Embodiments described herein provide a computer-implemented method of creating a digest of a document. The document to be processed and analysed may be a physical document, or it may already be in a digital form. In the case of starting from a physical document, the document is first scanned, so as to obtain an image of the document. The digital document is then processed using an algorithm or function to obtain one or more datasets comprising a plurality of position independent values. Each of the datasets may correspond to a different line of text or field of text within the document. The one or more datasets are then encoded, the encoded data being used to generate a digest associated with the document, and wherein the digest comprises a plurality of short hashes corresponding to each dataset. The generated digest can then be used to print a digital signature on the document, which can be used to later verify the authenticity of the document or a copy thereof.

The method of single-use processing of data saved in a Quick Response (QR) code is the invention that consist in that, after scanning the QR code with a device equipped with a camera and extracting from it the data, the obtained data is analysed in order to check whether the data saved in the QR code have not been used already, and if it have not, the data is used in the IT system (for example mobile application, web application), and after that the data is deactivated, which prevent it from further usage. The invention can be used in loyalty program, because it allows for sending to the participants of the loyalty program cards containing the QR code, which, upon scanning, will grant to the user points in the loyalty program. Apart from that this invention make it also easier and faster to top-up phones.

The disclosure relates to, among other things, systems and methods for augmenting and/or otherwise supplementing content using watermarks. Consistent with embodiments disclosed herein, a user device such as a smartphone may be used to retrieve watermark information encoded in a watermark. The watermark information may comprise content that supplements an associated content item, link and/or location information that may be used to retrieve supplemental content, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the watermark information may comprise cryptographic and/or other access token information used to decrypt and/or otherwise access supplemental content.

The disclosure relates to, among other things, systems and methods for augmenting and/or otherwise supplementing content using watermarks. Consistent with embodiments disclosed herein, a user device such as a smartphone may be used to retrieve watermark information encoded in a watermark. The watermark information may comprise content that supplements an associated content item, link and/or location information that may be used to retrieve supplemental content, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the watermark information may comprise cryptographic and/or other access token information used to decrypt and/or otherwise access supplemental content.

Digital signature authentication systems and methods are disclosed. An example method of authenticating a digital signature extracted from a high resolution image includes comparing an extracted signature from an image to a reference signature. The example method also includes authenticating the extracted signature against the reference signature according to one of a plurality of different authentication protocols.

A method of forming a three-dimensional article includes sequentially forming a plurality of first two-dimensional layers and a second two-dimensional layer. The second two-dimensional layer includes a second outer edge and a second inner area within the boundary defined by the second outer edge. The second inner area includes uniform physical characteristic and a watermark area within the second inner area having a physical characteristic different from that of the second inner area. An article includes a body with an inner area having a physical characteristic. A watermark is within the inner area and has a physical characteristic different from the physical characteristic of the inner area.

A system creates a copy of a document by: receiving an electronic representation a document to be copied onto a substrate; identifying a non-invasive watermark to be printed on the substrate; analyzing the document and the non-invasive watermark to determine whether a threshold amount of the non-invasive watermark can be printed in a white space of the document; and creating a secure copy of the document with the watermark. If the threshold amount of the non-invasive watermark can be printed in the white space, the system will print at least a portion the non-invasive watermark in the white space. Otherwise, the system will modify at least a portion of the non-invasive watermark to comprise an invasive watermark portion, and it will print the invasive watermark portion over a portion of the document's content.

A device and a method that achieve a watermark that can be easily recorded and does not significantly impair the appearance of a printed matter are provided. A watermark recording unit (214) that records watermark dots having a color having a small difference from an area color of an area in which a watermark is recorded, and a watermark recording mode determination unit (213) that determines a color of the watermark dots are included. The watermark recording mode determination unit (213) determines a color of the watermark dots in such a way that a wavelength difference Δλ, which is a difference between a color wavelength of the watermark dots and an area color wavelength of a recording area of the watermark dots, is less than a wavelength resolution of human eye. Moreover, the color of the watermark dots is determined in such a way that the wavelength difference Δλ is equal to or higher than a wavelength resolution of a spectroscopic camera (hyperspectral camera) (141) that captures an image for watermark analysis.

Techniques are disclosed for rendering a watermark on content in a manner as to not obfuscate or otherwise cause visual defects to data elements in the content. An example methodology implementing the techniques includes segmenting a watermark to be rendered on the content into multiple watermark pieces. Then, prior to rendering a particular watermark piece, a check is made to determine whether there is a data element at the location in the content at which the particular watermark piece is to be rendered. If a data element is detected at that location, the particular watermark piece is rendered such that the data element overlays the particular watermark piece to render the watermark as a masked watermark. Otherwise, if no data element is detected at that location, the watermark piece is rendered on the content to be visible. The process is repeated to render the remaining watermark pieces.

A display case is provided. The display case includes a transparent display for viewing an object through the transparent display and a watermarking engine configured to display a watermark on the transparent display.