METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS

• US 20160110839A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Bai, Yang, Evans, Eric D., Filler, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,078,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/005 Robust watermarking, e.g. average attack or collusion attack resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0051 Embedding of the watermark in the spatial domain
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2201/0065 Extraction of an embedded watermark; Reliable detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/10 Segmentation; Edge detection motion-based segmentation G06T7/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 involving foreground-background segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/25 Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI]

Abstract

In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery of such packaging is analyzed to detect digital watermarking. One claim recites a method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising: receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera; determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one relatively faster moving object; arranging watermark detection blocks over the determine region; an detecting the digital watermarking from the watermark detection blocks. Of course other claims and combinations are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving imagery representing a retail packaged item from a digital camera, the retail packaged item including digital watermarking hidden therein;

using one or more programmed electronic processors, analyzing the imagery to detect the digital watermarking;

generating a graphic overlay including information obtained from the detected digital watermarking, the graphic overlay including a barcode or overt 2D symbology;

integrating the graphic overlay onto the received imagery to yield modified imagery;

communicating the modified imagery to a barcode reader or overt 2D symbology reader.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the one or more programmed electronic processors are housed within a retail checkout station, and in which the received imagery corresponds to a packaged item moving along a checkout conveyor belt.

3. A method comprising:

receiving imagery representing two packaged items from a digital camera, each of the packaged items including digital watermarking hidden in packaging on the items;

using one or more programmed electronic processors, analyzing the imagery to detect the digital watermarking;

accessing a spatial template associated with the digital watermarking when two or more watermarks are detected in a signal image frame;

comparing spatial areas containing watermarks to the spatial template;

carrying out an action based on said comparing.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the action comprises determining that the imagery includes two packaged items.

5. The method claim 4 in which the action further includes charging a customer for the two packaged items.

6. The meth of claim 4 in which the action further includes signaling that two items are presented for checkout.

7. A method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising:

receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera;

determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one relatively faster moving object;

arranging watermark detection blocks over the determined region; and

analyzing data representing imagery from within the watermark detection blocks to detect the digital watermarking.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the watermark detection blocks comprise a predetermined number of blocks, and in which said analyzing only analyzes imagery from within blocks that are within the determined region.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the watermark detection blocks comprise a predetermined number of blocks, and in which said analyzing only analyzes imagery from within blocks that overlap the determined region by a predetermined amount.

10. A method of checking out groceries comprising:

projecting or illuminating a conveyor belt moving packaged grocery items, the projection or illumination comprises a digital watermark orientation component;

capturing imagery of the projected or illumination grocery items with a digital camera;

using one or more programmed electronic processors, analyzing the captured imagery to discern the projected or illuminated watermark orientation component; and

making a determining regarding a relative depth or orientation of packaged grocery items that are depicted in the captured imagery based on at least said analyzing.

11. A method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising:

obtaining training information associated with a cashier, the training information being associated with checkout characteristics of the cashier;

receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera;

adjusting a digital watermark detector based on the training information; and

detecting the digital watermarking with the adjusted digital watermark detector.

12. The method of claim 11 in which said adjusting adjusts a placement of watermark detection blocks relative to the imagery.

13. The method of claim 11 in which said adjusting adjusts a prioritization for detection from watermark detection blocks.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the training information comprises relative pose information.

15. The method of claim 14 in which said adjusting comprises using the pose information as an input to a pose homography.

16. The method of claim 11 in which the training information comprises package movement information.