Methods and systems as described herein provide for retrieving information about a product using a composite tag affixed to the product and that is optically scanned by a scanning device at any point throughout the supply chain of the product. The process includes retrieving an image comprising an optically encoded tag and an irreversible threshold indicator and sensing a characteristic of the irreversible threshold indicator, which indicate a state change of an environment to which the product was exposed. The data encoded in the optically encoded tag is resolved to instructions to query a web service, wherein the web service provides data regarding the product in response to receiving the query and the product data is presented in combination with information for interpreting the state change on the product.

A method of decoding a coherent RGB color barcode captured by a RGB camera includes: displaying a coherent RGB color barcode on the RGB display; capturing an image of the displayed barcode; performing a pilot block RGB color interference cancellation process to estimate a per pixel color interference; applying the per pixel color interference to the image of the displayed coherent RGB color barcode to extract each separate barcode of the coherent RGB color barcode; binarizing each of the three separate monochrome grey images of each barcode of the coherent RGB color barcode; and decoding each of the three separate binarized monochrome grey images to provide a decoded data for each barcode of the coherent RGB color barcode displayed on the RGB display. A method of decoding an incoherent RGB color barcode captured by a mobile device RGB camera is also described.

A system generates a secure barcode and prints the secure barcode on a substrate. The barcode includes a first set of cells of a first color and a second set of cells of the second color. A first vector pattern is encoded onto pixels for first set of cells of the barcode, and a second vector pattern is encoded onto pixels that correspond to the set group of cells of the barcode. The vectors in each pattern will have substantially the same colors, thicknesses and frequencies, but will be out of phase with respect to each other. The system will generate a secure barcode that vectors of each pattern.

Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.

A code includes a first part printed by using a first pigment, and a second part printed by using a second pigment which is easier to discolor than the first pigment, wherein the code is decodable by using information about discoloration of the second pigment.

The information code has an information code area constituted of colored information cells with two or more colors, the information code area having the specific information recorded using the information cells as information units, and a teacher code area having teacher cells with the same colors and the same number of colors as the information cells so as to identify the colors of the information cells. In the information code, the teacher code area is placed away from the information code area or inside the information code area.

A method of integrating a mark in a document. A frame to be printed is selected. At least one color of the selected frame is selected. A color density for each selected color for the selected frame is determined. A digital code is selected for each selected color. After printing, the digital code includes the density of the color. and is integrated into the frame of the corresponding color. The frame including the digital code is printed. Preferably, the digital code is a digital anti-copy mark designed to form, following the printing step, a printed anti-copy mark with an error rate of more than five percent.

Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.

A code includes a first part printed by using a first pigment, and a second part printed by using a second pigment which is easier to discolor than the first pigment, wherein the code is decodable by using information about discoloration of the second pigment.

Techniques for integrating a machine-readable matrix with a component of a mechanical structure using three-dimensional (3-D) printing are disclosed. Such techniques include generating at least one data model representing the component, and projecting a matrix pattern identifying one or more features of the component onto a selected surface portion of the component to produce a modified data model for use as an input to a 3-D printer.