Method and apparatus for editing and reading edited invisible encodements on media

• US 6,775,381 B1
• Filed: 07/19/1999
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Rosario, Jose A., Nelson, David J., Williams, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Son, Linh L D
• Application Number:
  US09/356,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: 713/176-181, 380/54, 380/1, 382/130, 250/208.1, 250/566-569, 250/271, 358/1.2, 358/1.9, 358/1.13, 358/1.15, 358/452, 358/453, 235/469
• US Class Current: 380/54
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details

Abstract

A print media has a visible image and a plurality of invisible encodements comprising data printed over it in a hierarchy order, wherein the encodement of the highest order represents a replacement or edited version of the data of lower order encodements. Apparatus and methods provide effectively editing of an existing invisible encodement printed on media with a material sensitive to a first light wavelength by printing an edited or replacement encodement over it with a material sensitive to a second light wavelength of higher order in the hierarchy. Apparatus and methods also provide for selectively reading the highest order encodement, all of the encodements or selected ones of the encodements.

Claims

1. A method of editing an invisible encodement printed on a print media having a visible image in an image field comprising the steps of:

defining a hierarchy of invisible encodements, each encodement of the hierarchy comprising variable data adapted to be printed over the visible image employing a print material that is not visible to the human eye and is sensitive to a predetermined, distinct wavelength of light, whereby the invisible encodements of the hierarchy enable detection and decoding of each encodement under illumination by each predetermined, distinct wavelength of light to distinguish one encodement from another encodement on the print media;

illuminating the image field with selected light wavelengths;

detecting and decoding an existing invisible encodement already printed in the image field on the print media as variable data;

presenting said variable data as one of;

a displayed image, audio play back, and visible print output;

composing an edited version of the variable data;

formatting said edited version of said variable data as an edited encodement; and

printing the edited encodement in the image field employing a print material of the hierarchy that is sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength of the hierarchy that differs from the light wavelength that the print material employed to print the existing invisible encodement.

2. The editing method of claim 1, wherein the visible image is printed in an image field of a surface of the print media, and each encodement is printed in a symbology within the image field and over a substantial portion of the visible image in the image field.

3. The editing method of claim 2, wherein an invisible encodement of a higher order in the hierarchy is printed over an invisible encodement of a lower order.

4. The editing method of claim 1, wherein an invisible encodement of a higher order in the hierarchy is printed over an invisible encodement of a lower order.

5. The editing method of claim 1, wherein;

the visible image is a photographic print image provided by a photofinisher to a user; and

the invisible encodement of lower order in the hierarchy comprises variable data recorded by a camera or camera user in association with the visible image that is printed by the photofinisher employing a material sensitive to a predetermined wavelength of light enabling detection and decoding of the encodement of lower order for reproduction of the variable data.

6. The editing method of claim 1, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to absorb the radiation wavelength.

7. The editing method of claim 1, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to fluoresce in response to the radiation wavelength.

8. The editing method of claim 1, wherein the illuminating step further comprises the steps of:

illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with the highest order light wavelength of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy to the lowest light wavelength of the hierarchy;

determining the highest order encodement when the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence;

reading the determined highest order encodement.

25. The editing method of claim 1, wherein said edited encodement is a higher order encodement and is printed over an invisible encodement of a lower order in the hierarchy and said illuminating further comprises initially illuminating with a first wavelength of light to which said higher order encodement is sensitive and subsequently illuminating with a second wavelength of light to which said lower order encodement is sensitive.

26. The editing method of claim 2, wherein said edited encodement is a higher order encodement and is printed over an invisible encodement of a lower order in the hierarchy and said illuminating further comprises initially illuminating with a first wavelength of light to which said higher order encodement is sensitive and subsequently illuminating with a second wavelength of light to which said lower order encodement is sensitive.

27. The editing method of claim 1, wherein said print media bears a plurality of invisible encodements during said illuminating step.

9. A method of reading the highest order encodement among a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of invisible encodements from highest to lowest order, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with the highest order light wavelength of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy to the lowest light wavelength of the hierarchy;

detecting the highest order encodement when the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence;

decoding the determined highest order encodement; and

excluding said invisible encodements of lower order from said decoding.

10. The reading method of claim 9, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to absorb the radiation wavelength.

11. The reading method of claim 9, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to fluoresce in response to the radiation wavelength.

12. A method of reading one of a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of highest to lowest order invisible encodements, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

starting sequential illumination of the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with one of the light wavelengths of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy;

detecting one of the encodements, if the material of that encodement responds to the respective light wavelength in the sequence;

reading the detected encodement; and

automatically stopping said sequential illumination responsive to said detecting.

13. The reading method of claim 12, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to absorb the radiation wavelength.

14. The reading method of claim 12, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to fluoresce in response to the radiation wavelength.

15. A reader for reading the highest order encodement among a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of invisible encodements from highest to lowest order, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

means for illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with the highest order light wavelength of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy to the lowest light wavelength of the hierarchy;

means for detecting the highest order encodement when the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence;

means for decoding the determined highest order encodement; and

means for excluding said invisible encodements of lower order from said decoding.

16. The reader of claim 15, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to absorb the radiation wavelength.

17. The reader of claim 15, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to fluoresce in response to the radiation wavelength.

18. A reader for reading at least one of a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of highest to lowest order invisible encodements, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

means for starting sequential illumination of the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with one of light wavelengths of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy;

means operable upon each illumination with a light wavelength for detecting one of the encodements if the material of that encodement responds to the respective light wavelength in the sequence;

means for reading the detected encodement; and

means for automatically stopping said sequential illumination responsive to said detecting.

19. The reader of claim 18, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to absorb the radiation wavelength.

20. The reader of claim 18, wherein the print materials of the encodements of the hierarchy of encodements are each sensitive to distinct radiation wavelengths that cause symbology elements of each encodement to fluoresce in response to the radiation wavelength.

21. The reader of claim 18, wherein said sequential illuminating means comprises

a plurality of encodement illumination light sources; and

means for selectively powering said plurality of encodement illumination light sources in a sequence to illuminate the encodements on the media with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.

22. A reader for reading at least one of a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of highest to lowest order invisible encodements, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

means for sequentially illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with one of light wavelengths of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy;

means operable upon each illumination with a light wavelength for detecting the encodement if the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence; and

means for reading the detected encodement;

wherein said means for sequential illuminating comprises

a plurality of encodement illumination light sources; and

means for selectively powering said plurality of encodement illumination light sources in a sequence to illuminate the encodements on the media with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths; and

wherein said means for reading comprises;

a planar imager providing an array output signal when exposed to light in an optical axis;

image sensor electronic means for processing the array output signal; and

said means for sequentially illuminating further comprises;

a plurality of spectral array light filters; and

means for selectively inserting said of spectral array light filters in said optical axis in a said sequence to pass light modulated by the encodements to said planar imager as said encodements on the media are illuminated with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.

23. A reader for reading at least one of a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of highest to lowest order invisible encodements, each encodement printed in an image field on a media with a material sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination of the material by the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

means for sequentially illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with one of light wavelengths of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy;

means operable upon each illumination with a light wavelength for detecting the encodement if the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence;

means for reading the detected encodement;

wherein said means for sequentially illuminating comprises;

a light source emitting light onto said encodements;

a plurality of light filters; and

means for selectively inserting said plurality of light filters between said light source and said encodements in a sequence to illuminate the encodements on the media with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.

24. The reader of claim 23, wherein said means for reading comprises:

a planar imager providing an array output signal when exposed to light in an optical axis;

image sensor electronic means for processing the array output signal;

a plurality of spectral array light filters; and

means for selectively inserting said of spectral array light filters in said optical axis in said sequence to pass light modulated by the encodements to said planar imager as said encodements on the media are illuminated with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.

28. A method for reading at least one of a plurality of invisible encodements of a hierarchy of highest to lowest order invisible encodements, each encodement being sensitive to a predetermined light wavelength such that a detectable response is elicited from illumination with the light wavelength the material is sensitive to comprising the steps of:

sequentially illuminating the invisible encodements with a plurality of light wavelengths of the hierarchy in a sequence commencing with one of light wavelengths of the hierarchy and proceeding through all light wavelengths of the hierarchy;

detecting the encodement if the material of that encodement responds to a light wavelength in the sequence; and

reading the detected encodement;

wherein said sequentially illuminating further comprises;

selectively filtering with ones of a plurality of spectral array filters in a sequence as said encodements on the media are illuminated with respective ones of the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said sequentially illuminating further comprises selectively powering a plurality of encodement illumination light sources in a sequence to illuminate the encodements on the media with the hierarchy of illumination wavelengths.