Computer method and system for generating images with encoded information, images obtained by this method and image reading method and system

A computational method comprising:

• i) associating information to be encoded with a plurality of graphic elements, each of the plurality of graphic elements consisting of a symbol (11) out of a plurality of symbols (11), wherein the symbols (11) consist of a pattern of graphic elements selected from a Pixel Map (PM) and/or Shape Map (SM), wherein the Pixel Map (PM) consists of white pixels and black pixels and the Shape Map (SM) consists of geometric and complex forms;
• and
• ii) generating at least one image (20) with coded information comprising at least one pattern obtained from step i);
• iii) identifying symbols (11) on said at least one image,
• iv) reading the coded information on said at least one image (20) by going through the symbols (11) identified in said at least one image (20) in a predetermined order and comparing sets of symbols (11) with a plurality of stored patterns;
• wherein the obtainment of said at least one image (20) comprises a digital acquisition of a printed image to produce an obtained image, the printed image comprising a peripheral area (15), said at least one image (20) with the plurality of symbols (11) being disposed within the peripheral area (15), not intersecting it, and comprising a substantially linear contour, arranged in such a way that it separates the peripheral area (15) and said at least one image (20);
• wherein the identification of symbols (11) comprises identifying said peripheral area (15) and the consequent identification of symbols (11) within said peripheral area (15);
• and
• wherein said identification of symbols (11) in the obtained image further comprises a pixel repositioning step of the obtained image, said pixel repositioning comprising:
• identifying a neighboring set of N pixels adjacent to a first set of K×K pixels, N and K consisting of non-negative integers;
• comparing the neighboring set with an expected neighboring set, said expected neighboring set consisting of a stored pattern;
• determining the position that minimizes a norm of the difference between the neighboring set and the expected neighboring set;
• positioning of a new pixel in the position of the previous step;
• and
• propagating the previous steps by all the pixels of the obtained image;
• thus obtaining a repositioned obtained image.