Polychromatic encoding system, method and device

• US 20060039016A1
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Search and Social Media Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Shelton E. Harrison Jr
• Inventors: Harrison, Shelton E. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.900
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes

Abstract

Disclosed is a polychromatic barcode or portable data file symbology, image, system, method, and apparatus enabling virtually unlimited information density. In a preferred embodiment, ASCII characters are assigned to unique identifiers, which identifiers are in turn assigned to unique colors. Color blots are sequentially arranged in a symbol so as to match the sequence of corresponding identifiers to be encoded, and then the symbol is applied to a surface. To decode, the symbol is scanned, colors translated into identifiers, and identifiers translated into content. Also disclosed are blots dedicated to calibration. Information density is further enhanced through an external reference function achieved through commands included in the barcode itself, by which function infinitely high information density is achieved. Licensing information is available through www.inventerprise.com.

Claims

1. A method of conveying information, said method comprising the following steps:

performing a first evaluation step, wherein said first evaluation step comprises analyzing the contents of a first document or the context in which a first barcode will be used so as to determine preferable information density or deviation tolerance for said first barcode;

performing a first selection step, wherein said first selection step comprises choosing one of two optical encoding approaches, said two approaches being selected from the group consisting of (i) a monochromatic approach and (ii) a polychromatic approach, and wherein said first selection step further comprises the step of choosing said polychromatic approach; and

performing a second selection step, wherein said second selection step comprises choosing one of two polychromatic systems, said two systems being selected from the group consisting of (i) a full polychromatic system and (ii) a limited polychromatic system.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein said step of choosing one of two polychromatic systems further comprises the following step:

choosing said full polychromatic system, wherein said full polychromatic system comprises an optical encoding system in which a first antecedent is symbolized in a first color by way of an intermediate value to which both said first antecedent and said first color are assigned.

3. The method in claim 1 wherein said step of choosing one of two polychromatic systems further comprises the following step:

choosing said limited polychromatic system, wherein said limited polychromatic system comprises an optical encoding system whereby antecedents are represented by polychromatic color blot pairs or triplets.

4. The method in claim 2 wherein said full polychromatic system comprises a first matrix of relationships, said first matrix of relationships comprising a plurality of relationships between colors and identifiers.

5. The method in claim 4 wherein said full polychromatic system comprises a second matrix of relationships, said second matrix of relationships comprising a plurality of relationships between individual ASCII characters and identifiers.

6. The method in claim 4 wherein said full polychromatic system comprises a second matrix of relationships, said second matrix of relationships comprising a plurality of relationships between antecedents and identifiers, at least one of said antecedents comprising a plurality of characters.

7. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

scanning said first barcode; and

comparing a first set of values against a second set of values, said first set of values being color parameters derived at least in part from scanning a first color and said second set of values being those of a first predetermined standard.

8. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

scanning said first barcode; and

interpreting said first barcode according to a first matrix, said first matrix comprising a plurality of relationships between either (i) identifiers and colors or (ii) identifiers and antecedents, wherein said first matrix is identified in said first barcode.

9. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

scanning said first barcode; and

retrieving a first value, wherein said step of retrieving a first value is a step selected from the group consisting of the two following steps;

requesting a first document located at a first URL, said first URL being symbolized in said first barcode; and

performing a first database query, said first database query being symbolized in said first barcode.

10. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

performing a third selection step, wherein said third selection step comprises choosing a first variable and a second variable, wherein said first variable represents a number of distinct colors or light phenomena and is selected from the group consisting of the numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6, and wherein said second variable represents a ratio of blots per antecedent and is selected from the group consisting of the ratios 2-to-1 and 3-to-1.

11. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following two steps:

performing a first encoding step, wherein said first encoding step is a step selected from the group consisting of (i) assigning a first ASCII character to a first intermediate value and (ii) assigning a first plurality of characters to a first intermediate value; and

performing a second encoding step, wherein said second encoding step comprises assigning said first intermediate value to a first color.

12. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

establishing a vocabulary, said vocabulary comprising a plurality of relationships between (i) antecedents and (ii) intermediate values.

13. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

uploading a first reference document to an Internet-accessible server; and

decoding said first barcode with reference to said first reference document.

14. The method in claim 1 wherein said barcode is a sequence of blots, said sequence of blots being sufficient to symbolize, without any ambiguity, a sequence of ASCII characters that comprises more ASCII characters than there are blots in said sequence of blots.

15. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

encoding a command sequence in said first barcode, said command sequence comprising instructions for establishing or modifying a first relationship, said first relationship being a relationship between a first meaning and a first symbol.

16. The method in claim 10 wherein said first variable is the number 6 and said second variable is the ratio 2-to-1, and wherein at least one of the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet or at least one of the ten Arabic numerals is uniquely assigned to at least one of thirty-six possible color pairs.

17. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

performing a first extraction step, wherein said first extraction step is a step selected from the group consisting of;

deleting at least one character from a first character string;

substituting at least one character for at least one other character in a first character string;

interpreting a symbol according to a shift function;

modifying a first vocabulary; and

retrieving a first local external value or a first nonlocal external value.

18. The method in claim 17 wherein said first extraction step is performed only if a valid password is submitted or a fee is paid.

19. A method of conveying information through polychromatic optical encoding, said method comprising the following step:

symbolizing a first antecedent through a first color by way of an intermediate value to which both said first antecedent and said first color are assigned.

20. A method of conveying information, said method comprising the following step:

applying a sequence of blots to a surface, said sequence of blots symbolizing, without any ambiguity, a sequence of ASCII characters, said sequence of ASCII characters comprising more ASCII characters than there are blots in said sequence of blots.