Digimarc Corporation

Yang Bai

Alastair M Reed

Kristyn R Falkenstern

Tony F Rodriguez

Tomas Filler

Ravi K Sharma

Vojtech Holub

Vahid Sedighianaraki

Geoffrey B Rhoads

Brett Alan Bradley

David M Berfanger

John Douglas Lord

Shankar Thagadur Shivappa

Eric D Evans

Aparna R Gurijala

Daniel T Pinard

Dean H Chadwick

Jackson B Bennett

Ajith Mulki Kamath

Brian T MacIntosh

Scott M Long

Eliot Rogers

Kurt M Eaton

David A Cushman

Bruce L Davis

John F Stach

Rebecca L Gerlach

Aparna Gurijala

Audio signal processing enhances audio watermark embedding and detecting processes. Audio signal processes include audio classification and adapting watermark embedding and detecting based on classification. Advances in audio watermark design include adaptive watermark signal structure data protocols, perceptual models, and insertion methods. Perceptual and robustness evaluation is integrated into audio watermark embedding to optimize audio quality relative the original signal, and to optimize robustness or data capacity. These methods are applied to audio segments in audio embedder and detector configurations to support real time operation. Feature extraction and matching are also used to adapt audio watermark embedding and detecting.

Multi-mode audio recognition and auxiliary data encoding and decoding

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including signal encoding and digital watermarking. Image areas are selected in an encoded digital design, and corresponding areas from a printed version of the encoded digital design are evaluated to determined signal robustness after printing. One claim recites an image processing method for selecting image areas to test for robustness of encoded signals, the method comprising: obtaining digital artwork comprising a plurality of colors, the digital artwork comprising multiple instances of an encoded signal; selecting a set encoding tiles, and for each encoding tile determining encoding detectability measure associated therewith; creating a bin for each encoding technology used to encode the encoded signal; for each bin, removing any encoding tile having a detectability measure below a predetermined threshold; for each bin, prioritizing remaining encoding tiles; selecting an encoding tile based on the prioritization per bin, and spatially locating the selected encoding tile relative to the digital artwork. Other technology is described in this patent document.

Detecting conflicts between multiple different encoded signals within imagery, using only a subset of available image data, and robustness checks

The present disclosure relates generally to image signal processing, including encoding signals for image data or artwork. A color blend/print model is used to predict signal detectability and visibility as is printed on a particular substrate, which facilitates object grading prior to print runs.

Predicting detectability and grading prior to printing

The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Data hiding through optimization of color error and modulation error

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination disclosed in the description includes an image processing method. The method includes: obtaining an image comprising a plurality of color channels; for each color channel of the plurality of color channels, creating a grayscale version of the color channel and creating an inverted greyscale version of the color channel; analyzing the grayscale inverted version and the grayscale non-inverted version to locate image areas including an encoded signal, said analyzing yielding a plurality of image areas; generating one or more detectability measures corresponding to the encoded signal for each of the plurality of image areas; for each color channel selecting only one (1) image area as a validation point based on one or more generated detectability measures for that color channel; and generating information associated with a spatial location of each of the validation points in the image. Of course, other features and combinations are described as well.

Detecting conflicts between multiple different encoded signals within imagery, using only a subset of available image data

The present document provides image processing methods and apparatus. One claim recites: obtaining a signal to be encoded in color image data, the signal comprising a plural-bit payload; predicting a resulting color of overprinting several inks on a substrate, the overprinting representing the color image data encoded with the signal; using the resulting color for both i) visibility evaluation of the overprinting, and ii) signal robustness evaluation of the overprinting as seen by an imaging device. Other claims and combinations are provided.

Using a predicted color for both visibility evaluation and signal robustness evaluation

This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination disclosed in the description includes an apparatus comprising: memory storing an image comprising a plurality of color channels; means for locating image areas including an encoded signal with each color channel of the plurality of color channels, said means for locating identifying a plurality of image areas; means for generating one or more detectability measures corresponding to the encoded signal for each of the plurality of image areas; means for determining whether the encoded signal can be decoded from the plurality of image areas to obtain a plural-bit message component carried therein; means for selecting, per color channel, only one (1) image area as a validation point based on one or more generated detectability measures for that color channel, and based on whether the one (1) image area includes a decodable plural-bit message component; and means for generating information associated with a spatial location of each of the validation points in the image. Of course, other technology, features and combinations are described as well.

Methods employ sensors in portable devices (e.g., smartphones) both to sense content information (e.g., audio and imagery) and context information. Device processing is desirably dependent on both. For example, some embodiments activate certain processor intensive operations (e.g., content recognition) based on classification of sensed content and context. The context can control the location where information produced from such operations is stored, or control an alert signal indicating, e.g., that sensed speech is being transcribed. Some arrangements post sensor data collected by one device to a cloud repository, for access and processing by other devices. Multiple devices can collaborate in collecting and processing data, to exploit advantages each may have (e.g., in location, processing ability, social network resources, etc.). A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Context-based smartphone sensor logic

The disclosure relates to detecting digital watermarking from retail items such as from packaged items, containers, bottles, cans or boxes. One claim recites a method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising: receiving imagery representing a retail item from a digital camera, the retail item including digital watermarking encoded thereon, the retail item moving relative to the digital camera; determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one faster moving object relative to background imagery, said determining yielding a determined region; arranging digital watermark detection blocks over the determined region; and analyzing data representing imagery from within the digital watermark detection blocks to detect the digital watermarking. Of course other claims and combinations are also provided.

Methods and arrangements for identifying objects

The present disclosure relates generally to encoding signals for spot colors. In one implementation a substitute spot color+CMY tint is selected to replace an original spot color. The CMY tint can be transformed to carry an encoded signal. Of course, other features, combinations and technology are described herein.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Yang Bai