The described device allows a user to set preference and receive the preferences by simply allowing a payment device to communicate with a preference reader.

In an illustrative system, a point-of-sale scanner is equipped to respond to multiple different symbologies printed on a single product. The scanner captures many frames per second, as products are swiped through a viewing volume. Each frame is decoded, yielding one or more payloads. A reconciliation module compares each newly-decoded payload against a list of payloads previously output by the module, to determine if the current payload is semantically-equivalent to a previously-output payload. If so, the previously-output payload is output again, in lieu of the just-decoded payload. If no equivalent is found, the current payload is output and added to the list for comparison against future payloads. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

A hologram detection method according to an aspect of the disclosure, includes: inputting a first image, obtained by capturing a detection object on the basis of first flash intensity, to a neural network model to obtain a first detection result value representing the detection or not of a hologram for each of predetermined at least one detection unit regions; and comparing a threshold value with the first detection result value obtained for each detection unit region to determine the detection or not of a hologram in the first image and a first detection unit region where a hologram is detected.

The invention is a system allowing an individual user to display a readable unique QR code, which code can be read by the mobile devices of customers, whose devices will thereby be connected to an online user profile.

An electronic device including a processor and a display device is disclosed. The processor is configured to receive data and to generate at least one code according to an angular display algorithm. The at least one code includes an angular profile of the data. The display device is coupled to the processor and configured to receive the at least one code from the processor and to display the at least one code according to the angular profile. The angular profile includes a plurality of light intensities corresponding to a plurality of viewing angles. A number of the at least one code is adjusted according to a security of the data, and when the number of the at least one code increases, the number of the plurality of viewing angles to display the at least one code increases.

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.

A hologram detection method according to an aspect of the disclosure, includes: inputting a first image, obtained by capturing a detection object on the basis of first flash intensity, to a neural network model to obtain a first detection result value representing the detection or not of a hologram for each of predetermined at least one detection unit regions; and comparing a threshold value with the first detection result value obtained for each detection unit region to determine the detection or not of a hologram in the first image and a first detection unit region where a hologram is detected.

Sheet-like product and method for authenticating a security tag including a section of the sheet-like product. The sheet-like product includes at least one security feature having optical properties that change with the viewing angle and, and at least one marker, wherein each marker is uniquely attributable to a position on the sheet-like product. The position of the at least one security feature on the sheet-like product is predetermined relative to the position of the at least one marker on the sheet-like product.

A collation device includes a light source unit; a camera unit that receives light emitted from the light source unit and reflected in a collation area of an object to acquire a photographed image of the collation area; and a processor configured to, by executing a program: detect a positional relationship between the light source unit and the camera unit by using the photographed image, and notify of a collation result between the photographed image and a registered image prepared in advance by using the positional relationship.

A method for authenticating an object, particularly a security element for protecting value documents, ID documents and products, as well as a security element, a security document, a reader, an individualization device and a server for such a method. The method involves the steps: dividing a first code element into at least one first partial code element and one second partial code element, storing the second partial code element, arranging the first partial code element and/or a second code element on and/or in the object, jointly machine-capturing the first partial code element and the second code element by means of a reader, extracting the first partial code element and the second code element from the data captured by the reader, accessing the stored second partial code element using the second code element as a key, checking whether the code element resulting from merging the extracted first partial code element and the stored second partial code element corresponds to the first code element.