The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for elements within PDF files. One implementation encodes an artwork element under different encoding conditions, and selects a winner version based on resulting signal robustness and/or visibility. Other implementations generate PDF layer masks to help determine overall embedding robustness, including interference from layered elements. Other implementations are provided too.

Vision sensor dynamic watermarking via noise characterization are disclosed herein. An example device can capture an image by a first device, where the image comprising a pixel group has baseline noise characterization caused by a base noise profile for the first device. The device can produce a noise watermark to create a watermarked image, where the noise watermark can be produced by altering the baseline noise characterization to produce modified noise characterization. The device can also transmit the watermarked image to a receiver.

This disclosure relates to image signal processing technology including signal encoding. One claim recites a method of detecting plural-bit code conflicts within an image, the image includes at least one color separation. The image includes a first plural-bit code carried by a first symbology, and a second plural-bit code carried by a second symbology, the first symbology and the second symbology comprising different symbology types. The method includes: accessing a subset of the image that comprises the first plural-bit code carried by the first symbology; analyzing the subset of the image to decode the first plural-bit code; analyzing the at least one color separation to spatially locate and decode the second plural-bit code carried by the second symbology; comparing the first plural-bit code and the second plural-bit code; and outputting information if a conflict is identified by said act of comparing, in which the information comprises a spatial location within the image of the conflict. Of course, other claims, features and combinations are described as well.

Disclosed are an electronic device for obfuscating user data and a server for decoding the same. A method for controlling an electronic device according to the present disclosure comprises the steps of: acquiring a security parameter according to data transmitted to an external server; applying an obfuscation algorithm to the data by using the security parameter; and transmitting the data, to which the obfuscation algorithm has been applied, to the external server. Furthermore, in connection with a method for controlling a system comprising an electronic device for obfuscating data and a server for decoding the same according to the present disclosure, a method for controlling the electronic device comprises the steps of: inserting a fingerprint into data; generating multiple pieces of split data having a preset first size on the basis of the data into which the fingerprint has been inserted; applying an obfuscation algorithm to one piece of split data selected from the multiple pieces of split data by using a preset security parameter; and transmitting the split data, to which the obfuscation algorithm has been applied, to the server. In addition, a method for controlling the server comprises the steps of: receiving the multiple pieces of split data, to which the obfuscation algorithm has been applied, from the electronic device; acquiring at least one piece of candidate data on the basis of the received multiple pieces of split data, to which the obfuscation algorithm has been applied; and acquiring data comprising the fingerprint among the at least one piece of candidate data.

An information processing apparatus includes circuitry that determines whether or not an image described based on image data is continuous with an area where watermark information is to be embedded to generate a determination result and changes, in accordance with the determination result, the area where the watermark information is to be embedded.

An image forgery protection apparatus comprises: one or more memories; and circuitry. The circuitry generates challenge data which change with lapse of time at least in a predetermined period. The circuitry generates a unique response which changes with lapse of time, the unique response corresponding to the challenge data on a basis of a physically unclonable function. The circuitry changes subject image data correspondingly to the unique response, the subject image data obtained by capturing an image of a subject.

The present disclosure a method of providing identification code insertion service for tracking a duplicated image, which is performed by a server, including: (a) receiving an image from a user terminal; (b) converting the received image to black and white, and selecting a plurality of insertion regions in the converted image; (c) transforming an image of at least one of a plurality of insertion regions selected at random; and (d) mapping an identification code and image information included in the transformed image of the insertion region, storing the identification code and the image information in a database, and providing the image in which the identification code is inserted to the user terminal.

The technology described herein generates a unique identifier for a visual media that comprises pre-printed visual indications on the visual media and a user's handwritten signature. The location of the signature on the visual media can be determined by including preprinted fiducial marks on the visual media. The fiducial markers act as landmarks that allow the size and location of the signature to be determined in absolute terms. The unique identifier is then stored in computer memory on a user-experience server. The user-experience server can associate the unique identifier with a digital asset, such as an image or video, designated by the user. When the unique identifier is provided to the user-experience server a second time, the digital asset can be retrieved and output to the computing device that provided the unique identifier.

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.

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.