Computer method and system for generating images with encoded information, images obtained by this method and image reading method and system

1. A computational method comprising:

i) associating information to be encoded with a plurality of graphic elements, each of the plurality of graphic elements consisting of a symbol ( 11 ) out of a plurality of symbols ( 11 ), wherein the symbols ( 11 ) consist of a pattern of graphic elements selected from a Pixel Map (PM) and/or Shape Map (SM), wherein the Pixel Map (PM) consists of white pixels and black pixels and the Shape Map (SM) consists of geometric and complex forms; and

ii) generating at least one image ( 20 ) with coded information comprising at least one pattern obtained from step i);

iii) identifying symbols ( 11 ) on said at least one image,

iv) reading the coded information on said at least one image ( 20 ) by going through the symbols ( 11 ) identified in said at least one image ( 20 ) in a predetermined order and comparing sets of symbols ( 11 ) with a plurality of stored patterns;

wherein the obtainment of said at least one image ( 20 ) comprises a digital acquisition of a printed image to produce an obtained image, the printed image comprising a peripheral area ( 15 ), said at least one image ( 20 ) with the plurality of symbols ( 11 ) being disposed within the peripheral area ( 15 ), not intersecting it, and comprising a substantially linear contour, arranged in such a way that it separates the peripheral area ( 15 ) and said at least one image ( 20 );

wherein the identification of symbols ( 11 ) comprises identifying said peripheral area ( 15 ) and the consequent identification of symbols ( 11 ) within said peripheral area ( 15 ); and

wherein said identification of symbols ( 11 ) in the obtained image further comprises a pixel repositioning step of the obtained image, said pixel repositioning comprising:

identifying a neighboring set of N pixels adjacent to a first set of K×K pixels, N and K consisting of non-negative integers;

comparing the neighboring set with an expected neighboring set, said expected neighboring set consisting of a stored pattern;

determining the position that minimizes a norm of the difference between the neighboring set and the expected neighboring set;

positioning of a new pixel in the position of the previous step; and

propagating the previous steps by all the pixels of the obtained image; thus obtaining a repositioned obtained image.

2. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein the generation of said at least one pattern from step i) comprises:

obtaining the plurality of graphic elements, each one having a predefined position;

associating the information to be encoded to the plurality of graphic elements, thus determining the symbol ( 11 ) of each graphic element and thereby obtaining the pattern of graphic elements.

3. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein step i) further comprises:

obtaining at least a first pattern comprising the plurality of graphic elements, each of the plurality of graphic elements consisting of a first symbol ( 11 ) out of a plurality of first symbols ( 11 ); and

obtaining at least a second pattern comprising another plurality of graphic elements, each other graphic element consisting of a second symbol ( 11 ) out of a plurality of second symbols ( 11 ),

wherein:

a certain number of the pre-defined positions of the plurality of graphic elements of the first pattern are identical to a certain number of the pre-defined positions of the plurality of graphic elements of the second pattern; and

the first pattern comprises the same number of graphic elements as the second pattern.

4. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein the step ii) for generating at least one image, comprises:

sectioning the pattern in a plurality of cells of equal size, each cell being comprised of a number of graphic elements constituting the pattern; and

inserting each of said cells into a secondary graphic element of a plurality of secondary graphic elements, thus obtaining a composite pattern.

5. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein the step ii) for generating at least one image comprises filling the entirety of a predefined area with the pattern of the plurality of graphic elements, and with a plurality of filling units consisting of a symbol ( 11 ) from the plurality of symbols ( 11 ), the symbol ( 11 ) of each filling unit being randomly selected from the plurality of symbols ( 11 ).

6. The computational method of claim 2 , wherein the generation of the at least one pattern from step i) comprises:

obtaining at least two distinct symbols ( 11 ), and

obtaining a predefined number of pattern-constituting graphic elements grouped in one same cell and consisting of one of said distinct symbols ( 11 ), each cell being comprised of an equal number of graphic elements,

the coded information being associated to the plurality of graphic elements by a ratio of white pixels and black pixels in one same cell.

7. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein a first image ( 20 ) from claim 1 is generated, and a second image ( 20 ) the first image ( 20 ) containing the at least one pattern whose graphic elements have a predefined position which is identical to the predefined position of the graphic elements of the at least one pattern of the second image ( 20 ) in a certain number of positions.

8. The computational method of claim 7 , wherein the first image ( 20 ) corresponds to a decryption key of encoded information in the at least one pattern comprised in the second image ( 20 ).

9. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of symbols ( 11 ) vary in color and/or shape.

10. The computational method of claim 1 , wherein the obtainment of said at least one image ( 20 ) comprises the digital acquisition of the printed image, the printed image comprising a peripheral area ( 15 ), said at least one image ( 20 ) with the plurality of symbols ( 11 ) being disposed within the peripheral area ( 15 ), not intersecting it, and comprising the substantially linear contour, arranged in such a way that it separates the peripheral area ( 15 ) and said at least one image.

11. The computational method of claim 1 , characterized in that it is implemented by comparing at least a first pixel having a distinct color from adjacent P pixels of the same color, P consisting of a non-negative integer, and with a consequent color change from the first pixel to the color of the adjacent P pixels, where P is preferably equal to 8.

12. The computational method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the color and/or the shape of symbols ( 11 ) contained in the obtained image.

13. An illustration ( 10 ) with the coded information, comprising the first image ( 20 ), and the second image ( 20 ) obtained from the computational method according to claim 8 .

14. A digital image ( 20 ) with the coded information obtained from the computational method claim 1 , wherein said digital image ( 20 ) is rectangular.

15. An image printed on a physical support with the coded information, obtained from the computational method according to claim 1 and from a subsequent step of:

printing on physical support, the latter being preferably cellulose-based or

engraving onto a physical support, the latter being preferably metal-based, more preferably a metal alloy, or consisting of a metalized or non-metalized polyester film, optically variable, or made from a basically polymeric material,

wherein the image is rectangular.