Machine-readable image encoding data

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a machine-readable image having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the machine-readable image adapted to be detected by a reader for decoding said encoded data, the machine-readable image including:

• the graphic;
• a plurality of function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image selected to be disjoint from a chosen area of the graphic.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying a machine-readable symbol mask having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the symbol mask being an image mask used to be superimposed over a non-functional graphic to generate a machine-readable image, the symbol mask including:

• the graphic associated with an image descriptor calculated based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• a plurality of function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable symbol mask relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic;
• wherein the symbol mask includes transparency values to be used when superimposed on the non-functional graphic such that the machine-readable image is readable.

A computerized method of generating a machine-readable image encoding data, the machine-readable image embedded with a graphic, the method comprising:

• positioning the graphic and a plurality of function patterns;
• calculating an image descriptor based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculating decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data, and
• positioning the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic.

A computerized method of generating a machine-readable symbol mask having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the symbol mask being an image mask used to be superimposed over a non-functional graphic to generate a machine-readable image, the method comprising:

• positioning a plurality of function patterns;
• calculating an image descriptor based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculating decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data;
• positioning the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic;
• and
• applying transparency values to the symbol mask to be used in said superimposing over the non-functional graphic such that the machine-readable image is readable.

A computerized method of generating a machine-readable image having data encoded therein, the machine-readable image to be embedded with a hologram that presents different appearances when viewing from different viewpoints, the method comprising:

• positioning a plurality of function patterns and allocating a position for the hologram relative to position of the function patterns;
• calculating an image descriptor based on a chosen area of a first appearance of the hologram from a first viewpoint, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculating decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data, and
• positioning the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the position of the function patterns and the hologram, giving rise to the machine-readable image including the function patterns and the dot modules to be embedded with the hologram.

A computerized system for generating a machine-readable image encoding data, the machine-readable image embedded with a graphic, the system comprising a processing unit configured to:

• position the graphic and a plurality of function patterns;
• calculate an image descriptor based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculate decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data, and
• position the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic.

A computerized system of generating a machine-readable symbol mask having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the symbol mask being an image mask used to be superimposed over a non-functional graphic to generate a machine-readable image, the system comprising a processing unit configured to:

• position a plurality of function patterns;
• calculate an image descriptor based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculate decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data;
• position the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic;
• and
• apply transparency values to the symbol mask to be used in said superimposing over the non-functional graphic such that the machine-readable image is readable.

A computerized system for generating a machine-readable image having data encoded therein, the machine-readable image to be embedded with a hologram that presents different appearances when viewing from different viewpoints, the system comprising a processing unit configured to:

• position a plurality of function patterns and allocating a position for the hologram relative to position of the function patterns;
• calculate an image descriptor based on a chosen area of a first appearance of the hologram from a first viewpoint, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• calculate decoded values for dot modules based on at least said encoded data, and
• position the dot modules in one or more encoding regions relative to the position of function patterns and the hologram, giving rise to the machine-readable image including the function patterns and the dot modules to be embedded with the hologram.

A computerized method of decoding a machine-readable image encoded with data and embedded with a graphic, the method comprising:

• detecting a plurality of function patterns positioned in the machine-readable image;
• obtaining position information of one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image containing dot modules;
• obtaining decoded values of the dot modules from said encoding regions based on said position information;
• calculating an image descriptor from a chosen area of the graphic;
• and
• decoding the encoded data based on the decoded values of dot modules.

A computerized system for decoding a machine-readable image encoded with data and embedded with a graphic, the system comprising a processing unit configured to:

• detect a plurality of function patterns positioned in the machine-readable image;
• obtain position information of one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image containing dot modules;
• obtain decoded values of the dot modules from said encoding regions based on said position information;
• calculate an image descriptor from a chosen area of the graphic;
• and
• decode the encoded data based on the decoded values of dot modules.

A printed medium having a machine-readable image printed thereon, the machine-readable image having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the machine-readable image adapted to be detected by a reader for decoding said encoded data, the machine-readable image including:

• the graphic associated with an image descriptor calculated based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• a plurality of function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to at least said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic.

A printed medium having a machine-readable image printed thereon, the machine-readable image having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the machine-readable image adapted to be detected by a reader for decoding said encoded data, the machine-readable image including:

• the graphic;
• a plurality of function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to at least said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image which are selected to be disjoint from a chosen area of the graphic.

A printed medium having a machine-readable image printed thereon, the machine-readable image having data encoded therein and embedded with a graphic, the machine-readable image adapted to be detected by a reader for decoding said encoded data, the machine-readable image including:

• the graphic associated with an image descriptor calculated based on a chosen area of the graphic, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• a plurality of function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules including i) data dot modules having decoded values corresponding to said encoded data, and ii) error correction dot modules having decoded values corresponding to error correction information of said encoded data and said image descriptor, wherein the plurality of dot modules are positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the graphic.

A printed medium having a machine-readable image printed thereon, the machine-readable image having data encoded therein, the machine-readable image being embedded with a two-dimensional code such that the two-dimensional code and the machine-readable image both being detectable by a reader and decoded separately, wherein the machine-readable image and the two-dimensional code share common function patterns, the machine-readable image including:

• the two-dimensional code associated with an image descriptor calculated based on a chosen area of the two-dimensional code, the image descriptor being used in a reading process of said machine-readable image;
• the common function patterns;
• and
• a plurality of dot modules having decoded values corresponding to at least said encoded data, the dot modules being positioned in one or more encoding regions of the machine-readable image relative to the function patterns and the chosen area of the two-dimensional code.