Patents by Inventor John F. Stach
John F. Stach 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: 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: 11625551Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, John F. Stach, Sean Calhoon
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Publication number: 20220335561Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Tomas Filler, Alastair M. Reed, John F. Stach
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Patent number: 11455702Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Alastair M. Reed, John F. Stach
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Publication number: 20220261567Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Patent number: 11410261Abstract: Differential modulation schemes encode a data channel within host signal or noisy environment in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. Differential arrangements enable a decoder to suppress host signal or other background signal interference when detecting, synchronizing and extracting an encoded data channel. They also enable the incorporation of implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: John F. Stach, Ajith M. Kamath
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Patent number: 11288472Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, John F. Stach, Marc G. Footen
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Patent number: 11281876Abstract: In one aspect, a retail store includes a multitude of cameras, including a plurality of 3D cameras, and a plurality of other cameras. Certain of the cameras provide imagery from which a shopper's track through the store is monitored, and certain of the cameras are positioned to detect removal of items from store shelves. The store also includes a computer system that provides a database of information about store layout, indicating stock locations of different items. The computer system receives imagery from the cameras (or information derived from such imagery) and uses this data, together with information from the database and information derived from other sensors in the store, to produce a probabilistic tally of items selected by a store shopper. This tally includes an item bearing a barcode, but is produced without reading the barcode. Each item on the tally is associated with a confidence score that meets a computer system-determined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler
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Patent number: 11238556Abstract: 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 raster image processing (RIP), including: obtaining a plurality of elements representing a signal; determining edges within the imagery; using the determined edges as a reference, modulating a plurality of print structures within the RIP according to the plurality of elements to embed the signal within the imagery, in which one determined edge defines the signal to be at a predetermined angle in a set of dimensions comprising color and spatial frequency. Of course, other claims, combinations and technology are described too.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tomas Filler, Alastair M. Reed, John F. Stach
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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
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Patent number: 11068679Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, John F. Stach, Sean Calhoon
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Publication number: 20210217127Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: John F. Stach, Ravi K. Sharma, Ajith M. Kamath
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Publication number: 20210192162Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20210157998Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20210073935Abstract: Differential modulation schemes encode a data channel within host signal or noisy environment in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. Differential arrangements enable a decoder to suppress host signal or other background signal interference when detecting, synchronizing and extracting an encoded data channel. They also enable the incorporation of implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: John F. Stach, Ajith M. Kamath
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Patent number: 10896307Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: Ravi K. Sharma, Tomas Denemark, Brett A. Bradley, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John F. Stach, Joel R. Meyer
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Publication number: 20210004550Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2017Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Brian T. MacIntosh, Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell
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Patent number: 10872392Abstract: 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: September 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventors: John F. Stach, Ravi K. Sharma, Christopher A. Ambiel, Ajith M. Kamath
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Publication number: 20200380226Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh
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Publication number: 20200372228Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Inventors: Tony F. Rodriguez, Bruce L. Davis, Geoffrey B. Rhoads, John D. Lord, Alastair M. Reed, Eric D. Evans, Rebecca L. Gerlach, Yang Bai, John F. Stach, Tomas Filler, Marc G. Footen, Sean Calhoon, William Y. Conwell, Brian T. MacIntosh