SIMD-Based Digital Watermark Decoding for Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for decoding indicia and digital watermarks in images are processing-intensive and require additional specialized circuitry, which increases complexity, cost, and power consumption, and lack flexibility in handling multiple or varying combinations of watermarks.

Innovation Solution

A decoding device and system that utilize a processor with a single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) component to analyze and decode indicia and digital watermarks within captured images without external specialized circuitry, performing transforms and rectifications to identify and decode watermarks efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If additional specialized circuitry (ASIC or FPGA) is paired with a processor to offload processing operations, then processing efficiency for identifying indicia and digital watermarks is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces specialized hardware circuitry (ASIC/FPGA) with software-based processing using SIMD instructions on a general-purpose processor. This substitution maintains processing efficiency through parallel computation while avoiding the complexity and cost of dedicated hardware components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes a general-purpose processor perform multiple functions including indicia identification, digital watermark detection, and decoding through software implementation. This eliminates the need for separate specialized circuitry while maintaining the ability to handle various processing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If additional specialized circuitry is paired with a processor to offload processing operations, then processing efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces power-hungry specialized hardware circuitry with software-based SIMD processing on a standard processor, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining processing efficiency for watermark detection and decoding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If additional specialized circuitry is used for decoding, then processing efficiency is improved, but flexibility to handle varying combinations of indicia and digital watermarks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic, software-based processing that can adapt to different combinations of indicia and digital watermarks through configurable algorithms. This provides both efficiency through SIMD parallel processing and flexibility through software reconfigurability, unlike fixed hardware circuitry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal processing system that can handle multiple types of indicia and digital watermarks through a single processor running different software algorithms, eliminating the need for multiple specialized hardware circuits and providing full flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If specialized circuitry is added to handle multiple indicia and digital watermarks, then processing capability is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive specialized hardware circuitry with software-based processing on standard processors, dramatically reducing device manufacturing cost while maintaining the capability to handle multiple indicia and digital watermarks through flexible algorithm implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10078774B1SIMD-based system for multiple decode of captured images

Publication Date: 2018.09.18 DATALOGIC IP TECH

AI summary

A decoding device may include a processor that may include a core component configured to: analyze watermark metadata to identify a watermark ROI from among multiple candidate ROIs in response to generation of the watermark metadata, determine whether rectification is to be performed within the watermark ROI, perform watermark decoding with the rectified watermark ROI data to decode data encoded within a digital watermark within the rectified watermark ROI in response to performance of the rectification, and transmit the data to a server via a network in response to successful decode of the data. The processor may also include a SIMD component configured to perform at least one of: a watermark transform with the captured image to generate the watermark metadata, and the rectification within the watermark ROI to generate the rectified watermark ROI data in response to the determination by the core component to perform the rectification.