In one embodiment, a method including dividing a reference mask into a plurality of reference mask divisions, determining a plurality of motion vectors respectively associated with a plurality of slice divisions, wherein the plurality of reference mask divisions respectively correspond to the plurality of slice divisions, modifying a blurring kernel in accordance with the plurality of motion vectors, yielding a plurality of modified blurring kernels that are respectively associated with the plurality of slice divisions, and performing at least one action to yield an altered reference mask, including for the plurality of reference mask divisions and the plurality of modified blurring kernels: convolving a reference mask division with a weighted function of at least a modified blurring kernel associated with a slice division, of the plurality of slice divisions, to which the reference mask division corresponds.

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including signal encoding. One combination disclosed in the description is an image processing method comprising: accessing a design file to obtain image data, the image data comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image data comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code; operating a barcode reader to analyze the image data to decode the 1D or 2D barcode to obtain the first plural-bit code; operating a signal decoder to analyze one or more combinations of color separations or channels of the plurality of color separations or channels to decode the first encoded signal to obtain the second plural-bit code; determining whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code; and identifying a conflict based on said act of determining. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.

Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for watermark security. An apparatus includes a content module configured to identify data to be presented in a graphical interface. An apparatus includes a watermark module configured to generate a digital watermark to be presented in a graphical interface based on identified data. A digital watermark verifies an authenticity of data to be presented in a graphical interface. An apparatus includes a presentation module configured to embed a digital watermark into a graphical interface prior to data being presented in the graphical interface such that the digital watermark is graphically indistinguishable to a user in the graphical interface.

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination includes an image processing method comprising: obtaining data representing a digital image; using one or more processors, embedding an information signal within the data representing a digital image, the information signal comprising a synchronization component and a message component, said embedding yielding altered data; transforming the altered data to estimate a print and optical capture process, said transforming yielding transformed, altered data; for each of a plurality of regions within the transformed, altered data, generating detectability measures, in which a first detectability measure comprises a measure corresponding to synchronization component strength within region of the transformed, altered data, and in which a second measure comprises a measure corresponding to message component strength within the region of the transformed, altered data; based on a combination of the detectability measures from each of the plurality of regions, determining a likelihood that the altered data, once printed on a physical substrate, will be detectable from optical scan data representing such. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.

The technology relates to advanced image signal processing. One claim recites an image processing apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing a digital image; one or more processors configured for transforming the data by embedding a digital watermark therein, the digital watermark comprising a synchronization component and a message component; one or more processors configured for: attacking the transformed data to yield altered, transformed data; analyzing the altered, transformed data to obtain detectability measures therefrom, a first detectability measure comprising a measure corresponding to the synchronization component strength, and a second measure comprising a measure corresponding to the message component strength; based on a combination of the first detectability measure and the second detectability measure, predictingalong one or more swipe pathsa likelihood that the transformed data, once printed on a physical substrate, will be detectable from optical scan data representing such. Other claims and combinations are provided.

In one embodiment, a method including dividing a reference mask into a plurality of reference mask divisions, determining a plurality of motion vectors respectively associated with a plurality of slice divisions, wherein the plurality of reference mask divisions respectively correspond to the plurality of slice divisions, modifying a blurring kernel in accordance with the plurality of motion vectors, yielding a plurality of modified blurring kernels that are respectively associated with the plurality of slice divisions, and performing at least one action to yield an altered reference mask, including for the plurality of reference mask divisions and the plurality of modified blurring kernels: convolving a reference mask division with a weighted function of at least a modified blurring kernel associated with a slice division, of the plurality of slice divisions, to which the reference mask division corresponds.

An image processing method includes: a first obtaining step of obtaining data of an image; a second obtaining step of obtaining additional information; a third obtaining step of obtaining information related to a printable area of a print medium on which the image based on the data obtained in the first obtaining step is printed; determining step of determining a position where the obtained additional information is embedded in the image on the basis of the information obtained in the third obtaining step; and embedding step of embedding the additional information with reference to the determined position.

One aspect of the present invention discloses a watermark embedding method. The method includes: inputting an original bitstream; determining a first frame for embedding a watermark in the input original bitstream; selecting one of frames after the first frame as a second frame; generating the first frame a bidirectional-coded frame (B frame) referring to the second frame; generating the second frame as a reference frame of the first frame; and embedding the watermark in the first frame generated as the B frame.

One aspect of the present invention discloses a watermark embedding method. The method includes: inputting an original bitstream; determining a first frame for embedding a watermark in the input original bitstream; selecting one of frames after the first frame as a second frame; generating the first frame a bidirectional-coded frame (B frame) referring to the second frame; generating the second frame as a reference frame of the first frame; and embedding the watermark in the first frame generated as the B frame.

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including signal encoding. One combination disclosed in the description is an image processing method comprising: accessing a design file to obtain image data, the image data comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image data comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code; operating a barcode reader to analyze the image data to decode the 1D or 2D barcode to obtain the first plural-bit code; operating a signal decoder to analyze one or more combinations of color separations or channels of the plurality of color separations or channels to decode the first encoded signal to obtain the second plural-bit code; determining whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code; and identifying a conflict based on said act of determining. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.