Methods and apparatus to identify additively manufactured parts are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a body, formed of layers layered substantially parallel to a base layer, composed of a first material having a first density, a first indicium embedded internally in the body as a void, and a second indicium on an external surface of the body, the second indicium aligning with the first indicium.

The present disclosure relates generally to the processing of machine-readable visual encodings in view of contextual information. One embodiment of aspects of the present disclosure comprises obtaining image data descriptive of a scene that includes a machine-readable visual encoding; processing the image data with a first recognition system configured to recognize the machine-readable visual encoding; processing the image data with a second, different recognition system configured to recognize a surrounding portion of the scene that surrounds the machine-readable visual encoding; identifying a stored reference associated with the machine-readable visual encoding based at least in part on one or more first outputs generated by the first recognition system based on the image data and based at least in part on one or more second outputs generated by the second recognition system based on the image data; and performing one or more actions responsive to identification of the stored reference.

A value is exchanged between accounts held by users of two portable electronic devices. The devices synchronize disappearance of the image at the sending device and appearance of the image at the receiving device to give the impression that a physical object representative of the value has been exchanged (e.g., handed) between the users.

Education curricula materials include encoded indicia such as a QR code that contains information related to identifying requested augmented reality image data from a server over a network. By scanning the QR code, a computer uses its decoding software to create a data set for transmitting to the server. The data set may include an identifier for selected augmented reality image data associated with the user's curriculum, information about the curriculum at issue, the academic level of the user, and any other data necessary to ensure that the most appropriate augmented reality image data is transmitted back to the computer. The server transmits comprehensive augmented reality image data back to the computer for viewing on a computerized display accessible by a student. Part of the content may include an interactive pedagogical agent that helps the student with a part of the instruction related to a portion of the curriculum.

Artwork carrying machine readable data is generated by editing artwork according to a data signal or transforming the data signal into artwork. The machine-readable data signal is generated from a digital payload and converted into an image tile. Artwork is edited according to the image tile by moving graphic elements, adapting intersections of lines, or altering line density, among other techniques. Artwork is generated from the data signal by skeletonizing it and applying morphological operators to a skeletal representation, such as a medial axis transform. Artistic effects are introduced by filtering the data signal with directional blurring or shape filters.

Disclosed herein are methods of using an augmented reality trigger to locate and/or read a Data Code in an image. A method according to this disclosure may include the step of using an augmented reality trigger in an image to initiate an augmented reality experience, locating portions of Data Code arrange in a plurality of locations within the image, and combining each of the Data Code portions for processing as a unified Data Code. The augmented reality trigger may be stored in a data set including location information to locate each of the Data Code portions. The data set may include information to combine the plurality of Data Code portions.

There is provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a machine-readable image having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the machine-readable image adapted to be detected by a reader for decoding said encoded data, including: the graphic associated with an image descriptor calculated based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image; a plurality of function patterns; and a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to at least said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic.

Access is provided to a variable data printing app and a code detection app on a computer server. The variable data printing app is adapted to add machine-readable code to printable items and create a decoder app capable of decoding the machine-readable code. The code detection app is adapted to receive user identification information and transmit the user identification information to designer devices. The printable items are printed as printed products. The designer devices validate a user device based on the validity of the user identification information. In response, the variable data printing app is adapted to transmit the decoder app to validated user devices. The code detection app, operating on the user device, is adapted to decode the machine-readable code in user-acquired images into an optional secure link with the designer devices.

Systems and methods for custom functional patterns for optical barcodes are provided. In example embodiments, image data of an image is received from a user device. A candidate shape feature of the image is extracted from the image data. A determination is made that the shape feature satisfies a shape feature rule. In response to the candidate shape feature satisfying the shape feature rule, a custom graphic in the image is identified by comparing the candidate shape feature with a reference shape feature of the custom graphic. In response to identifying the custom graphic, data encoded in a portion of the image is decoded.

Systems and methods for encoding information in a graphic information unit. The methods comprise: determining an outer contour of the graphic information unit; and encoding information with an at least two-dimensional code in at least one area located solely within the outer contour. The encoding is applied to image elements of the graphic information unit.