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: 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: Variable data printing workflows are enhanced for use with content that includes 2D code patterns, such as digital watermark data. One arrangement includes applying a filter to a content stream within a PDF document to extract both first variable pattern data for a first watermark pattern and second variable pattern data for a second watermark pattern. A first composite watermark pattern is then defined based on the extracted first variable watermark pattern data in conjunction with static watermark pattern data, and a second composite watermark pattern is defined based on the extracted second variable watermark pattern data in conjunction with the static watermark pattern data. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

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: Digital watermarking is adapted for the variable data printing. A reference signal serves as a proxy for optimizing the embedding a watermark in a host image to be printed. Using the reference signal, embedding parameters are generated, which are a function of constraints such as visual quality and robustness of the machine readable data. Adjustments needed to embed a unique payload in each printed piece are generated using the embedding parameters. These adjustments are stored in a manner that enables them to be efficiently obtained and applied within the raster image processor or press during operation of the press. Various other methods, system configurations and applications are also detailed.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, watermark decoding reliability is increased, for images of watermarked objects captured at close distances, by reducing influence of pixel noise (e.g., shot noise). In the same or different embodiment, watermark decoding reliability is increased, for images of watermarked objects captured from far distances, by reducing image under-sampling. A particular implementation down-samples input imagery twice—a first time by a fixed factor, preparatory to performing an FFT, and a second time by a variable factor, preparatory to submitting the image for decoding, where the variable factor is determined using results from the FFT. A number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: In one aspect, an elongated lighting module includes plural colors of LEDs that flash in a cyclical sequence to provide multi-spectral illumination. Several such modules can be arranged end-to-end to span a conveyor system that transports a stream of plastic waste items in a recycling center, enabling capture of differently-illuminated image frames depicting the items. Each module may include N LEDs of a first color (e.g., red) and M LEDs of a second color (e.g., blue), where N and M are different. Drive circuitry can be simplified by configuring the LEDs in strings of common colors, but with different counts. Electrical noise due to switching transients can be reduced by operating the LEDs at a low current when not being flashed. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A steganographic digital watermark signal is decoded from host imagery without requiring a domain transformation for signal synchronization, thereby speeding and simplifying the decoding operation. In time-limited applications, such as in supermarket point-of-sale scanners that attempt watermark decode operations on dozens of video frames every second, the speed improvement allows a greater percentage of each image frame to be analyzed for watermark data. In battery-powered mobile devices, avoidance of repeated domain transformations extends battery life. A great variety of other features and arrangements, including machine learning aspects, are also detailed.

Abstract: 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.

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.

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: The present disclosure relates to signal decoding and icon (e.g., a logo, shape, icon, etc.) detection. In some implementations, a series of filters are applied to scanlines to determine whether an icon is present. Other aspects, combinations and implementations are described as well.

Abstract: Technology for constructing a symbol template for use by a 1D barcode decoder. One method includes obtaining a first symbol pattern representing a first symbol, the first symbol pattern comprising a plurality of elements, with each element corresponding to a 1D barcode space or bar, in which the first symbol represents one unique 1D bar (b) and space (s) pattern corresponding to a symbol or digit: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9; obtaining prefix elements, the prefix elements comprising a subset of second symbol elements from a second symbol pattern which precedes the first symbol from within a scanline of image data, the subset being less than a total number of elements within the second symbol elements; extending the first symbol pattern with the prefix elements to yield an overlapping symbol template for use in correlation-based barcode decoding. Other technology provided as well.

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 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.

Abstract: A plastic item, such as a beverage bottle, conveys 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 conveys 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 lacks the 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: 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 thermoplastic resin, such as PET, is molded to define a 2D code signal, such as a digital watermark pattern. The mold can comprise an array of hole or spike features, some of which are directly vented to atmospheric pressure. A network of channels can link the other features to the directly-vented features, so all features are vented. A mold comprising spike features can form a digital watermark pattern on an item such that the watermark payload is decodable both from the side of the item that contacted the mold, and also from the opposite, non-contact side of the item. To aid entry of viscous thermoplastic among the very fine elemental features of a mold representing a watermark signal pattern, the features can be overlapped, forming a connected binary mark having larger features. A variety of other improvements and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A surface is laser-etched to convey a 2D machine-readable code pattern. Various strategies are detailed to minimize the etching time. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to reduce a path length traveled by the laser. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to make it sub-optimal, i.e., making the code pattern a less-faithful approximation of an ideal code pattern. In some embodiments the etched surface is the surface of a plastic container, and the code pattern conveys information indicating the type of plastic of which the container is manufactured. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The present disclosures relates to finding or localizing machine readable indicia (e.g., a barcode or digital watermark) in imagery. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for buffering blocks of image data, the image data having been captured with a camera and depicting a printed object; one or more processors programmed for: generating an edge orientation sensitive feature set from the image data; using a first trained classifier to determine whether the feature set includes data representing a barcode; and using N additional trained classifiers to determine an orientation angle associated with the barcode, wherein N comprises an integer greater than 3, and wherein the orientation angle is selected based on a probability metric. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too.

Abstract: Audio signal processing enhances audio watermark embedding and detecting processes. Audio signal processes include audio classification and adapting watermark embedding and detecting based on classification. Advances in audio watermark design include adaptive watermark signal structure data protocols, perceptual models, and insertion methods. Perceptual and robustness evaluation is integrated into audio watermark embedding to optimize audio quality relative the original signal, and to optimize robustness or data capacity. These methods are applied to audio segments in audio embedder and detector configurations to support real time operation. Feature extraction and matching are also used to adapt audio watermark embedding and detecting.