Systems and methods for applying and detecting cross dependent marks incorporated into an electronic or digital image to form a watermark. The electronic or digital image may include encoded information for example a machine-readable symbol. The watermarking may include an encoding and insertion sub-process that inserts one or more marks into an image at a first point in time for form a marked image, an extraction sub-process that extracts the marks at a second point in time, and a detection sub-process 108 that determines if any modifications have been made to the marked image. The marked image may be formed by determining a first original descriptor and first original mark within the image, determining a second original descriptor and second original mark within the image, and incorporating the first original mark into the second original descriptor and incorporating the second original mark into the first original descriptor.

Methods and systems for identifying altered content are described herein. The system generates a fingerprint for an unverified content item and locates a plurality of content items that match the fingerprint. The system then compares corresponding frames between the unverified content item and each content item of the plurality of content items. The system identifies, based on the comparing, an altered frame in the unverified content item that does not match a corresponding frame in two or more of the plurality of content items. The system also determines that one or more frames of the unverified content item that follow the altered frame match corresponding frames in the two or more of the plurality of content items. The system then generates for display an indication that the unverified content item contains one or more altered frames.

A processing apparatus is configured to process image data from an image pickup apparatus that includes a first imaging unit and a second imaging unit. The processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on first image data acquired by the first imaging unit, and a processing unit configured to process second image data acquired by the second imaging unit so that the information on the first image data is collateral with the second image data.

A method for authenticating digital information includes obtaining, in digital form, information for authentication; preparing the information for processing, such preparation including converting the information into a digital image; identifying segments of content in the digital image; grouping the segments of content into one or more segment groups; generating a marking sequence comprising shifting at least one of the one or more segment groups in one or more directions; and applying the marking sequence to the digital image, creating a unique marked copy of the digital image.

The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects such as product packaging, labels and hangtags. One implementation obtains a color image representing CMY color channels, and alters the color image to include an encoded signal by altering values representing CIELAB a* and b*, all the while keeping L* on or within a predetermined tolerance of a contour representing a constant value. Other implementations are provided.

A processing apparatus is configured to process image data from an image pickup apparatus that includes a first imaging unit and a second imaging unit. The processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on first image data acquired by the first imaging unit, and a processing unit configured to process second image data acquired by the second imaging unit so that the information on the first image data is collateral with the second image data.

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including signal encoding. One combination includes an apparatus comprising: memory for storing image data, the image data comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image data comprises at least a first type of machine-readable symbology comprising a 1D barcode represented therein and a second type of machine-readable symbology comprising a first signal represented therein, in which the second type of machine-readable symbology comprises a different type of machine-readable symbology relative to the first type of machine-readable symbology, the 1D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first signal comprising a second plural-bit code; a barcode reader configured to analyze the image data to decode the 1D barcode to obtain the first plural-bit code; a signal decoder configured to analyze one or more color separations or channels of the plurality of color separations or channels to decode the first signal to obtain the second plural-bit code; one or more processors configured to determine whether the second plural-bit code and the first plural-bit code conflict; and to identify a conflict based on a conflict determination. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.

Information may be visually encoded within visual content of an image using a distortion projection. The distortion projection may cause stretching of a visual element defined within a pixel array of the image. Information may be visually encoded within the pixel array using visual characteristic(s) of the pixel array. Presentation of the visual content based on a non-distortion projection may reduce a number of pixels that defines the visual element within the pixel array and may reduce visual impact of the information visually encoded within the pixel array.

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.

A watermark image may be generated that includes a first set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a first transparency value and a second set of encoded pixels each of which is assigned a second transparency value, the second transparency level being different from the first transparency level. The encoded pixels may be distributed among a set of blank pixels such that each encoded pixel neighbors one or more blank pixels in the watermark image, and in particular at least two blank pixels in the watermark image. Herein, each blank pixel may be assigned the second transparency value. The watermark image may be overlaid and blended over a background source image to create an encoded source image. A decoder system may recover encoded information from the encoded source image.