Methods for estimating watermark signal strength, an embedding process using the same, and related arrangements

1. A method comprising:

obtaining image data representing imagery;

using one or more multi-core processors, embedding a machine-readable signal into the image data, thereby generating transformed image data;

obtaining substrate data, the substrate data associated with a substrate upon which the transformed image data is to be printed upon;

obtaining printer data, the printer data associated with a printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data upon the substrate;

processing the transformed image data with reference to the substrate data and the printer data, thereby generating processed, transformed image data;

estimating a signal strength of the machine-readable signal embedded within the processed, transformed image data, in which said estimating yields an estimated signal strength; and

visually displaying the estimated signal strength spatially relative to the image data.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the estimated signal strength is visually displayed as a multi-color heat map spatially relative to the image data.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the estimated signal strength is visually displayed spatially relative to the image data with a first color representing first signal strength and a second color representing second signal strength, in which the second signal strength comprises a signal strength that is relative higher than the first signal strength.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising visually displaying the estimated signal strength spatially relative to the image data, with a third color representing a third signal strength comprising a signal strength between the first signal strength and the second signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the printer data comprises color profile information of the printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with substrate surface finish.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a plastic or metal substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the transformed image data is processed with reference to the substrate data, the printer data and with reference to reader data associated with a reader that is anticipated to read the machine-readable signal from printed transformed image data.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the reader data comprises a color profile associated with the reader.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the color profile comprises an ICC color profile format.

11. The method of claim 1 in which said embedding comprises digital watermarking.

12. The method of claim 1 in which said embedding comprises steganographic encoding.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a type of substrate, the type of substrate comprising paper, cardboard, metal, plastic or foil.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a surface finish of the substrate, the surface finish comprising matte or glossy.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more multi-core processors to perform the following:

obtaining image data representing imagery;

embedding a machine-readable signal into the image data, thereby generating transformed image data;

obtaining substrate data, the substrate data associated with a substrate upon which the transformed image data is to be printed upon;

obtaining printer data, the printer data associated with a printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data upon the substrate;

processing the transformed image data with reference to the substrate data and the printer data, thereby generating processed, transformed image data;

estimating a signal strength of the machine-readable signal embedded within the processed, transformed image data, in which said estimating yields an estimated signal strength; and

visually displaying the estimated signal strength spatially relative to the image data.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the estimated signal strength is visually displayed as a multi-color heat map spatially relative to the image data.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 in which the estimated signal strength is visually displayed spatially relative to the image data with a first color representing first signal strength and a second color representing second signal strength, in which the second signal strength comprises a signal strength that is relative higher than the first signal strength.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions for visually displaying the estimated signal strength spatially relative to the image data, with a third color representing a third signal strength comprising a signal strength between the first signal strength and the second signal strength.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the printer data comprises color profile information of the printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with substrate surface finish.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a plastic or metal substrate.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the transformed image data is processed with reference to the substrate data, the printer data and with reference to reader data associated with a reader that is anticipated to read the machine-readable signal from printed transformed image data.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 22 in which the reader data comprises a color profile associated with the reader.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the embedding comprises digital watermarking.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which said embedding comprises steganographic encoding.

26. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a type of substrate, the type of substrate comprising paper, cardboard, metal, plastic or foil.

27. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a surface finish of the substrate, the surface finish comprising matte or glossy.

28. An apparatus comprising:

memory storing image data;

one or more multi-core processors configured to perform the following:

obtain the image data from memory;

embed a machine-readable signal into the image data, thereby generating transformed image data;

access printer data, the printer data associated with a printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data upon a substrate;

alter the transformed image data with reference to the printer data, thereby generating altered, transformed image data;

determine a signal strength of the machine-readable signal embedded within the altered, transformed image data, thereby yielding a determined signal strength; and

control display of the determined signal strength spatially relative to the image data.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 in which the determined signal strength is displayed as a multi-color heat map spatially relative to the image data.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 in which the printer data comprises color profile information for the printer that is anticipated to print the transformed image data.

31. The apparatus of claim 28 in which said one or more multi-core processors are configured to access reader data, the reader data associated with a reader that is anticipated to read the machine-readable signal from printed transformed image data, and to access substrate data, the substrate data associated with the substrate upon which the transformed image data is to be printed upon, in which the transformed image data is altered with reference to the printer data, and with reference to the reader data and with reference to the substrate data.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 in which the reader data comprises a color profile associated with the reader.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 in which the substrate data comprises data associated with a type of substrate, the type of substrate comprising paper, cardboard, metal, plastic or foil.

34. The apparatus of claim 28 in which the embedding comprises digital watermarking.

35. The apparatus of claim 28 in which the determined signal strength is visually displayed spatially relative to the image data with a first color representing first signal strength and a second color representing second signal strength, in which the second signal strength comprises a signal strength that is relative higher than the first signal strength.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which said one or more multi-core processors are configured to display the determined signal strength spatially relative to the image data, with a third color representing a third signal strength comprising a signal strength between the first signal strength and the second signal strength.