Identity-coded surface region

• US 6,830,196 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/575,124
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 235/487, 345/179, 283/72, 283/85, 283/93
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 : Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 : resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1265 : Printing by reference, e.g. retrieving document/image data for a job from a source mentioned in the job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 : Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/346 : Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 : Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 : Character recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1426 : by sensing position defining codes on a support
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1448 : based on markings or identifiers characterising the document or the area
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 : Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes

Abstract

A region defined in relation to a surface, and a method for defining such a region; coded data being disposed within the region, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the region; in one embodiment, the coded data comprising a plurality of tags which substantially cover the region, the tags being usable to uniquely identify the region or at least distinguish it from other regions defined in relation to the surface.

Claims

1. A method of producing a surface having a region, the method including the steps of:

(a) defining coded data, the coded data being comprised of a plurality of codewords and being indicative of;

a region identity associated with the region; and

a plurality of points within the region;

(b) disposing the coded data within a region on the surface in the form of a plurality of sets of symbols, each set of symbols corresponding to a one of the plurality of codewords and

wherein the step of disposing includes interleaving on the surface the symbols of each set with at least one symbol of at least another set of the plurality of sets of symbols.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the region is identified with sufficient precision to distinguish the region from 1.5×

10¹⁴ other regions.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the coded data includes at least one tag, each tag being indicative of the region identity and the position of the tag within the region.

4. A method according to claim 1, including the step of providing a substrate defining the surface.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is laminar.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein step (b) includes the sub-step (b)(i) of disposing the tags in a regular array within the region.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags in a rectangular array within the region.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the sub-step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags in a triangular array within the region.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (b)(i) includes the sub-step of tiling the tags over the region.

10. A method according to claim 3, further including the step of adding a common feature to the tags in addition to the identity data.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the common feature is configured to assist location and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the common features are represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

13. A method according to claim 3, further including the step of providing each of the tags with at least one orientation feature for enabling an orientation of the tag being read to be ascertained.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

15. A method according to claim 3, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the identity data being defined by a plurality of the elements.

16. A method according to claim 3, wherein step (b) includes the sub-step of disposing the tags on the surface such that the relative spacing of tag centres is less than about 12 mm.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the relative spacing is less than about 3 mm.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the relative spacing is less about 1 mm.

19. A method according to claim 3, wherein the tags are positioned stochastically within the region.

20. A method according to claim 3, wherein the tags are substantially uniformly distributed within the region.

21. A method according to claim 3, wherein the tags are disposed at predetermined positions on the surface.

22. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the tags includes at least one common feature in addition to the identity data.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one common feature is configured to assist finding and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one common feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one common feature is rotationally symmetric so as to be rotationally invariant.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein the at least one common feature is ring-shaped.

27. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the tags includes at least one orientation feature for enabling a rotational orientation of the tag being read to be ascertained.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the at least one orientation feature is rotationally asymmetric.

30. A method according to claim 28, wherein the at least one orientation feature is skewed along a major axis.

31. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of the tags includes at least one perspective feature for enabling a perspective distortion of the tag being read to be ascertained.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the at least one perspective feature includes at least four sub-features which are not coincident.

33. A method according to claim 3, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the identity data being defined by a plurality of the elements.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the tag elements are disposed in at least one arcuate band around a central region of each tag.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the number of possible values is two.

38. A method according to claim 36, wherein when representing one of the possible values, the tag elements absorb, reflect or fluoresce electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths to a predetermined greater or lesser extent than the surface.

39. A method according to claim 36, wherein the possible values of the tag elements are defined by different relative absorption, reflection or fluorescence of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths.

40. A method according to claim 36, wherein the tags are not substantially visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

41. A method according to claim 36 wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

42. A method according to claim 36, wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

43. A method according to claim 3, wherein the tags are printed onto the surface by means of a printer.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the printer is an ink printer.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the tags are printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

46. A method according to claim 43, wherein the printer also prints additional information onto the surface.

47. A method according to claim 46, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.

48. A method according to claim 47, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:

CMY;

CMYK;

CMYRGB; and

spot colour.

49. A method according to claim 1, wherein the region is defined as the entire surface.

50. A method according to claim 1, wherein the region identity is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

51. A method according to claim 1 wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient coded data to identify the region.

52. A method according to claim 51, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient information to identify at least one point of the region.

53. A region according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 8, wherein the coded data is machine readable, and the information represented by the coded data is substantially inscrutable to an unaided human.