Detecting conflicts between multiple different encoded signals within imagery

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining an image comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode associated therewith and the image comprises plural encoded signals encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the plural encoded signals comprising a second plural-bit code;
• first analyzing data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode, said first analyzing yields the first plural-bit code, in which said first analyzing data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode operates on nonadjacent scanline data representing the image, until the first plural-bit code is decoded, then said first analyzing data operates on N adjacent scanlines, N being an integer greater than 2, with the first plural-bit code being yielded only when analysis of the N adjacent scanlines each yields the first plural-bit code;
• for each of the plurality of color separations or channels, second analyzing data representing image data to decode the plural encoded signals, said second analyzing yielding plural instances of the second plural-bit code;
• determining whether the plural instances of the second plural-bit code conflict with the first plural-bit code;
• and
• for each conflict, providing information associated with a spatial location of the conflict relative to the image.

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining an image comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode associated therewith and the image comprises plural encoded signals encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the plural encoded signals comprising a second plural-bit code;
• first analyzing data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode, said first analyzing yields the first plural-bit code;
• segmenting at least a portion of the image into a plurality of blocks or tiles, in which a second analyzing operates on individual blocks or tiles from the plurality of blocks or tiles for each of the plurality of separations or channels;
• for each of the plurality of color separations or channels, and after said act of segmenting, second analyzing data representing image data to decode the plural encoded signals, said second analyzing yielding plural instances of the second plural-bit code;
• determining whether the plural instances of the second plural-bit code conflict with the first plural-bit code;
• and
• for each conflict, providing information associated with a spatial location of the conflict relative to the image.

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining an image comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode associated therewith and the image comprises plural encoded signals encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the plural encoded signals comprising a second plural-bit code, in which the plural encoded signals comprise a synchronization component and a message component;
• first analyzing data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode, said first analyzing yields the first plural-bit code;
• for each of the plurality of color separations or channels, second analyzing data representing image data to decode the plural encoded signals, said second analyzing yielding plural instances of the second plural-bit code;
• determining whether the plural instances of the second plural-bit code conflict with the first plural-bit code;
• for each conflict, providing information associated with a spatial location of the conflict relative to the image;
• transforming data representing the image to yield transformed data;
• analyzing the transformed data to obtain detectability indicators, in which a first detectability indicator corresponds to synchronization component strength, and a second indicator corresponds to message component strength;
• predicting, based on the first detectability indicator and on the second detectability indicator, a likelihood that the transformed data, once printed on a physical substrate, will be detectable from optical scan data representing such printed transformed data on the physical substrate;
• and
• providing information for a conflict map, in which the information represents predicted signal detection of the encoded signals.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• electronic memory for storing an image, the image comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code;
• a barcode module configured for analyzing data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode to obtain the first plural-bit code;
• a decoder module configured for analyzing each of the plurality of color separations or channels to decode the first encoded signal to obtain the second plural-bit code;
• a comparator module configured for comparing the second plural-bit code with the first plural-bit code to determine whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code;
• and
• a results module configured for producing a conflict map, the conflict map comprising an identification of a code conflict, and a spatial location of the code conflict relative to the image.

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• electronic memory for storing an image, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code;
• means for decoding the 1D or 2D barcode from the image to obtain the first plural-bit code;
• means for analyzing data representing the image to obtain the second plural-bit code from the first encoded signal;
• means for determining whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code;
• and
• means for generating a conflict map, the conflict map comprising an identification of a code conflict, and a spatial location of the code conflict relative to the image.

An image processing method comprising:

• obtaining an image, the image comprising a plurality of color separations or channels, in which the image comprises at least a 1D or 2D barcode represented therein and a first encoded signal encoded therein, the 1D or 2D barcode comprising a first plural-bit code and the first encoded signal comprising a second plural-bit code;
• controlling a barcode reader to analyze data representing the image to decode the 1D or 2D barcode to obtain the first plural-bit code;
• controlling a signal decoder to analyze each of the plurality of color separations or channels to decode the first encoded signal to obtain the second plural-bit code;
• comparing the second plural-bit code with the first plural-bit code to determine whether the second plural-bit code conflicts with the first plural-bit code;
• and
• producing a conflict map including one or more spatial images areas comprising a conflict between the first plural-bit code and the second plural-bit code, the conflict map comprising an identification of a code conflict, and a spatial location of the code conflict relative to the image.