Methods and systems for tracking image senders using client devices are described herein. A computing system may receive an image containing a first watermark vector corresponding to a user account of an image sender. The computing system may convert the image to a frequency domain image that contains the first watermark vector. From the frequency domain image, the computing system may identify the first watermark vector. The computing system may compare the first watermark vector to each of a plurality of stored watermark vectors, each corresponding to a known user account, to determine a probability of a match. The computing system may determine the user account of the sender of the image by determining which of the plurality of stored watermark vectors has a highest probability of a match, and may send, to a workplace administrator platform, an indication of the user account.

An optical code reader classifies a code depicted in input imagery, so that appropriate decoding actions can be invoked. This classification may identify, e.g., (a) whether the code is of a continuous tone or sparse mark variety, (b) which one of different reference signals it includes, and (c) which one of different protocols is used in expressing reference and payload signal components of the code. A great variety of other features and technologies are detailed as well.

This disclosure relates to counterfeit detection and deterrence using advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. Digital watermark can be used on consumer products, labels, logos, hang tags, stickers and other objects to provide counterfeit detection mechanisms.

Data are encoded into one or more optically encoded images. The optically encoded images are then inserted as image data into a video sequence—i.e., in video frames. Data are transmitted in-band within the video, via any conceivable video distribution channel or format. The video may be trans-coded as required—because the data are optically encoded, any video processing that even crudely preserves the frame images will preserve the optically encoded data. This scheme of in-band data transfer in video is very robust. A video receiving apparatus receives the video, inspects the image data from video frames in memory, detects optically encoded images in the image data, and decodes the optically encoded images to recover the data. The frames carrying optically encoded images are typically discarded and not rendered to a display. The data from a plurality of optically encoded images may be concatenated, and further processed.

A digital watermark analysis apparatus, comprising an image capturing unit for capturing a printed product where additional information is embedded by superimposing a pattern on an image to acquire a captured image, a calculation unit for calculating a spatial frequency characteristic of each small area in the captured image, a specifying unit for specifying an embedded signal strength and an embedding position of the additional information, a decision unit for deciding, based on the embedding position information and the embedded signal strength information, a position in the captured image of a marker detection area for detecting a marker as a reference position for acquiring the additional information, and an acquisition unit for detecting a marker in the marker detection area and acquiring the additional information in the captured image with reference to the detected marker.

A computer-implemented method that provides watermark-based image reconstruction to compensate for lossy encoding schemes. The method can generate a difference image describing the data loss associated with encoding an image using a lossy encoding scheme. The difference image can be encoded as a message and embedded in the encoded image using a watermark and later extracted from the encoded image. The difference image can be added to the encoded image to reconstruct the original image. As an example, an input image encoded using a lossy JPEG compression scheme can be embedded with the lost data and later reconstructed, using the embedded data, to a fidelity level that is identical or substantially similar to the original.

Data is encoded into one or more optically encoded images. The optically encoded images are then inserted as image data into a video sequence - i.e., in video frames. Data are transmitted in-band within the video, via any conceivable video distribution channel or format. The video may be trans-coded as required - because the data are optically encoded, any video processing that even crudely preserves the frame images will preserve the optically encoded data. This scheme of in-band data transfer in video is very robust. A video receiving apparatus receives the video, inspects the image data from video frames in memory, detects optically encoded images in the image data, and decodes the optically encoded images to recover the data. The frames carrying optically encoded images are typically discarded and not rendered to a display. The receiver controls connected equipment, other than a display (e.g., a musical instrument), based on the extracted data.

A method for watermarking a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The watermarking method comprises computing shape descriptor of a local neighborhood of a current vertex among the plurality of vertices of the three-dimensional object; obtaining a target shape descriptor from the shape descriptor using a quantization grid associated with a watermark payload; and modifying said local neighborhood wherein a position of at least one vertex of said local neighborhood is modified such that a shape descriptor of said modified local neighborhood is close to said target shape descriptor and wherein said current vertex is not modified. A method for obtaining payload from a three-dimensional object, a 3D object carrying a watermark and devices implementing the disclosed methods are further disclosed.

A method, computer system, and a computer program product for image capture prevention is provided. The present invention may include, in response to embedding at least one digital security mark in a visual communication, securing the visual communication. The present invention may also include preventing, based on the embedded at least one digital security mark, an image capture of the secured visual communication.

Methods, devices, and computer-program products are provided for adding and decoding data to a digital video signal in a visually imperceptible manner. For example, an encoded video frame can be obtained, and one or more blocks of the encoded video frame can be decoded. Binary data can be added to a subset of pixels from a set of pixels of the one or more blocks. For instance, a pixel component can be modulated to add the binary data. The one or more blocks can be re-encoded using at least one coding mode. The re-encoded one or more blocks can be added to the encoded video frame.