Embedding information in paper forms
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsZhigang Fan, Reiner Eschbach, Saurabh Prabhat, Raja Bala, Judith E. Stinehour, Martin S. Maltz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure provides methods and systems of embedding and extracting information in a printed document. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided wherein information is encoded by one or more partial or complete gaps in a line associated with a form, and the line gaps are patterned to provide N-bit codes.
Claims24
A method of embedding information in a printed document comprising:
- a) receiving a digital image representation of a document to be printed;
- b) identifying one or more straight lines associated with the digital image representation of the document, each straight line including a first characteristic associated with a print of the document;
- c) dividing each identified straight line into a plurality of segments;
- and
- d) encoding information into the one or more straight lines by encoding one or more partial or complete line gaps, the partial or complete line gaps associated with a portion of the straight line including a second characteristic of the straight line;
- and
- e) printing the digital image representation of the document including the encoded information.
A system for embedding information in a printed document comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled to the memory for performing a method comprising:
- a) receiving a digital image representation of a document to be printed;
- b) identifying one or more straight lines associated with the digital image reproduction of the document, each straight line including a first characteristic associated with a print of the document;
- c) dividing each identified straight line into a plurality of segments;
- and
- d) encoding information into the one or more straight lines by encoding one or more partial or complete line gaps, the partial or complete line gaps associated with a portion of the straight line including a second characteristic of the straight line.
A method of extracting embedded information in a printed document, the printed document including the embedded information in one or more straight lines including a first characteristic, a second characteristic, and one or more normally unperceivable partial or complete line gaps, the line gaps associated with a portion of the straight line including the second characteristic, the method comprising:
- a) receiving a digital image representation of the printed document including the embedded information;
- b) identifying the one or more straight lines including the embedded information associated with the digital image representation of the document;
- c) extracting from the identified one or more straight lines the embedded information by detecting the line gaps associated with the identified one or more straight lines;
- and
- d) mapping the detected line gaps to a code to generate a code representation of the embedded information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.