Patents by Inventor Ravi K. Sharma
Ravi K. Sharma has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11962875Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys 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 conveys 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 lacks the 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Osama M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord
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Patent number: 11962876Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys 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 conveys 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 lacks the 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.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Osama M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord, Matthew M. Weaver, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 11922532Abstract: Watermarking media content, in combination with blockchain and distributed storage networks, prevents the proliferation of Deepfake content. Digital watermarks are embedded in the audio and video tracks of video clips of trusted content producers at the time the videos are captured or before they are distributed. The watermarks are detected at the social media network's portals, nodes, and back ends. The embedded watermark imparts a unique identifier to the video, that links it to a blockchain. The watermarks also allow video source tracking, integrity verification, and alteration localization. The watermark detectors can be standalone software applications, or they can be integrated with other applications. They are used to perform three main tasks: (1) they alert the Internet user when he watches an inauthentic news video, so that he may discard it, (2) they prevent a Deepfake content from propagating through the network (3) they perform forensic analysis to help track and remove Deepfake content postings.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Adnan M. Alattar, Ravi K. Sharma, John A. Scriven
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Publication number: 20240054801Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Ravi K. Sharma, Tony F. Rodriguez, Osama M. Alattar, Adnan M. Alattar, John D. Lord, Brian Johnson, David Ruotolo, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Hugh L. Brunk, Vahid Sedighianaraki
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Patent number: 11878327Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Osama M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, William Y. Conwell, Ajith M. Kamath
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Publication number: 20230316386Abstract: Aspects of the detailed technologies concern training and use of neural networks for fine-grained classification of large numbers of items, e.g., as may be encountered in a supermarket. Mitigating false positive errors is an exemplary area of emphasis. Novel network topologies are also detailed—some employing recognition technologies in addition to neural networks. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Utkarsh Deshmukh, Vahid Sedighianaraki, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 11741733Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tomas Filler, Ravi K. Sharma, Tony F. Rodriguez, Geoffrey B. Rhoads
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Patent number: 11651469Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: John F. Stach, Ravi K. Sharma, Ajith M. Kamath
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Patent number: 11604247Abstract: Mobile device positioning employs various forms of audio signal structures and detection methodologies. In one method, detection of an audio signal from a first source enables construction of a signal to facilitate detection of an audio signal from another source. Signals detected from these sources enable positioning of the mobile device receiving those signals. Another method forms audio signals transmitted from audio sources so that they have parts that add constructively and parts that differentiate the sources to enable positioning. Another audio signal based positioning method adaptively switches among positioning methods so that positioning remains operative as a mobile device moves toward and away from the sources. Another method tracks positioning history, evaluates it for errors and performs error mitigation to improve accuracy. Various other positioning technologies are detailed as well.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Brett A. Bradley, Ravi K. Sharma, Shankar Thagadur Shivappa, John D. Lord
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Patent number: 11599744Abstract: Aspects of the detailed technologies concern training and use of neural networks for fine-grained classification of large numbers of items, e.g., as may be encountered in a supermarket. Mitigating false positive errors is an exemplary area of emphasis. Novel network topologies are also detailed—some employing recognition technologies in addition to neural networks. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Utkarsh Deshmukh, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 11548310Abstract: This patent document discloses physical documents including metameric ink pairs. One claim recites a document comprising: a first surface; a second surface, in which the first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures, in which the first set of print structures and the second set of print structures collective convey an encoded signal discernable from optical scan data representing at least a first portion of the first surface, in which the first set of print structures is provided on the first surface with a first ink and the second set of print structures is provided on the first surface with a second, different ink, and in which the first ink and the second, different ink comprise a metameric pair. Of course, other claims and combinations are described as well.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Ravi K. Sharma
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Publication number: 20220331841Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Ravi K. Sharma, Tony F. Rodriguez, Osama M. Alattar, Adnan M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, Brett A. Bradley, Ajith M. Kamath
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Publication number: 20220335959Abstract: Audio signal processing enhances audio watermark embedding and detecting processes. Audio signal processes include audio classification and adapting watermark embedding and detecting based on classification. Advances in audio watermark design include adaptive watermark signal structure data protocols, perceptual models, and insertion methods. Perceptual and robustness evaluation is integrated into audio watermark embedding to optimize audio quality relative the original signal, and to optimize robustness or data capacity. These methods are applied to audio segments in audio embedder and detector configurations to support real time operation. Feature extraction and matching are also used to adapt audio watermark embedding and detecting.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Brett A. Bradley, Yang Bai, Shankar Thagadur Shivappa, Ajith Kamath, Aparna Gurijala, Tomas Filler, David A. Cushman
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Patent number: 11410262Abstract: Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals using a least squares technique. 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 a suspect signal. For each candidate, update coordinates of reference signal features are identified in the suspect 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 transform or set of top transforms based on a further analysis of correlation, as well as other results.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K. Sharma, John D. Lord, Robert G. Lyons
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Publication number: 20220180466Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, John D. Lord, Robert G. Lyons, Osama M. Alattar, Jacob L. Boles
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Patent number: 11308571Abstract: The present disclosure relates to advanced image processing and encoded signal processing.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Vojtech Holub, Donald Haaga, Ravi K. Sharma, Jeffrey B. Schulte, Eric D. Evans
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Publication number: 20220114693Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Tony F. Rodriguez, Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vahid Sedighianaraki
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Publication number: 20220055071Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Osama M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, William Y. Conwell, Ajith M. Kamath
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Publication number: 20220027590Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys 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 conveys 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 lacks the 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Filler, Vojtech Holub, Osama M. Alattar, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord, Matthew M. Weaver, William Y. Conwell
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Publication number: 20220004727Abstract: The 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 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Denemark, Brett A. Bradley, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Emma C. Sinclair, Vojtech Holub, Hugh L. Brunk, Trent J. Brundage, John F. Stach, John D. Lord, Joel R. Meyer, Tomas Filler, Ajith M. Kamath, Mark-Andrew Ray Tait, Kevin J. Hansonoda, Adnan M. Alattar