Detection of encoded signals and icons

• US 10,803,272 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2018
• Issued: 10/13/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Deshmukh, Utkarsh, Filler, Tomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Moyer, Andrew M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosario, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US15/967,390
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to signal decoding and icon (e.g., a logo, shape, icon, etc.) detection. One aspect includes a method comprising: obtaining an image frame depicting a physical object, the physical object comprising an graphical icon printed thereon, the graphical icon comprising first signal encoding, the physical object comprising second signal encoding that does not overlap the first signal encoding, in which the first signal encoding comprises a first identifier and the second signal encoding comprising a second identifier, in which the first identifier comprises a different identifier relative to the second identifier; analyzing image data associated with the image frame to detect presence of the graphical icon, in which said analyzing determines orientation information associated with the graphical icon; providing the orientation information to an encoded signal detector, the encoded signal detector utilizing the orientation information as a geometric reference to detect the first signal encoding to obtain the first identifier; and using the first identifier, initiating a response for display on a display screen. Other aspects, combinations and implementations are described as well.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining an image frame depicting a physical object, the physical object comprising an graphical icon printed thereon, the graphical icon comprising first signal encoding, the physical object comprising second signal encoding that does not overlap the first signal encoding, in which the first signal encoding comprises a first identifier and the second signal encoding comprising a second identifier, in which the first identifier comprises a different identifier relative to the second identifier;

analyzing image data associated with the image frame detecting a candidate which may represent the graphical icon, in which said analyzing determines orientation information associated with the candidate;

providing the orientation information to an encoded signal detector, the encoded signal detector utilizing the orientation information as a geometric reference to detect the first signal encoding to obtain the first identifier, in which detection of the first signal encoding is not dependent upon the detecting of the candidate as confirmation of presence of the graphical icon; and

using the detected first identifier, initiating a response for display on a display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the second signal encoding comprises an orientation signal component, while the first signal encoding does not comprise the orientation signal component or any orientation signal component.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector to help determine an affine transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector as initial transform parameters to help determine a transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the orientation information is provided to the encoded signal detector prior to confirmation of presence or not of the graphical icon.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the second identifier comprises a GTIN, while the first identifier does not comprise the GTIN or any GTIN.

7. The method of claim 4 in which a search space of the encoded signal detector is constrained by the initial transform parameters, the constrained search space of the encoded signal detector comprising an affine transform space.

8. A portable apparatus comprising:

a display screen;

a camera for capturing an image frame depicting a physical object, the physical object comprising an graphical icon printed thereon, the graphical icon comprising first signal encoding, the physical object comprising second signal encoding that does not overlap the first signal encoding, in which the first signal encoding comprises a first identifier and the second signal encoding comprising a second identifier, in which the first identifier comprises a different identifier relative to the second identifier; and

one or more electronic processors configured for;

detecting a candidate which may represent the graphical icon within image data associated with the image frame to obtain orientation information associated with the candidate;

operating an encoded signal detector, the encoded signal detector utilizing the orientation information as a geometric reference to detect the first signal encoding to obtain the first identifier, in which detection of the first signal encoding is not dependent upon the detecting the candidate as confirmation of presence of the graphical icon; and

controlling display of a response on said display screen, the response being associated with the detection of the first identifier.

9. The portable apparatus of claim 8 in which the second signal encoding comprises an orientation signal component, while the first signal encoding does not comprise the orientation signal component or any orientation signal component.

10. The portable apparatus of claim 8 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector to help determine an affine transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

11. The portable apparatus of claim 8 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector as initial transform parameters to help determine a transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

12. The portable apparatus of claim 8 in which the orientation information is provided to the encoded signal detector prior to confirmation of presence or not of the graphical icon.

13. The portable apparatus of claim 8 in which the second identifier comprises a GTIN, while the first identifier does not comprise the GTIN or any GTIN.

14. The portable apparatus of claim 11 in which a search space of the encoded signal detector is constrained by the initial transform parameters, the constrained search space of the encoded signal detector comprising an affine transform space.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions store thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processor to perform:

obtaining an image frame depicting a physical object, the physical object comprising an graphical icon printed thereon, the graphical icon comprising first signal encoding, the physical object comprising second signal encoding that does not overlap the first signal encoding, in which the first signal encoding comprises a first identifier and the second signal encoding comprising a second identifier, in which the first identifier comprises a different identifier relative to the second identifier;

analyzing image data associated with the image frame detecting a candidate which may represent the graphical icon, in which said analyzing determines orientation information associated with the candidate;

providing the orientation information to an encoded signal detector, the encoded signal detector utilizing the orientation information as a geometric reference to detect the first signal encoding to obtain the first identifier, in which detection of the first signal encoding is not dependent upon the detecting of the candidate as confirmation of presence of the graphical icon; and

using the detection of the first identifier, initiating a response for display on a display screen.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the second signal encoding comprises an orientation signal component, while the first signal encoding does not comprise the orientation signal component or any orientation signal component.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector to help determine an affine transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the orientation information is utilized by the encoded signal detector as initial transform parameters to help determine a transformation associated with the first encoded signal.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 in which a search space of the encoded signal detector is constrained by the initial transform parameters, the constrained search space of the encoded signal detector comprising an affine transform space.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the orientation information is provided to the encoded signal detector prior to confirmation of presence or not of the graphical icon.