A portable device uses a microphone to listen to ambient audio, ascertains a corresponding identifier, and uses the identifier to enable one or more further functions. One of these can be internet search. Such functionality can also be based on digital datawithout requiring a microphone-equipped device.

Techniques are disclosed to identify a form document in an image using a digital fingerprint of the form document. To do so, the image is evaluated to detect features of the image. For each feature, a pixel is plotted in a second image. The second image is the digital fingerprint of the form. To identify the form corresponding to the digital fingerprint, the digital fingerprint may be compared to digital fingerprints of known forms.

In some embodiments, folding patterns are provided that can be folded to create three-dimensional target objects for use in augmented reality environments. In some embodiments, the folding patterns may include joining means to secure the folded shape and thereby enhance usability and durability. In some embodiments, the folding patterns may also include patterns that can be used to identify a particular virtual object to be rendered in association with the three-dimensional target object.

In an example, a method includes, at least one processor, in response to each of a plurality of requests, determining a halftone screen. Determining the halftone screen comprises encoding a signature pattern in the halftone screen, and halftone screens for different requests may be encoded with a different signature pattern. The halftone screen may be arranged such that, when applied to image data to provide a printed output, the pattern is discernible therein to provide a signature for the printed output.

A job includes pages that have multiple items positioned according to coordinates. A sheet coordinate location identifier for each of the items (that corresponds to the coordinates for the items) is added to the job. The job is printed to produce printed sheets of items (printed items) printed according to the coordinates. A cutting device cuts the printed sheets, according to the coordinates, into individually cut items. Each of the cut items includes the sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, and this identifies the pre-cutting locations of the cut items within the uncut sheets of print media. The cut items are inspected for cutting defects to identify defective items. Pre-cutting locations of the defective items are identified using only the sheet coordinate location identifier printed on the defective items. A repair recommendation for the cutting device is based on the most common pre-cutting location of the defective items.

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.

A method embeds a watermark image into a host image with adaptive rectangular partition and Lower Upper (LU) decomposition such that a watermarked image is generated with improved computational complexity. The method divides a host image into an Red (R) component, a Green (G) component, and a Blue (B) component, and divides each component of the R, G, and B components into a plurality of MM size blocks, and partitions each of the plurality of MM size blocks into a plurality of non-overlapping blocks with adaptive rectangular partition. The method selects a plurality of embedding blocks from the plurality of MM size blocks for each component of the R, G, and B components of the host image to embed watermark information such that the watermarked image is generated.

Techniques are disclosed to identify a form document in an image using a digital fingerprint of the form document. To do so, the image is evaluated to detect features of the image. For each feature, a pixel is plotted in a second image. The second image is the digital fingerprint of the form. To identify the form corresponding to the digital fingerprint, the digital fingerprint may be compared to digital fingerprints of known forms.

In an example, a method includes, at least one processor, in response to each of a plurality of requests, determining a halftone screen. Determining the halftone screen comprises encoding a signature pattern in the halftone screen, and halftone screens for different requests may be encoded with a different signature pattern. The halftone screen may be arranged such that, when applied to image data to provide a printed output, the pattern is discernible therein to provide a signature for the printed output.

A job includes pages that have multiple items positioned according to coordinates. A sheet coordinate location identifier for each of the items (that corresponds to the coordinates for the items) is added to the job. The job is printed to produce printed sheets of items (printed items) printed according to the coordinates. A cutting device cuts the printed sheets, according to the coordinates, into individually cut items. Each of the cut items includes the sheet coordinate location identifier printed thereon, and this identifies the pre-cutting locations of the cut items within the uncut sheets of print media. The cut items are inspected for cutting defects to identify defective items. Pre-cutting locations of the defective items are identified using only the sheet coordinate location identifier printed on the defective items. A repair recommendation for the cutting device is based on the most common pre-cutting location of the defective items.