Sparse modulation for robust signaling and synchronization
AssigneeDigimarc Corporation
InventorsVojtech Holub, Donald Haaga, Ravi K. Sharma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Sparse signal modulation schemes encode a data channel on a substrate in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. The substrate is printed by any of a variety of means to apply the image, with sparse signal, to an object. After image capture of the object, a decoder processes the captured image to detect and extract data modulated into the sparse signal. The sparse signal may incorporate implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.
Claims28
An image processing method for updating a design file for a retail product package or for a product label, said image processing method comprising:
- obtaining a design file comprising a first area and a second area, the first area comprising area that is devoid of image or color variability, the second area comprising text;
- using one or more multi-core processors, generating a sparse pattern of elements at spatial coordinates within the first area, the sparse pattern of elements conveying a machine-readable variable data signal, the sparse pattern of elements comprising a plurality of binary one and binary zero elements, which correspond to ink elements and no-ink elements of the sparse pattern of elements;
- selecting an ink color to use for the ink elements through a perceptual analysis that minimizes a visual difference between the ink color and the first area, in which said selecting yields a selected ink color;
- and
- providing the sparse pattern of elements and the selected ink color to update the design file.
A retail product package or product label comprising a design printed thereon, the design comprising a first area and a second area, the first area comprising area that is devoid of image or color variability, the second area comprising text, in which the design comprises a sparse pattern of elements at coordinates within the first area, the sparse pattern of elements conveying a machine-readable variable data signal, the sparse pattern of elements comprising a plurality of binary one and binary zero elements, which correspond to ink elements and no-ink elements of the sparse pattern of elements;
- the ink elements conveyed with an ink color selected through a perceptual analysis that minimizes a visual difference between the ink color and the first area.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more multi-core processors, cause the one or more multi-core processors to perform the following:
- obtaining a design file for a retail product package or for a product label, the design file comprising a first area and a second area, the first area comprising area that is devoid of image or color variability, the second area comprising text;
- generating a sparse pattern of elements at spatial coordinates within the first area, the sparse pattern of elements conveying a machine-readable variable data signal, the sparse pattern of elements comprising a plurality of binary one and binary zero elements, which correspond to ink elements and no-ink elements of the sparse pattern of elements;
- selecting an ink color to use for the ink elements through a perceptual analysis that minimizes a visual difference between the ink color and the first area, in which said selecting yields a selected ink color;
- and
- providing the sparse pattern of elements and the selected ink color to update the design file.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.