Decorative Panel Marker Embedding with Hidden Color-Shift Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Decorative polymer panels lack a standard method for identifying origin, composition, or manufacturer, leading to environmental and societal challenges in traceability, maintenance, and disposal, with existing steganography techniques failing to provide practical integration and visual quality in decorative designs.
Innovation Solution
A method for embedding markers within decorative patterns using colour models and embedding keys to manipulate colour channels, allowing for secure and efficient data embedding without altering the design's aesthetics, enabling traceability, compliance, and recycling support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional identification methods (labels, tags) are used on decorative panels, then identification functionality is achieved, but the aesthetic appearance and visual quality of the panel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the identification marker with the decorative pattern itself by embedding the marker within the printed design. The marker is integrated into the decorative layer such that it becomes indistinguishable from the surrounding pattern, eliminating the need for separate labels or tags while preserving aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the decorative pattern that simultaneously encodes identification information. The marker is rendered as a copy of the surrounding decorative elements, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the design while still carrying machine-readable identification data.
2Loss of information
If steganography techniques are used to embed hidden information in decorative panels, then identification functionality is improved, but the visual quality and colour accuracy of the panel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by manipulating colour channels selectively in specific regions where the marker is embedded. Instead of applying steganography uniformly across the entire image, the method targets specific colour channels (CMYK) in localized areas to embed marker information while preserving the overall colour accuracy and visual quality of the decorative pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by working in the CMYK colour space and selectively adjusting colour channel values to embed marker information. By modifying specific colour parameters (cyan, magenta, yellow, black channel values) in controlled ways, the method embeds identification data while maintaining visual fidelity and colour accuracy.
3Loss of information
If markers are embedded in the decorative layer using conventional methods, then identification capability is achieved, but the marker becomes invisible after installation and years of use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the decorative layer multi-functional by enabling it to serve both aesthetic purposes and identification purposes simultaneously. The embedded marker provides machine-readable information about origin, composition, and manufacturer, while the layer continues to function as the visible decorative surface. This eliminates the need for separate identification layers that would eventually become invisible.
4Loss of information
If detailed steganography implementation guidance is provided for decorative panels, then data embedding capability is improved, but the complexity of the production process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding the marker during the initial printing stage of decorative panel production. The marker is integrated into the decorative pattern before the panel is installed, using the existing printing infrastructure. This approach avoids the need for separate marker application steps or complex post-production modifications, thereby reducing overall process complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for embedding at least one marker in a decorative design of a panel, comprising the steps of providing at least one panel comprising an upper surface and a bottom surface; providing at least one decorative pattern comprising at least one colour model, said colour model comprising a plurality of colour channels; manipulating at least one combination of pixels in at least one colour channel of the at least one colour model of said decorative pattern according to at least one embedding key to form a manipulated decorative pattern; printing at least part of the manipulated decorative pattern upon at least part of the upper surface of the at least one panel such that at least one marker is embedded within the at least one printed decorative pattern by means of at least one embedding key, wherein the at least one embedding key defines at least one predefined colour shift in at least one colour channel of said at least one colour model.