Method of representing binary data

Claim 1

A method for graphically representing binary data in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form, comprising the steps of forming a pattern of information-carrying graphic elements defining a geometric reference system, the reference system including a substantially continuous frame having a selected width and a plurality of synchronization lines within the frame defining boundaries of at least one data field; placing a plurality of machine-readable marks within the width of the frame identifying the pattern as a data-field reference system and providing information about data to be included in the system, and substantially filling the at least one data field with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements each characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark at each of a plurality of contiguous binary data element locations, each binary data element location having a known geometric relationship to the reference system so that coordinates of each of the plurality of individual binary data elements can be accurately determined.

Claim 2

A method for graphically representing binary data in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form, comprising the steps of forming a pattern of information-carrying graphic elements defining a geometric reference system, the reference system including a substantially continuous frame having a selected width and a plurality of synchronization lines within the frame defining boundaries of at least one data field; placing a plurality of machine-readable marks within the width of the frame identifying the pattern as a data-field reference system and providing information about data to be included in the system, and substantially filling the at least one data field with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements each characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark at each of a plurality of contiguous binary data element locations, each binary data element location having a known geometric relationship to the reference system so that coordinates of each of the plurality of individual binary data elements can be accurately determined.

Claim 9

A method of transporting binary data comprising the steps of printing the binary data graphically on a medium in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form by forming a plurality of first information-carrying and pattern-organization graphic elements to provide a geometric reference system from which the coordinates of each of a plurality of individual binary data element locations can be derived mathematically, and substantially filling a selected region in the reference system with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements at the locations, each element being characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark, the binary data element locations having known relationships to said first elements; transporting the medium; optically scanning the medium and forming a bit map of the pattern including the first and binary data elements, evaluating the first elements to determine the orientation and locations of the binary data elements, and reading the binary data elements, and wherein the step of evaluating includes tracing a frame portion of the bit-map image of the first elements to determine the orientation, tracing synchronization line portions of the bitmap image of the first elements to identify intersections of the synchronization lines, and then determining the locations of the binary data elements from the intersection locations.

Claim 10

A method of transporting binary data comprising the steps of printing the binary data graphically on a medium in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form by forming a plurality of first information-carrying and pattern-organization graphic elements to provide a geometric reference system from which the coordinates of each of a plurality of individual binary data element locations can be derived mathematically, and substantially filling a selected region in the reference system with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements at the locations, each element being characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark, the binary data element locations having known relationships to said first elements; transporting the medium; optically scanning the medium and forming a bit map of the pattern including the first and binary data elements, evaluating the first elements to determine the orientation and locations of the binary data elements, and reading the binary data elements, and wherein the step of evaluating includes tracing a frame portion of the bit-map image of the first elements to determine the orientation, tracing synchronization line portions of the bitmap image of the first elements to identify intersections of the synchronization lines, and then determining the locations of the binary data elements from the intersection locations.

Claim 11

A method of graphically storing binary data in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form, comprising the steps of printing on a selected medium a pattern of information-carrying graphic elements defining a geometric reference system including a plurality of synchronization lines defining boundaries of an enclosed data field and a frame surrounding the synchronization lines, the frame including a plurality of machine-readable marks identifying the pattern as a data-field reference system, and substantially filling the data field with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements each characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark at each of a plurality of binary data element locations located next to each other with no spaces between said locations, each binary data element location having a known geometric relationship to the reference system so that coordinates of each of the plurality of individual binary data elements can be determined.

Claim 12

A method of graphically storing binary data in a condensed, high-density, machine-readable form, comprising the steps of printing on a selected medium a pattern of information-carrying graphic elements defining a geometric reference system including a plurality of synchronization lines defining boundaries of an enclosed data field and a frame surrounding the synchronization lines, the frame including a plurality of machine-readable marks identifying the pattern as a data-field reference system, and substantially filling the data field with a plurality of binary data-transmission elements each characterized by the presence or absence of a machine-readable mark at each of a plurality of binary data element locations located next to each other with no spaces between said locations, each binary data element location having a known geometric relationship to the reference system so that coordinates of each of the plurality of individual binary data elements can be determined.