Encoding method and related system and product
First Claim
1. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
- organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type;
encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and
recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium in discrete storage areas segregated by type and in a predetermined order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for variably encoding recorded information in accordance with the type of information which is recorded. The information is organized into types of numeric data, alpha data, alphanumeric data and ASCII character data. Numeric data is encoded in 4-bit code; alpha data is encoded in 5-bit code; alphanumeric data is encoded in 6-bit code; and ASCII character data is encoded in 7-bit code. The fields of the individual data code groups are variable in length to fit the length of the individual data code group stored therein. Each individual field is terminated by a field separator encoded in the same type code as the data type contained in that field. A type separator at the end of each data type signifies transition to data of the next type. This encoding method is particularly adapted to the recording of information in a limited recording area, such as a credit card. A card of that type having one or more magnetic stripes recorded in accordance with the encoding method is described, together with methods of reading and displaying the encoded information in predetermined patterns.
90 Citations
45 Claims
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1. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
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organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium in discrete storage areas segregated by type and in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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6. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
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organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoding data on the magnetic medium; further including the step of assigning at least one selected code in each code set to designate a fied separator and recording a field separator code for a particular type at the end of each field of that type. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
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organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in bindary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; further comprising the step of assigning one unique code in each code set to designate a type separator and recording a type separator code following the last field in a type. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
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organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data types comprise numeric data, alpha data, alphanumeric data, and ASCII character data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of:
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organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data are recorded in respective individual fields, each field having a length which is one code longer than the extent of the data recorded therein. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. The method of reading a magnetic stripe having data organized in different types successively recorded thereon and displaying the recorded data at predetermined points within a predetermined pattern presented on a display screen, said types being organized according to the type of data therein, the characters for the data in each different type being encoded in binary codes of different bit length for the different types, said method comprising the steps of:
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causing said predetermined pattern to be displayed on the screen; reading the magnetic stripe; displaying at predetermined points in said pattern adapted for data of a first type the data from the first type which is read; and displaying at other predetermined points in said pattern data from succeeding types which are read. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An item bearing a recording medium in the form of a magnetic stripe having data recorded thereon encoded in a selected binary code format, wherein the magnetic stripe comprises:
discrete regions of recorded data organized by types in accordance with the type of data recorded, each different type being encoded with a different length code from other types. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
Specification