Document printed with graphical symbols which encode information
First Claim
1. A document printed with printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element, wherein the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of the visible element and an outline of the element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of visible element printed on the document. The outline of this element is used for synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element. In prior art systems, synchronising an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the element requires large scale arrangement of the graphical symbols (e.g. a horizontal line of glyphs which are all forward facing and which intersect a vertical line of glyphs which are all rearward facing). This considerably mars the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology for encoding information.
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Citations
30 Claims
- 1. A document printed with printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element, wherein the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of the visible element and an outline of the element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element.
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24. A method of printing a document with printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element, the method comprising the step of (i) computer generating the graphical symbols;
- (ii) forming the graphical symbols into the visible element, so that an outline of the visible element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element and then (iii) printing the graphical symbols onto the document.
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25. A method of retrieving information from a document printed with printed matter, the printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element, in which the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of the visible element such that an outline of the visible element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element;
the method comprising the steps of (i) scanning the visible element, (ii) using the outline to achieve synchronization , and then (iii) retrieving the information by decoding the graphical symbols which make up some or all of the element. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer software able to control a printer to print a document with printed matter, the printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element;
in which the software is able to (i) generate the graphical symbols;
(ii) form the graphical symbols into the visible element, so that an outline of the visible element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element and then (iii) cause the printer to print the graphical symbols onto the document.
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30. A computer software able to control a decoding system to retrieve information from a document printed with printed matter, the printed matter comprising (a) graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable and (b) a visible element, in which the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of the visible element such that an outline of the visible element is used for synchronizing an automated process for scanning the document to extract the encoded information from the visible element;
wherein the software can control the decoding system (i) to scan the visible element to generate scan data, (ii) to process the scan data by determining an outline of the visible element to achieve synchronization, and then (iii) to retrieve the information by decoding the graphical symbols which make up some or all of the visible element.
Specification