Patents by Inventor Alastair M. Reed

Alastair M. Reed 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).

  • Patent number: 10255649
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed
  • Publication number: 20190070880
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed, Tomas Filler
  • Patent number: 10223560
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob L. Boles, Alastair M. Reed, John D. Lord
  • Publication number: 20190026853
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal processing, including processing digital watermarking. One claim recites a detector apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing color image data comprising red color data and green color data, in which the red color data comprises digital watermarking including a first polarity and the green color data comprises the digital watermarking including a second polarity that is inversely related to the first polarity; means for selectively weighting the red color data and the green color data so that the digital watermarking is emphasized while image content is de-emphasized when weighted red color data and weighted green color data are combined; means for detecting the digital watermarking from combined, weighted red color data and weighted green color data; and more or more processors configured for outputting data corresponding to detected digital watermarking. Of course, different combinations and claims are provided too.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventor: Alastair M. Reed
  • Publication number: 20190012554
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Tomas Filler, Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Yang Bai
  • Patent number: 10176545
    Abstract: The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Ravi K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20180374183
    Abstract: The present invention relate generally to signal encoding and decoding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Ravi K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20180376027
    Abstract: Information is encoded in an image signal by exploiting spectral differences between colors that appear the same when rendered. These spectral differences are detected using image sensing that discerns the spectral differences. Spectral difference detection methods include using sensor-synchronized spectrally-structured-light imaging, 3D sensors, imaging spectrophotometers, and higher resolution Bayer pattern capture relative to resolution of patches used to convey a spectral difference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Alastair M. Reed
  • Patent number: 10127623
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate generally to digital watermarking and signal encoding. Various colors can be evaluated and modified to carry an encoded or auxiliary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Robert G. Lyons, Alastair M. Reed, John F. Stach
  • Patent number: 10074046
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sidewalk-facing display window of a retail store is treated to scatter (or absorb) a portion of incident light, in a narrow wavelength spectral band. A machine-readable pattern, which encodes an identifier, is projected onto the treated window from outside the store. The reflection (absorption) of that projected pattern, within the narrow spectral band, escapes notice of shoppers on the sidewalk. Yet if a shopper captures imagery of a product displayed on the other side of the display window, using a mobile device camera, the pattern is captured with the imagery, and can be analyzed to decode the identifier. The mobile device can use this decoded identifier to access online information about the displayed product, for presentation to the shopper on the mobile device display. The technology is particularly suited for wearable computing devices, and more generally enables glass windows to subliminally convey digital information to image sensors conveyed by passing shoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10065441
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed, Tomas Filler
  • Patent number: 10032241
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal processing, including processing digital watermarking. One claim recites a detector apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing color image data comprising red color data and green color data, in which the red color data comprises digital watermarking including a first polarity and the green color data comprises the digital watermarking including a second polarity that is inversely related to the first polarity; means for selectively weighting the red color data and the green color data so that the digital watermarking is emphasized while image content is de-emphasized when weighted red color data and weighted green color data are combined; means for detecting the digital watermarking from combined, weighted red color data and weighted green color data; and more or more processors configured for outputting data corresponding to detected digital watermarking. Of course, different combinations and claims are provided too.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Alastair M. Reed
  • Publication number: 20180174620
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Bruce L. Davis, Tony F. Rodriguez, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, William Y. Conwell, Jerrine K. Owen, Adnan M. Alattar, Eliot Rogers, Brett A. Bradley, Alastair M. Reed, Robert Craig Brandis
  • Patent number: 9979853
    Abstract: Information is encoded in an image signal by exploiting spectral differences between colors that appear the same when rendered. These spectral differences are detected using image sensing that discerns the spectral differences. Spectral difference detection methods include using sensor-synchronized spectrally-structured-light imaging, 3D sensors, imaging spectrophotometers, and higher resolution Bayer pattern capture relative to resolution of patches used to convey a spectral difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Alastair M. Reed
  • Publication number: 20180130169
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as image processing, signal encoding, 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed, Vojtech Holub, Tony F. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20180131837
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking for retail product packaging. A digital watermark can be carried in different color channels, and at with different signal polarities. Detection can utilize different illumination sources or image sensors with various filters to highlight signal in one or more of the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Kristyn R. Falkenstern, Alastair M. Reed
  • Publication number: 20180130164
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate generally to digital watermarking and signal encoding. Various colors can be evaluated and modified to carry an encoded or auxiliary signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Robert G. Lyons, Alastair M. Reed, John F. Stach
  • Publication number: 20180130165
    Abstract: The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Ravi K. Sharma
  • Publication number: 20180122035
    Abstract: The present disclosure relate generally to image signal processing, color science and signal encoding. Signal encoding can be applied to color image data through use of a luminance contrast sensitivity function and a chrominance contrast sensitive function. Of course, other features, combinations and claims are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Kristyn R. Falkenstern, David Berfanger, Yang Bai
  • Patent number: 9940684
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to image signal processing, encoded signals and fingerprinting. Lighting information, associated with image capture, is used to adapt a signal encoder to fingerprint generator. The encoder or generator can be adapted by applying different weightings to different color channels, the different weightings being associated with the lighting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Alastair M. Reed, Brett A. Bradley