The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for printed objects. One implementation selects an embed direction based on a minimal visibility axis of a 1 JND ellipse at a certain color center. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing chromatic contrast sensitivity data representing multiple color encoding angles; one or more multi-core processors configured for: using the stored chromatic contrast sensitivity data, generating an ellipse around a first color center; and from the ellipse, determining a signal encode direction, the signal encode direction comprising an angle α representing a negative angle between the ‘a*’ axis in an CIELAB space and a direction of minimum sensitivity of an encoded signal, in which the angle α comprises −9 degrees≥α≥−25 degrees. Other technology described.

Systems and methods are described for obfuscating variants of content segments. Variants of content segments can be used to encode an identifying sequence in a transmission of content. The variants of the content segments can each include one or more marked frames and one or more unmarked frames. Variations can be introduced into the unmarked frames for each of the variants of the content segments.

A method for transforming an input array of pixel data into an output array of data, to yield enhanced expression of a digital watermark signal in the output array. One such method includes, for each pixel in the input array, generating a first datum that indicates a value difference between said pixel and a neighboring pixel in a first direction, the first data thereby collectively comprising a first directional difference array. Similarly, for each such pixel in the input array, generating a second datum that indicates a value difference between said pixel and a neighboring pixel in a second direction, the second data thereby collectively comprising a second directional difference array. One or more transforms to a spatial frequency domain are then performed, using these first and second directional difference arrays as input data. First and second results from the one or more transformations are then combined to yield an output array. The just detailed process causes the digital watermark signal in the output array to exhibit a greater signal-to-noise ratio than in the digital watermark signal in the input array. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

A cell phone is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from an external source. A processor is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. The processor also places the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to the receiving facility. An encryptor encrypts the augmented captured information with a symmetrical encryption algorithm to provide encrypted augmented captured information in the transmission with the subscriber information.

A digital watermark analysis apparatus, comprising an image capturing unit for capturing a printed product where additional information is embedded by superimposing a pattern on an image to acquire a captured image, a calculation unit for calculating a spatial frequency characteristic of each small area in the captured image, a specifying unit for specifying an embedded signal strength and an embedding position of the additional information, a decision unit for deciding, based on the embedding position information and the embedded signal strength information, a position in the captured image of a marker detection area for detecting a marker as a reference position for acquiring the additional information, and an acquisition unit for detecting a marker in the marker detection area and acquiring the additional information in the captured image with reference to the detected marker.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for detecting and decoding a visually imperceptible or perceptible watermark. A watermark detection apparatus determines whether the particular image includes a visually imperceptible or perceptible watermark using detector a machine learning model. If the watermark detection apparatus detects a watermark, the particular image is routed to a watermark decoder. If the watermark detection apparatus cannot detect a watermark in the particular image, the particular image is filtered from further processing. The watermark decoder decodes the visually imperceptible or perceptible watermark detected in the particular image. After decoding, an item depicted in the particular image is validated based data extracted from the decoded visually imperceptible or perceptible watermark.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a visually imperceptible or a visually perceptible watermark and outputting a result based on the determination. A watermark decoder receives an input image. The watermark decoder applies a decoder machine learning model to decode a watermarks at different levels of zoom. The water mark decoder determines whether a watermark was decoded to obtain a decoded watermark. The watermark decoder outputs a result based on the determination whether the watermark was decoded through application of the decoder machine learning model to the input image that includes outputting a zoomed output decoded through application of the decoder machine learning model to the input image.

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a signal processing method, and an electronic device enabling improvement of evidence capability of an image.

The imaging device generates image information in a pixel unit, generates additional information to be added to the image information outputted from the pixel unit, and combines the additional information with the image information. The present technology can be applied to an imaging device including an image sensor.

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.

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.