Digital Watermarking Multiplexing in Printing and Non-Printing Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital watermarking techniques face challenges in effectively multiplexing additional information in both printing and non-printing areas, as methods like changing the U component in the YUV color space are unsuitable for non-printing areas due to significant changes in Y and V components.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus that determines printing and non-printing areas and executes specific multiplexing processing by changing the U component in the YUV color space for printing areas and the Y component in the CMYK color space for non-printing areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiplexing processing is performed by changing the U component in the YUV color space, then additional information can be embedded in printing areas, but this method is unsuitable for non-printing areas as it causes significant changes in Y and V components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiplexing reliabilityVSAvoidarea adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different multiplexing methods to different areas of the image: for printing areas, it changes the U component in YUV color space, while for non-printing areas, it changes the Y component in CMYK color space. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making the multiplexing method adaptable to specific area characteristics, ensuring reliable embedding without causing unwanted visual changes in different regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter being modified based on the area type: using U component modulation for printing areas and Y component modulation for non-printing areas. This parameter switching allows the system to maintain multiplexing reliability across different area types while avoiding the harmful effect of significant visual changes in non-printing areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a single multiplexing method is used for both printing and non-printing areas, then the process is simple, but the method may cause visual discrimination or be unsuitable for certain areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidmultiplexing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic selection of multiplexing methods based on area type. The system automatically determines whether a region is a printing or non-printing area and dynamically switches between different multiplexing approaches (U component change in YUV for printing, Y component change in CMYK for non-printing). This dynamic adaptation maintains processing efficiency while ensuring multiplexing effectiveness across diverse areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If additional information is embedded in non-printing areas using U component change in YUV color space, then information can be stored, but Y and V components change significantly causing visual discrimination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation storageVSAvoidvisual discrimination

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a specialized multiplexing approach for non-printing areas that changes only the Y component in CMYK color space while keeping C, M, and K components constant. This local optimization ensures that additional information can be embedded in non-printing areas without causing significant visual changes, as the Y component change is controlled and does not affect the overall visual appearance of blank areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the limitation of non-printing areas (uniform color that resists modification) into an advantage by using controlled Y component modulation. Instead of trying to modify multiple components which would cause visual changes, it selectively modifies only the Y component, turning the uniformity of non-printing areas into a stable foundation for reliable, visually imperceptible information embedding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11831834B2Information processing apparatus, method, and product performing multiplexing processing by different methods with respect to printing and non-printing areas

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine a printing area and a non-printing area in image data, and an execution unit configured to execute first multiplexing processing by changing a U component in a YUV color space with respect to an area determined as a printing area in the image data and to execute second multiplexing processing by changing a Y component in a CMYK color space with respect to an area determined as a non-printing area in the image data.