Method and apparatus for fault tolerant data storage on photographs

• US 6,496,654 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2000
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Walmsley, Simon Robert, Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Russell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Peter B.
• Application Number:
  US09/693,471
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/312, 396/14, 347/2, 348/374, 235/462.01, 235/472.01
• US Class Current: 396/310
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/51 the printed and recorded information being identical; using type elements with code-generating means

Abstract

A method of printing digital data onto or with a photograph using infra-red ink and using an ink jet printing process is disclosed. The data can store the details of the image in an encoded fault tolerant form enabling the copying or recovery of the photograph notwithstanding damage thereto.

Claims

1. A method of printing digital data on a photograph including the steps of:

a) receiving image data corresponding to an image;

b) converting said image data into an encoded fault tolerant digital form;

c) printing out said fault tolerant digital form of said image data using an ink jet printing process with an invisible ink on a surface of a print media while simultaneously printing out said image data as a photographic image representing said image data in a visual, human readable form on the same surface.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein converting said image to said fault tolerant encoded form comprises forming a Reed-Solomon encoded version of said image.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fault tolerant encoded form of said image includes applying a high frequency modulation signal to said fault tolerant encoded form such that said permanent record includes repeatable high frequency spectral components.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said invisible ink is an infra-red absorbing ink with little absorption in the visible spectrum.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step of printing out utilizes a print roll means storing said print media and an ink supply for said printer means which is detachable from said camera device.

6. An apparatus for printing in infra-red ink encoded fault tolerant digital data on a photograph, said apparatus including:

a) a camera system for imaging an image and for outputting said image in a digital format;

b) means for processing said digital format of said image into a fault tolerant encoded digital form;

c) means for printing said image and said fault tolerant encoded digital form using an ink jet printing process, said fault tolerant encoded digital form being printed using an infra-red ink.

7. An apparatus for printing in infra-red ink encoded fault tolerant digital data on a photograph as claimed in claim 6 wherein said means for printing employs a pagewidth printhead using an ink jet structure with a print roll feeding print media therethrough.