Packet bar code with data sequence encoded in address/data packets
First Claim
1. A method of forming a packet code, wherein a sequence of data is encoded in a plurality of machine readable packets, comprising the steps of:
- (a) parceling said sequence of data into a number of data units;
(b) forming a plurality of address/data packets, each including a data portion representative of one of said data units and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit relative to said sequence of data to enable reassembly of data independently of the order in which said address/data packets are read and decoded; and
(c) forming at least one instruction packet including a data portion representative of information as to at least one of (i) the total number of address/data packets included in said packet code, (ii) an error correction protocol, and (iii) a data compression protocol.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine readable code in a form such as a bar code uses self-addressed address/data packets which can be positioned in arbitrary orders and configurations. Additional benefits, such as ability to use extended scan angles for decoding and reduction in required code management data, also result from the self-contained nature of the address/data packet components of packet codes. A sequence of data is separated into units of data which are encoded in data portions of packets each also including an address portion which identifies the position of such data unit relative to the original sequence of data. The individual packets may then be positioned in a wide variety of configurations, rectangular and otherwise, with the individual packets in any order, sequential or otherwise. Even where packets are aligned in an extended row, the usable scan angle range is determined by the width to height aspect ratio of individual packets and not limited by the much higher aspect ratio of the row of packets. Methods and systems for encoding and decoding packet codes are described.
53 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of forming a packet code, wherein a sequence of data is encoded in a plurality of machine readable packets, comprising the steps of:
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(a) parceling said sequence of data into a number of data units; (b) forming a plurality of address/data packets, each including a data portion representative of one of said data units and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit relative to said sequence of data to enable reassembly of data independently of the order in which said address/data packets are read and decoded; and (c) forming at least one instruction packet including a data portion representative of information as to at least one of (i) the total number of address/data packets included in said packet code, (ii) an error correction protocol, and (iii) a data compression protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a packet code scannable over an extended range of scan angles, comprising the steps of:
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(a) parceling a sequence of data into a number of data units not exceeding a predetermined length; (b) forming a plurality of address/data packets, each including a data portion representative of one of said data units and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit relative to said sequence of data, each said address/data packet comprising a series of bar and space elements arranged in a nominally rectangular configuration having a width in a first direction normal to said elements and a height enabling all of said elements to be scanned over a range of scan angles from said first direction to a maximum scan angle determined by the width to height aspect ratio of said address/data packet; and (c) positioning said address/data packets in a configuration including a plurality of said address/data packets in a row extending in said first direction to provide a packet code readable by scanning at any angle up to said maximum scan angle, without scan angle limitation resulting from the higher aspect ratio of said row of address/data packets. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A packet code, in the form of a machine readable bar code, comprising:
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a plurality of nominally rectangular address/data packets each including a series of bar type elements spaced in a first width direction; and each of said address/data packets including; a data portion representative of a data unit selected from a sequence of data; and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit relative to said sequence of data to enable reassembly of data units into proper positions in said sequence of data independently of the order in which said address/data packets are read and decoded. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, of decoding a machine readable packet code including a plurality of address/data packets each having a data portion representative of a data unit of a sequence of data and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit in said sequence of data, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a signal representative of an address/data packet; (b) decoding said step (a) signal to recover a data unit and its address; (c) storing said data unit in a manner enabling identification of its position in said sequence of data; (d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) for other address/data packets; and (e) providing an output signal representative of a selected part of said sequence of data as represented by recovered data units. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A system, for decoding a machine readable packet code including a plurality of address/data packets each having a data portion representative of a data unit of a sequence of data and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit in said sequence of data, comprising:
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a sensor device arranged to read address/data packets of said packet code; a processor unit arranged to decode output signals from said sensor device to recover data units and their respective addresses; a memory coupled to said processor unit and arranged to store said data units in a manner enabling identification of respective positions of said data units in said sequence of data; and an output device coupled to said processor unit and arranged to provide access to a selected part of said sequence of data as represented by decoded data units. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for encoding a machine readable packet code including a plurality of address/data packets, comprising:
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a data entry device arranged to enable a sequence of data to be entered; a processing unit coupled to said data entry device and arranged to encode a plurality of address/data packets, each including a data portion representative of a data unit of said sequence of data and an address portion identifying the position of said data unit in said sequence of data; and an output device arranged to provide a machine readable representation of said plurality of address/data packets. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification