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics or processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
H04N 21/45 - Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies or resolving scheduling conflicts
H04N 21/84 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors
H04N 21/482 - End-user interface for program selection
H04N 21/8358 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving watermark
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
In one arrangement, a first device presents a display that is based on context data, derived from one or more of its sensors. This display is imaged by a camera in a second device. The second device uses context data from its own sensors to assess the information in the captured imagery, and makes a determination about the first device. In another arrangement, social network friend requests are automatically issued, or accepted, based on contextual similarity. In yet another arrangement, delivery of a message is triggered by a contextual circumstance other than (or in addition to) location. In still another arrangement, two or more devices automatically establish an ad hoc network (e.g., Bluetooth pairing) based on contextual parallels. In still another arrangement, historical context information is archived and used in transactions with other devices, e.g., in challenge-response authentication. A great number of other features and arrangements—many involving head-mounted displays—are also detailed.
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
Signal processing devices and methods estimate a geometric transform of an image signal. From a seed set of transform candidates, a direct least squares method applies a seed transform candidate to a reference signal and then measures correlation between the transformed reference signal and an image signal in which the reference signal is encoded. Geometric transform candidates encompass differential scale and shear, which are useful in approximating a perspective transform. For each candidate, update coordinates of reference signal features are identified in the image signal and provided as input to a least squares method to compute an update to the transform candidate. The method iterates so long as the update of the transform provides a better correlation. At the end of the process, the method identifies a geometric transform or set of top transforms based on a further analysis of correlation, as well as other results. Phase characteristics are exploited in the process of updating coordinates and measuring correlation. The geometric transform is used as an approximation of the geometric distortion of an image after digital data is encoded in it, and is used to compensate for this distortion to facilitate extracting embedded digital messages from the image. Due to the errors in the approximation, a signal confidence metric is determined and used to weight message symbol estimates extracted from the image.
Digital watermarking is adapted for the variable data printing. A reference signal serves as a proxy for optimizing the embedding a watermark in a host image to be printed. Using the reference signal, embedding parameters are generated, which are a function of constraints such as visual quality and robustness of the machine readable data. Adjustments needed to embed a unique payload in each printed piece are generated using the embedding parameters. These adjustments are stored in a manner that enables them to be efficiently obtained and applied within the RIP or press during operation of the press. Various other methods, system configurations and applications are also detailed.
The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and data hiding. A sparse or dense digital watermark signal can be conveyed with a narrow-band absorption material corresponding to a center wavelength of a Point of Sale (POS) barcode scanner. The POS barcode scanner typically captures 2D imagery. Since the narrow-band absorption material absorbs over a narrow-band it is relatively imperceptible to the Human Visual System (HVS) but can be seen by the POS scanner.
Sparse signal modulation schemes encode a data channel on a host image in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. The host image is printed by any of a variety of means to apply the image, with sparse signal, to an object. After image capture of the object, a decoder processes the captured image to detect and extract data modulated into the sparse signal. The sparse signal may incorporate implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.
H04L 9/32 - Arrangements for secret or secure communicationsNetwork security protocols including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Software for processing images, graphics and text; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image signals for reproducing the information on product packaging, labels, tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for encoding machine readable information in design files of product packaging, labels, tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for incorporating machine readable information in package, label, tag, coupon, magazine, circular, in-store signage and physical display designs; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software that adds functionality to photographs, movies, music, television, financial instruments and industrial parts with machine readable information; computer software that encodes electronic content or physical items with data to identify such content or items; computer software for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing product information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users product information based upon such recognition; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes; computer software for decoding information from packaging, labels, tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays encoded with such information; computer software for decoding information from an object for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer software for point-of-sale systems, namely, software for point-of-sale scanners, optical code readers and printers; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for processing audio; computer software for image and audio signal recognition to facilitate location specific applications; computer software for decoding information encoded in audio being provided in noisy environments; computer software for steganography applications; computer software for signal processing and print applications; signal processing software for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; computer programs for the identification of goods or physical objects; computer software used to obtain information about products, photographs, movies, music, television and industrial parts; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for discovering electronic content or physical items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for the identification of consumer brand impressions; computer software for discovering information associated with electronic content or physical items; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data from thirdparty websites; computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party e-commerce information; computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media, education, entertainment and targeted and optimized messages; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers; computer software, namely a visual search application; visual search software applications for searching and retrieving images; searching and retrieving information software concerning an object that is the subject of an object recognition; computer software for image or object matching, image or object feature matching or image or object classification. Business consulting services in the field of steganography, namely, utilizing machine readable information to direct customers to e-commerce and other brand related network services; business consulting services in the field of using coded information, including hidden digital codes, in marketing, product tracking and product sales; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information; utilizing machine readable information, namely, codes, markings, signals, and watermarks, to facilitate ecommerce transactions; utilizing machine readable information namely, codes, markings, signals, and watermarks, to facilitate product purchases; cataloguing and indexing media objects, namely, compiling and systemising data regarding media objects using machine readable information; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, instore signage and physical displays; provision of marketing reports relating to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers that are accessed based upon recognized image or audio signals; services to monitor internet websites and online publications for customer-specified topics and to capture relevant content on those topics, and providing documentation and analysis of that online content to others for business purposes; shopping facilitation services, namely, facilitating online comparison shopping that identifies products being viewed; ecommerce services, namely, making information available via telecommunication networks for advertising and sales purposes; product information services, namely, providing commercial, product data, product evaluation, nutritional, ingredient and other pertinent information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; data processing services for managing product data and compilation and systemization of product data into computer databases; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; ecommerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers, namely, linking customers to goods and service providers; business information management; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; provision of marketing reports relating to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers that are accessed based upon recognized images or objects; e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement, namely, providing links to information about products, services and providers based on images or objects that were recognized; services in the nature of searching and retrieving information, sites, data and other resources available on a global computer network. Providing information via an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized signals to mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, or other communications devices by recognizing image or audio signals captured by such devices; providing access to machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects using the internet; electric and digital transmission of data, images, signals and messages; providing information via an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized signals to communications devices by recognizing objects captured by such devices; shopping facilitation services, namely, facilitating online comparison shopping that provides access to databases containing comparative purchasing information for products. Consulting services in the field of product packaging. Design services for packaging; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; adding machine readable information, namely, codes, markings, signals, and watermarks to product packaging, labels, tags, receipts, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; design, development, software and technology consulting services in the field of product packaging; online services, namely, for embedding of machine readable information into images and audio to provide website links to computers; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; consulting services in the fields of object recognition and audio signal recognition; graphic design services, namely, including machine readable information in electronic media in the form of graphic designs; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration, application program development, and machine readable information in electronic media; providing identifiers for products, assets, locations and services for trade in commerce using digital watermarking; computer security consultancy services; online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking projects and results relating to images and audio with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information; image recognition enablement services; online services supporting image recognition; image and object enrollment and classifier training services.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
(1) Software for processing images, graphics and text files; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image signals for reproducing the information on product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for encoding machine readable information in design files of product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for incorporating machine readable information in package, label, tag, coupon, magazine, circular, in-store signage and physical display designs; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software that adds functionality to photographs, music, television and financial instruments with machine readable information; computer software that encodes goods and products with machine readable information data to facilitate the recognition and identification of those goods and products by digital and optical scanners; computer software for detecting and decoding digital machine readable information from steganographically encoded image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing product information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users product information based upon such recognition; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes; computer software for decoding machine readable information from signals steganographically encoded in product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays encoded with such information; computer software for detecting and decoding machine readable information from steganographically encoded physical objects for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer software for point-of-sale systems, namely, software for point-of-sale scanners, optical code readers and printers; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for processing audio; computer software for image and audio signal recognition to facilitate location specific applications; computer software for detecting and decoding machine readable information steganographically encoded in audio being provided in noisy environments; computer software for steganography applications; computer software for audio and image signal processing; signal processing software for steganographically encoding machine readable information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; computer software used to obtain information about products, photographs, music and television; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for detecting and identifying electronic content or physical items by decoding machine readable data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for scanning, detecting and decoding machine readable information steganographically encoded within electronic content or physical items; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party ecommerce information; computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media and general entertainment; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers (1) Business consulting services in the field of steganography, namely, utilizing machine readable information to direct customers to e-commerce and other brand related network services; business consulting services in the field of using coded information, including hidden digital codes, in marketing, product tracking and product sales; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate ecommerce transactions; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate product purchases; cataloguing and indexing media objects with machine readable information; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; provision of marketing reports relating to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers that are accessed based upon recognized image or audio signals; services to monitor internet websites and online publications for customer-specified topics and to capture relevant content on those topics, and providing documentation and analysis of that online content to others for business purposes; ecommerce services, namely, making information available via telecommunication networks for advertising and sales purposes; product information services, namely, providing information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; data processing services for managing product data; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; ecommerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers; business information management; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management
(2) Providing an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized signals to mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, or other communications devices by recognizing image or audio signals captured by such devices; providing access to computer databases using the internet upon scanning of machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects identified by the scanned machine readable information
(3) Design services for product packaging; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; steganographically encoding machine readable information into product packaging, labels, tags, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; development and consulting services in the field of product packaging; online services, namely, for embedding of machine readable information into images and audio to provide website links to computers; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; graphic design services, namely, including machine readable information in electronic media in the form of graphic designs; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration, application program development, and machine readable information in electronic media; providing identifiers for products and assets for trade in commerce using digital watermarking; computer security consultancy services; online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking customer projects and results, namely, product packaging, product sales, product distribution, marketing, potential violations of customer rights, and all relating to images and audio signals with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content; services in the nature of searching and retrieving product information, websites, audio signals and image data available on a global computer network; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information
(4) Monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of content, e-books, literary works and other publications, and providing electronic reports to others regarding such unauthorized copying; issuing notice and takedown requests in response to online copyright infringement
79.
DIFFERENTIAL MODULATION FOR ROBUST SIGNALING AND SYNCHRONIZATION
Differential modulation schemes encode a data channel within host signal or noisy environment in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. Differential arrangements enable a decoder to suppress host signal or other background signal interference when detecting, synchronizing and extracting an encoded data channel. They also enable the incorporation of implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.
H04N 19/467 - Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process characterised by the embedded information being invisible, e.g. watermarking
G10L 19/018 - Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
80.
Signal detection, recognition and tracking with feature vector transforms
A method for obtaining object surface topology in which image frames of a scene (e.g., video frames from a user passing a smartphone camera over an object) are transformed into dense feature vectors, and feature vectors are correlated to obtain high precision depth maps. Six dimensional pose is determined from the video sequence, and then used to register patches of pixels from the frames. Registered patches are aligned and then correlated to local shifts. These local shifts are converted to precision depth maps, which are used to characterize surface detail of an object. Feature vector transforms are leveraged in a signal processing method comprising several levels of interacting loops. At a first loop level, a structure from motion loop process extracts anchor features from image frames. At another level, an interacting loop process extracts surface texture, as noted. At additional levels, object forms are segmented from the images, and objects are counted and/or measured. At still a higher level, the lower level data structures providing feature extraction, 3D structure and pose estimation, and object surface registration are exploited by higher level loop processes for object identification (e.g., using machine learning classification), digital watermark or bar code reading and image recognition from the registered surfaces stored in lower level data structures.
Both fingerprinting and watermark decoding processes are applied to received items of audio-visual content. Further processing is applied as well. This further processing depends on output data from the watermark decoding process, and can cause two items of seemingly-identical audio-visual content to be further-processed in different ways.
G06F 21/00 - Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
G06K 9/00 - Methods or arrangements for reading or recognising printed or written characters or for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints
G06Q 10/06 - Resources, workflows, human or project managementEnterprise or organisation planningEnterprise or organisation modelling
G06Q 30/06 - Buying, selling or leasing transactions
H04N 21/8352 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving content or source identification data, e.g. UMID [Unique Material Identifier]
H04N 21/8355 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving usage data, e.g. number of copies or viewings allowed
H04N 21/8358 - Generation of protective data, e.g. certificates involving watermark
H04N 21/8405 - Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors represented by keywords
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04N 21/235 - Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
H04N 21/266 - Channel or content management, e.g. generation and management of keys and entitlement messages in a conditional access system or merging a VOD unicast channel into a multicast channel
82.
Histogram methods and systems for object recognition
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
38 - Telecommunications services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
45 - Legal and security services; personal services for individuals.
Goods & Services
software for processing images, graphics and text; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image and audio signals; computer software for encoding machine readable information in image signals for reproducing the information on product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for encoding machine readable information in design files of product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; computer software for incorporating machine readable information in package, label, tag, coupon, magazine, circular, in-store signage and physical display designs; computer software for encoding machine readable information in images rendered on screens or digital displays; computer software that adds functionality to photographs, music, television and financial instruments with machine readable information; computer software that encodes electronic content or physical items with data to identify such content or items; computer software for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for recognizing objects and audio signals; computer software for recognizing image and audio signals captured by optical or audio sensors and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such captured signals; computer software for recognizing image signals captured by optical sensors and for providing product information to users based upon such captured signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon digital information in printed objects, image signals or audio signals; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for recognizing printed objects, image signals or audio signals, and for providing users product information based upon such recognition; computer software for mobile phones, hand held computers, tablets, optical readers, electronic readers and scanners, for decoding optical codes included in visual media, printed objects or image signals, and for linking users to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers based upon such optical codes; computer software for decoding information from packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays encoded with such information; computer software for decoding information from an object for use in the fields of e-commerce, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, inventory control, quality control, tracking and authentication; computer software for point-of-sale systems, namely, software for point-of-sale scanners, optical code readers and printers; computer software for creating digital product packaging design files encoded with machine readable information; computer software for processing audio; computer software for image and audio signal recognition to facilitate location specific applications; computer software for decoding information encoded in audio being provided in noisy environments; computer software for steganography applications; computer software for signal processing and print applications; signal processing software for encoding information in digitally designed, produced or distributed media content and physical objects; computer programs for the identification of goods or physical objects; computer software used to obtain information about products, photographs, music and television; computer programs for retrieving information about goods or physical objects through machine readable indicia; computer software for discovering electronic content or physical items by decoding data that was encoded in such content or items; computer software for discovering information associated with electronic content or physical items; computer programs for the management, inventory and procurement of electronic or physical goods and consumer products; computer programs for use in the retrieval of data from third-party websites; [ computer software for use in gaining access to and interfacing with third-party e-commerce information; ] computer programs for providing customers access to mobile marketing campaigns, social media, education, entertainment and targeted and optimized messages; computer programs for facilitating customer engagements with goods and service providers Business consulting services in the field of steganography, namely, utilizing machine readable information to direct customers to e-commerce and other brand related network services; business consulting services in the field of using coded information, including hidden digital codes, in marketing, product tracking and product sales; market research, namely, monitoring traffic to internet sites generated by machine readable information; [ utilizing machine readable information to facilitate e-commerce transactions; utilizing machine readable information to facilitate product purchases; ] cataloguing and indexing media objects with machine readable information; preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image or audio signals; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging, labels, tags, coupons, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; provision of marketing reports relating to e-commerce and other internet or global communications network connected sites or computers that are accessed based upon recognized image or audio signals; [ services to monitor internet websites and online publications for customer-specified topics and to capture relevant content on those topics, and providing documentation and analysis of that online content to others for business purposes; ] e-commerce services, namely, making information available via telecommunication networks for advertising and sales purposes; product information services, namely, providing information about the goods of others via a global computer network, mobile telephones and portable communications devices; data processing services for managing product data; commercial evaluation and rating for others of consumer goods encoded with machine readable information prior to purchase; e-commerce services, namely, facilitating customer engagement with goods and service providers; business information management; providing online commercial and business information via digital watermarking in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management; providing business information about digital watermarking use in the fields of e-commerce and supply chain management Providing an online computer database in the field of information about telecommunications, namely, informational references to network services that correspond to recognized signals to mobile phones, hand held computers, data capture equipment, tablets, or other communications devices by recognizing image or audio signals captured by such devices; providing access to machine readable information for communicating information concerning physical and electronic media objects using the internet Design services for packaging; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in image signals; computer services, namely, encoding machine readable information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from such digital product packaging design files; adding machine readable information to product packaging, labels, tags, magazines, circulars, in-store signage and physical displays; development and consulting services in the field of product packaging; online services, namely, for embedding of machine readable information into images and audio to provide website links to computers; consulting services in the field of steganography including encoding and decoding hidden information; consulting services in the fields of signal processing, print technologies and print processes; graphic design services, namely, including machine readable information in electronic media in the form of graphic designs; computer services, namely, custom programming services for others in the field of software integration, application program development, and machine readable information in electronic media; providing identifiers for products and assets for trade in commerce using digital watermarking; [ computer security consultancy services; ] online services, namely, providing temporary use of online non-downloadable software for managing and tracking projects and results relating to images and audio with embedded machine readable information; computer services, namely, electronic detection of copied content; services in the nature of searching and retrieving information, sites, data and other resources available on a global computer network; quality evaluation and rating of physical items encoded with machine readable information Monitoring online activity to prevent unauthorized copying of content, [ e-books, literary works and other publications, ] and providing electronic reports to others regarding such unauthorized copying [ ; issuing notice and takedown requests in response to online copyright infringement ]
84.
METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING DATA MIGRATION AMONG COMPUTING PLATFORMS, E.G., THROUGH USE OF STEGANOGRAPHIC SCREEN ENCODING
An illustrative implementation of the technology includes three primary components: a desktop application, a mobile phone application, and connections to retailer inventory and pricing APIs (e.g., for Walmart and/or Best Buy). The experience begins with the consumer going to an online retailer's website (e.g., Amazon) to search for a product. The desktop application automatically searches for the same product using the APIs of Walmart and/or Best Buy. If matches and near-matches of the product are found, the product name, model, price, and local availability at affiliate locations is shown. With a mobile phone camera-scan of the product page, relevant information is transferred to the consumer's phone. From there, the consumer can interact with the options on the mobile phone to be directed to the nearby brick and mortar store of choice carrying that product at the price they want. Along the way, the retailer can present offers and additional product information directly to the consumer. A great variety of other technologies and arrangements are also detailed.
The present disclosure relates generally to signal processing such as data encoding and data hiding for product packaging and other printed objects. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for product packaging. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.
Wireless beacons, such as short range Bluetooth beacons, are combined with other technologies—including audio and image recognition technologies (e.g., fingerprint- or digital watermark-based)—to provide a variety of enhanced capabilities and services.
An audio playback system receives digitally watermarked audio programming and distributes it to audio speakers in a venue, enabling a variety of location and product dependent services to be delivered to mobile devices in the venue. Mobile devices sense audio from speakers and decode digital identifying information, including characteristics to distinguish audio sources. The mobile device communicates with a networked computer to provide the identifying information, which in turn, triggers an alert for output on the mobile device.
H04W 4/02 - Services making use of location information
G10L 19/018 - Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
G01S 5/22 - Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements
G08B 25/10 - Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using wireless transmission systems
H04W 4/04 - in a dedicated environment, e.g. buildings or vehicles
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Computer software for encoding digital watermarks in image signals; computer software for encoding digital watermarks in audio signals in uncompressed, lossy compressed and lossless compressed file formats; computer software for decoding encoded digital watermarks in image signals to recover the information therefrom; computer software for decoding encoded digital watermarks in audio signals in uncompressed, lossy compressed and lossless compressed formats to recover the information therefrom; computer software for steganographically encoding digital information in visual signals for reproducing the information on product packaging and packing labels; computer software for encoding digital watermarks in product packaging design files for reproducing the watermarks on packaging produced from the digital product packaging design files; computer software for encoding digital watermarks in packing label files for reproducing the watermarks on packing labels produced from the digital product packaging packing label files; computer software for decoding hidden information from packaging and packing labels encoded with the same; software for processing images and graphics; computer software for processing audio files in uncompressed, lossy compressed and lossless compressed formats. (1) Preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image and audio signals; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging; preparation of business reports based on scanned product codes; preparation of business reports based on scanned product codes from product packaging.
(2) Encoding digital watermarks in image signals; encoding digital watermarks in audio signals in uncompressed, lossy compressed and lossless compressed file formats; encoding digital watermarks in image signals for reproducing the watermark information on packaging; steganographically encoding digital information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the same on packaging produced from the digital product packaging design files; adding hidden digital information to product packaging; development and consulting services related thereto in the field of hiding machine readable information on product packaging.
Novel imaging arrangements are detailed. One comprises an optical array sensor with plural photo-electron generating regions dispersed at two or more layers in the structure. Two of these photo-electron generating regions are vertically separated by at least 10 microns—making the sensor useful for sensing objects at focal distances ranging from less than ten inches, out to infinity. Another arrangement involves movement of a camera sensor, in a repetitive tracking/pop-back motion, to reduce motion blur in individual frames of a video sequence. In a further arrangement, a user signals interest in a scene by sweeping a phone camera along a path to a point where it is briefly held, after which the phone is swept back in a contrary direction. The position at which it is briefly held indicates the user's interest in the scene viewed by the camera from that position. A great number of other arrangements are also detailed.
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
In an exemplary embodiment, image content is rendered to include a digital watermark pattern at an essentially fixed scale, regardless of the size of screen on which the content is displayed, or a display zoom factor. In one particular embodiment, CSS and JavaScript are responsive to the rendering context (which can include screen size, zoom factor, and/or viewer position) to define the geometry of a watermarked texture block, which is tiled to serve as a background of an HTML-defined page. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
In an exemplary embodiment, image content is rendered to include a digital watermark pattern at an essentially fixed scale, regardless of the size of screen on which the content is displayed. In one particular embodiment, CSS and JavaScript are responsive to the rendering context (which can include screen size, and/or viewer position) to define the geometry of a watermarked texture block, which is tiled to serve as a background of an HTML-defined page. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). One particular aspect of the technology concerns complementing primary content viewed on one screen (e.g., a television screen) with auxiliary content displayed on a second screen (e.g., a cell phone screen). Different auxiliary content can be paired with the primary content, depending on the profile of the user (e.g., age, location, etc.). Some embodiments make use of location information provided by the primary screen device. Other embodiments make use of content identification data provided by the primary screen device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
H04N 5/445 - Receiver circuitry for displaying additional information
H04N 21/21 - Server components or server architectures
H04N 21/23 - Processing of content or additional dataElementary server operationsServer middleware
H04N 21/431 - Generation of visual interfacesContent or additional data rendering
H04N 21/433 - Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request or caching operations
H04N 21/462 - Content or additional data management e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end or controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
H04N 21/466 - Learning process for intelligent management, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies
H04N 21/472 - End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or servicesEnd-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification or for manipulating displayed content
H04N 21/475 - End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. PIN [Personal Identification Number] or preference data
H04N 21/4788 - Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification or shopping application communicating with other users, e.g. chatting
H04N 21/234 - Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
H04N 21/422 - Input-only peripherals, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
H04N 21/4363 - Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
H04N 21/2665 - Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
H04N 21/458 - Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming streamUpdating operations, e.g. for OS modules
H04N 21/4367 - Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
93.
Shared secret arrangements and optical data transfer
Digital data is optically broadcast through an environment by controllably switching the brightness or chrominance of LED solid state lamps, or of other illumination sources (e.g., television screens and backlit computer displays). This optical data channel is useful to convey cryptographic key data by which devices within the environment can authenticate themselves to a secure network. In some embodiments, the optical modulation is sensed by the camera of a smartphone. The row data output by the smartphone's camera sensor is processed to extract the modulated data signal. In some monochrome embodiments, data communication speeds far in excess of the camera's frame rate (e.g., 30/second), or even the camera's row rate (e.g., 14,400/second) are achieved. Still greater rates can be achieved by conveying different data in different chrominance channels. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
H04B 10/00 - Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
H04M 1/00 - Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
H04W 12/04 - Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
H04W 88/06 - Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode terminals
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Computer software for encoding digital information in image and audio signals; computer software for decoding encoded digital information in image and audio signals to recover the information therefrom; computer software for encoding digital information in image and audio signals and for decoding digital information from image and audio signals; computer software for encoding digital information in visual signals for reproducing the information on product packaging [ and packing labels] ; computer software for encoding digital information in product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from the digital product packaging design files; [ computer software for encoding digital information in packing label files for reproducing the information on packing labels produced from the digital product packaging packing label files; computer software for decoding information from packaging and packing labels encoded with information; ] computer software for decoding information from packaging [ and packing labels ] for use in the fields of marketing, inventory control and management; software for processing images, graphics [ and text] ; computer software for processing audio Preparation of business reports; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from image and audio signals; preparation of business reports based on information decoded from product packaging; preparation of business reports based on scanned product codes; preparation of business reports based on scanned product codes from product packaging Computer services, namely, encoding digital information in image and audio signals; computer services, namely, encoding digital information in image signals for reproducing the information on packaging; computer services, namely, encoding digital information in digital product packaging design files for reproducing the information on packaging produced from the digital product packaging design files; computer services, namely, adding digital information to product packaging; development and consulting services related thereto in the field of product packaging
95.
METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR CUE DETECTION FROM AUDIO INPUT, LOW-POWER DATA PROCESSING AND RELATED ARRANGEMENTS
Methods and arrangements involving electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablet computers, wearable devices, etc., are disclosed. One arrangement involves a low-power processing technique for discerning cues from audio input. Another involves a technique for detecting audio activity based on the Kullback-Liebler divergence (KLD) (or a modified version thereof) of the audio input. Still other arrangements concern techniques for managing the manner in which policies are embodied on an electronic device. Others relate to distributed computing techniques. A great variety of other features are also detailed.
A smartphone is adapted for use as an imaging spectrometer, by synchronized pulsing of different LED light sources as different image frames are captured by the phone's CMOS image sensor. A particular implementation employs the CIE color matching functions, and/or their orthogonally transformed functions, to enable direct chromaticity capture. Various configurations of spectral capture devices are employed to capture spectral images comprised of spectral vectors having multi-dimensions per pixel. These spectral images are processed for use in object identification, classification, and a variety of other applications. Particular applications include produce (e.g., fruit or vegetable) identification.
Arrangements are detailed to process imagery of an object, captured by a camera, based on contextual data that at least partially characterizes a condition of the object when the imagery was captured. Contextual data can be obtained directly by a sensor or can be derived by pre-processing the captured imagery. The captured imagery can be processed to detect features such as digital watermarks, fingerprints, barcodes, etc. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Methods and arrangements involving portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are disclosed. Exemplary arrangements utilize the camera portions of such devices to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.
G06K 7/12 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks
A sequence of images depicting an object is captured, e.g., by a camera at a point-of-sale terminal in a retail store. The object is identified, such as by a barcode or watermark that is detected from one or more of the images. Once the object's identity is known, such information is used in training a classifier (e.g., a machine learning system) to recognize the object from others of the captured images, including images that may be degraded by blur, inferior lighting, etc. In another arrangement, such degraded images are processed to identify feature points useful in fingerprint-based identification of the object. Feature points extracted from such degraded imagery aid in fingerprint-based recognition of objects under real life circumstances, as contrasted with feature points extracted from pristine imagery (e.g., digital files containing label artwork for such objects). A great variety of other features and arrangements - some involving designing classifiers so as to combat classifier copying - are also detailed.
