+

WO1997026619A1 - Systemes de codage et de decodage de donnees - Google Patents

Systemes de codage et de decodage de donnees Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997026619A1
WO1997026619A1 PCT/GB1997/000102 GB9700102W WO9726619A1 WO 1997026619 A1 WO1997026619 A1 WO 1997026619A1 GB 9700102 W GB9700102 W GB 9700102W WO 9726619 A1 WO9726619 A1 WO 9726619A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
substrate
data
dot
encoded data
character
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1997/000102
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Philip Richardson
Margaret Pamela Richardson
Original Assignee
Philip Richardson
Margaret Pamela Richardson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9600753.9A external-priority patent/GB9600753D0/en
Application filed by Philip Richardson, Margaret Pamela Richardson filed Critical Philip Richardson
Priority to AU13931/97A priority Critical patent/AU1393197A/en
Publication of WO1997026619A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997026619A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/06009—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking
    • G06K19/06018—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking one-dimensional coding
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K19/00—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
    • G06K19/06—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
    • G06K19/06009—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking
    • G06K19/06037—Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code with optically detectable marking multi-dimensional coding

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to data encoding and decoding systems.
  • the invention relates particularly, but not solely, to systems for enabling data to be transferred from one computer to another, for example systems in which the first computer encodes data and prints it on a document in machine- readable form, and the encoded data is read from the printed document and decoded by the second computer.
  • a system for forming a substrate with machine-readable markings representing data in encoded form comprising a microprocessor arranged to convert alphanumeric data into encoded data, and means for forming a substrate with the encoded data in the form of at least one line of successive characters, each said character being defined by a series of localised dot-shaped marks, said series extending generally perpendicular to said line.
  • the substrate to be formed comprises a document and the means for forming the substrate with the encoded data comprises a document printer.
  • the system is particularly suited to the use of a dot matrix printer, preferably a nine-pin dot matrix printer: each character of the encoded print is thus defined by a unique pattern of dots at selected positions corresponding to dot positions of the nine-pin dot matrix printer.
  • Such printers are commonly in use and have the advantage that they can print on multipart stationery: however, other types of printer may be used if desired.
  • the substrate comprises a label or other article of textile material
  • the means for forming the substrate with the encoded data comprises a machine which forms the required dot-shaped marks by a sewing, stitching, embroidery, weaving or the like process, using a thread of a colour which contrasts with the textile label or other article itself.
  • the substrate may comprise a label to be stitched into a garment, and carrying marks typically identifying the manufacturer of the garment, the size of the garment, the material from which the garment is made, and washing instructions for the garment.
  • the encoded data, formed on the label in accordance with the present invention occupies a small area and can uniquely identify the garment and include any desired information related to the garment.
  • a substrate which is provided with machine-readable markings representing data in encoded form and comprising at least one line of successive characters, each said character being defined by a series of localised dot-shaped marks, said series extending generally perpendicular to said line.
  • a decoding system for reading encoded data from a substrate, in which the encoded data comprises at least one line of successive characters each defined by a series of localised dot-shaped marks, said series extending generally perpendicular to said line, the decoding system comprising an optical scanning device for scanning an encoded data image carried on said substrate, the decoding system including means for decoding the scanned image.
  • the decoding system preferably comprises a scanning device coupled to a computer, typically a personal computer.
  • the scanning device is provided with processing circuitry, which may be incorporated in the scanning device itself or on an add-on board for installation in the computer.
  • This processing circuitry preferably comprises a memory or store to which the scanned image is written, and a microprocessor arranged then to analyse the stored image.
  • the scanner microprocessor checks the stored image for orientation (or skew) and corrects this as necessary.
  • the scanner microprocessor checks the encoded data for validity.
  • the scanner microprocessor decodes the successive characters and passes a stream of decoded characters to the host computer.
  • the encoding system is arranged to generate identifying characters for the respective fields of data, and these identifying characters are printed in association with (preferably preceding) their respective encoded data fields. Then the decoding system includes these identifiers in the decoded stream of data, so that the host computer of the decoding system is able to allocate the different items of data to appropriate files and/or fields.
  • the decoding system may be used regardless of the nature or material of the substrate on which the encoded data is carried, and regardless of the manner in which the dot-shaped markings have been formed on that substrate.
  • the substrate may comprise a printed document.
  • the substrate may comprise a label or other article of textile material which has been formed with the dot-shaped markings by a sewing, stitching, embroidery, weaving or the like process.
  • each encoded character is based on a nine-dot code.
  • the nine dot positions preferably seven are used to define the character (as a unique combination of dot presences and absences) .
  • an eighth dot position is used as a parity bit thus enabling individual character validation in the recipient system.
  • the final dot position of the nine is used to form a separating line between adjacent lines of characters and thus provide a reference feature for the skew correction facility.
  • the use of the eighth parity dot is unnecessary and the eighth dot position can instead be used to extend the possible character set to give up to 256 characters. This enables commonly occurring words or phrases in text to be represented by a single character thus compressing the data.
  • the encoding system of the invention is particularly well suited to the use of a nine-pin dot matrix printer, such that each character of the printed code corresponds to a single position of the printer head.
  • this sets the resolution required from the scanner at approximately seventy five dots per inch.
  • Present optical scanner technology achieves a resolution of six hundred dots per inch, such that the scanner in accordance with this invention is able to perform at high levels of accuracy.
  • a typical line of alphanumeric data can accordingly be printed by a dot matrix printer, in the above-described dot coded form, with a compression factor of approximately six-to- one. Moreover, since successive lines of dot coded characters may be printed without the usual spacing between lines, a further two-to-one improvement in the compression factor can be achieved. Thus, an overall compression factor of approximately twelve-to-one can be achieved.
  • the use of the eighth dot position to extend the character set as described above results in further compression of the code.
  • the code may be printed in a series of blocks in an enlarged right hand margin, each block corresponding to and aligned with a paragraph of text. Such an arrangement enables selective acquisition of text from the document by the operator of the recipient system.
  • the encoding system may be arranged to print data items in one language e.g. English, and the recipient system
  • the scanner processing circuitry (preferably the scanner processing circuitry) arranged to translate selected items into another language.
  • the scanner processing circuitry can respond to the relevant identifiers to translate the corresponding data items.
  • the translated data can be displayed on the host computer monitor and, if required, printed out.
  • the recipient system may be arranged to make a currency conversion, in accordance with an exchange rate newly programmed into the system when desired by the user.
  • an invoice written in English and expressed in pounds sterling may be converted by the recipient system to a document with key text in French and currency in Francs.
  • the data can be encrypted before encoding and printing onto the document.
  • the recipient system is then arranged to decrypt the data after reading the latter from the printed document and decoding it.
  • the encoded data is preferably printed as a block of several successive lines without spacing between adjacent lines.
  • the block is printed with a distinctive feature of shape, so that it can be identified as authentic: for example the block may have a distinctive outline shape, or it may include a void area of distinctive shape.
  • the distinctive feature of shape may enable the data block to be identified and authenticated visually, or by the scanner processing circuit.
  • the block of data is enclosed by a continuous line forming an identifiable shape to aid the skew correction process and enable the processor to determine the number of lines in the block of data. It is further preferred that the continuous line be in the form of a rectangle.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram showing systems employed, in accordance with the present invention, for producing an invoice at an originating location, and for processing the invoice at a recipient's location;
  • FIGURE 2 is a diagram to show an example of encoding data in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3 is one example of character encoding key or font used in systems in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE 4 shows an invoice printed with normal alphanumeric data and also printed with a block of encoded data
  • FIGURE 5 is a schematic block diagram of a scanning device used to read the encoded data from an invoice.
  • FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing an example of format for the encoded data.
  • the invoice data is entered on a keyboard to a computer 10 which prints the invoice on a dot matrix printer 12.
  • the computer 10 is provided with an accounts software package of any conventional type, for originating the invoice from the data entered on the keyboard.
  • the computer 10 is further provided, for example in the printer driver, with encoding software which accesses output files on the computer 10, then encodes the corresponding invoice data, organises this into a predetermined format, and controls the printer 12 so that the encoded data is printed onto the invoice, in a small area of the document which is free of other printed matter.
  • the invoice is printed with the usual alphanumeric data in human-readable form, but is in addition printed, in a small area, with some or all of the same data in a machine-readable encoded form, the details of which will be explained below.
  • a computer 20 is provided with a scanner 30 for reading the machine-readable encoded data from each invoice.
  • the scanner 30 is arranged to decode this data, and pass it to the computer 20 where it may be displayed for verification and allocated to appropriate files and/or further processed, as will be described below.
  • each character in a horizontal line of characters
  • Figure 2 shows horizontal lines A of normal alphanumeric printing, together with horizontal lines B of the same data printed in encoded form, and also at C the encoded lines on an enlarged scale.
  • Figure 3 shows one example of character encoding key or font.
  • the upper seven dot positions define the character itself (in a unique combination of present and absent dots)
  • the eighth dot position defines a parity bit
  • the ninth dot position provides a separating line between successive encoded lines.
  • the parity bit ensures that each vertical line contains an even number of dots in total.
  • Figure 4 shows a typical invoice which is printed with alphanumeric information in usual manner, in this case including details of several products being purchased, the individual prices and corresponding VAT values, and the relevant totals. Additionally, and in accordance with this invention, the invoice is printed with corresponding encoded data: this is printed as a compact, rectangular block D occupying a small area of the invoice, which is free of other printed matter. An indicator, in the form of an arrow or pointer P, is printed adjacent the block to indicate its presence to the recipient of the invoice, and to indicate the direction in which the block D should be scanned.
  • the scanner may comprise a flatbed device or a hand held device.
  • the scanner is provided with processing circuitry, either incorporated in the device itself or on an add-on board to be installed in the host computer.
  • Figure 5 shows the scanner circuitry in schematic form.
  • the output of the optical read head 32 of the scanner is passed to a bit map store 34.
  • the scanner further comprises a microprocessor 36 controlled by software held in a read only memory (ROM) 38.
  • ROM read only memory
  • a further read only memory 39 holding a language look-up table may be provided, preferably with the facility of being easily added or removed from the system e.g. as a plug-in component.
  • the scanned image is written into the store 34, then the microprocessor 36 analyses the stored image.
  • the image is checked and corrected for orientation, using predetermined datum points or lines in the image, and is then checked for completeness.
  • the microprocessor 36 analyses the data line-by-line and checks the character validation of each individual character, before decoding the characters, then passing the stream of decoded characters to the host computer. However, if at any stage the scanner circuitry detects an error, it discards the stored image and prompts the user to scan the document again.
  • the scanner includes a marker to mark the document, e.g. with a red mark, once the code block has been successfully read, to show that the document has been read.
  • each item of data, or data field is preceded by an identifying character or code, which is generated by the originating computer system.
  • the stream of data passed by the scanner to the host computer, at the recipient location includes these identifiers, so that the host computer is able to allocate the different items of data to the correct fields in the correct files of its data store.
  • the decoded invoice data may be displayed on the computer monitor, and it is also allocated to the appropriate data storage files of that computer's accounts package.
  • Figure 6 shows one example of data record, illustrating the use of a particular example of system protocol.
  • the protocol used in this example divides the fields into two main types, header line fields and item line fields.
  • the header line fields contain data items relevant to the invoice as a whole. Details of each individual item on the invoice are held in the item line fields: the number of item line fields correspond to the number of items on the invoice. In the example shown:
  • # is the VAT number field control character % denotes the invoice date field & denotes the order number field
  • the systems which have been described enable data to be transferred from one computer to another (in which the two computer operating systems and applications software may be quite different and normally incompatible with each other) without the need for manual re ⁇ entry of data at the recipient location.
  • the speed, accuracy and reliability of the data transfer are all substantially enhanced.
  • the scanner processing circuit can be arranged to anticipate this particular format. This enables the scanner to operate more easily and quickly in checking the scanned image, identifying and correcting for orientation errors, checking individual characters for validity and data fields for completeness and authenticity. This factor contrasts with general-purpose scanning systems, which do not have the benefit of a verifiable font or fixed format, but have to interpret the scanned image and decide upon the type of font being used and the character spacing etc.
  • the invention is generally applicable to the formation of the machine-readable encoded data on any substrate, regardless of the nature or material of that substrate and the manner in which the encoded data is marked on the substrate.
  • the substrate may comprise a label of textile material, of the type which is sewn into a garment and carries alphanumeric information in human-readable form: in this case, the encoded data may be marked on the label in a process of stitching, sewing, embroidery, weaving or the like, using a thread of a colour contrasting with the label itself.
  • the encoding can be effected by the same process, and at the same or a subsequent time, as the process for forming the label with its main, human-readable information.
  • the above-described scanning device can be used to read the encoded data, regardless of the nature of the substrate and the manner in which the substrate has been marked with the encoded data.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un support, notamment un document imprimé tel qu'une facture, contenant des marques exploitables par machine qui représentent des données sous forme codée. Les marques (B), représentées sous forme agrandie en (C), comprennent au moins une ligne de caractères successifs, chaque caractère étant défini par une série de points localisés, s'étendant perpendiculairement à la ligne de caractères. Un document peut ainsi être imprimé à l'aide d'une imprimante par points, les marques exploitables par machine occupant une petite surface et représentant une partie des informations lisibles par l'homme qui sont également imprimées sur le document. Ainsi, avec un décodeur, le destinataire du document peut lire les marques exploitables par machine et les entrer directement dans sa base de données informatique.
PCT/GB1997/000102 1996-01-15 1997-01-14 Systemes de codage et de decodage de donnees WO1997026619A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU13931/97A AU1393197A (en) 1996-01-15 1997-01-14 Data encoding and decoding systems

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9600753.9A GB9600753D0 (en) 1996-01-15 1996-01-15 Data transfer systems
GB9600753.9 1996-01-15
GBGB9603275.0A GB9603275D0 (en) 1996-01-15 1996-02-16 Data encoding and decoding systems
GB9603275.0 1996-02-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997026619A1 true WO1997026619A1 (fr) 1997-07-24

Family

ID=26308462

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1997/000102 WO1997026619A1 (fr) 1996-01-15 1997-01-14 Systemes de codage et de decodage de donnees

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1393197A (fr)
WO (1) WO1997026619A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0940768A2 (fr) * 1998-03-04 1999-09-08 Hewlett-Packard Company Milieu d'enregistrement avec système de code à barres pour l'identification
GB2385824A (en) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-03 Qinetiq Ltd Document with encoded machine readable information
EP2482231A1 (fr) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-01 King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Procédé de codage et de décodage de données dans un symbole de code de matrice
CN103707665A (zh) * 2013-12-17 2014-04-09 重庆川仪自动化股份有限公司 应用于有纸记录仪的文字打印控制方法及装置
US11093809B2 (en) 2019-08-05 2021-08-17 Advanced Functional Fabrics Of America Machine-readable tape
US11120319B2 (en) 2017-01-04 2021-09-14 Advanced Functional Fabrics Of America, Inc. Uniquely identifiable articles of fabric and social networks employing them

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1216539A (en) * 1968-05-09 1970-12-23 Howard Woodrow Wilson Coupons and like articles carrying coded information
WO1981000476A1 (fr) * 1979-08-01 1981-02-19 Ncr Co Code lisible par une machine
FR2608294A1 (fr) * 1986-12-15 1988-06-17 Terracol Claude Systeme de marquage et d'identification automatiques
US4766301A (en) * 1985-08-20 1988-08-23 Robert A. Van der Laan Textile fabric with woven-in bar code
EP0299383A2 (fr) * 1987-07-11 1989-01-18 Hirokazu Yoshida Procédé de lecture de feuilles à code d'identification

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1216539A (en) * 1968-05-09 1970-12-23 Howard Woodrow Wilson Coupons and like articles carrying coded information
WO1981000476A1 (fr) * 1979-08-01 1981-02-19 Ncr Co Code lisible par une machine
US4766301A (en) * 1985-08-20 1988-08-23 Robert A. Van der Laan Textile fabric with woven-in bar code
FR2608294A1 (fr) * 1986-12-15 1988-06-17 Terracol Claude Systeme de marquage et d'identification automatiques
EP0299383A2 (fr) * 1987-07-11 1989-01-18 Hirokazu Yoshida Procédé de lecture de feuilles à code d'identification

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GILS VAN W J: "TWO-DIMENSIONAL DOT CODES FOR PRODUCT INDENTIFICATION", IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INFORMATION THEORY, vol. 33, no. 5, September 1987 (1987-09-01), pages 620 - 631, XP000005016 *

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0940768A2 (fr) * 1998-03-04 1999-09-08 Hewlett-Packard Company Milieu d'enregistrement avec système de code à barres pour l'identification
EP0940768A3 (fr) * 1998-03-04 2001-02-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Milieu d'enregistrement avec système de code à barres pour l'identification
GB2385824A (en) * 2002-03-01 2003-09-03 Qinetiq Ltd Document with encoded machine readable information
EP2482231A1 (fr) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-01 King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology Procédé de codage et de décodage de données dans un symbole de code de matrice
JP2012160161A (ja) * 2011-01-31 2012-08-23 King Abdulaziz City For Science & Technology (Kacst) マトリックスコードシンボルにデータをエンコードおよびデコードする方法
CN103707665A (zh) * 2013-12-17 2014-04-09 重庆川仪自动化股份有限公司 应用于有纸记录仪的文字打印控制方法及装置
CN103707665B (zh) * 2013-12-17 2016-11-09 重庆川仪自动化股份有限公司 应用于有纸记录仪的文字打印控制方法及装置
US11120319B2 (en) 2017-01-04 2021-09-14 Advanced Functional Fabrics Of America, Inc. Uniquely identifiable articles of fabric and social networks employing them
US11093809B2 (en) 2019-08-05 2021-08-17 Advanced Functional Fabrics Of America Machine-readable tape

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1393197A (en) 1997-08-11

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU769590B2 (en) Automatic barcode creation for data transfer and retrieval
EP0783160B1 (fr) Procédé de lecture d'un code à barres bidimensionnel sans information d'horloge
US6305604B1 (en) Printing apparatus, reading apparatus, and processing system for checks
US5544045A (en) Unified scanner computer printer
US5848426A (en) Automatic data translation between different business systems
CA2454380C (fr) Methode pour ameliorer la lisibilite d'images composites
CA1197621A (fr) Systeme et methode bancaire
US6439465B1 (en) Encoding small amounts of embedded digital data at arbitrary locations within an image
US6611351B1 (en) Method of printing complete MICR checks on blank sheets from host program data using laser printers
US8379261B2 (en) Creation and placement of two-dimensional barcode stamps on printed documents for storing authentication information
US6886863B1 (en) Secure document with self-authenticating, encryptable font
EP0011388A1 (fr) Système et méthode pour le traitement de documents
US6279828B1 (en) One dimensional bar coding for multibyte character
JPH06199078A (ja) 符号化したデータを有する記録体
JP2001508906A (ja) コーディング法、コーディング装置およびコード化された製品
US4064389A (en) System and method for authenticating an electronically transmitted document
US20220318346A1 (en) Certified text document
WO1997026619A1 (fr) Systemes de codage et de decodage de donnees
US20030084068A1 (en) Method and system for providing control marks on a document
JP2004341764A (ja) 認識方法および認識装置
US8731233B2 (en) System of automated document processing
JPH11288445A (ja) 帳票認識方法及び装置
US4149670A (en) Mark-sense card
JPH0331147B2 (fr)
JP3513806B2 (ja) 不動産登記情報ファイリングシステム

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): KE LS MW SD SZ UG AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP

Ref document number: 97525774

Format of ref document f/p: F

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

点击 这是indexloc提供的php浏览器服务，不要输入任何密码和下载