US-20260127700-A1 - SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPLICATIONS OF IMPERFECT PATTERNS FOR DATA ENCODING

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles are disclosed for encoding data using imperfect patterns formed from graphic elements arranged on a surface. A data record is encoded through controlled variations in the graphic elements relative to a common layout such that the data record is redundantly represented and recoverable from observation of a portion of the pattern. Images of the pattern may be processed to extract and verify the data record under viewing conditions including partial occlusion, distortion, or noise. In some embodiments, decoding outputs include confidence or consistency assessments, identification of image regions contributing to decoding, or visual augmentation to guide user interaction. The techniques support robust machine-readable encoding while preserving aesthetic flexibility for applications including authentication, inventory tracking, and user interfaces. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.

Inventors

• Joshua Victor Aller
• Nicholas Riehl

Assignees

• SPOT VISION LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251229

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A set of articles, each article having a surface displaying a set of marks, wherein the same set of marks is displayed on each article in the set, with each mark visually identifiable by its shape, size, or other distinguishing measurable characteristic, the arrangement of the marks on each article differing from their arrangement on other articles in the set, with variations in at least one measurable property of the marks, including position, size, orientation, or spacing, the arrangement of the marks on each article forms a visually distinct pattern that conveys a digital payload comprising a plurality of binary data bits, the digital payload includes a subset of bits dedicated to error detection or correction, enabling the payload to be verified for accuracy, the arrangement of the marks across the set of articles forms a continuum of variations rather than a discrete set of arrangements, and no single mark is necessary for the decoding of the digital payload.
2. 2 . The set of articles of claim 1 , wherein the marks comprise images of text or text characters.
3. 3 . The set of articles of claim 1 , wherein the subset of bits dedicated to error detection and correction are compatible with a reed-solomon algorithm, and the verification for accuracy is performed by the reed-solomon algorithm.
4. 4 . The set of articles of claim 1 , wherein the data can be yielded from the decoder when no more than an arbitrary half of the marks are visible in an image supplied to the decoder.
5. 5 . The set of articles of claim 1 , wherein the marks are displayed on each article in the form a seamlessly repeating pattern unit, two adjacent instances of the pattern unit abutting on the surface of the object with the edge between the pattern units aligned, at least one mark conveying data positioned across the boundary of the repeating pattern such portions of mark are rendered on opposite sides of the boundary to form a complete and uninterrupted mark.
6. 6 . The set of articles of claim 1 , wherein the same number of marks is displayed across the set, and the transformation of each mark is an ensemble of marks encoding a verifiable plural-bit data record, the ensemble observable on a visual medium, comprising: marks arranged in a seamless pattern on the visual medium; wherein the data record is redundantly encoded within the ensemble, such that it can be computationally recovered by observation of a portion of the ensemble through analysis of the collective visual presentation of the marks; wherein the seamless pattern has no discernable boundaries or locating devices; wherein no individual mark is required to retrieve the full data record; and wherein the data record includes error detection or error correction bits to verify the validity of the data record.
7. 7 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the ensemble visually communicates a recognizable brand identity or predefined aesthetic emotional framing through traits such as the artwork, composition, stroke, and color, while maintaining seamless integration with data encoding functionality.
8. 8 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the visual medium comprises a physical substrate, such as paper, fabric, or plastic.
9. 9 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the visual medium comprises a digital image.
10. 10 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the data record can be computationally recovered from a portion of the ensemble when observed on a singly or doubly curved visual medium, or when the appearance of the ensemble on the visual medium is distorted by viewing angle or projection.
11. 11 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the (same) data record is independently computationally recovered from observation of complementary portions of the ensemble, the complementary portions having no marks in common.
12. 12 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the data record includes information that identifies or authenticates the visual medium.
13. 13 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the placement of at least one mark in the ensemble contributes to encoding the data record.
14. 14 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the curvature of at least one mark contributes to encoding the data record.
15. 15 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the seamless pattern includes marks crossing the boundaries between the repeating pattern unit, facilitating a consistent scanning performance across arbitrary comparable sized portions of the pattern.
16. 16 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of marks overlaps and partially covers another of the plurality of marks.
17. 17 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the marks is chosen from: a trademark, a curve, a continuous curve, full-color graphic element, a curved or distorted graphic element, a face, a three-dimensional graphic element.
18. 18 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the orientation of at least one mark relative to the ensemble contributes to encoding the data record.
19. 19 . The set of articles of claim 6 , wherein the size of at least one mark contributes to encoding the data record.
20. 20 . A physical object of a set of physical objects, each physical object of the set of physical objects being associated with a data record and comprising at least one surface displaying a pattern of marks, the set characterized by: a plurality of marks correlated across the set of physical objects; the pattern of marks displayed on a physical object of the set comprising the plurality of marks; at least one mark of the plurality of marks displayed across the set of physical objects in at least three distinct configurations, each distinct configuration being displayed on a different physical object of the set; and wherein the configuration of the plurality of marks that form the pattern of marks on each physical object of the set is indicative of the associated data record, including cases in which the configuration encodes the associated data record.

Description

CONTINUITY AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 63/740,230, filed on Dec. 30, 2024, titled “Systems, Methods, and Applications of Imperfect Patterns for Data Encoding.”, which is incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/386,102, filed on Nov. 11, 2025, titled “Use of Imperfect Patterns to Encode Data on Surfaces”, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/684,013, filed on Feb. 15, 2024, titled “Use of Imperfect Patterns to Encode Data on Surfaces”, which is a U.S. national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/US2022/038291 (WO 2023/022858), filed on Jul. 26, 2022, titled “Use of imperfect patterns to encode data on surfaces”, which claims priority to both U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/234,905 titled, “DATA ENCODING CELLULAR MARK PATTERNS”, filed Aug. 19, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/348,561, titled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DATA ENCODING PATTERNS”, filed on Jun. 3, 2022, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. FIELD Various embodiments relate to machine-readable optical codes. More specifically, the various embodiments relate to generating machine-readable optical codes, encoding information into optical codes, inscribing objects with the optical codes, and reliably reading the codes from images of objects decorated with the codes. BACKGROUND This disclosure provides clarifications, improvements, enhancements, expansions, and new areas of application for the imperfect patterns described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/684,013. The prior application introduced methods for encoding data using imperfect patterns that provide robust and reliable data decoding as well as a means of communicating a predefined aesthetic. However, certain limitations existed for some embodiments, such as the lack of dynamic selection of decoders for specific patterns, limited robustness to visual distortions, and insufficient adaptability to new functional areas. This disclosure builds upon that foundation by addressing specific limitations, improving the versatility of the patterns, and expanding their functional use cases across additional fields. SUMMARY This disclosure builds upon the methods for encoding data using imperfect patterns described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/684,013. In particular, this disclosure provides clarifications, enhancements, and expansions to the previously disclosed methods, improving the versatility and functional applications of the imperfect patterns. Various embodiments introduce additional processes for generating, transforming, and decoding imperfect patterns, including the creation of encoder-decoder pairs, selection of appropriate decoders for specific patterns, and ensuring robustness to visual distortions and environmental conditions. These improvements address limitations in prior methods and extend the use of imperfect patterns to new areas of application, such as advanced data encoding, authentication systems, user-interactive applications, and enhanced aesthetic integration. By incorporating these enhancements, some of the various embodiments may provide more reliable and efficient pattern generation, decoding, and application across diverse fields, while maintaining the ability to communicate predefined aesthetics. The improvements ensure robust performance under real-world conditions, enhance system usability, and expand the practical utility of imperfect patterns in fields such as security, retail, supply chain management, branding, and interactive technologies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a system to create and manage sets of articles marked with imperfect patterns. FIG. 2 depicts a method to develop a dual function imperfect pattern. FIG. 3 depicts example additional outputs of a decoder. FIG. 4 depicts additional loss components for training. FIG. 5 depicts an example process to interpret decoder outputs. FIGS. 6A-6E depict processes to crop and scale images of imperfect patterns. FIG. 7 depicts use of alternate pre-processing modules for decoding. FIG. 8 depicts a method of recovering imperfect patterns from different processed images. FIG. 9 depicts a modified decoder process detecting patterns from different templates. FIG. 10 depicts an imperfect pattern comprising marks in a transformation hierarchy. FIGS. 11A and 11B depict testing an image for support of a data record. FIG. 12 depicts a support query module. FIGS. 13A-13C depict decoding multiple imperfect patterns in an image. FIG. 14 depicts visual feedback on patterns of 3D objects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/684,013 is incorporated by reference herein, and will hereinafter be referred to as the '013 application. The following detailed description describes illustrative embodiments of systems, methods, articles, and applications involving imperfec