NL2037665B1 - Decorative panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides, amongst other aspects, a computer-implemented method for embedding identification information in instructions for producing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one of the at least one decorative panel. . Furthermore, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for decoding at least one encoded decorative panel as well as to a decorative panel produced by using the method according to the invention.

Description

Decorative panel

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical domain of embedding identification information in data comprising instructions for producing at least one decorative panel, and in particular a computer-implemented method for embedding identification information in instructions for producing at least one decorative panel. The invention further relates to an encoder device and an encoder system configured to carry out this method according to the invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the technical domain of decoding at least one encoded decorative panel, and in particular a computer-implemented method for decoding at least one encoded decorative panel. The invention further relates to a decoder device and decoder system configured for carrying out this method according to the invention. Moreover, the invention relates to a digital data file representing instructions with embedded identification information for use in said encoder system according to the invention, and/or for carrying out said embedding method according to the invention, as well as to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to execute said embedding method according to the invention and/or said decoding method according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a decorative panel and set of decorative panels obtained by carrying out the embedding method according to the invention. Additionally, the invention relates to the use of identification information embedded in instructions for at least one of the following purposes, wherein the identification information is embedded in the instructions using the embedding method according to the invention.

Background art

[0002] Decorative panels may be composed of a laminate of layers, including a core layer and a decorative layer applied on the core layer. The decorative layer may be printed directly on said core layer, although the decorative layer is preferably printed onto a primer layer applied on the core layer. The printed design of the decorative layer is commonly based upon wood or stone patterns.

Although, and possibly since, various aspects of decorative panels have been improved the last couple of years and the global market of decorative panels is continuously growing, the production and distribution of counterfeit panels have become an urgent and increasingly critical worldwide issue, which goes hand in hand with an increasing need to act against this increasing counterfeit.

Additionally, there is an increasing need at both the consumer's side as well as the installer’s side to have more knowledge about how to properly install the panels and/or about the further material characteristics.

[0003] It is a first object of the invention to provide an improved method for embedding information in at least one decorative panel allowing identification of the panel.

[0004] It is a second object of the invention to provide an improved method for embedding unique information in at least one decorative panel allowing identification of the panel.

[0005] It is a third object of the invention to provide an improved method for embedding panel related information in at least one decorative panel.

[0006] It is a fourth object of the invention to provide an improved decorative panel having embedded panel related information, in particular for identification purposes.

[0007] The present invention aims at addressing issues, such as the issues mentioned above.

Summary of the invention

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a (computer-implemented) method for embedding (digital) identification information in data comprising instructions for producing at least one (physical) decorative panel, wherein the (digital) identification information preferably relates to an identification and/or at least one panel related characteristic of one of the at least one (physical) decorative panel, the method comprising: a) obtaining the data; b) obtaining the (digital) identification information to be embedded in the data; and ¢) embedding the (digital) identification information in the data, in particular in the panel production instructions, wherein step ¢) comprises generating at least one respective identification feature for at least one portion of at least one decorative panel such that said at least one portion, in particular when produced, allows to retrieve the (digital) identification information through visual recognition means, in particular wherein step ¢) comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion and a second portion of said one of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion and the second portion, preferably independently and preferably when produced, allows to retrieve the (digital) identification information through visual recognition means.

[0009] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely overlapping. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non- overlapping. In highly preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely non-overlapping.

[0010] The method according to the present invention may advantageously provide improved identification of said one of the at least one decorative panel. By allowing for (independent) retrieval of the identification information in at least one portion, preferably each of the first portion and the second portion, in particular when the panel is produced, the method reduces the burden on the user to locate the identification information, thereby ensuring that the identification can be performed quicker and more easily. Moreover, by ensuring that the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping, at least a part of the decorative panel can be scanned thereby reducing the burden on the user of scanning the complete panel. Normally, the identification information is physically embedded to/in and/or provided to the decorative panel during the production process. The retrieval of information can be achieved based upon said physical decorative panel and by using visual recognition means. Additionally or alternatively, it is also imaginable that the retrieval of information can be achieved based upon a digital version of at least a part of said physical decorative panel (produced or to be produced), shown on a digital screen or other display device, such as a monitor, and preferably by using visual recognition means.

[0011] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a (computer-implemented) method for decoding at least one encoded decorative panel, comprising: i) obtaining a digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one portion, preferably at least one of the first portion and the second portion, of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, ii) detecting the respective identification feature in said at least one portion, preferably at least one of said first portion and said second portion; and iii) determining and/or retrieving, based on the detected respective identification feature, the embedded identification information.

[0012] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely overlapping. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non- overlapping. In highly preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely non-overlapping.

[0013] Thus, an advantage of the method according to the present invention is to determine the embedded identification information from a digital image capturing an encoded decorative panel partially. Thus, the method may allow for a more effective and efficient retrieval of the embedded identification information.

[0014] According to a third aspect, the present invention provides an encoder device comprising means configured for: - obtaining the instructions for producing the at least one decorative panel, - obtaining the information to be embedded in the instructions; and - embedding the identification information in the instructions, wherein the embedding comprises generating an identification feature for at least one portion, preferably each of a first portion and a second portion, of said one of the at least one decorative panel such that each portion, preferably each portion of the first portion and the second portion, independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means.

[0015] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely overlapping. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non- overlapping. In highly preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely non-overlapping.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a decoder device comprising visual recognition means configured for carrying out the method according to the present invention.

[0017] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention provides an encoder system comprising: - an encoder device according to the present invention; and - producing means for producing the at least one decorative panel.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a decoder system comprising: - image capturing means; and

- a decoder device according to the present invention.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a digital data file representing instructions with embedded identification information, the instructions being for producing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one of the at least one decorative panel, wherein each portion, preferably each of a first portion and a second portion, of said one of the at least one decorative panel (independently) allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means.

[0020] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely overlapping. In preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non- overlapping. In highly preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are completely non-overlapping.

[0021] According to a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to execute one or more methods according to the present invention.

[0022] According to an eighth aspect, the present invention provides a decorative panel obtained by carrying out the method according to the invention, preferably a set of decorative panels obtained by carrying out the method according to the invention, more preferably wherein each panel comprises at least one pair of opposite edges coupling profiles allowing interlocking of adjacent panels.

[0023] According to a ninth aspect, the present invention provides at least one decorative panel, preferably a set of decorative panels, obtained by carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0024] According to a tenth aspect, the present invention provides a decorative covering, in particular a floor covering, wall covering, ceiling covering, or furniture covering, composed a set of, preferably interconnected decorative panels according to the invention.

[0025] According to an eleventh aspect, the present invention provides a use of identification information embedded in instructions for at least one of the following purposes: - retrieving identification info of the panels and the section to which the production deviation belongs; - identifying a set of decorative panels to be produced for a customer, wherein the batch number is the identification information; - identifying an ordering and/or layout of the decorative panels in the set of decorative panels, wherein the identification information is embedded in the instructions using the method according to the present invention.

[0026] Preferred embodiments and their advantages are provided in the description and the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

[0027] The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, with reference to the attached drawings.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a first example of methods according to the invention.

[6029] Fig. 2 shows a second example of methods according to the invention.

[6030] Fig. 3 shows a third example of methods according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows a fourth example of methods according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 5 shows a fifth example of methods according to the invention. 5 Description of embodiments

[0033] The following descriptions depict only example embodiments and are not considered limiting in scope. Any reference herein to the disclosure is not intended to restrict or limit the disclosure to exact features of any one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification.

[0034] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

[0035] Furthermore, the various embodiments, although referred to as “preferred” are to be construed as exemplary manners in which the invention may be implemented rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0036] The term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the elements or steps listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B, rather with respect to the present invention, the only enumerated components of the device are A and B, and further the claim should be interpreted as including equivalents of those components.

[0037] In this document, the term “decorative panel” refers to a panel having a decorative appearance, typically at its upper surface. Although the decorative panel may be a monolithic decorative panel (single layer decorative panel), the decorative panel may also be a laminated decorative panel comprising a laminate of a plurality of layers. The decorative panel may be a finished decorative panel or a partially finished decorative panel.

The term “identification information” refers to information used for distinguishing and/or identifying one or more decorative panels. The identification information may comprise information, such as metadata, directly or indirectly, related to any of the one or more decorative panels and/or a customer and/or a producer. The metadata relating to the one or more decorative panels may comprise any one or combination of properties from the group of: title, date created, description, texture, batch information (e.g., number, alphanumeric value, etc.), serial number, order in a set, layout in a set, order number, keywords, installation instructions, panel dimensions, the material composition of at least one panel layer, the origin of at least one material used in at least one panel layer, recycling related information of the panel, the authenticity of the panel, the circularity of the panel, the type of coupling profiles used at least two panel edges, embodied carbon, the total of volatile compounds, the number and/or nature of pigments used in the panel; the one or more certifications and/or declarations relating to the panel, panel deposit related information, such as a deposit logo and/or (machine- and/or human-)identifiable depositor marker for (post-use) panel recollection purposes, other documentation relating to the panel, and other relevant tags or attributes. This aspect also related to the (purpose of the) use of identification information embedded in instructions. In this manner, a digital panel passport comprising one or more panel related characteristics can be created and can be given access to a user, particular to give the user a look at the panel content (panel composition), and/or recycling related information, and/or (other) panel attributes. Recycling related information may, for example, include information whether recycling of the panel layer, and optionally of the panel as such, is possible and feasible, and if so, which type of chemical and/or mechanical recycling method(s) is(/are) preferably used in this respect. Additionally or alternatively, recycling related information may, for example, include the ratio between virgin polymeric material and recycled of (the same) polymeric material present in at least one panel layer. The recycling related information may be part of the material composition related information. As the environmental and sustainability awareness is increasing more and more, both at the side of manufacturers as well as at the side of distributors, selling parties, installers, and end-consumers, such material composition related information, preferably including recycling related information, becomes more and more important. This info allows end-consumers to separate and/or sort waste, and allows post-use recycling companies to properly recycle used panels. The metadata relating to the customer (consumer, such as an end-consumer and/or distributor) may comprise any one or combination of properties from the group of: title, first name, middle name, last name, company name, company number, contact details (e.g., email and/or phone number and/or postal address), customer order information (e.g., number(s) and/or letter(s)), customer identification information (e.g., number(s) and/or letter(s), customer reference information (e.g., number(s) and/or letter(s) provided by the customer). The metadata relating to the producer (e.g., decorative panel manufacturer) may comprise any one or combination of properties from the group of: company name, company number, contact details (e.g., email and/or phone number and/or postal address), producer identification information (e.g., number(s) and/or letter(s)), producer reference number (e.g., number(s) and/or letter(s} provided by the producer). It is imaginable that the identification information may comprise at least one web link referring to a web address that directs a user to a specific webpage where more decorative panel related information can be found.

[0038] The term “identification feature” refers to a characteristic that can be used to identify a decorative panel and may be interchangeably referred to as a steganogram. A steganogram is a technique of concealing information within another, preferably visible feature of the decorative panel, such as a decorative layer of the panel. Here, the goal is to hide the existence of the identification information. The steganogram is typically visible for a user when looking at the panel, but will preferably not be recognized and/or noticed by said user. For example, concealing information within a decorative layer can be realized by subtly altering the pixel values. This can be achieved by slightly changing the colors of certain pixels, which may not be noticeable to the human eye. The identification feature may be any one or combination of characteristics from the group of:

a visual pattern, a statistical property, a watermark, a perceptual characteristic. As indicated above, a visual pattern may set apart a particular steganogram from others, such as certain color palettes, texture, or specific pixel arrangements. A statistical property includes any one or combination of mean intensity values, variance, skewness, and other image statistics, that can serve as identification markers. A (digital) watermark may comprise one or more at least partially invisible or hidden images, patterns, codes, and/or algorithms. A perceptual characteristic relates to human and/or machine perception, such as color histograms, edge detection, texture analysis, or Fourier descriptors that can be used for identifying decorative panels based on perceptual differences between steganograms. The identification feature may be uniquely generated and/or identifiable with reference to a database comprising historically generated identification features. Thus, the database may not comprise a duplicate of the identification feature, and any identification feature historically generated and stored in the database may not be generated again. The embedding, i.e. step c), and/or the generating of the identification feature, i.e., comprised in step c), may be performed using steganography and/or (digital) watermarking techniques known to the skilled person. The identification feature may be machine readable. For example, the identification feature may be a bar code, 2D code (e.g., QR code, a data matrix code, a cool-data-matrix code, an aztec code, an upcode, a trillcode, a quickmark code, a shot code, a mcode, a beetagg and the like).

Preferably, the identification feature may be a wood pattern or a tile pattern or a concrete pattern in the design.

[0039] The term “instructions” refers to digital instructions, particularly computer-readable instructions. The instructions for producing the at least one decorative panel may be divided into a plurality of smaller instructions or sub-instructions, wherein said smaller or sub-instructions are smaller or sub-instructions for producing of different decorative panels. Preferably, said smaller or sub-instructions are smaller or sub-instructions for producing one or more layers of the decorative panel, such as one or more from the group of: a backing layer, a decorative layer, a protective layer, a relief layer (particularly an embossing layer) and a top layer. Each of said decorative panels may be provided with a smaller or sub-production, preferably wherein adjacent and/or side-by-side oriented decorative panels may be provided together for the one or more layers. For example, a relief layer may comprise a relief structure, particularly an embossing structure, wherein adjacent and/or side-by-side oriented decorative panels may be provided together for a single relief structure.

In another example, a decorative layer may comprise a design or decor, wherein adjacent and/or side-by-side oriented decorative panels may be provided together for a single design or décor. As will be understood, the producing may comprise providing a base layer and printing of the one or more layers onto the base layer. Thus, embedding respective information or a respective feature in the instructions, as referred to herein, relates to assigning or associating or attributing said information or feature to particular parts of the decorative panel, such as a respective portion or section or layer.

[0040] The term “portions” refers to zones of a decorative panel and/or of at least one layer of said decorative panel, such as a decorative layer and/or a relief structure layer. A portion of a decorative panel may be a particular fraction thereof, such as a particular half (e.g., bottom or top half) of the decorative panel and/or of at least one layer of said decorative panel, such as a the decorative layer and/or a relief structure layer, a particular third (e.g., bottom, middle or top third) of the decorative panel, quarter {e.g., bottom left quarter, bottom right quarter, top left quarter, top right quarter) of the decorative panel and/or of at least one layer of said decorative panel, such as a the decorative layer and/or a relief structure layer, etc. The portions are not limited by shape and can have any geometric shape.

[0041] The term “tessellation” refers to the design and arrangement of geometric shapes that completely fill a plane without any overlaps or gaps. This technique creates intricate patterns using repeated units or sections, giving the illusion of seamless continuity across the entire decorative panel. In other words, the tessellation divides a decorative panel into sections, which can have any geometric shape, and which completely fill the decorative panel. In this context the term “sections” refers to zones of a decorative panel which are non-overlapping.

[0042] In embodiments, said one of the at least one decorative panel comprises a plurality of portions. Some or all of the plurality of portions may be completely overlapping, preferably some or all of the plurality of portions are at least partially non-overlapping, more preferably some or all of the plurality of portions are completely non-overlapping.

[0043] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion relate to or are (located) at respective ends of said one of the at least one decorative panel. Preferably, the first portion and the second portion relate to or are (located) at opposite ends of said one of the at least one decorative panel.

[0044] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion partially overlap. The overlapping portion may be considered as a third portion. It may be advantageous to include a third portion. The overlapping portion may not be attributed an identification feature. The inventors have found that the overlapping portion may be attributed an overlapping identification feature (i.e, the overlapping parts of the respective identification feature of the first and the second portions). The overlapping parts of the respective identification feature of the first and the second portions may be identical or different. In the case the of them being different, an overlapping identification feature may be provided therefrom which is identifiable/detectable. Thus, the overlapping portion provides even more ways to improve the embedding of identification information and to improve the retrieval thereof. For example, if the first the second portions are located at respective ends of said one of the at least one decorative panel, the overlapping portion may be in a center portion, which may be more accessible to a user.

[0045] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion have the same dimensions.

However, the inventors have interestingly found that by ensuring that the first portion and the second portion have different dimensions, e.g., the first portion having at least one dimension greater than the respective at least one dimension of the second portion, then the respective identification feature may be more effectively detected. For example, if the user is very close to the decorative panel and cannot capture a large portion thereof.

[0046] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion have the same resolution.

However, the inventors have interestingly found that by ensuring that the first portion and the second portion have different resolutions, e.g., the first portion having a resolution greater than the resolution of the second portion, then the respective identification feature may be more effectively detected. For example, if the user can only obtain low-resolution images, thus, a lower resolution portion may allow for the identification feature embedded therein to be more effectively detected. It may be advantageous to combine a first portion having a higher resolution and at least one larger dimension than the same of the second portion. This may ensure that a high-resolution portion is still large enough for the identification feature to be reliably detected.

[0047] In embodiments, the first portion and the second portion relate to a tessellation dividing said one of the at least one decorative panel into non-overlapping sections. Said sections comprise a first section and a second section. Preferably, the first portion and the second portion are respectively the first section and the second section of said one of the at least one decorative panel.

[0048] In embodiments, the embedding, i.e., step Cc), comprises generating a respective identification for any of the sections. Thus, at least one section may not be attributed an identification feature. It is preferred that the embedding, i.e., step c), comprises generating a respective identification for at least two sections, preferably for all the sections. Thus, all the sections which have been attributed an identification feature relate to the same identification feature. Alternatively, some of the sections which have been attributed an identification feature relate to the same identification feature and the other sections which have been attributed an identification feature relate to a different respective identification feature, or each section which has been attributed an identification feature relates to a different respective identification feature. Thus, it will be understood that by generating an identification feature, said identification feature is attributed to the respective portion.

[0049] In embodiments, each of the generated respective identification feature is unique. The step of generating the respective identification feature may comprise detecting that a similarity between the generated identification features is within a predetermined similarity range. The step of generating the generated identification features may comprise detecting that a similarity between each of the generated identification features and the identification features comprised in a database is within a predetermined similarity range. The identification features comprised in the database may be historically generated. In preferred embodiments, each of the generated identification features for the portions of each of the plurality of decorative panels, preferably of each of a batch or set of decorative panels, is unique. Since a set of decorative panels may include many panels, there is a risk that any of these panels are either too similar and/or too dissimilar, which is not wanted. Thus, each of the generated designs, as described herein, may be discriminated by comparing them to another of the generated designs. This ensures that the generated designs are not too similar to and/or dissimilar from each other, while being accepted as realistic designs. This may also apply to decorative panels among a plurality of sets. Similarly, the identification features generated and/or embedded in the portions of each decorative panel in the set may be compared decorative panels in another set.

[0050] In embodiments, at least one portion, preferably at least one of the first portion and the second portion, comprises at least one section, preferably a plurality of sections. The plurality of sections comprised therein may all have different geometries or may all have the same geometry or some of the sections have the same geometry and some of the other sections have different geometries.

[0051] In embodiments, the tessellation comprises at least 3 sections. Thus, for instance, the first portion may be a first section from the at least 3 sections, and the second portion may be a second section from the at least 3 sections. The first portion may comprise at least one section from the at least 3 sections, and the second portion may comprise the remaining of the at least 3 sections. The first portion may comprise at least 2 sections from the at least 3 sections, and the second portion may comprise the remaining of the at least 3 sections. In preferred embodiments, the tessellation comprises a number of sections from the group of: at least 4 sections, at least 5 sections, at least 6 sections, at least 7 sections, at least 8 sections, at least 9 sections, at least 10 sections, etc.

[0052] In embodiments, the tessellation comprises an array of sections. The array may comprise at least one row and at least one column of sections. Preferably, the array comprises at least one row and a plurality of columns or a plurality of rows and at least one column or a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns.

[0053] For example, the first portion comprises a first section which is attributed an identification feature which is unique or is different from the identification feature of any section in the second portion. Preferably, the first portion consists of the first section. In another example, the first portion comprises a plurality of sections in which at least one thereof is attributed an identification feature which is unique or is different from the identification of any section in the second portion. In another example, the first portion comprises at least two sections with the same identification feature. In another example, the first portion comprises at least two sections with the same identification feature and at least one section with a unique identification feature or an identification feature different from the identification feature of the at least two sections. Thus, it will be understood that by generating an identification feature, said identification feature is attributed to the respective section.

[0054] In embodiments, the embedding, i.e., step c) comprises adding error-correcting information to the respective identification feature. Adding error-correcting information to steganographic messages can help ensure the data's integrity, especially when dealing with any one or combination of the following: compressed image, noisy channels, low quality images, low-resolution image, and distorted image, e.g., due to low light or low-resolution cameras. This can also be done by embedding additional redundant data that can be used to correct errors or discrepancies that might occur in the identification feature. Adding error-correcting information and/or additional redundant data are referred to herein as error-correction methods which can ensure that the embedded identification feature can be reliably detected. Two examples of error-correction methods are: Reed-

Solomon (RS) Error Correction and Error-Correcting Codes based on Convolutional Encoding. RS codes are a type of linear error-correcting code that can be used to add additional parity bits to the encoding. This may be done by generating multiple redundant copies of each data symbol, which can then be used to recover the original data if some symbols get corrupted or lost during transmission. The redundancy may be achieved by using a generator polynomial and encoding the data symbols into larger symbols called "codewords," which include the parity symbols for error correction. The Convolutional encoding is another error-correcting technique which may generate redundant data through a finite impulse response (FIR) filter and may provide better error correction performance compared to block codes like RS.

[0055] In embodiments, the method is carried out for a plurality of decorative panels in the same set or batch, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of each of the plurality of decorative panels. Preferably, the identification information may comprise a set or batch number.

[0056] In embodiments, the method is carried out for a first decorative panel and a second decorative panel, wherein at least parts of the identification information of the first decorative panel and of the second decorative panel are the same in view ofthe first decorative panel and the second decorative panel belonging to the same batch. Said at least parts of the identification information may comprise batch information (i.e. batch number, batch ID, etc.), customer order information, customer information, producer information, etc.

[0057] In embodiments, the instructions are for providing one or more layers of the at least one decorative panel, preferably for providing any one or combination of a backing layer, at least one decorative layer, a protective layer, a relief layer, a top layer, an intermediate layer, a bevel coating, a bevel surface, a grout coating, a grout surface. "Bevel" and "grout" are terms commonly associated with floor panels, especially in the context of laminate or luxury vinyl flooring. A bevel refers to an angled edge cut into the floor panels. Bevels can be either micro-bevels or regular bevels. Micro-bevels are very small, often just a millimeter or less in width, and create a subtle separation between the individual panels. Regular bevels are slightly larger and more noticeable.

Bevels serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Functionally, they help to create a smoother transition between adjacent panels, especially in rooms with uneven subfloors. Aesthetically, they mimic the look of traditional hardwood flooring, where individual planks often have visible edges. A grout refers to a simulated grout line that is embossed or created at and/or printed onto a top surface of the decorative panel. This gives the appearance of separate panels, even though the flooring may be made up of larger panels, and/or may simulate the presence of a conventional grout-filled grout line. Grout lines can vary in width and color, depending on the desired aesthetic effect. They help to create a more realistic appearance, especially in flooring designs that mimic natural stone or ceramic tile. The identification information may be embedded in such bevel(s) and/or grout(s), if applied.

[0058] Preferably, at least one portion, more preferably the first portion and the second portion, relate(s) to any one or combination of the decorative layer, the protective layer, the relief layer, the top layer, an intermediate layer, a bevel coating, a bevel surface, a grout coating, a grout surface.

[0059] In preferred embodiments, the first portion and the second portion relate to any one or combination of the decorative layer, the protective layer, the relief layer, the top layer, an intermediate layer, a bevel coating, a bevel surface, a grout coating, a grout surface. Thus, the respective identification feature may be attributed to any one or combination of the layers. In advantageous embodiments, the first portion relates to at least one first layer and the second portion relates to at least one second layer. For example, the first portion relates to the decorative layer and the second portion relates to the relief layer and/or protective layer. This can provide improved embedding of the identification information, such that the detection of the respective identification feature can be performed more reliably in instances where an identification feature is more detectable in one layer than in another, e.g., in low-light situations or angled light, the identification feature may not be reliably detected in the decorative layer in comparison to the other layers.

[0060] In particularly advantageous embodiments, at least one of the first portion and the second portion relates to the top layer, wherein the respective identification feature is attributed thereto, such that the respective identification feature is identifiable or detectable at a particular angle with respect to the top layer, preferably the particular angle may be matching an angle of an incident light directed from the opposing direction of the image capturing means. Thus, the image capturing means can capture a reflection of the incident light reflecting on the top layer, and the method may detect the respective identification feature based on the reflection of the incident light. The top layer may be provided with a distinct pattern, allowing for interacting with incident light in various ways depending on its texture, shape, and reflectance properties. This interaction may result in distinctive reflections, which can be captured and/or analyzed using algorithms to extract meaningful information. For instance, specific patterns might result in different reflection intensities, polarization, or phase changes that can be used as identification features. By analyzing these reflections, the detection or and identification of the respective identification feature can be performed with high accuracy.

[0061] In embodiments, the decorative layer comprises a design. Preferably, the design is composed of the tessellation. Thus, the respective identification feature is embedded in the decorative layer. The design is preferably a printed design, more preferably a digitally printed design.

[0062] In embodiments, the relief layer comprises a relief structure, wherein the relief structure is based on the design. Preferably, the relief structure is based on a depth map determined based on the design, particularly on a digital image of the design. This allows the method to provide improved embossing by ensuring that the embossing instructions are based on a depth map determined particularly for the decorative panel which is to be embossed. This can reduce the error in the embossing by ensuring that the embossing is relevant to the decorative panel. Furthermore, this allows the. method to embed the identification information in the relief layer. It may be preferred to also embed the identification information in the decorative layer. It may be that by determining the depth map based on the design or the decorative layer, which is attributed a first identification feature, the relief layer which comprises the relief structure based on the depth map may be attributed a second identification feature. Thus, it may be that at least one of the first and second identification feature is required to determine the identification information.

[0063] In particularly advantageous embodiments, at least one portion, preferably at least one of the first portion and the second portion, relates to the relief layer, wherein the respective identification feature is attributed thereto, such that the respective identification feature is identifiable or detectable at a particular angle with respect to the relief layer, preferably the particular angle may be matching an angle of an incident light directed from the opposing direction of the image capturing means. Thus, the image capturing means can capture a reflection of the incident light reflecting on the relief layer, and the method may detect the respective identification feature based on the reflection of the incident light. The relief layer may comprise a relief structure allowing for interaction with incident light in various ways depending on its texture, shape, and reflectance properties. This interaction may result in distinctive reflections, which can be captured and/or analyzed using algorithms to extract meaningful information. For instance, specific patterns might result in different reflection intensities, polarization, or phase changes that can be used as identification features. By analyzing these reflections, the detection or and identification of the respective identification feature can be performed with high accuracy.

[0064] In particularly advantageous embodiments, at least one of the first portion and the second portion relates to the protective layer, which may comprise the relief layer, and wherein the respective identification feature is attributed thereto. The protective layer may comprise a filter designed to alter the wat light interacts with the surface. The filter may include any one or combination of a tinting filter, anti-reflection filter, scratch-resistant filter, anti-glare filter, etc. The filter may comprise a particular pattern. Thus, the image capturing means can capture a reflection of the incident light reflecting on the protective layer, and the method may detect the respective identification feature based on the reflection of the incident light.

[0065] In embodiments, the digital image comprises a pair of images of design and/or of the respective at least one decorative panel. The pair of images may have different viewpoints of the respective at least one decorative panel. Preferably, the digital image relates to scanning or capturing a pair of images of the decorative panel. For example, the pair of images are captured simultaneously from slightly different viewpoints, mimicking the way human eyes perceive depth.

Thus, a depth map can be more reliably determined based on the pair of images.

[0066] In embodiments, the depth map is determined by applying a stereo matching algorithm.

The stereo matching algorithm may comprise at least one of: a block matching algorithm, a semi- global matching (SGM) algorithm, a graph cut algorithm, and a convolutional neural network (CNN).

The block matching algorithm calculates differences (e.g., absolute or sum of squared differences) between corresponding pixels in the pair of images and selects the disparity that minimizes the sum of these differences. SGM considers the matching costs of pixels along multiple paths, including both horizontal and vertical directions. Graph cut algorithms, such as Graph Cuts Stereo (GCS) and

Graph Cuts Belief Propagation (GC-BP), formulate stereo matching as an energy minimization problem. CNNs like DispNet, PSMNet (Pyramid Stereo Matching Network), and GC-Net use deep learning architectures to learn complex features and relationships in stereo image pairs.

[0067] In embodiments, the depth map is determined by applying a CNN, such as U-Net or

ResNet, to the digital image, preferably consisting of one digital image.

[0068] In embodiments, the encoding device comprises means for carrying out the method according to the present invention. The device may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) configured to carry out the method according to the present invention by executing instructions; a memory module for storing program instructions and data; one or more input/output interfaces for communication with external devices (e.g., user device and/or sensor module); a display screen for rendering visual output to the user; and a storage medium for long-term data storage.

[0069] The CPU comprised in the encoding device may obtain the instructions for producing the at least one decorative panel; obtain the information to be embedded in the instructions; and embed the identification information in the instructions.

[0070] In embodiments, the encoder system comprises a producing means for producing the at least one decorative panel according to the present invention. For example, the producing means are configured for performing at least the step of printing, preferably digitally printing, and/or otherwise applying at least a part of the (output) design of at least one panel layer and/or (output) relief structure of at least one panel layer, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, directly or indirectly, onto at least one base panel of a decorative panel (to be formed). In a further example, the producing means are configured for performing the step of preferably repeating the printing step to form the set of decorative panels and/or dividing the base panel prepared while repeating the printing step into the set of decorative panels.

[0071] In embodiments, step i) comprises obtaining the digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel by means of visual recognition means.

[0072] In embodiments, step i) comprises obtaining the digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one portion, preferably at least one of the first portion and the second portion, of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel by means of an image capturing means, such as but not limited to, a (monocular) camera, | particular a digital camera, for example a camera of a smartphone or tablet, an infrared sensor, a thermal imaging sensor, a low-light imaging sensor, a fish-eye sensor, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, and a 3D camera.

[0073] In embodiments, step i) comprises merging a plurality of digital images of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel with the same time stamp. The plurality of digital images may have been obtained from any one or combination of the image capturing means. For example, a smartphone comprising at least two back-facing cameras.

[0074] In embodiments, step ij comprises detecting the respective identification feature in each of the first portion and the second portion. In preferred embodiments, step ii) comprises detecting an orientation of said one of the at least one decorative panel. In highly advantageous embodiments, step ii) comprises detecting an orientation of said one ofthe at least one decorative panel, preferably an ordering and/or layout of the said one of the at least one decorative panel from among the at least one decorative panel wherein the at least one decorative panel comprises a plurality of decorative panels.

[0075] In embodiments, the respective identification feature in each portion, preferably each of the first portion and the second portion, is a wood pattern or a tile pattern or a concrete pattern or an abstract pattern or a textile pattern or a geometric pattern or a metallic pattern in the digital image.

[0076] In embodiments, the digital image relates to an imperfection in said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, wherein step iii} comprises determining a location of the imperfection.

The imperfection may relate to a production deviation or a defect in the production of any of the at least one decorative panel. In preferred embodiments, the digital image relates to an image of the imperfection. Thus, the producer of the decorative panel or at least the producer of the design can detect which panel from the set of panels comprises such an imperfection and can optionally check whether the imperfection relates to the digital design and/or to the production process of the decorative layer.

[0077] In embodiments, the dimensions ofthe sections in the tessellation are predetermined. Thus, the method can provide a more robust detection of the identification information. In preferred embodiments, step ii) and/or step iii) comprises post-processing the obtained images, comprising modulating said images based the predetermined dimensions of the respective at least one section captured in the images. For example, if a fish-eye camera is used to obtain the digital image or if the digital image is obtained wherein the decorative panel is captured at an angle far from 0 degrees (where 0 degrees relates to an image taken from a plane parallel to the plane in which the decorative panel is lying), i.e., at a slanted angle, such as an image taken at an angle of at least 10 degrees, at least 20 degrees, at least 30 degrees, at least 40 degrees, at least 50 degrees, etc., then the obtained image would be distorted and/or the relative dimensions of the sections would be off or wrong. The post-processing may comprise adapting the detecting pixels based on the predetermined dimensions of the sections. Thus, by post-processing or modulating the obtained image, distortions in the image may be corrected to better detect the identification information. This allows for a wide range of image capturing means to be used and/or for obtaining images at a wide range of angles relative to the plane of the decorative panel.

[0078] In embodiments, the method, preferably step ii) and/or step iii), comprises post-processing of the obtained digital image, comprising detecting a distance between the image capturing means and the decorative panel, preferably a respective section in the obtained image. The method, preferably step i), may comprise obtaining information of the image capturing means, such as camera type, lens type, applied zoom, etc., or metadata of the digital image, such as camera type, lens type, applied zoom, applied filter, applied merging method, original digital images before the merging, etc. Therefore, the detecting of the distance may be based on the information of the obtained imaging capturing means and/or the obtained metadata. This may be advantageous in combination with modulating the obtained images based the predetermined dimensions of the respective at least one section captured in the images. Thus, the distance can be more reliably detected based further on the predetermined dimensions of the sections, preferably the respective section(s) captured in the obtained digital image.

[0079] In embodiments, step ii) comprises applying digit reconstruction and/or interpolation methods for estimating the original digit based on the information available in the digital image, such as the surrounding symbols and/or the redundant data. Such methods include using the position of the error and the known information from neighboring symbols to determine the probable value(s) of the erroneous digit(s). For example, if a symbol "1011" is corrupted to "1111," it's likely that the second digit (the one in the middle) was flipped from 0 to 1 due to an error. In this case, the decoder can use the information from the neighboring symbols and the redundant data to estimate the original value of the erroneous digit(s). Thus, effective redundancy can be obtained. Examples of digit reconstruction and/or interpolation methods include: Peterson-Gorenstein-lrwin (PGI) algorithm, Berlekamp-Massey (BM) algorithm, Burst Error Correction algorithm (Reed-Solomon

Burst Correction Algorithm (RSB) and the Algebraic Coding Theory Burst Correction Algorithm (ACTBC)), Decimation Reinterpolation (DR) algorithm, Iterative Decoding algorithm (e.g., Turbo

Product Code (TPC) algorithm and the Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) code algorithm).

[0080] In embodiments, at least step ii), preferably any or each of the method steps, is performed by an app (computer program) running on a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device, e.g. (i) to activate augmented (AR) content associated with the respective identification feature and/or the embedded identification information, and/or (ii) to refer the user to an external website associated with the respective identification feature and/or the embedded identification information. Thus, the user (e.g., customer, consumer, manufacturer, etc.) may be provided with more detailed information, such as a digital passport, relating to the decorative panel to receive e.g. more information regarding the panel content (panel composition), and/or recycling related information, and/or (other) panel attributes.

[0081] In preferred embodiments, the respective identification feature(s) is(/are) not or at least not easily identifiable by the naked eye, wherein a (mobile) device is able to read the machine- readable/recognizable respective identification feature.

[0082] In embodiments, the decoding device comprises the visual recognition means for carrying out the method according to the present invention. The visual recognition means may relate to a central processing unit (CPU) configured to carry out the method according to the present invention by executing instructions; a memory module for storing program instructions and data; one or more input/output interfaces for communication with external devices (e.g., user device and/or sensor module); a display screen for rendering visual output to the user; and a storage medium for long- term data storage. The visual recognition means may relate to various methods and techniques used by a computer and an artificial intelligence system to identify, classify, and determine visual information from images or videos.

[0083] In embodiments, the decoding system comprises the image capturing means and the decoder device for carrying out the method according to the present invention. By using some of the image capturing means (e.g., a camera, and/or an infrared sensor, a thermal imaging sensor, and/or a low-light imaging sensor), the digital image may, in some cases (e.g., where the first and second portions located at opposite ends of the decorative panel), relate to one of the first and second portions of said one of the at least one decorative panel. In other cases, whereby using some of the image capturing means (e.g., fish-eye, LIDAR), the digital image may relate to both the first and second portions of the decorative panel. Thus, a combination of image capturing means may be highly advantageous to overcome any downsides of the other respective image capturing means. The image capturing means may make part of and/or may be integrated with the visual recognition means.

[0084] In embodiments, method comprises dynamically performing steps ii) and/or iii) upon obtaining the digital image. Preferably, the method comprises providing the user with instructions and/or suggestions for capturing the digital image, based on the obtained digital image. For example, the obtained digital image is a zoomed-in image of the decorative panel, wherein the image is low resolution, thus, the method detects that the image is zoomed-in or that the image capturing means is too close to the decorative panel (preferably wherein the sections have predetermined dimensions) and instructs the user to move away from the decorative panel or to zoom out. The decoder device may comprise a display for displaying said instructions and/or suggestions. Additionally or alternatively, the instructions or suggestions may be provided by a speaker.

[0085] In embodiments, the digital data file representing instructions with embedded identification information relate to Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and/or Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) data formats. Examples of a digital data file include any one or combination of: a solid modeling file, a 3D printing file, a vector graphics file, etc. In preferred embodiments, the digital data file comprises at least one of the following components: raster data, vector data, metadata, and printing instructions. The raster data may relate to a bitmap consisting of pixels, preferably a matrix of pixels, each representing a specific value, such as color. The vector data may comprise information about specific shapes or text. Metadata refers to information about the digital file itself, such as its creator, creation date, color mode, resolution, and other properties. The printing instructions may comprise printer-specific instructions, such as color profiles or ICC (International Color Consortium) profiles, to ensure accurate and consistent color reproduction across different devices. Additionally, the file might contain embedded print settings like paper size, orientation, and output quality. The identification information may be embedded in any one or combination of the components comprised in the digital data file.

[0086] In embodiments, a non-transient computer readable medium containing a computer executable software which when executed on a computer system performs the method as defined herein before by the embodiments of the present invention. A non-transient computer readable medium may include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital video disks (DVDs), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a non-transient computer readable medium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, device or module.

[0087] In embodiments, the identification information embedded in instructions is used for at least one of the following purposes: - identifying a decorative panel producer for the set of decorative panels to be produced for the customer; - identifying the customer of the set of decorative panels; - automatically printing shipping labels for delivering the set of decorative panels to the customer; and - delivering the set of decorative panels to the customer.

[0088] Additionally or alternatively, the identification information embedded in instructions may be used for authentication and/or verification purposes. The authentication and/or verification may be performed by commercial parties (e.g., manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) and/or by governmental organizations (e.g., customs).

[0089] In embodiments, each decorative panel in the set of decorative panels comprises at least one pair of opposite edges coupling profiles allowing interlocking of adjacent panels.

Generative model

[0090] In this document, the term “texture” refers to the surface characteristics that can be perceived through touch and/or sight. For example, wood texture, or also known as wood grain, refers to the unique pattern or appearance of the fibers in wood. It is determined by the arrangement, size, and appearance of the wood cells. The grain is a result of the growth rings, knots, and other natural characteristics of the wood. In this document, the texture may merely relate to a décor, particularly a decorative image, which typically represents a 2D design (visual texture).

This décor may e.g. be formed by a print or printed layer. Hence, the texture may be planar and flat. Optionally, said visual texture may have and/or create a 3D effect (depth effect). Additionally or alternatively the texture may also be a 3D design (tactile texture), such as a surface provided with one or more grooves and/or one or more recesses and/or one or more cavities. Optionally, the texture may encompass both options, wherein the texture comprises at least one décor image (2D texture or 2D design) and at least one, preferably at least partially corelated, relief structure (3D texture or 3D design) typically positioned on top of said décor image, for example to imitate the look and feel of a real-wood structure, optionally additionally provided with one or more bevels and/or one or more grout lines (and/or one or more other depth patterns).

[0091] In this document, the term “generated design” refers to any design generated within a generative model, and the term “output design” refers to any digital design generated and output by the generative model. As will be understood, the output design relates to a generated design which has been accepted for output. This output design differs from the input image. The generated design preferably comprises and/or relates to a relief structure (embossing or embossing pattern) for one or more decorative panels. This may be considered as a 3D design. Additionally or alternatively, the generated design preferably comprises and/or is related to a décor image for one or more decorative panels, which may lead to a planar (2D) design and/or to a spatial (3D) design.

The generated design preferably comprises a relief structure image or relief structure file, and/or a decorative output image (décor image) or decorative output file, which serve(s) as basis to further finalize one or more decorative panels. However, it is also imaginable that the generated design comprises a plurality of décor image parts (image fractions) which together define a complete décor image. This may be advantageous, for example, in case the décor (image) should be construed via a plurality of decorative layers, each decorative layer being provided with at least one décor image part, for example to realize a depth effect and/or other special effect. This latter would lead to a three-dimensional (3D) design, in particular a 3D décor (image). As indicated above, it is additionally or alternatively imaginable that the output design comprises at least one design component other than a décor image, such as for example a relief structure (embossing structure) and/or relief image (embossing image) and/or one or more bevels and/or one or more grouts (artificial grout lines).

[0092] In this document, the term “style” relates to an image filter and/or properties of an image and/or a relief related style, such as an embossing related style. Thus, a style transfer is a computer vision technology which relates to combining the content of a first image with the style of preferably a second image and/or transforms the first image (input) image based upon at least one obtained style, in particular at least one user-selected style. The relief related style may be of various nature, and relates to at least one relief related aspect, preferably at least one relief related creation or at least one relief related transformation of the texture, in particular 3D texture, of the digital image used during scanning or capturing an image of the decorative panel to be embossed. Such a relief related aspect may e.g. relate to the width, and/or length, and/or depth of cavities, such as grooves or other recesses, to be applied as embossing during the production of the relief layer and/or to the sharpness or smoothness of edges defining cavities to be applied as embossing during the production of the relief layer and/or the location and/or size of one or more grout lines and/or one or more bevels, and/or one of more alternative user-selected, optionally user created, depth patterns. Optionally, the style to be applied to the digital input may be entirely user-defined. It is imaginable that a plurality of predefined styles is presented to a user from which said user may select at least one style, and optionally subsequently modify said selected at least one style.

[0093] In this document, the term “depth map" refers to a two-dimensional (2D) image that contains information about the distance of surfaces in a scene from a viewpoint. It is often used in computer vision, computer graphics. In the depth map, each pixel corresponds to a point in the digital image or design, and the pixel value represents the distance from the viewpoint to the corresponding point.

For example, the higher the texture, the brighter or lighter its representation in the depth map.

Conversely, deeper textures appear darker. The terms depth map and relief image may be used interchangeably in this document. To this end, it may be advantageous in case the digital image is in grayscale mode and/or is converted into a grayscale mode. The depth map is preferably at least partially and more preferably entirely created by a computer. Human intervention may entirely be excluded here. Respectively, the term “generated depth map” refers to any depth map generated within a generative model, and the term “output depth map” refers to any depth map generated and output by the generative model. As will be understood, the output depth map relates to a generated depth map which has been accepted for output. This generated depth map may be based but may alternatively differ from the input image. It is also imaginable that the generated depth map is mapped onto a single base panel or decorative panel. However, it is also conceivable that said depth map is mapped onto a plurality of base panels or decorative panels. It is additionally or alternatively imaginable that the depth map comprises at least one design component other than a relief structure reflecting a material texture or characteristic, such as for example one or more bevels and/or one or more grouts (artificial grout lines). The decorative panel may be considered as a source decorative panel, which source decorative panel may either be a monolithic panel, such as a wooden board {wooden pane) and/or a stone tile (or stone slab), such as a marble tile (or marble slab), and/or a ceramic tile (or ceramic slab), etcetera. This source decorative panel may serve as basis for determining the depth map and to subsequently, based upon said depth map, generate instructions to realize an embossing (relief structure) in another decorative panel. The decorative panel to be embossed may be considered as a target decorative panel. Instead of using a decorative panel as source for a digital input image, the digital (input) image may also be unrelated to decorative panels and may e.g. be and/or be based upon at least one photo image. The decorative panel to be embossed may be considered as partially finished decorative panel and may be considered as finished once the embossing has been applied to said decorative panel, although further processing steps to finish the decorative panel, such as cutting and/or profiling the panel, are imaginable.

[0094] In this document, the term “embossing” refers as verb to the application of an embossing structure, also referred to as relief structure, and which may be abbreviated as embossing (as noun). This embossing realizes a 3D pattern in a surface, typically, an upper surface of the decorative panel, and preferably in a decorative surface layer of said decorative panel. Such an embossing is typically applied to provide the decorative panel a more attractive and/or more realistic appearance but may also be applied to provide the decorative panel with additional functionality, such as, for example, an improved anti-slip resistance and/or improved water drainage capacity. At least a part of the embossing may be designed and applied in register (in line) with a decorative image of the (target) decorative panel onto which the embossing is applied. This is for example attractive in case a wood pattern must be imitated, wherein the decorative panel may comprise a printed décor of a wood pattern on top of which an embossing is applied or must be applied, wherein said embossing comprises a plurality of impressions or cavities and/or grooves, which are in register with the wood nerves and wood pores of the printed wood pattern. The location and depth of the impressions, cavities, and/or grooves, being a function of the wood nerves and wood pores of the printed pattern gives an improved and more realistic look-and-feel effect to the eventual decorative panels. The embossing applied or to be applied may additionally or alternatively also comprises other 3D aspects, such as one or more bevels, and/or one or more grout lines and/or another pattern of cavities. Said decorative surface layer is typically affixed directly or indirectly onto a base panel of the decorative panel. Said decorative surface layer preferably comprises a plurality of sublayers, including a decorative print layer and at least one translucent or transparent protective layer covering said decorative print layer, wherein at least one protective layer, such as a wear layer, preferably comprises a relief structure which preferably is at least partially aligned with the decorative print layer. The decorative print layer preferably comprises a carrier film, such as a paper film or polymer film, onto which a decorative image is printed. The decorative surface layer may have a thickness less than 0.75 millimeter, or even less than 0.5 millimeter. It is also imaginable that the decorative print layer is printed directly onto the substrate and/or onto another layer, such as a primer layer and/or a, preferably white, basecoat layer already applied to the base panel.

[0095] In advantageous embodiments, the design is generated by at least one first generative model. The step of generating the design may comprise the following: - obtaining at least one digital input image, preferably comprising a texture, - obtaining at least one style, and

- applying, by using at least one first generative model being associated with a corresponding style transfer, said at least one style to said at least one digital input image to generate at least one (decorative) output design, particularly at least one (decorative) digital output design and/or (decorative) digital output image, as the digital image for the at least one decorative panel, particularly the digital input image obtained.

[0096] In embodiments, the design comprises a texture, such as a wood texture or a tile texture or a concrete texture. Preferably, the respective identification feature in each of the first portion and the second portion is a wood pattern or a tile pattern or a concrete pattern of the texture in the design.

[0097] In embodiments, the at least one style is obtained in the form of a respective of at least one style vector representation.

[0098] In advantageous embodiments, the depth map is generated by the at least one first generative model and/or at least one second generative model.

[0099] In particularly advantageous embodiments, the step of applying said at least one style comprises applying, using the at least one first generative model, said style to said digital input image to generate the depth map for the decorative panel. Alternatively, the step of applying said at least one style comprises applying, using the at least one second generative model being associated with a corresponding style transfer, said style to said digital input image to generate the depth map for the decorative panel.

[00100]In embodiments, the digital input image comprises an input depth map or an input relief image. Alternatively, the digital input image or the input relief image may be obtained separately from the digital input image. Thus, the step of applying said at least one style comprises applying the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model, said style to said input depth map to provide a generated depth map.

[00101]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one likelihood based generative model. Such models may directly learn the distribution’s probability density (or mass) function via (approximate) maximum likelihood. Examples of such models include autoencoders, autoregressive models, energy-based models, and normalizing flow models. Such models will be explained herein.

[00102] In embodiments, the first generative model and/or the second generative model comprise at least one implicit generative model. Such models implicitly represent the probability distribution.

Examples of such models include generative adversarial networks (GANs) and approximate

Bayesian computation (ABC).

[00103]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one score-based generative models. Such models have connections to normalizing flow models, therefore allowing exact likelihood computation and representation learning. Examples of such models include latent score-based generative models and sliced score matching.

[00104]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one autoencoder (AE). Preferably, the at least one AE comprises at least one variational AE (VAE) and/or at least one adversarial AE (AAE). In embodiments, the first generative model and/or the second generative model comprise at least one traditional AE and/or at least one VAE and/or at least one AAE. For example, the first generative model and/or the second generative model comprise at least one traditional AE, at least one VAE and at least one AAE. AEs comprise an encoder and a decoder and are effective in feature learning and dimensionality reduction, capturing essential features in data. VAEs provide a probabilistic framework for generative modeling, offering a clear interpretation of uncertainty in generated samples and are effective in generative diverse designs and/or depth maps. AAEs incorporate adversarial training principles, introducing a discriminator to guide the encoding process, which are more robust to noise, resulting in more realistic and sharper-looking generated samples.

[00105] In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one autoregressive model. Preferably, the at least one autoregressive model comprises at least one recurrent neural network (RNN), e.g., PixelRNN, and/or at least one convolutional neural network (CNN), e.g., PixelCNN, both of which are autoregressive models that use particular neural networks to generate images pixel by pixel.

[00106]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one traditional autoregressive model and/or at least one

RNN and/or at least one CNN. In embodiments, the first generative model and/or the second generative model are/is from the group of: at least one AE and at least one autoregressive model.

Preferably, the first generative model and/or the second generative model are/is from the group of: at least one AE, at least one VAE, at least one AAE, at least one autoregressive model, at least one RNN, and at least one CNN.

[00107]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one normalizing flow model (NFM). Preferably, the at least one NFM comprises at least one real normalizing flow (Real NVP) and/or at least one generative latent optimization (Glow) and/or at least one planar flow and/or at least one radial flow and/or at least one masked autoregressive flow (MAF) and/or invertible autoregressive flow (IAF).

NFMs typically learn a probability distribution over data by transforming a simple base distribution through a series of invertible transformations. NFMs have been shown to capture intricate dependencies in data.

[00108]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one traditional NFM and/or at least one Real NVP and/or at least one Glow and/or at least one planar flow and/or at least one radial flow and/or at least one

MAF and/or IAF.

[00109]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one energy-based model (EBM). Preferably, the at least one EBM comprises at least one Hopfield network and/or at least one (restricted) Boltzmann machine and/or at least one Markov random field and/or at least one Gaussian mixture model (GMM). EBMs typically define a probability distribution over data by associating an energy function with each data point.

[00110]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one traditional EBM and/or at least one Hopfield network and/or at least one (restricted) Boltzmann machine and/or at least one Markov random field and/or at least one GMM. The at least one EBM may comprise or may be combined with at least one score-based model and/or at least one NFM model and/or at least one autoregressive model, such as, Real NVP and PixelCNN.

[00111]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one score-based generative model (SGM). Preferably, the at least one traditional SGM comprises at least one latent SGM (LSGM) and/or at least one latent score-based generative adversarial network (SB-GAN) and/or at least one sliced score matching (SSM) algorithm and/or at least one amortized Stein variational gradient descent (ASVGD) algorithm. SGMs typically do not require explicit modeling of the probability density function, which can be advantageous when the true data distribution is complex or unknown.

Furthermore, SGMs can potentially model a wide range of data distributions, including high- dimensional and multimodal distributions. This may be advantageous for wood patterns of different wood species. LSGMs extend the scored-based approach by incorporating latent space variables, which allows for modelling of more complex and hierarchical data structures.

[00112]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model each comprises at least one traditional SGM and/or at least one LSGM and/or at least one SB-GAN and/or at least one SSM and/or at least one ASVGD. In embodiments, the first generative model and/or the second generative model are/is from the group of: at least one AE, at least one autoregressive model, at least one EBM, at least one NFM, and at least one SGM.

Preferably, the first generative model and/or the second generative model are/is from the group of: at least one traditional AE, at least one VAE, at least one AAE, at least one traditional autoregressive model, at least one RNN, and at least one CNN, at least one traditional SGM, at least one LSGM, at least one SB-GAN, at least one SSM, at least one ASVGD.

[00113]In embodiments, the step of applying the at least one style comprises detecting that a similarity between the generated design and the digital input image is within a predetermined similarity range. This is particularly advantageous for generative models that are not GAN. The generated designs may be discriminated by comparing them to the digital input image. Additionally or alternatively, the step of applying the at least one style comprises detecting that a similarity between the generated depth map and the input depth map comprised in the digital input image is within a predetermined similarity range. This is particularly advantageous for generative models that are not GAN. The generated depth map may be discriminated by comparing to the input depth map in the digital input image. Additionally or alternatively, the step of applying the at least one style comprises detecting that a similarity between the generated depth map and the input depth map is within a predetermined similarity range. This is particularly advantageous for generative models that are not GAN. The generated depth map may be discriminated by comparing to the input depth map.

[00114]In embodiments, the step of applying the at least one style comprises detecting that a similarity between any of the generated designs is within the predetermined similarity range. This is particularly advantageous to any generative model, including GAN that are not (or even are) trained on historically generated and/or output designs. Since a set of decorative panels may include many panels, there is a risk that any of these panels are either too similar and/or too dissimilar, which is not wanted. Thus, each of the generated designs may be discriminated by comparing them to another of the generated designs. This ensures that the generated designs are not too similar to and/or dissimilar from each other, while being accepted as realistic designs.

Additionally or alternatively, the step of applying the at least one style comprises detecting that a similarity between any of the generated depth maps is within the predetermined similarity range.

This is particularly advantageous to any generative model, including GAN that are not (or even are) trained on historically generated and/or output depth maps. Since a set of decorative panels may include many panels, there is a risk that any of these panels are either too similar and/or too dissimilar, which is not wanted. Thus, each of the generated depth maps may be discriminated by comparing them to another of the generated depth maps. This ensures that the generated depth maps are not too similar to and/or dissimilar from each other, while being accepted as realistic depth maps.

[00115]In embodiments, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model are/is trained on a training dataset comprising scanned and/or captured images of decorative panels, such as a plurality of scanned wood-pattern images and/or scanned tile- pattern images and/or scanned concrete-pattern images and/or captured wood-pattern images and/or captured tile-pattern images and/or captured concrete-pattern images. This can ensure that the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model are/is trained on high-quality images and/or images with highly desired patterns. Thus, the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model can generate more realistic designs with highly desired patterns. Alternatively or additionally, the training dataset may comprise any accepted generated design and/or any output design.

[00116] In embodiments, the training dataset comprises historically generated designs of decorative panels. This can improve the training of the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model and to decrease the rate of discarded designs. For example, a generative model is trained on previously generated set of first designs based on a first digital input image and can improve the generating of a set of second designs based on the first digital input image and/or a second digital input image. Thus, the set of second designs can be more effectively generated.

[00117]In preferred embodiments, the training dataset comprises depth maps historically determined based on the respective images of decorative panels in the training dataset. The training dataset may comprise historically generated depth maps (and/or output depth maps) of the respective historically generated designs or digital images (and/or output designs). This can improve the training of the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model and to decrease the rate of generated depth maps and/or digital images which are discarded. For example, a generative model is trained on previously generated set of first depth maps of a first set of digital images based on a first digital input image and can improve the generating of a second depth map based on the first digital input image and/or a second digital input image. Thus, the set of second digital image and/or depth map can be more effectively generated.

[00118] In embodiments, the method, preferably step c) comprises taking a hash of a full-resolution image of a decorative panel. This may refer to generating a fixed-size digital fingerprint or summary representation of the entire image using a cryptographic hashing algorithm. A hash function converts an image into a deterministic output with specific properties (e.q., fixed dimensions, high sensitivity, etc.). The hashing of an image can be useful when comparing generated images (i.e., by the at last one generative model) to check for uniqueness and/or when generating the identification feature.

Producing a decorative panel

[00119] In embodiments, the method comprises: - printing, preferably digitally printing, and/or otherwise applying at least a part of the (output) design, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, directly or indirectly, onto at least one base panel of a decorative panel (to be formed), and - preferably repeating the printing step to form the set of decorative panels and/or dividing the base panel prepared while repeating the printing step into the set of decorative panels.

The repeating of the printing step may be performed in a particular order, such that pattern or image repetition is avoided. The dividing may be performed, e.g. by cutting or sawing.

[00120] Each base panel may be provided, particularly printed, with a single smaller design or may be provided, in particular printed, with a plurality of smaller designs, preferably oriented side-by- side and/or adjacent to each another. Each base panel comprises and/or may form a core of the decorative panel (to be formed). Said core may be a monolithic layer (single layer) or may be a multi-layer core. Said base panel may comprise one or more further layers attached to a bottom surface of the core, such as a backing layer, and/or to a top surface of the core, such as a primer layer and/or basecoat layer, preferably white basecoat layer, to facilitate and/or improve the application of the design, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, and/or to improve the aesthetical appearance of the decorative design generated by the at least one first generative model once applied onto said further layer, such as the primer layer and/or (white) basecoat layer of the base panel. The printed or otherwise applied design is considered as a decorative layer of the decorative panel. Such a decorative layer may be a single layer and/or may be composed out of a plurality of layers. In case of a multi-layer decorative layer, it is imaginable that at least a part of the design, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, is present in a first decorative layer and at least a part of the design, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, is present in at least one further decorative layer. For example, said first decorative layer may be formed by a décor image, preferably digitally printed, décor image, while another decorative layer is provided with another part of the design, preferably generated by the at least one first and/or second generative model, such as a relief structure, which may be aligned with said décor image. It is also imaginable that the décor image is spread over various decorative layer applied on top of each other, which may realize e.g. depth effects and/or another special effect, such as e.g. a glitter effect and/or a position-selective matt and/or glossy effect. This may lead to a more realistic imitation of natural materials, such as wood, stone, in particular marble or sliced stone, and/or other materials, such as mosaic. The decorative layer may be planar and/or may be provided with a relief structure, such as an embossing structure and/or one or more bevels and/or one or more grouts. It is imaginable that a bottom surface of the decorative layer is planar, while at least a part of an opposite top surface of the decorative layer is provided with a relief structure. It is imaginable that the eventual decorative panel comprises one or more layers applied on top of said decorative layer, such as one or more transparent and/or translucent wear layers and/or one or more transparent and/or translucent coating layers. One or more of these layers, applied on top of the decorative layer, may bear a part of the design, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, such as, for example, a relief structure aligned with a décor image forming the decorative layer and/or position-selectively applied matt and glossy areas aligned with a décor image forming the decorative layer.

[00121]In preferred embodiments, a part of the respective (output) design is printed onto the respective of a plurality of base panels of the decorative panels to be formed.

[00122] The step of printing may be repeated to form the set of decorative panels. If after performing the printing step once, the base panels form the set of decorative panels, then printing step may be performed once.

[00123] In embodiments, the method comprises obtaining a panel installation pattern, wherein the designs, preferably generated by the at least one first generative model, are based upon the panel installation pattern. Thus, the output designs, preferably the decorative panels, can be aligned based on the panel installation pattern. For example, in case the designs represent wood grain patterns with wood nerves, the wood nerves (main) direction and the longitudinal axis of the panels may be aligned with each other. This may obviously also be applied to alternative decorative patterns having longitudinal (oblong) lines of sight characterizing said patterns.

[00124] In embodiments, the method further comprises obtaining surface area information relating to a surface area to be covered by an assembly of decorative panels, wherein the (output) design is sized to fit at least said surface area, preferably sized to fit a larger surface area than the obtained surface area. For example, a user may indicate that a surface area to be covered by decorative panels, wherein at least one decorative panel is made by making use of the method according to the invention, measures A x B square meters. Based upon these dimensions, a computer may calculate the number of panels needed to cover said surface area, based upon a predefined or chosen size of the decorative panels and/or installation pattern of said decorative panels. Based upon this surface area, the number of output designs and/or the number of output designs needed to realize a decorative panel is/are preferably calculated (by means of a computer) to realize a decorative covering to cover said surface area. In case this numberis 1 or smaller, the output design can be sized, in particular cropped. In case this number is larger than 1 a plurality of output designs will have to be used to manufacture the entire decorative panel covering. Preferably, mutually different output images are used in this case to prevent pattern repetition. It is imaginable that at least one decorative panel comprises and/or is based upon a plurality of output designs. It is also imaginable that each output design is printed on a large base panel, particularly a slab, which is divided, particularly cut, into a plurality of single decorative panels after applying the output design to said large base panel, in particular said slab.

[00125] In embodiments, the output designs and/or output depth maps are generated in a particular order and/or in a particular layout. In embodiments, output designs and/or output depth maps are provided for printing in a particular order and/or in a particular layout. The order and/or the layout may be determined based on the similarity/dissimilarity of the output designs and/or output depth maps and/or to the surface area. The order and/or the layout may be determined based on the panel installation pattern. For example, output designs having the highest similarity can be printed on decorative panels which will be installed farther apart than other decorative panels in the set of decorative panels.

[00126]In embodiments, a decorative panel is a physical decorative panel, preferably comprising a core and a decorative layer. The core is referred to herein as a base panel and may comprise an upper layer and a lower layer. The decorative layer may be, either directly or indirectly, affixed and/or printed onto the upper layer of the core. The decorative layer of every decorative panel according to the invention is unique by the generated output design of the at least one generative model.

[00127] In embodiments, printing step comprises applying at least one protective layer, after printing at least a part of said at least one output image, onto the at least one base panel, preferably after providing the relief structure. The protective layer may be affixed covering the decorative layer.

[00128] In embodiments, the method comprises the step of providing or applying at least one relief structure, particularly an embossing structure, e.g. after printing at least a part of the output design, onto the base panel. For example, the at least one relief structure is provided onto, and/or formed in, the decorative layer. The relief structure is provided or applied based on the embossing instructions. This can improve the visual appearance of the decorative panel by providing nerves and/or pores, which gives an improved and more realistic look-and-feel effect to the decorative panels. The relief structure may be provided onto the protective layer. This can provide a compromise between providing further improved and even more realistic look-and-feel effect to the decorative panels while comprising the protection of the relief structure. Typically, the relief structure, particularly the embossing structure, may be applied into a wear-resistive layer (wear layer) and/or an abrasion resistive layer serving to protect the decorative layer. Optionally, said relief structure is covered by at least one coating, such as a lacquer layer.

[00129] In embodiments, the relief structure is provided on a carrier layer, preferably a primer layer, provided on the decorative panel. The carrier layer may be provided on the printed decorative panel, i.e. on the printed layer. The carrier layer may comprise a pattern of at least one primer, preferably two or more primers, such as a mat primer and a glossy primer.

[00130]In embodiments, the relief structure is at least partially formed by a printed structure, preferably a digitally printed structure, and/or can be formed by making use of a printed structure,

in particular a digitally printed structure, preferably using transparent and/or translucent ink.

Preferably, at least a part of the relief structure is provided by printing an embossing liquid, e.g. by means of an inkjet printhead, preferably wherein transparent and/or translucent ink is used. This allows the underlying décor to remain visible. The relief structure can be composed of a single ink layer or of a plurality of ink layers. The relief structure can be formed, for example, by printing ink droplets at locations wherein elevations in the relief structure are desired. Additionally or alternative, the relief structure can also be formed, for example, by printing ink droplets containing a curing inhibitor onto a liquid base layer to be cured, at locations where recesses, such as grooves, indentations, or other cavities, in the relief structure are desired. During curing the curing, such as

UV curing and/or excimer curing, inhibitor inhibits (and even prevents) curing of the covered parts of said liquid layer, while uncovered parts of said liquid BASE layer will be become cured (hardened), after which the still liquid parts are removed, for example by mechanical brushing, resulting in the eventual relief structure (see also Fig. 5).

[00131]In embodiments, the relief structure comprises a continuous printed layer, preferably comprising and/or defining a texture and/or indentations and/or protrusions, e.g., wood grain and tile grout, etc.

[00132] In embodiments, the relief structure is provided in two or more distinct steps, and this allows, for example, to obtain combined effects by using two embossing liquids.

[00133]In embodiments, the relief structure is at least partially composed of a printed base layer.

Preferably, the base layer may be a printed base layer, more preferably a digitally printed base layer. However, the liquid base layer is often applied in liquid form by means of roller coating. This means that the base layer, initially in liquid state, is applied either directly or indirectly on top of the decorative layer and my serve to realize the relief structure as described above. The depth of the relief structure may vary across the relief structure. The relief structure may have a depth up to 200 micron, or even larger (if desired).

[00134] In embodiments, the method comprises providing at last one UV curable layer, after printing at least a part of the output designs, onto the respective of the base panels. The UV-curable layer(s) may be attached to the decorative panel on top of the decorative layer and may for example be formed by a wear layer and/or a protective top coating. Typically, the UV-coating or layer is applied in liquid state and is cured afterwards by means of a UV light source, such as a mercury lamp, a

LED light source, an excimer light source, and/or combinations thereof. Other curable layers of the decorative panel may be cured in the same way. Different UV light sources may lead to different gloss levels. For example, using a mercury light source leads to a glossier effect than using an excimer light source which will lead to a more matt effect. It is imaginable that different gloss levels are created in a single layer and/or in different layers, wherein the gloss level created may at least partially be dependent on the at least one output design used to realize at least one decorative layer of the decorative panel.

[00135]In embodiments, the method comprises providing a backing layer which is, either directly or indirectly, affixed to the lower layer of the core. The core may comprise coupling profiles at the panel edges for coupling, e.g., locking, of decorative panels for the covering of a floor, a wall, a ceiling, or furniture. In case the digital layout is digitally printed onto the base panel, for example the core, during manufacturing and in case the base panel is divided into a plurality of decorative panels, such that the front side of each decorative panel includes one of the printed decorative panel designs (meaning together they form the output design), it is preferred that a positioning code is present on the panel. In such an embodiment, the backside, for example the backing layer, of each decorative panel preferably includes the positioning code of the decorative panel design of the decorative layer printed on the front side of said decorative panel, preferably the core. In particularly advantageous embodiments, at least one of the first portion and the second portion relates to the backing layer, wherein the respective identification feature is attributed thereto. The positioning code may comprise a plurality of codes, particularly a first code and a second code attributed to the first portion and the second portion respectively. The position code may relate to the identification feature. In such an embodiment, the backside, for example the backing layer, of each decorative panel preferably includes the positioning code of the decorative panel design of the decorative layer printed on the front side of said decorative panel, preferably the core.

[00136]In embodiments, the respective identification feature attributed to the first portion and the second portion in the respective of at least one of the layers in the at least one decorative panel is at least partially printed before and/or after the respective of at least one of the layers is printed.

Preferably, the respective identification feature is at least partially printed by using a UV-visible ink.

This UV-visible ink appears invisible or nearly invisible under normal lighting conditions but becomes visible when exposed to UV light.

Examples

[00137] Example embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1-5, which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Example 1: first example of methods according to the invention

[00138] Fig. 1 illustrates example embodiments of methods for embedding identification information according to the invention. In a first example embodiment, the method relates to embedding identification information in instructions for producing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one (10) of the at least one decorative panel, the method comprising: a) obtaining instructions; b) obtaining the identification information to be embedded in the instructions; and c) embedding the identification information in the instructions, wherein step c) comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion (11) and a second portion (12) of said one (10) of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means, wherein the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00139] As is shown in Fig. 1, the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) relate to a tessellation dividing said one (10) of the at least one decorative panel into non-overlapping sections. The tessellation comprises at least five sections: a first section (13), a second section (14), a third section (15), a fourth section (18) and a fifth section (17). Here, each subsequent section in the order of the first section (13) to the fifth section (17) has half the dimensions of the previous section in said order. This may be seen as an equivalent to a quadratic spiral, where the sections are divided such that the smaller sections are in one direction, in this case the smaller the sections the more they are in the bottom left direction. The sections may be divided in a quadratic spiral or any other spiral, e.g., logarithmic or Fibonacci spiral. The sections may also be divided in the opposite of the one direction, in this case additional smaller sections are in the top right direction.

[00140] Thus, there are several possibilities for attributing a respective identification to each of the first portion (11) and the second portion (12). The first portion (11) and the second portion (12) may be any of the at least five sections (13-17).

[00141] An advantage of such a tessellation is that it allows for attributing a respective identification feature to sections of the decorative panel which are most accessible to a user, such as corners and/or ends of the decorative panel lengthwise. It will be understood that for longer decorative panels, it can be difficult for a user to capture an image of the whole decorative panel. Thus, an incomplete image of the decorative panel, such as a fraction thereof, e.g. half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc. may be allow the retrieval of the identification information. This provides a more practical application for the user, e.g., using a smartphone, to retrieve the identification information from one image.

[00142] The decorative panel, particularly the decorative layer, comprises a design comprising a wood texture or wood pattern. Here, the design is composed of the tessellation.

[00143] It is highly advantageous that the design is generated using at least one generative model, such as a GAN. Therefore, the design of said decorative panel is different, and preferably unique, when compared to the design of other decorative panels in the same set and/or in the database of (historically generated) decorative panels. Thus, the respective identification feature attributed to each of the sections (13-17) is related to the wood texture or wood pattern in each section.

[00144] An advantage of the respective identification feature being related to the texture of the (generated) design, is that each section is attributed its own identification feature. This makes the embedding of the identification information in the instructions highly desired for producing decorative panel that are highly attractive since it does not affect the visual attributes of the decorative panel.

[00145]In a second example embodiment, the method relates to decoding at least one encoded decorative panel, comprising: i) obtaining a digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, ii) detecting the respective identification feature in at least one of the first portion and the second portion; and iiiy determining, based on the detected respective identification feature, the embedded identification information,

wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00146] As described with reference to the first example embodiment, the first portion (11) and the second portion (12) may be any of the at least five sections (13-17).

[00147] An advantage of the tessellation is that it allows for simpler decoding the decorative panel, by providing the user, with more effective detection of any of the portions, such as in corners and/or at ends of the decorative panel lengthwise. Typical difficulties for detecting identification information in decorative panels may include, but is not limited to, low light, low quality image, inaccessible sections, distortions in the image, etc. Thus, the detection of the identification information according to the invention ensures that such difficulties are overcome. For instance, by having the first portion (11) being the third section (15) and the second portion (12) being the fifth section (17), the user taking an image of the bottom of the decorative panel may not to be able to access the top half of the decorative panel (10) and/or the right half of the decorative panel (10)

[00148] Thus, an incomplete image of the decorative panel, such as a fraction thereof, e.g. half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc. may still allow the retrieval of the identification information. This provides a more practical application for the user, e.g., using a smartphone, to retrieve the identification information from one image.

Example 2: second example of methods according to the invention

[00149] Fig. 2 illustrates example embodiments of methods for embedding identification information according to the invention. In a third example embodiment, the method relates to embedding identification information in instructions for producing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one (20) of the at least one decorative panel, the method comprising: a) obtaining instructions; b) obtaining the identification information to be embedded in the instructions; and ¢) embedding the identification information in the instructions, wherein step c) comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion (21) and a second portion (22) of said one (20) of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion (21) and the second portion (22) independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means, wherein the first portion (21) and the second portion (22) are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00150] As is shown in Fig. 2, the first portion (21) and the second portion (22) relate to a tessellation dividing said one (20) of the at least one decorative panel into non-overlapping sections. The tessellation comprises an array of equally sized sections. Here, the array comprises a first 3x3 array and a second 3x3 array, wherein the first 3x3 array comprises a first section (23) which is in the first row and third column of the first array, and wherein the second 3x3 array comprises a second section (24) in the third row and third column of the second array. In this example, each section is attributed with a respective QR code.

[00151] Thus, the first portion {21) may be any one or combination of sections in the first array or any combination of at least one row and at least one column of the first array. The second portion

(22) may be any one or combination of sections in the second array or any combination of at least one row and at least one column of the second array.

[00152] An advantage of such a tessellation is that it allows for attributing respective identification features to more sections of the decorative panel. Thus, this would allow for a much more effective and efficient retrieval of the identification information, since the chances of capturing a section and detecting the identification feature attributed to it are increased.

[00153]In a fourth example embodiment, the method relates to decoding at least one encoded decorative panel, comprising: i) obtaining a digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, ii) detecting the respective identification feature in at least one of the first portion and the second portion; and iii) determining, based on the detected respective identification feature, the embedded identification information, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00154] As described with reference to the third example embodiment, the first portion (21) and the second portion (22) may be any one or combination of the sections or at least one row and at least one column in the respective array.

[00155] An advantage of this tessellation is that it allows for simpler decoding the decorative panel simpler, by providing the user, with more effective detection of any of the portions. In view of limitations for detecting identification information in decorative panel, as described herein, this tessellation ensures that the detection is as efficient and effective as possible. Other tessellations, such as a larger number of rows and/or columns can be envisioned.

[00156] It will be understood that the identification features attributed to the sections and/or portions are embedded by means of steganography or digital watermarking techniques, such that they are non-visible to the naked eye. Fig. 2, illustrates the identification features as visible for the mere purpose of showing an exemplary tessellation and should not be construed as limiting.

Example 3: third example of methods according to the invention

[00157] Fig. 3 illustrates example embodiments of methods for embedding identification information according to the invention. In example embodiments, the method relates to embedding identification information in instructions for producing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one (30) of the at least one decorative panel, the method comprising: a) obtaining instructions; b) obtaining the identification information to be embedded in the instructions; and c) embedding the identification information in the instructions, wherein step c) comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion (31, 35) and a second portion (32, 36) of said one (30) of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion (31, 35) and the second portion (32, 36) independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means, wherein the first portion (31, 35) and the second portion (32, 36) are at least partially non- overlapping.

[00158] As is shown in Fig. 3, the decorative panel (30) comprises a decorative layer (1) and a relief layer (2). Thus, the first portion (31, 35) is comprised in both the decorative layer (1) and the relief layer (2), wherein a first part of the first portion (35) comprised in the relief layer overlaps completely with a second part of the first portion (31) comprised in the decorative layer (1). Similarly, the second portion (32, 36) is comprised in both the decorative layer (1) and the relief layer (2), wherein a first part of the second portion (36) comprised in the relief layer overlaps completely with a second part of the second portion (32) comprised in the decorative layer (1).

[00159] In a fifth example embodiment, the first and second portions (31, 35; 32, 36) partially overlap in the center of the decorative panel (30). It may be useful to have an overlapping portion, where the respective identification feature for both first and second portions (31, 35; 32, 36) is identical or where the combination of a part of each of the respective identification feature in the overlapping portion provides an overlapping identification feature. As can be noticed, the overlapping parts of the first and second portions (31, 35; 32, 36) are non-identical. Thus, the overlapping parts may be considered as a third portion or an overlapping portion, which may be attributed a respective identification feature, e.g., the overlapping parts of the respective identification feature of the first and second portions (31, 35; 32, 36). For example, a first part of the overlapping identification feature is the overlapping parts of the respective identification feature in the first and second sections (33, 34), and a second part of the overlapping identification feature is the overlapping parts of the respective identification feature in the third and fourth sections (37, 38).

[00160]An advantage of having an overlapping portion is that it allows for the retrieval of the identification information by capturing a particular part of the first and second portions. The particular combination, i.e., the overlapping part, provides a unique portion which may be more accessible to a user.

[00161] The first and second portions (31, 32) in the decorative layer (1) may be the same as the first and second portions (11, 12) described in Example 1 with reference to Fig. 1.

[00162] In a sixth example embodiment, the first portion (31, 35) and the second portion (32, 36) relate to a tessellation dividing said one (30) of the at least one decorative panel, particularly the decorative layer (1) and the relief layer (2) respectively, into non-overlapping sections. In this example, the tessellation comprises two sections in each of the at least two layers. Thus, a first section (33) and a second section (34) are comprised in the decorative layer (1), and a third section (37) and a fourth section (38) are comprised in the top layer (2). Here, each of the layers is divided into two halves relating to the respective sections. Thus, the first portion (31, 35) comprises or is the first and third sections (33, 37), particularly, the first part of the first portion (35) is the third section (37) and the second part of the first portion (31) is the first section (33). Similarly, the second portion (32, 36) comprises or is the second and fourth sections (34, 38), particularly, the first part of the second portion (36) is the fourth section (38) and the second part of the second portion (38) is the second section (34).

[00163] In this example, each of the sections (33, 34, 37, 38) is attributed a respective identification feature. It may be that the relief layer, particularly the relief structure comprised therein is generated or determined based on the decorative layer, particularly the design comprised therein. Therefore, the third section (37) is generated based on the first section (33) and the fourth section (38) is generated based on the second section (34). Thus, the identification feature attributed to the third section (37) is based on the identification feature attributed to the first section (33) and the identification feature attributed to the fourth section (38) is based on the identification feature attributed to the second section (34). Hence, since the respective identification features generated for each of the first and second sections (33, 34) is unique, the respective identification features generated for each of the third and fourth sections (37, 38) is also unique.

[00164] An advantage of such a tessellation is that it allows for attributing a respective identification feature to sections of the decorative panel which are most accessible to a user, such as corners and/or ends of the decorative panel lengthwise. It will be understood that for longer decorative panels, it can be difficult for a user to capture an image of the whole decorative panel. Thus, an incomplete image of the decorative panel, such as a fraction thereof, e.g. half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc. may be allow the retrieval of the identification information. This provides a more practical application for the user, e.g., using a smartphone, to retrieve the identification information from one image.

[00165] Furthermore, by attributing the embedded respective identification information to at least two layers, such as the decorative layer and the relief layer, the method provides with a more robust encoding of the decorative panel (30).

[00166] The decorative panel (30), particularly the decorative layer (1), comprises a design comprising a wood texture or wood pattern. Here, the design is composed of the tessellation.

[00167]1t is highly advantageous that the design is generated using at least one first generative model, such as a GAN. Therefore, the design of said decorative panel is different, and preferably unique, when compared to the design of other decorative panels in the same set and/or in the database of (historically generated) decorative panels. Thus, the respective identification feature attributed to each of the sections (33, 34) is related to the wood texture or wood pattern in each section.

[00168] The relief layer (2), particularly the relief structure comprised therein, is based on the generated design or is generated using at least one second generative model (which may be the same as the at least one first generative model).

[00169] An advantage of the respective identification feature being related to the texture of the (generated) design, is that each section is attributed its own identification feature. This can also apply to the relief structure, which may be generated based on the generated design or generated using the at least one generative model, thereby attributing its own identification feature. This makes the embedding of the respective identification information in the instructions for producing the decorative panel, particularly the decorative layer and the relief layer, highly attractive since it does not affect the visual attributes of the decorative panel, particularly in the decorative layer and the relief layer.

[00170]In a seventh example embodiment, the method relates to decoding at least one encoded decorative panel, comprising: i) obtaining a digital image of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, particularly of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of said one of the at least one encoded decorative panel, ii) detecting the respective identification feature in at least one of the first portion and the second portion; and iii) determining, based on the detected respective identification feature, the embedded identification information, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00171] As described with reference to the third and/or fourth example embodiments, the first portion (31, 35) and the second portion (32, 36) may comprise or be any or combination of the first, second, third and fourth sections (33, 34, 37, 38).

[00172] An advantage of the tessellation is that it allows decoding the decorative panel simpler, by providing the user, with more effective detection of any of the portions, such as in corners and/or at ends of the decorative panel lengthwise. Typical difficulties for detecting identification information in decorative panels may include, but is not limited to, low light, low quality image, inaccessible sections, distortions in the image, etc. Thus, the detection of the identification information according to the invention ensures that such difficulties are overcome.

[00173] Thus, an incomplete image of the decorative panel, such as a fraction thereof, e.g. half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc. may still allow the retrieval of the identification information. This provides a more practical application for the user, e.g., using a smartphone, to retrieve the identification information from one image.

[00174] Furthermore, a third portion, which is the overlapping portion of the first and the second portions (31, 35; 32, 36) allows for the retrieval of the identification information by capturing a particular part of the first and second portions. This particular combination of overlapping parts provides a unique overlapping portion which may be more accessible to a user, e.g., when the decorative panel is very long and the user is standing close to the center thereof.

[00175] Furthermore, by attributing the embedded respective identification information to at least two layers, such as the decorative layer and the relief layer, the method provides with a more robust decoding of the encoded decorative panel (30). Here, the method may detect any one of the identification features in the respective sections, thereby making it more robust in low-light conditions or when light is at a particular angle causing reflection on the decorative panel.

Example 4: fourth example of a method according to the invention

[00176] Fig. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a decorative panel (40) according to the invention. The decorative panel (40) comprises a core (41) which comprises an upper side and a lower side. A decorative layer (43) is, either directly or indirectly, affixed to the upper side of the core (41). The decorative layer (43) of every decorative panel (40) according to the invention and/or obtained by applying the method according to the invention is unique by the generated output design of the at least one generative model. On top of the decorative layer (43), at least one protective layer (44), such as a wear layer, is affixed which covers the decorative layer (43). In addition to the decorative layer (43), the protective layer (44) can comprise a relief structure {embossing structure) which is unique and defined by the generated output design of the at least one generative model.

[00177] As shown in Fig. 4, the decorative panel (40) is provided with a UV-coating (45) that is attached to on top of the protective layer (44). Further, a backing layer (46) is, either directly or indirectly, affixed to the lower layer of the core (41). The core (41) further comprises coupling profiles (42) at at least one pair, and preferably each pair, of opposite panel edges. The coupling profiles (42) enable the mutual locking of decorative panels (40) for forming a floor covering, wall covering, ceiling covering or furniture covering. Preferably, the coupling profiles are configured to interlock adjacent decorative panels both in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the panels and/or in a direction perpendicular to said plane defined by the panels. In case the digital layout is digitally printed onto the base panel, for example the core (41), during manufacturing and in case the base panel is divided into a plurality of decorative panels, such that the front side of each decorative panel includes one of the plurality of printed decorative panel designs (meaning together they form the output design), it is or may be preferred that a positioning code is present on the panel for installation purposes. In such an embodiment, the backside, for example the backing layer (46), of each decorative panel (40) preferably includes the positioning code (47) of the decorative panel design of the decorative layer (43) printed on the front side of said decorative panel (40), preferably the core (41). Prior to printing, saw losses and/or cutting waste, for example due to later division of the panels and/or profiling of panel edges, may be taken into account, to prevent loss of the output design due to later sawing, profiling, cutting actions. Pre-known (predefined) cutting sections or other waste sections may e.g. be kept free from the output design and may remain unprinted during the printing step.

[00178] Thus, in an example embodiment, the instructions, in which identification information is to be embedded, are for providing any one or combination of the decorative layer (43), the protective layer (44) and the UV-coating layer (45). In this example, the protective layer (44) comprises the relief layer, and the top layer is the UV-coating layer (45).

[00179]In this example embodiment, the method for embedding identification information in instructions for producing the decorative panel (40) comprises embedding the identification information in the instructions, which comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion and a second portion of said one of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion and the second portion independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means.

[00180] Here, the first portion and the second portion may relate to any one or combination of the decorative layer (43), the protective layer (44), and the top layer (45). The embedding of the identification information may be performed as described in any of Examples 1-3. Additionally or alternatively, the first portion and the second portion may relate to the backing layer (48), wherein the identification feature is attributed to the back side of the backing layer (48) and/or relates to the positioning code (47). Thus, the positioning code (47) may include a plurality of codes, preferably a first code and a second code attributed to the first portion and the second portion.

Example 5: fifth example of a method according to the invention

[00181]Fig. 5 shows an example of instructions for producing a decorative panel (50) and/or a decorative slab to be cut into a plurality of decorative panels (50) according to the invention. In this example embodiment, a user (51) selects at least one digital input image (52) and at least one style, such as a décor related style and/or a relief structure related style, or style transfer (53), such as a décor related style transfer and/or a relief structure related style transfer, to be applied to said digital input image (52). This user selection may be made by using a digital user interface (554), which may be a website of a merchant or manufacturer running on a (web)server. The input image (52) may be selected from a prestored collection of input images (52) and/or may be an input image (52) uploaded by said user to said (web)server. The input (52, 53) given by the user is entered into at least one generative model (55), in particular at least one pretrained generative model (554) running on a computer. Said computer may be the same computer as said (web)server and/or may be able to communicate with said (web)server. The generative model (554) is preferably programmed to, based upon said selected input image(s) and style(s), generate at least one output design for a decorative panel (50) to be produced. This output design may serve to generate instructions, in particular computer-readable instructions, and preferably generated by a computer, for printing at least part of at least one decorative panel. Additionally or alternatively, the generative model (54) is preferably programmed to, based upon said selected input image(s) and style(s), generate a depth map based upon the input image and/or chosen style(s). This depth map may serve to generate instructions, in particular computer-readable instructions, and preferably generated by a computer, for embossing the at least a part of at least one decorative panel, particularly for applying an embossing structure in a decorative surface layer of said decorative panel (50) to be produced. The instructions may be based on the input (52, 53) given by the user. To this end, the digital image (52) is preferably analyzed and a depth map based on said image (562) is acquired. The output design and/or depth map is commonly created and stored as one or more output design files. The output design comprises an output décor design and/or an output relief structure design. In case the output design comprises both an output décor design and an output relief structure design, then the output relief structure is preferably at least partially aligned with said output décor design. This allows the realization of improved look-and-feel characteristics of the decorative panel (50) produced. The output décor design differs from the input image. The output décor design predominantly contributes to the visible characteristics of the decorative panel. The output relief structure design predominantly contributes to the tactile characteristics of the decorative panel. The output décor design is digitally sent to a décor printing station (lll), wherein the output relief structure design is digitally sent to an embossing station (VIII).

[00182] After making the selection(s) by the user (51), identification information is embedded in the instructions according to the present invention. The instructions are configured for producing/manufacturing the at least one decorative panel, wherein the embedding comprises generating a respective identification feature for each of a first portion and a second portion of said one of the at least one decorative panel such that each of the first portion and the second portion independently allows to retrieve the identification information through visual recognition means, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping.

[00183] Thereafter, the printing line may be activated to produce the customized decorative panel(s) (50). To this end, a base panel (60) is provided, which may for example be an HDF or MDF board, a polymer comprising board, a mineral board, or a combinations thereof, wherein, for example, the board comprises a composite of a thermoplastic material, such as PVC, (T)PU, PP, PE, PET, and at least one mineral filler, such as calcium carbonate. One or more further additives, such as wood fibers, glass fibers, etcetera and/or one or more additional layers, such as a reinforcement layer (e.g. a glass fiber layer) may be incorporated in the board as well. A top surface of the base panel (60) is successively provided with a primer layer (I), a first base coat layer (Il) and optionally a second base coat layer (Il). Typically, these basecoat layers are white layers to improve the colour authenticity of the décor to be printed in a subsequent step. Based upon the generated output décor design, a decorative layer (décor) (lll) is digitally printed onto said base coat layer(s) (ll). The decorative layer may be attributed a respective identification feature. The printer used for this printing step is schematically shown and is in this illustrative embodiment preferably a single pass printer, which comprises four print heads fixed over the whole working width, wherein each print head is configured to print its own colour (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black (CMYK)). The inks used are preferably water-based inks as these inks are environmentally friendly, odorless, and have the capacity to dry quickly. After applying the decorative layer (lll), a transparent primer layer (IV) is applied, followed successively by a wear layer (V) to protect the decorative layer, and a matt layer (VI) to reduce the gloss level to an acceptable level. The wear layer (or protective layer) may be attributed a respective identification feature. Additionally, a relief structure is created on top of said matt layer (VI), preferably based upon said output relief structure design and/or based on the instructions for embossing. The relief structure (i.e., comprised in a relief layer) may be attributed a respective identification feature. The formation of this relief structure concerns a multistep process.

Firstly, a structure layer (VII), also referred to as base layer, is applied in liquid form, preferably by means of roller coating. Subsequently, ink droplets (VIII) are digitally printed onto the still liquid structure layer (VII), wherein said ink droplets comprise at least one UV inhibitor, and wherein said ink droplets (VIII) are printed position-selectively at locations which should become recessed portions of the relief structure. During a subsequent UV curing step the structure layer (VII) is cured (hardened) except for the portions which are covered by the UV inhibiting ink. In a subsequent step the still liquid portions of the structure layer (VII) are mechanically removed, preferably by means of one or more rotating brushes, in particular metal brushes. After formation of the relief structure (VII+ VIII), a protective top coating (IX) is applied, typically initially in liquid form following by a UV curing step. In a last step (X) (or series of steps) the panel (50) or slab may be cut into a plurality of smaller decorative panels and/or may be subjected to an edge-profiling step to realize coupling profiles at at lest one pair of opposite decorative panel edges to allow interlocking of decorative panels when installing a decorative covering consisting of those panels. The decorative panels may be used e.g. as floor panel, wall panel, ceiling panel, or furniture panel.

[00184] (End of Example 5)

[00185] The above-described inventive concepts are illustrated by several illustrative embodiments.

It is conceivable that individual inventive concepts may be applied without, in so doing, also applying other details of the described example. It is not necessary to elaborate on examples of all conceivable combinations of the above-described inventive concepts, as a person skilled in the art will understand numerous inventive concepts can be (recombined in order to arrive at a specific application.

[00186] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (59)

Conclusions 1. A computer-implemented method for embedding identification information in instructions for making at least one decorative panel, the identification information relating to an identification of one of the at least one decorative panel, the method comprising: a) obtaining the instructions; b) obtaining the identification information to be embedded in the instructions; and c) embedding the identification information in the instructions, wherein step c) comprises generating at least one respective identification feature for each of at least a first portion and at least a second portion of the at least one decorative panel, such that each of the at least a first portion and the at least a second portion independently enables the identification information to be retrieved via a visual recognition means, the first portion and the second portion being at least partially non-overlapping. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise a tessellation that divides one of the at least one decorative panel into non-overlapping sections. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion are, respectively, a first section and a second section of one of the at least one decorative panel. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the tessellation comprises at least 3 sections, preferably at least 4 sections, more preferably at least 5 sections. 5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each of the sections is assigned a respective identification feature which independently allows the identification information to be retrieved via the visual recognition means, whereby the respective identification features of the respective sections are preferably identical identification features. 6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first portion and the second portion are located at opposite ends of the one of the at least one decorative panel. 7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein step c) comprises adding error correction information to the respective identification feature. 8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the instructions are for providing any or a combination of a decorative layer, a protective layer, a relief layer, and a top layer. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion relates to any or a combination of the decorative layer, the protective layer, the embossed layer, and the top layer. 10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the decorative layer comprises a design, and wherein the decorative layer is preferably a digitally printed decorative layer. A method according to claim 10, wherein the respective identification feature in each of the first portion and the second portion is a wood pattern or a tile pattern or a concrete pattern in the design. 12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the design is constructed from tessellation. 13. Method according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the relief layer comprises a relief structure, the relief structure preferably being based on the design. 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the relief structure is based on a depth map determined from the design. 15. Method according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the design of the decorative layer is at least partly generated by at least one first generative model, and/or wherein the depth map of the relief layer, in particular the relief structure, is at least partly generated by at least one second generative model. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one first generative model and/or the at least one second generative model comprises a generative adversarial network, GAN. Method according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein at least one identification feature generated during step c) comprises at least one watermark, preferably at least one steganographic watermark. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein at least one identification feature generated during step c) comprises at least one steganography-based pattern and/or steganography-based image. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein at least one identification feature generated during step c) is configured as an exposed identification feature, preferably directly visible by either the visual recognition means and/or the naked eye from a top view of a decorative panel comprising the exposed identification feature. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the decorative panel is a multi-layer decorative panel, and wherein the instructions comprise information regarding in which at least one panel layer and/or to which at least one panel layer each identification feature is to be applied. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the method is performed for a plurality of decorative panels in the same collection, wherein the identification information retrievable from at least one identification feature via a visual recognition means relates to an identification of each of the plurality of decorative panels. The method of claim 21, wherein the identification information comprises a batch number. 23. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 22, further comprising manufacturing the at least one decorative panel based on the instructions, such that the manufactured panel comprises the at least one identification feature. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the panel manufacturing method comprises the steps of: d) providing at least one base panel, and e) applying at least one decorative top structure, directly or indirectly, on top of the base panel, the decorative top structure comprising at least one decorative layer, at least one identification feature being applied on top of the base panel and/or being applied in or onto the decorative top structure. 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the decorative layer comprises at least one digitally printed design, at least a portion of the design forming at least a portion of at least one identification feature. 26. Method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the decorative layer comprises at least one, preferably digitally printed design, wherein at least one identification feature is digitally printed as an image on top of the design. 27. A method according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the identification feature is at least partially aligned with an adjacent portion of the design, preferably at least part of the identification feature forming a wood or tile pattern, a marble pattern, a natural stone pattern, or a concrete pattern. 28. Method according to any of claims 24 to 27, wherein the decorative top structure comprises at least one protective layer, such as at least one wear layer and/or at least one lacquer layer, which covers the decorative layer. 29. A method according to claim 28, wherein at least one protective layer comprises a relief structure, the relief structure preferably being aligned with the decorative layer. 30. Method according to claim 28 or 29, wherein at least one protective layer, preferably the relief structure, is provided with at least one identification feature. 31. A method according to claim 30, wherein at least part of the relief structure forms at least part of at least one identification feature. 32. A method according to claim 30 or claim 31, wherein the identification feature is at least partially aligned with an adjacent portion of the relief structure, wherein at least a portion of the identification feature preferably forms a relief structure corresponding to a wood pattern or a tile pattern, a marble pattern, a natural stone pattern or a concrete pattern. 33. Method according to any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the relief structure is a digitally printed relief structure. 34. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 33, wherein at least one identification feature is a printed identification feature. 35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the printed identification feature is at least partially printed with invisible ink which is invisible to the naked eye and visible to the visual identification means. 36. Method according to any of claims 34 to 35, wherein at least one printed identification feature constitutes at least one printed watermark, preferably at least one printed steganographic watermark. 37. A method according to any one of claims 34 to 36, wherein at least one printed identification feature is at least one printed steganography-based pattern and/or printed steganography-based image. 38. A method according to any one of claims 24 to 37, wherein the method further comprises step f) comprising the step of milling coupling profiles in at least one pair of opposing panel edges that enable interlocking of adjacent panels. 39. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the at least one identification feature is visible to the visual recognition means from a top side of the decorative panel. 40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the at least one identification feature covers a surface area of less than 10%, preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 3% of an areal surface area of the top of the panel. 41. Method according to any of claims 1 to 40, wherein the information obtained during step b) is stored on a server, preferably a web server. 42. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 41, wherein the information obtained during step b) and stored on a server comprises information relating to the identity of the manufacturer of the panel and/or comprising information for determining the authentication and/or origin of the decorative panel. 43. Computer-implemented method for decoding at least one coded decorative panel, in particular a panel manufactured using the method according to any of claims 1 to 42, comprising: i. obtaining a digital image of the one of the at least one coded decorative panel, in particular of at least one of at least one first part and/or at least one second part of the one of at least one coded decorative panel; ii. detecting the respective identification feature in at least one of the first part and/or the second part; and iii. determining, based on the detected respective identification feature, the embedded identification information, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein step i) comprises merging a plurality of digital images of the one of the at least one encoded decorative panels having the same time stamp. 45. A method according to claim 43 or claim 44, wherein step ii) comprises detecting the respective identification feature in each of the first portion and the second portion. 46. A method according to any one of claims 43 to 45, wherein the respective identification feature in each of the first portion and the second portion is a wood pattern or a tile pattern or a concrete pattern or a marble pattern or a natural stone pattern in the digital image. 47. A method according to any one of claims 43 to 46, wherein the coded decorative panel comprises at least one production deviation, such as a watermark, and wherein the digital image comprises at least a part of the at least one production deviation, wherein step iii) preferably comprises determining a location of the at least one production deviation. An encoding device configured to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 42, the encoding device comprising at least one control unit configured to: - obtain instructions for manufacturing the at least one decorative panel; - obtain information to be embedded in the instructions; and - embedding identification information in the instructions, the embedding comprising generating an identification feature for each of a first portion and a second portion of the one of the at least one decorative panel, such that each of the first portion and the second portion independently enables the identification information to be retrieved via a visual recognition means, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping. A decoding device comprising a visual recognition means configured to perform a method according to any of claims 43 to 47. 50. A coding system comprising: - a coding device according to claim 48; and - at least one production line for physically manufacturing the at least one decorative panel. 51. A decoding system comprising: - an image capturing means; and - a decoding device according to claim 49. 52. Digital data file representing instructions with embedded identification information for use in a coding system according to claim 50 and/or for performing a method according to any of claims 1-42, wherein the instructions are for manufacturing at least one decorative panel, wherein the identification information relates to an identification of one of the at least one panel, wherein at least one portion, preferably each of a first portion and a second portion of the one of the at least one panel, independently allows identification information to be retrieved via a visual recognition means, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at least partially non-overlapping. 53. A digital data file according to claim 52, wherein the identification information relates to the manufacturer of the decorative panel and/or to authentication information and/or ownership information and/or to panel composition-related information and/or panel origin-related information. 54. Computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform a method according to any of claims 1 to 42 and/or a method according to any of claims 43 to 47. 55. Decorative panel obtained by carrying out the method according to any of claims 1 to 42. 56. Collection of decorative panels obtained by performing the method according to any of claims 1 to 42. 57. A set of decorative panels as claimed in claim 56, wherein each panel comprises at least one pair of coupling profiles located on opposite edges which allow interlocking of adjacent panels. 58. Decorative covering, in particular a floor covering, wall covering, ceiling covering or furniture covering, composed of a collection of, preferably interconnected, decorative panels according to claim 56 or claim 57. 59. Use of identification information embedded in instructions for at least one of the following purposes: - retrieving identification information of the panels and at least one section to which the at least one production deviation belongs; - identifying a set of decorative panels to be manufactured for a customer, wherein the lot number is the identification information; - identifying a manufacturer of the decorative panels; - authenticating the decorative panels; - identifying at least one owner of at least some of the identification information; - identifying at least some of the panel composition and/or panel origin-related information; and/or - identifying an arrangement and/or classification of the decorative panels within the set of decorative panels; wherein the identification information is embedded in the instructions using the method according to any of claims 1 to 42.