Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking. One aspect of the disclosure includes a method comprising: obtaining data representing imagery; using one or more configured processors, analyzing a plurality of portions of the data to detect a watermark orientation component, said analyzing employing a match filter, in which the match filter yields a correlation value for each of the plurality of portions; determining a first portion from the plurality of portions that comprises a correlation value meeting a predetermined value; and directing a watermark decoder at the first portion to decode a plural-bit watermark payload, in which the watermark decoder produces a watermark signature for the first portion, and in which the watermark decoder searches a plurality of areas at or around the first portion to decode the plural-bit watermark payload. Of course, many other aspects and disclosure are provided in this patent document.

Abstract: Spectral encoding methods are more robust when used with improved weak signal detection and synchronizations methods. Further robustness gains are achieved by using informed embedding, error correction and embedding protocols that enable signal to noise enhancements by folding and pre-filtering the received signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking. One aspect of the disclosure includes a method comprising: obtaining data representing imagery; using one or more configured processors, analyzing a plurality of portions of the data to detect a watermark orientation component, said analyzing employing a match filter, in which the match filter yields a correlation value for each of the plurality of portions; determining a first portion from the plurality of portions that comprises a correlation value meeting a predetermined value; and directing a watermark decoder at the first portion to decode a plural-bit watermark payload, in which the watermark decoder produces a watermark signature for the first portion, and in which the watermark decoder searches a plurality of areas at or around the first portion to decode the plural-bit watermark payload. Of course, many other aspects and disclosure are provided in this patent document.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: Spectral encoding methods are more robust when used with improved weak signal detection and synchronizations methods. Further robustness gains are achieved by using informed embedding, error correction and embedding protocols that enable signal to noise enhancements by folding and pre-filtering the received signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking. In one implementation, we provide a hierarchical digital watermark detector method. The method includes: i) in a first layer of a hierarchical search, performing watermark detection on blocks of at least a portion of an incoming suspect signal; ii) identifying a first block in the portion that is likely to include a decodable digital watermark; and iii) in a second layer of the hierarchical search, performing additional watermark detection on overlapping blocks in a neighborhood around the first block. Another implementation provides a hierarchical watermark detector including a buffer and a detector. The buffer stores portions of an incoming signal. The detector evaluates watermark detection criteria for blocks stored in the buffer, and hierarchically zooms into a neighborhood of blocks around a block associated with watermark detection criteria that satisfies detection criteria.

Abstract: One arrangement concerns a portable device (e.g., a smartphone) that executes plural recognition agents, such as agents that perform fingerprint-based object recognition, fingerprint-based audio recognition, barcode reading, watermark decoding, etc. Each of the agents reads from and writes to a blackboard data structure, to which camera and microphone sensors also post their data. Queues of stored sensor data are thus available for the agents to process. In some arrangements, the agents also post—to the blackboard—estimates of the resource costs required to perform certain functions, and estimates of the quality of results that may be achieved by such functions. This allows the system to make informed decisions about how to deploy the device's limited resources (battery, processing cycles, network bandwidth, etc.). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking. In one implementation, we provide a hierarchical digital watermark detector method. The method includes: i) in a first layer of a hierarchical search, performing watermark detection on blocks of at least a portion of an incoming suspect signal; ii) identifying a first block in the portion that is likely to include a decodable digital watermark; and iii) in a second layer of the hierarchical search, performing additional watermark detection on overlapping blocks in a neighborhood around the first block. Another implementation provides a hierarchical watermark detector including a buffer and a detector. The buffer stores portions of an incoming signal. The detector evaluates watermark detection criteria for blocks stored in the buffer, and hierarchically zooms into a neighborhood of blocks around a block associated with watermark detection criteria that satisfies detection criteria.

Abstract: One arrangement concerns a portable device (e.g., a smartphone) that executes plural recognition agents, such as agents that perform fingerprint-based object recognition, fingerprint-based audio recognition, barcode reading, watermark decoding, etc. Each of the agents reads from and writes to a blackboard data structure, to which camera and microphone sensors also post their data. Queues of stored sensor data are thus available for the agents to process. In some arrangements, the agents also post—to the blackboard—estimates of the resource costs required to perform certain functions, and estimates of the quality of results that may be achieved by such functions. This allows the system to make informed decisions about how to deploy the device's limited resources (battery, processing cycles, network bandwidth, etc.). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking. In one implementation, we provide a hierarchical digital watermark detector method. The method includes: i) in a first layer of a hierarchical search, performing watermark detection on blocks of at least a portion of an incoming suspect signal; ii) identifying a first block in the portion that is likely to include a decodable digital watermark; and iii) in a second layer of the hierarchical search, performing additional watermark detection on overlapping blocks in a neighborhood around the first block. Another implementation provides a hierarchical watermark detector including a buffer and a detector. The buffer stores portions of an incoming signal. The detector evaluates watermark detection criteria for blocks stored in the buffer, and hierarchically zooms into a neighborhood of blocks around a block associated with watermark detection criteria that satisfies detection criteria.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: Methods for embedding digital watermarks in compressed video include perceptual adapting a digital watermark in predicted and non-predicted data based on block activity derived from the compressed video stream, embedding in predicted objects in a video stream having separately compressed video objects, and bit rate control of watermarked video.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: A text watermarking method embeds an auxiliary message in an original electronic text document to form a watermarked text document. The method applies a spreading function to message symbols to spread the symbols over a carrier, which forms a modulated carrier. It maps elements of the modulated carrier to corresponding inter-word spaces in the electronic text document, and applies an embedding function to modify the corresponding inter-word spaces according to elements of the modulated carrier signal such that the modified inter-word spaces hide the modulated carrier signal in the watermarked text document. The message symbols are automatically decodable from the watermarked document without the original electronic text document. A compatible decoder extracts the auxiliary message from a printed or electronic watermarked text document. The decoder automatically measures inter-word spaces in the watermarked text document.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes to encode substrates (e.g., paper, synthetics, etc.) with information, and substrates including signals encoded therein. One claim recites a substrate-making process including: obtaining an element to be utilized in a substrate-making process, the element including a property to introduce a texture pattern including an encoded signal into a substrate, the encoded signal being machine-detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern, the encoded signal including a variable component; and utilizing the element to impart the texture pattern into a substrate during the substrate-making process. Another claim recites a physical substrate including: a surface having a texture pattern provided in the surface during a substrate-making process. The texture pattern includes a machine-readable signal that is detectable from image data corresponding to at least a portion of the texture pattern.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 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.

Abstract: A wavelet domain watermark encoder and decoder embed and detect auxiliary signals in a media signal, such as a still image, video or audio signal. The watermark encoders and decoders employ techniques that take advantage of processing plural levels of resolution of the signal to embed and detect auxiliary information in the media signal.

Abstract: A media object authentication system uses layers of security features based on digital watermarks embedded in media objects. The system generates a first digital watermark with a message payload carrying data about the object, such as a hash of text data printed on the object. The first digital watermark is combined with a content signature derived from features of the media object, such as frequency domain attributes, edge attributes, or other filtered version of the media signal (e.g., image photo on a secure document) on the media object. This combination forms a new digital watermark signal that is embedded in the host media object. Biometric information may also be embedded in a machine readable code in the object or indexed via the machine readable code. This biometric information is used to generate biometric templates, and facilitate or enhance biometric comparison for one to one or one to many verification.