System and method for extracting bitstream data in two-dimensional optical codes

A data reading system comprising:

• an imager configured to obtain an image of an item containing an optical code symbol including a plurality of data dots;
• a processor in operable communication with the imager, the processor configured to:
• determine a starting position for identifying the optical code symbol, wherein the starting position corresponds to a first data dot of the plurality of data dots;
• analyze the starting position of the image and validate a location of the first data dot;
• analyze a first region surrounding the first data dot to identify a subset of data dots surrounding the first data dot;
• determine a cluster arrangement of the first data dot and the subset of data dots;
• identify a starting pattern containing the first data dot and at least one of the subset of data dots;
• determine a starting pattern of the optical code based on an arrangement of the first data dot and the additional data dots;
• analyze multiple regions of the image beginning from the starting pattern to identify one or more additional data dots of the plurality of data dots in the image;
• and
• generate a label hypothesis based on the first data dot, the subset of data dots, and the one or more additional data dots, wherein the label hypothesis represents the optical code symbol;
• and
• a decoder unit in operable communication with the processor, the decoder unit configured to receive the label hypothesis from the processor and decode the label hypothesis to obtain data relating to the optical code symbol.

A data reader, comprising:

• an imager configured to capture an image of an optical code symbol including a data dot symbol;
• a processor operably coupled with the imager, the processor configured to:
• determine a first data dot within the data dot symbol;
• determine a starting pattern containing the first data dot and at least two subsets of data dots that extend in different directions relative to each other;
• determine additional dots within the data dot symbol at add to a data dot grid by a growth analysis extending from the starting pattern until only blank spaces are found surrounding other blank spaces;
• and
• transmit a label hypothesis for the determined data dot grid to a decoder unit for decoding and translation to an output string.