Abstract: 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).

Abstract: Features from a style image are adapted to express a machine-readable code. For example, grains of rice depicted in a style image may be positioned to create a pattern mimicking that of a machine-readable code. The resulting output image can then be used as a graphical component in product packaging (e.g., as a background, border, or pattern fill), while also serving to convey a product identifier to a compliant reader device (e.g., a retail point-of-sale terminal). In some embodiments, a neural network is trained to apply a particular style image to machine readable codes. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and other encoded signals.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: In one aspect, a 2D machine readable code is mimicked by a collection of graphic elements. This can involve choosing a location, within an input 2D code block, at which correlation between a first graphic element and the input 2D code block is maximized. An area around this location is then disqualified from further consideration. A second location is next chosen, within the input 2D code block but outside the disqualified area, at which correlation between a second graphic element and the input 2D code block is maximized. The process continues in this fashion, adding graphics and removing additional areas from consideration, until a threshold number of graphic elements has been placed. The elements are then assembled in their corresponding locations to yield a composite image block that provides features mimicking that of the input 2D code block, thereby enabling the composite image block to be decoded by a compliant code reader. A great variety of other signal rich art arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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.

Abstract: 2D machine readable symbologies are stylized and made aesthetically-appealing, facilitating their use to convey plural-symbol data within woven fabrics. Such stylized fabrics can be decoded by code readers analyzing imagery of the woven fabrics. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Features from a style image are adapted to express a machine-readable code. For example, grains of rice depicted in a style image may be positioned to create a pattern mimicking that of a machine-readable code. The resulting output image can then be used as a graphical component in product packaging (e.g., as a background, border, or pattern fill), while also serving to convey a product identifier to a compliant reader device (e.g., a retail point-of-sale terminal). In some embodiments, a neural network is trained to apply a particular style image to machine readable codes. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: Features from a style image are adapted to express a machine-readable code. For example, grains of rice depicted in a style image may be positioned to create a pattern mimicking that of a machine-readable code. The resulting output image can then be used as a graphical component in product packaging (e.g., as a background, border, or pattern fill), while also serving to convey a product identifier to a compliant reader device (e.g., a retail point-of-sale terminal). In some embodiments, a neural network is trained to apply a particular style image to machine readable codes. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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.