Code and container of system for preparing a beverage or foodstuff

A beverage or foodstuff preparation system comprising a container of beverage or foodstuff material and comprising a code encoding preparation information, the code comprising a reference portion and a data portion, the reference portion comprising reference units defining a reference line, the reference units being arranged with a configuration, wherein the configuration defines a reference point from which the reference line extends, uniquely defines a single direction in which the reference line extends;

• wherein the configuration is located entirely within a locus defined by the or each encoding line, and wherein the direction of the reference line is further defined by or corrected with at least one of a data unit at one of a plurality of discrete positions arranged within a planform of the code and external the locus defined by the or each encoding line, whereby the discrete positions either comprise or do not comprise a unit,;
• and a like configuration of reference units of another code and a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the preparation machine comprising:
• a container processing subsystem to receive the container and to prepare a beverage or foodstuff therefrom;
• a code processing subsystem operable to:
• obtain a digital image of the code of the container;
• process the digital image to decode the encoded preparation information;
• a control subsystem operable to control the container processing subsystem using the decoded preparation information,
• wherein the code processing subsystem is configured to decode the encoded preparation information by:
• locating the reference and data units of the code;
• determining a reference line by:
• identifying a configuration of the reference units and determining therefrom a reference point from which the reference line extends,
• identifying from the configuration a direction of the reference line,
• further defining and/or correcting the direction of the reference line with at least one of:
• a data unit at one of a plurality of discrete positions arranged within a planform of the code and external the locus defined by the or each encoding line;
• a like configuration of reference units of another code;
• determining for a data unit a distance along the encoding line from the reference line;
• and converting a distance into an actual value of a parameter, using a stored relationship between the parameter and distance.

A method of encoding preparation information, the method comprising forming a code on:

• a container for a beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, the container for containing beverage or foodstuff material;
• or
• an attachment for attachment to the container for a beverage of foodstuff preparation machine,
• the method further comprising:
• arranging reference units to define configuration defining a reference point from which a reference line of a reference portion extends;
• at least partially encoding a parameter of the preparation information with a data portion of the code by arranging a data unit on an encoding line that intersects the reference line, the data unit being arranged any continuous distance extending along the encoding line from the intersection as a variable for the encoding, whereby the encoding line is circular and is arranged with a tangent thereto orthogonal the reference line at the intersection point, wherein the configuration is located entirely within a locus defined by the or each encoding line;
• and
• further arranging:
• a data unit at one of a plurality of discrete positions arranged within a planform of the code and external the locus defined by the or each encoding line, whereby the discrete positions either comprise or do not comprise a unit;
• and/or
• another code, the another code having like configuration of reference units wherein the reference line is arranged to extend though a reference point defined by the configuration of said another code or at a known offset from a reference point defined by the configuration of said another code.