Information recording medium and information reproduction system

• US 5,866,895 A
• Filed: 12/13/1995
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatsuta, Seiji, Fukuda, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Anita Pellman
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Douglas X.
• Application Number:
  US08/571,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/462, 283/70
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/007 Arrangement of the information on the record carrier, e.g. form of tracks , actual track shape, e.g. wobbled, or cross-section, e.g. v-shaped; Sequential information structures, e.g. sectoring or header formats within a track
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/00745 Sectoring or header formats within a track formats in general G11B20/12
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/013 for discrete information, i.e. where each information unit is stored in a distinct discrete location , e.g. digital information formats within a data block or sector
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/04 using optical elements ; using other beam accessed elements, e.g. electron or ion beam

Abstract

A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section. A reproducing section reproduces/outputs the data read by the data reading section.

Claims

1. An information recording medium on which a dot code is optically readably recorded, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising:

a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally, and which correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced;

pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively; and

a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dot;

wherein the pattern dots are detected at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the markers, and arranged apart from each other to determine the reference read points by minimizing an error function obtained from respective distances between the dot read points and positions of the detected pattern dots.

2. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the blocks are arranged two-dimensionally, and each of the markers is located in an associated one of the blocks to enable a relative position of said associated one of the blocks, with respect to the other blocks, to be recognized.

3. The information recording medium according to claim 2, wherein:

the blocks have a same rectangular shape, and are arranged such that said each of the blocks has at least one side which is common to said each of the blocks and to any of the blocks which is adjacent to said each of the blocks;

said each of the markers is located in a top region of said associated one of the blocks, and is common to said associated one of the blocks and to any of the blocks which is adjacent to said associated one of the blocks; and

the pattern dots are arranged substantially parallel to lines extending between the markers.

4. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the pattern dots are modulated such that the pattern dots are arranged apart from each other.

5. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the pattern dots have a positional relationship or a specific structure to enable the reference read points to be determined by a calculation.

6. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the data code of said each of the blocks includes address dots which represent an address of said each of the blocks, and which have a format such that the address dots partially have a fixed pattern.

7. The information recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the data code of said each of the blocks includes address dots which represent an address of said each of the blocks, and which have a format enabling addresses of at least two of the blocks to be determined simultaneously.

8. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information;

wherein the pattern dots are arranged apart from each other, and said restoring means includes (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means and those dot reading points of the pattern dots which are determined in accordance with formats of the pattern dots, and determining the reference read points by minimizing an error function obtained from distances between the dot reading points and positions of the detected pattern dots, and (iii) data reading means for reading respectively the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means.

9. The information reproduction system according to claim 8, wherein said marker detecting means includes:

marker extracting means for extracting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means; and

approximate center calculating means for calculating an approximate center of each of the markers extracted by said marker extracting means.

10. The information reproduction system according to claim 9, wherein said marker extracting means includes:

means for detecting at least one of the markers; and

means for searching only regions in which those of the markers which are other than said at least one of the markers are possibly located, with reference to said at least one of the markers.

11. The information reproduction system according to claim 9, wherein said approximate center calculating means includes means for calculating a centroid of said each of the markers.

12. The information reproduction system according to claim 9, wherein said approximate center calculating means includes means for obtaining a circumscribed rectangle of said each of the markers, and calculating a center of the circumscribed rectangle.

13. The information reproduction system according to claim 9, wherein said approximate center calculating means includes approximate center position-correcting means for correcting an approximate center position of at least one of the markers which is possibly partially missing at a frame end of the image obtained by said image inputting means.

14. The information reproduction system according to claim 13, wherein said approximate center position-correcting means includes a table for outputting a correcting amount which varies in accordance with a distance between the frame end of the image and the approximate center of said each of the markers which is calculated by said approximate center calculating means.

15. The information reproduction system according to claim 13, wherein said approximate center position-correcting means includes means for selecting at least one of the markers which is to be processed, and correcting an approximate center position of said at least one of the markers.

16. The information reproduction system according to claim 8, wherein said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots.

17. The information reproduction system according to claim 16, wherein said marker pair selecting means includes means for calculating a marker existing area based on a specification skew angle and format information, and searching the existing area to detect marker candidates.

18. The information reproduction system according to claim 16, wherein said marker pair selecting means includes means for calculating positions of the marker pair by extrapolation.

19. The information reproduction system according to claim 18, wherein said means for calculating the positions of the marker pair by extrapolation includes extrapolation vector calculating means for calculating an extrapolation vector based on the selected positions of the marker pair.

20. The information reproduction system according to claim 18, wherein said means for calculating the positions of the marker pair by extrapolation includes means for referring to an extrapolation vector of an immediately preceding frame from a second frame onward.

21. The information reproduction system according to claim 16, wherein said marker pair selecting means includes base marker pair-selecting means for selecting a series of marker pairs of at least two adjacent blocks as base marker pairs.

22. The information reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein said base marker pair-selecting means includes reference marker selecting means for selecting, as a reference marker, one marker located in a region in which at least adjacent markers are allowed to be detected in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, and said reference marker selecting means includes means for selecting one of marker candidates arranged in the scanning direction, as a reference marker, and then selecting a base marker pair with reference to said one of the marker candidates.

23. The information reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein:

said base marker pair-selecting means includes reference marker selecting means for selecting, when at least three adjacent markers are allowed to be detected in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, an intermediate one of said at least three adjacent markers as a reference marker; and

said reference marker selecting means includes marker searching means for replacing, when an outermost one of said at least three adjacent markers are not allowed to be detected, the reference marker with the other outermost one thereof, and detecting another marker by extrapolation.

24. The information reproduction system according to claim 23, wherein said marker searching means includes means for determining an extrapolation point as a virtual marker when a marker search area is moved out of a frame by extrapolation.

25. The information reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein said base marker pair-selecting means includes base marker pair re-selecting means for re-selecting, when two or more base marker pairs are allowed to be selected, one of said two or more base marker pairs which more possibly enables a larger number of blocks to be read than the other.

26. The information reproduction system according to claim 25, wherein said base marker pair re-selecting means re-selects a left marker pair when the dot code skews rightwards, and re-selects a right marker pair when the dot code skews leftwards.

27. The information reproduction system according to claim 25, wherein said base marker pair re-selecting means re-selects a marker pair close to a center line of a frame when a middle point between the left marker and a reference marker is located on a right side of the frame with reference to the center line thereof or a middle point between the right marker and the reference marker is located is located on a left side of the frame with reference to the center line thereof.

28. The information reproduction system according to claim 16, wherein said marker pair selecting means selects sets of markers provided in the blocks.

29. The information reproduction system according to claim 28, wherein said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame.

30. The information reproduction system according to claim 28, wherein said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for successively selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame, from a first one of said those of the sets of markers in the scanning direction.

31. The information reproduction system according to claim 28, wherein said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for successively selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame from a first one of said those of the sets of markers which is closest to one of ends of the frame in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.

32. The information reproduction system according to claim 28, wherein:

the dot code includes address dots representing addresses of the blocks, respectively, and those of the blocks which have the same addresses; and

said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for re-selecting, when a block has not been allowed to be read, a set of markers provided in another block having an address identical to that of the block which has not been allowed to be read.

33. The information reproduction system according to claim 8, wherein said data read reference point determining means includes:

marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair;

dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means;

dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means; and

error minimizing means for determining distances between the dot read points and the centers of the pattern dots which are calculated by said dot center calculating means, and calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function determined on the basis of a relationship between the distances and the format.

34. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot detecting means includes means for detecting the pattern dots at the dot read points, and detecting, when any of the pattern dots is not detected at a corresponding one of the dot read points, one of the pattern dots which is close to said corresponding one of the dot read points.

35. The information reproduction system according to 34, wherein said means for detecting said one of the pattern dots includes means for shifting, when said one of the pattern dots is detected at a point displaced from said corresponding one of the dot read points, subsequent dot read points in advance by an amount by which the point has been displaced from said corresponding one of the dot read points.

36. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot detecting means includes means for re-calculating the approximate centers of the marker pair based on the centers of the pattern dots which are calculated by said dot center calculating means, and for re-detecting the pattern dots.

37. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot detecting means includes means for selecting correct ones of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means by error detection, and obtaining only said correct ones of the detected pattern dots as a detection result.

38. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot center calculating means includes means for estimating center positions of the pattern dots from patterns of the pattern dots, respectively.

39. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot center calculating means includes mask means for limiting an area, on the basis of which a calculation for determining the centers of the pattern dots is to be performed, by use of a mask having an appropriate size.

40. The information reproduction system according to claim 39, wherein said mask means includes means for determining a size and position of the mask on the basis of pixel information of the limited area.

41. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein said dot center calculating means includes means for adding a weight for use in determining the data read reference points, which varies in accordance with patterns of the detected pattern dots.

42. The information reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein when said dot detecting means does not detect any of the pattern dots at the read points, said dot center calculating means determines a corresponding one of the read points as a center of said any of the pattern dots.

43. The information reproduction system according to claim 8, wherein said data read means includes means for reading each of points close to dot read points calculated from the reference read points at the same time as said each of the dots is read, and determining an attribute of said each of the read points by use of a predetermined expression.

44. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said marker detecting means includes marker extracting means for extracting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means; and

said marker extracting means includes means for detecting at least one of the markers, and means for searching only regions in which those of the markers which are other than said at least one of the markers are possibly located, with reference to said at least one of the markers.

45. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said marker detecting means includes marker extracting means for extracting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, and approximate center calculating means for calculating an approximate center of each of the markers extracted by said marker extracting means;

said approximate center calculating means includes approximate center position-correcting means for correcting an approximate center position of at least one of the markers which is possibly partially missing at a frame end of the image obtained by said image inputting means; and

said approximate center position-correcting means includes a table for outputting a correcting amount which varies in accordance with a distance between the frame end of the image and the approximate center of said each of the markers which is calculated by said approximate center calculating means.

46. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code with reference to the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said marker detecting means includes marker extracting means for extracting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, and approximate center calculating means for calculating an approximate center of each of the markers extracted by said marker extracting means;

said approximate center calculating means includes approximate center position-correcting means for correcting an approximate center position of at least one of the markers which is possibly partially missing at a frame end of the image obtained by said image inputting means; and

said approximate center position-correcting means includes means for selecting at least one of the markers which is to be processed, and correcting an approximate center position of said at least one of the markers.

47. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots; and

said marker pair selecting means includes means for calculating a marker existing area based on a specification skew and format information, and searching the existing area to detect marker candidates.

48. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code with reference to the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots; and

said marker pair selecting means includes means for calculating positions of the marker pair by extrapolation.

49. The information reproduction system according to claim 48, wherein said means for calculating the positions of the marker pair by extrapolation includes extrapolation vector calculating means for calculating an extrapolation vector on the basis of the selected positions of the marker pair.

50. The information reproduction system according to claim 48, wherein said means for calculating the positions of the marker pair by extrapolation includes means for referring to an extrapolation vector of an immediately preceding frame from a second frame onward.

51. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes base marker pair-selecting means for selecting a series of marker pairs of at least two adjacent blocks as base marker pairs;

said base marker pair-selecting means includes reference marker selecting means for selecting, when at least three adjacent markers are allowed to be detected in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, an intermediate one of said at least three adjacent markers as a reference marker;

said reference marker selecting means includes marker searching means for replacing, when an outermost one of said at least three adjacent markers are not allowed to be detected, said reference marker with the other outermost one thereof, and detecting another adjacent marker by extrapolation; and

said marker searching means includes means for determining an extrapolation point as a virtual marker when a marker search area is moved out of a frame by extrapolation.

52. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes base marker selecting means for selecting a series of marker pairs of at least two adjacent blocks as base marker pairs; and

said base marker pair-selecting means includes base marker pair re-selecting means for re-selecting, when at least two base marker pairs are allowed to be selected, one of said at least two base marker pairs which more possibly enables a larger number of blocks to be read than the other.

53. The information reproduction system according to claim 52, wherein said base marker pair re-selecting means includes means for re-selecting a left marker pair when the dot code skews rightwards, and re-selecting a right marker pair when the dot code skews leftwards.

54. The information reproduction system according to claim 53, wherein said base marker pair re-selecting means re-selects a marker pair close to a center line of a frame when a middle point between the left marker and a reference marker is located on a right side of the frame with reference to the center line thereof or a middle point between the right marker and the reference marker is located is located on a left side of the frame with reference to the center line thereof.

55. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes means for selecting sets of markers provided in the blocks; and

said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame.

56. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes means for selecting sets of markers provided in the blocks; and

said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for successively selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame, from a first one of said those of the sets of markers in the scanning direction.

57. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes means for selecting sets of markers provided in the blocks; and

said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for successively selecting those of the sets of markers which are provided in those of the blocks which are located in a frame, from a first one of said those of the sets of markers which is closest to one of ends of the frame in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.

58. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots;

said marker pair selecting means includes means for selecting sets of markers provided in the blocks;

the dot code includes address dots representing addresses of the blocks, respectively, and those of the blocks which have the same addresses; and

said means for selecting the sets of markers includes means for re-selecting, when a block has not been allowed to be read, a set of markers provided in another block having an address identical to that of the block which has not been allowed to be read.

59. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means;

said dot detecting means includes means for detecting the pattern dots at the dot read points, and detecting, when any of the pattern dots is not detected at a corresponding one of the dot read points, one of the pattern dots which is close to said corresponding one of the dot read points; and

said means for detecting said one of the pattern dots includes means for shifting, when said one of the pattern dots is detected at a point displaced from said corresponding one of the dot read points, subsequent dot read points in advance by an amount by which the point has been displaced from said corresponding one of the dot read points.

60. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot detecting means includes means for re-calculating the approximate centers of the marker pair on the basis of the centers of the pattern dots, and re-detecting the pattern dots.

61. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot detecting means includes means for selecting only correct ones of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means by error detection, and obtaining only said correct ones of the pattern dots as a detection result.

62. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot center calculating means includes means for estimating center positions of the pattern dots from patterns of the pattern dots, respectively.

63. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading each of the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot center calculating means includes mask means for limiting an area, on the basis of which a calculation for determining the centers of the pattern dots is to be performed, by use of a mask having an appropriate size.

64. The information reproduction system according to claim 63, wherein said mask means includes means for determining a size and a position of the mask based on pixel information of the limited area.

65. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot center calculating means includes means for adding a weight for use in determining the data read points, which varies in accordance with patterns of the detected pattern dots.

66. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means;

said data read reference point-determining means includes (i) marker pair selecting means for selecting a marker pair for use in detecting the pattern dots, and detecting approximate centers of the selected marker pair, (ii) dot detecting means for detecting the pattern dots at dot read points determined in accordance with a format and the approximate centers detected by said marker pair selecting means, (iii) dot center calculating means for calculating centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot detecting means, and (iv) error minimizing means for calculating read reference points in such a manner as to minimize a predetermined error function which is determined based on the format and the centers of the pattern dots detected by said dot center calculating means; and

said dot center calculating means determines, when said dot detecting means does not detect any of the pattern dots at the read points, a corresponding one of the read points as a center of said any of the pattern dots.

67. An information reproduction system comprising:

image inputting means for imaging a dot code optically readably recorded on an information recording medium, the dot code comprising a plurality of blocks adjacent to each other, each of the blocks comprising (i) a data code comprising a plurality of dots which are arranged two-dimensionally to correspond to contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, (ii) pattern dots arranged to have a predetermined positional relationship with the data code, and to determine reference read points for use in reading the dots of the data code, respectively, and (iii) a marker for use in detecting the pattern dots, provided to have a predetermined positional relationship with the pattern dots;

restoring means for restoring an image obtained by said image inputting means to data of the multimedia information; and

data reproducing means for reproducing the data obtained by said restoring means as original multimedia information,

wherein;

said restoring means comprises (i) marker detecting means for detecting the markers from the image obtained by said image inputting means, (ii) data read reference point-determining means for detecting the pattern dots with reference to the markers detected by said marker detecting means, and determining the reference read points, and (iii) data reading means for respectively reading the dots of the data code at the reference read points determined by said data read reference point-determining means; and

said data reading means includes means for reading each of points close to dot read points calculated from a corresponding one of the data read reference points, at the same time as said each of the dots is read, and determining an attribute of each of each of the dot read points by use of a predetermined calculation expression.