This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes: an input circuitry, a display, a camera, a communication circuitry, a processor operatively connected to the input circuitry, the display, the camera, and the communication circuitry, and a memory operatively connected to the processor. The processor implements the method, including display, on the display, one or more images depicting characters selectable as avatars, detect via the input circuitry a selection of a character as an avatar, set the selected character as the avatar, replacing an object included in an image captured by the camera, and display, on the display, one or more icons representing one or more packages including a first package associated with the selected character, based on identification information for the selected character.

A printing system receives a print request containing patterns of marks to be printed on print media to produce printed output. A processor evaluates the print request to identify different printing densities of the patterns of marks. The processor alters the patterns of marks to create hidden features on the printed output by adding different printing densities of fluorescent spots to different areas of the patterns of marks. The different printing densities of the fluorescent spots are based on the different printing densities of the patterns of marks and on the size of the hidden features. A printing device prints the print request on the print media to produce the printed output.

An image processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to compose background information with latent image information to generate a latent-image-embedded image, add the latent-image-embedded image to print data, and at least one of extract the latent image information from the print data and extract the background information from the print data.

An image processing method for reading additional information from image data obtained by an imaging device capturing an image of a printed product with the additional information embedded therein as an electronic watermark includes acquiring, a plurality of times, distance information about a distance between the imaging device and the printed product, and causing a display to display a predetermined object in such a manner that a display form of the predetermined object changes according to the acquired distance information.

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.

This disclosure relates to advanced image signal processing technology including encoded signals and digital watermarking. One claim recites a printed object comprising a machine-readable signal therein, the printed object comprising: a substrate; a first color printed on a substrate, the first color printed on the substrate so as to include holes without the first color, the holes arranged corresponding to the 2-d spatial pattern representing the machine-readable signal; a second color printed in the holes, in which the first color and the second color comprise a spectral reflectance difference at or around 660nm in the range of 8%-60%, in which the second color is printed in the holes with a trap of 1-4 pixels, and in which the machine-readable signal is detectable from image data captured with red-light illumination, the red-light illumination comprising a peak illumination at or around 660nm, in which the trap comprises a spread trap, in which the second color overlaps the first color. The technology may be applied to retail packages and other printed objects, e.g., such as hang tags, labels and receipts.

This invention falls within the scope of steganography, i.e., encoding of information (such as a text) into other information, for example, an image. It is the object of this invention a computational method for generating at least one image with coded information comprising the steps of: i) associating an information to be coded to a plurality of graphic elements, each of the graphic elements consisting of a symbol out of a plurality of symbols, thus generating a pattern of graphic elements and ii) generating at least one image comprising at least one pattern obtained from step i). This method introduces a consistent and highly flexible way of encoding information into an image. Additionally, this invention has also as object a system associated to the said method, images obtained from the said method, as well as a reading method and system thereof.

An electronic device and method are disclosed. The electronic device includes: an input circuitry, a display, a camera, a communication circuitry, a processor operatively connected to the input circuitry, the display, the camera, and the communication circuitry, and a memory operatively connected to the processor. The processor implements the method, including display, on the display, one or more images depicting characters selectable as avatars, detect via the input circuitry a selection of a character as an avatar, set the selected character as the avatar, replacing an object included in an image captured by the camera, and display, on the display, one or more icons representing one or more packages including a first package associated with the selected character, based on identification information for the selected character.

An information bearing device comprising a data bearing pattern, the data bearing pattern comprising MN pattern defining elements which are arranged to define a set of characteristic spatial distribution properties (.sub.u,v.sup.M,N(x,y)), wherein the set of data comprises a plurality of discrete data and each said discrete data (u.sub.i,v.sub.i) has an associated data bearing pattern which is characteristic of said discrete data, and the set of characteristic spatial distribution properties is due to the associated data bearing patterns of said plurality of discrete data, wherein said discrete data and the associated data bearing pattern of said discrete data is related by a characteristic relation function (.sub.k.sub.1.sub.,k.sub.2.sup.u.sup.i.sup.,v.sup.i(x,y), the characteristic relation function defining spatial distribution properties of said associated data bearing pattern according to said discrete data (u.sub.i,v.sub.i) and a characteristic parameter (k) that is independent of said discrete data.