Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. 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). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One implementation is directed to a printed object comprising: a white substrate or background comprising a first area; an ink mixture printed at a first plurality of spatial locations within the first area, the ink mixture printed such that the first area comprises a second plurality of spatial locations without the ink mixture, the ink mixture comprising extender white and Green 7 ink, the ink mixture comprising a volume or weight ratio of 97.5% to 99.75% white extender and 2.5%-0.25% Green 7 ink; in which the first plurality of spatial locations is arranged in a pattern conveying an encoded signal, and in which the white substrate or background and the ink mixture comprise a spectral reflectivity difference at or around 660 nm in a difference range of 8%-30%. Of course, other implementations, methods, packages, systems and apparatus are described in this patent document.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. We disclose methods, systems and apparatus for selecting 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, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, digital watermarking and data hiding.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim is directed to a container comprising: a 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell, the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; a 5182 aluminum alloy lid attached to the 3004 or 3003 aluminum alloy shell; and an opaque ink printed on the outer surface in a 2-dimensional pattern according to a machine-readable signal. The outer surface and the opaque ink printed on the outer surface comprise a spectral reflectance difference at a machine-vision wavelength in a range of 8%-30%, and the machine-readable signal is detectable from imagery representing the opaque ink printed on the outer surface. Of course, other containers, technology, methods, packages, objects, systems and apparatus are described in this disclosure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects. One implementation selects an embed direction based on a minimal visibility axis of a 1 JND ellipse at a certain color center. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing chromatic contrast sensitivity data representing multiple color encoding angles; one or more multi-core processors configured for: using the stored chromatic contrast sensitivity data, generating an ellipse around a first color center; and from the ellipse, determining a signal encode direction, the signal encode direction comprising an angle ? representing a negative angle between the ‘a*’ axis in an CIELAB space and a direction of minimum sensitivity of an encoded signal, in which the angle ? comprises ?9 degrees????25 degrees. Other technology described.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

Abstract: Image processing technology embeds signal (e.g., digital watermarks) within imagery during a raster image process(or). One claim recites: an image processing method of embedding a signal within imagery using a raster image processing (RIP), comprising: obtaining a plurality of elements representing a signal; and modulating a plurality of print structures within the RIP according to the plurality of elements, in which said modulating varies density, and direction or angle, of the plurality of print structures, and in which said modulating introduces the signal within the imagery. Of course, other claims, combinations and technology are described too.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. 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). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally improving visibility artifacts associated with encoded signals. A visibility change for local image areas associated with an encoded signal can be determined through use of a plurality of channel-specific contrast sensitivity functions. Of course, other features, and related claims and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking.

Abstract: In one aspect, a retail store has multiple sensors, including item sensors in a shopping cart for gathering data from a shopper-selected first item. At least certain of the sensor data is provided to a classifier, which was previously-trained (using data including optical data from known items) to identify possible item matches corresponding to data sensed from the first item. An item identification hypothesis that the shopper-selected first item has a particular identity is evaluated based on (a) information from the classifier, and (b) store layout data indicating items associated with a store location visited by the cart or shopper. The item identification hypothesis has a confidence score. If the score meets a criterion, an item of the hypothesized identity is added to a shopping tally. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The present document provides image processing methods and apparatus. One claim recites: obtaining a signal to be encoded in color image data, the signal comprising a plural-bit payload; predicting a resulting color of overprinting several inks on a substrate, the overprinting representing the color image data encoded with the signal; using the resulting color for both i) visibility evaluation of the overprinting, and ii) signal robustness evaluation of the overprinting as seen by an imaging device. Other claims and combinations are provided.