Identity-coded surface with reference points

• US 7,055,739 B1
• Filed: 05/23/2000
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Lapstun, Paul, Silverbrook, Kia, Walmsley, Simon Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/575,154
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/487, 235/494, 235/380, 235/382, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/380
• 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 transparent or white coloured liquids, e.g. 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 and of a plurality of points within the region; in one embodiment, the coded data comprising a plurality of tags, each tag being indicative of the region identity and of its own position within the region.

Claims

1. A region defined in relation to a surface, coded data and additional data being disposed within the region, wherein the coded data comprises machine-readable data which is substantially inscrutable to the average unaided human and is indicative of:

a region identity associated with the region; and

a plurality of points within the region,

wherein the additional data is human-readable data which is substantially visible to the average unaided human eye,

at least some of the additional data being indicative of an interactive element,

at least some of the coded data in the vicinity of the at least some additional data also being indicative of the interactive element.

2. The region 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.

3. The region according to claim 2, wherein each of the tags includes:

first identity data defining a relative position of that tag; and

second identity data identifying the surface.

4. The region according to claim 3, including further tags that do not include both first identity data and second identity data.

5. The region according to claim 3, wherein the relative position is defined in relation to the surface.

6. The region according to claim 3, wherein the relative position is defined in relation to a plurality of the other tags.

7. The region according to claim 3, wherein the first identity data identifies stored information defining the relative position, the stored information not being stored on the surface.

8. The region according to claim 3, wherein the first identity data and the second identity data together identify stored information defining the relative position.

9. The region according to claim 3, wherein the surface is defined by a substrate.

10. The region according to claim 9, wherein the substrate is laminar.

11. The region according to claim 3, wherein the tags are disposed at predetermined positions on the surface.

12. The region according to claim 11, wherein the tags are disposed on the surface within a tessellated pattern comprising a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles containing a plurality of the tags.

13. The region according to claim 12, wherein the tiles interlock with each other to substantially cover the surface.

14. The region according to claim 13, wherein the tiles are all of a similar shape.

15. The region according to claim 14, wherein the tiles are triangular, square, rectangular or hexagonal.

16. The region according to claim 12, wherein the tags are disposed stochastically within each of the tiles.

17. The region according to claim 16, wherein the first identity data of each of the tags includes index data indicating the tile within which the tag is disposed and position data indicating the tag'"'"'s position within that tile.

18. The region according to claim 3, wherein each of the tags includes at least one common feature in addition to the second identity data.

19. The region according to claim 18, wherein the at least one common feature is configured to assist finding and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.

20. The region according to claim 18, wherein the at least one common feature is represented in a data format incorporating redundancy of information.

21. The region according to claim 20, wherein the at least one common feature is rotationally symmetric so as to be rotationally invariant.

22. The region according to claim 20, wherein the at least one common feature is ring-shaped.

23. The region 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.

24. The region according to claim 23, wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

25. The region according to claim 24, wherein the at least one orientation feature is rotationally asymmetric.

26. The region according to claim 24, wherein the at least one orientation feature is skewed along its major axis.

27. The region 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.

28. The region according to claim 27, wherein the at least one perspective feature includes at least four sub-features which are not coincident.

29. The region according to claim 3, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the first and second identity data each being defined by a plurality of the elements.

30. The region according to claim 29, wherein the tag elements are disposed in one or more arcuate bands around a central region of each tag.

31. The region according to claim 30, wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.

32. The region according to claim 31, wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.

33. The region according to claim 32, wherein the number of possible values is two.

34. The region according to claim 32, 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.

35. The region according to claim 32, 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.

36. The region according to claim 32, wherein the tags are not substantially visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

37. The region according to claim 32, wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

38. The region according to claim 32, wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

39. The region according to claim 3, wherein the first identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

40. The region according to claim 3, wherein the second identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

41. The region according to claim 2, wherein at least a plurality of the tags are disposed stochastically upon the surface.

42. The region according to claim 41, wherein the first identity data of each of the tags includes position data indicating the tag'"'"'s position in relation to either the surface or a plurality of the other tags.

43. The region according to claim 42, wherein the tags are disposed in a regular array on the surface.

44. The region according to claim 43, wherein the array is triangular.

45. The region according to claim 44, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.

46. The region according to claim 43, wherein the array is rectangular.

47. The region according to claim 46, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.

48. The region according to claim 2, further including additional non-tag information disposed on the surface.

49. The region according to claim 1, wherein the coded data has been disposed on the surface by a printer.

50. The region according to claim 41, wherein the printer is an ink printer.

51. The region according to claim 50, wherein the coded data has been printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

52. The region according to claim 49, wherein the additional information has been disposed on the surface by the printer.

53. The region according to claim 52, wherein the additional information has been printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.

54. The region according to claim 53, wherein the additional information has been printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:

CMY;

CMYK;

CMYRGB; and

spot color.

55. The region according to claim 1, wherein the region is identified with sufficient precision to distinguish the region from 1.5×

10¹⁴ other regions.

56. The region according to claim 1, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient coded data to identify the region.

57. The region according to claim 56, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient information to identify at least one point of the region.

58. The region, including a region according to any one of the preceding claims.

59. The region according to claim 1 wherein the interactive element is selected from the group comprising a hyperlink, a hypertext link, a button, a command, a drawing field, a text field and a signature field.

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

(a) defining coded data, the coded data 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; and

(c) disposing additional information on the surface,

wherein the additional data comprises human-readable data which is substantially visible to the average unaided human eye, at least some of the additional data being indicative of an interactive element,

and wherein the coded data comprises machine-readable data which is substantially inscrutable to the average unaided human, at least some of the coded data in the vicinity of the at least some additional data also being indicative of the interactive element.

61. The method according to claim 60, 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.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein each of the tags includes:

first identity data defining a relative position of that tag; and

second identity data identifying the surface.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the respective first identity data associated with each tag defines the position of that tag with respect to the surface.

64. The method according to claim 62, wherein the respective first identity data associated with each tag defines a position of that tag with respect to one or more other tags.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein step (b) includes the sub-step of disposing the readable tags on the surface such that the relative spacing of their centres is less than about 12 mm.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein the relative spacing is less than about 3 mm.

67. The method according to claim 65, wherein the relative spacing is less than about 1 mm.

68. The method according to claim 62, wherein the first identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

69. The method according to claim 62, wherein the second identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

70. The method according to claim 61, wherein at least a plurality of the tags are disposed stochastically upon the surface.

71. The method according to claim 70, wherein the first identity data of each of the tags includes position data indicating the tag'"'"'s position in relation to either the surface or a plurality of the other tags.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein the tags are disposed in a regular array on the surface.

73. The method according to claim 72, wherein the array is triangular.

74. The method according to claim 73, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.

75. The method according to claim 72, wherein the array is rectangular.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.

77. The method according to claim 61, further including additional non-tag information disposed on the surface.

78. The method according to claim 61, wherein step (b) includes the sub-step (b)(i) of disposing the tags at predetermined positions on the surface.

79. The method according to claim 78, wherein sub-step (b)(i) includes the step of disposing the tags in a regular array on the surface.

80. The method according to claim 79, wherein the step of disposing the tags on the surface includes the sub-step of tiling the tags over the surface.

81. The method according to claim 78, wherein sub-step (b)(i) includes the step of disposing the tags in a rectangular array on the surface.

82. The method according to claim 61, further including the step of adding a common feature to the tags in addition to the second identity data.

83. The method according to claim 82, wherein the common feature is configured to assist location and/or recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.

84. The method according to claim 82, wherein the common features are represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

85. The method according to claim 61, further including the step of providing each of the tags with one or more orientation features for enabling an orientation of the tag being read to be ascertained.

86. The method according to claim 85, wherein the orientation features are represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.

87. The method according to claim 86, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the first and second identity data being defined by a plurality of the elements.

88. The method according to claim 87, wherein the tag elements are disposed in one or more arcuate bands around a central region of each tag.

89. The method according to claim 88, wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.

90. The method according to claim 89, wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.

91. The method according to claim 90, wherein the number of possible values is two.

92. The method according to claim 90, 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.

93. The method according to claim 90, 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.

94. The method according to claim 90, wherein the tags are not substantially visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

95. The method according to claim 90, wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

96. The method according to claim 90, wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.

97. The method according to claim 60, including the step of providing a substrate upon which the surface is defined, the step being performed at any suitable time in relation to the other steps of the method.

98. The method according to claim 60, wherein the step of disposing the coded data within the region on the surface is achieved by a printer.

99. The method according to claim 98, wherein the printer is an ink printer.

100. The method according to claim 99, wherein the tags are printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

101. The method according to claim 98, wherein the step of disposing the additional information within the region on the surface is achieved by the printer.

102. The method according to claim 101, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.

103. The method according to claim 102, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:

CMY;

CMYK;

CMYRGB; and

spot color.

104. The method according to claim 60, wherein the region is identified with sufficient precision to distinguish the region from 1.5×

10¹⁴ other regions.

105. The method according to claim 60, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient coded data to identify the region.

106. The method according to claim 105, wherein any 10 millimeter diameter subregion of the region includes sufficient information to identify at least one point of the region.

107. The method according to claim 60 wherein the interactive element is selected from the group comprising a hyperlink, a hypertext link, a button, a command, a drawing field, a text field and a signature field.