M-ary cyclic coding

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a first plurality of symbols selected from a first set of symbols;
• translate the first plurality of symbols into a second plurality of symbols selected from an M-ary cyclic symbol set;
• and
• write the second plurality of symbols to a surface.

A method, comprising:

• capturing, by a processor, an image of at least a portion of a surface;
• detecting, by the processor, a first plurality of symbols from the image, wherein the first plurality of symbols comprises symbols selected from an M-ary cyclic symbol set;
• translating, by the processor, the first plurality of symbols into a second plurality of symbols selected from a second set of symbols;
• and
• performing, by the processor, at least one task responsive to the second plurality of symbols.