Signal decoding methods, apparatus and systems

1. A method comprising:

obtaining color image data or color video data, the color image data or color video data comprising an encoded signal pattern, the encoded signal pattern aiding detection of an encoded message, the encoded signal pattern comprising first frequency components and second frequency components, the color image data or color video data comprising first color data and second color data, in which the first color data comprises the first frequency components encoded therein, and the second color data comprises the second frequency components encoded therein;

combining the first color data and the second color data, said combining yielding combined color data;

utilizing one or more processors or electronic processing circuitry, detecting the encoded signal pattern from the combined color data, said detecting yielding rotation and scale information; and

using the rotation and scale information to detect the encoded message from the combined color data.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the combined color data comprises luminance information, and in which encoded message is detected from the luminance information.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the first frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the first color data comprises red-green color data, and the second color data comprises blue-yellow color data.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the combined color data comprises luminance information, and in which encoded message is detected from the luminance information.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors perform or control the method of claim 5 .

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors perform or control the method of claim 1 .

8. A method comprising:

obtaining color image data or color video data, the color image data or color video data comprising an encoded signal orientation pattern, the encoded signal orientation pattern facilitating detection of an encoded message, the encoded signal orientation pattern comprising first frequency components, second frequency components and third frequency components, the color image data or color video data comprising first color data, second color data and third color data, in which the first color data comprises the first frequency components encoded therein, the second color data comprises the second frequency components encoded therein and the third color data comprises the third frequency components encoded therein;

utilizing one or more processors or electronic processing circuitry, detecting the encoded signal orientation pattern from the first color data, the second color data and the third color data, said detecting yielding rotation and scale information; and

using the rotation and scale information to detect the encoded message from data representing the color image data or color video data.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the third frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components and to the first frequency components, and the second frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the first frequency components.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the second color channel comprises a red-green color channel, and the first color channel comprises a blue-yellow color channel.

11. The method of claim 8 in which the data representing the color image data or color video data comprises luminance information, and the encoded message is detected from the luminance information.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 10 .

13. The method of claim 9 in which the first frequency components are better suited to survive compression relative to the second frequency components and the third frequency components.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising, prior to said act of detecting, combining the first color data, the second color data and the third color data, said combining yielding combined color data, in which said act of detecting detects the encoded signal orientation pattern from the combined color data.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 14 .

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instruction stored thereon to cause an electronic processor to perform the method of claim 8 .

17. An apparatus comprising:

memory storing color image data or color video data, the color image data or color video data comprising an encoded signal pattern, the encoded signal pattern aiding detection of an encoded message, the encoded signal pattern comprising first frequency components and second frequency components, the color image data or color video data comprising first color data and second color data, in which the first color data comprises the first frequency components encoded therein, and the second color data comprises the second frequency components encoded therein;

one or more processors or electronic processing circuitry configured for:

combining the first color data and the second color data, said combining yielding combined color data;

obtaining rotation and scale information from the encoded signal pattern in the combined color data;

decoding the encoded message from the combined color data, in which said decoding utilized the rotation and scale information.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the combined color data comprises luminance information, and in which encoded message is decoded from the luminance information.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 in which the first frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 in which the first color data comprises red-green color data, and the second color data comprises blue-yellow color data.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the combined color data comprises luminance information, and in which encoded message is decoded from the luminance information.

22. An apparatus comprising:

memory storing color image data or color video data, the color image data or color video data comprising an encoded signal orientation pattern, the encoded signal orientation pattern facilitating detection of an encoded message, the encoded signal orientation pattern comprising first frequency components, second frequency components and third frequency components, the color image data or color video data comprising first color data, second color data and third color data, in which the first color data comprises the first frequency components encoded therein, the second color data comprises the second frequency components encoded therein and the third color data comprises the third frequency components encoded therein; and

one or more processors or electronic processing circuitry configured for:

determining rotation and scale information associated with the encoded signal orientation pattern from the first color data, the second color data and the third color data; and

decoding the encoded message from data representing the color image data or color video data, in which said decoding utilizes the rotation and scale information.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the third frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the second frequency components and to the first frequency components, and the second frequency components comprise higher frequency components relative to the first frequency components.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 in which the second color channel comprises a red-green color channel, and the first color channel comprises a blue-yellow color channel.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the data representing the color image data or color video data comprises luminance information, and the encoded message is decoded from the luminance information.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 in which the first frequency components are better suited to survive compression relative to the second frequency components and the third frequency components.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 in which said one or more processors or electronic circuitry are confirmation for, prior to said decoding, combining the first color data, the second color data and the third color data, said combining yielding combined color data, in which said decoding decodes the encoded signal orientation pattern from the combined color data.