Dot code and information recording/reproducing system for recording/reproducing the same

An information recording system for recording a dot code on a recording medium so as to be optically read, the dot code comprising blocks arranged and sized so that a plurality of said blocks fits within a field of view of a reader for scanning the blocks to optically read the dot code,

• each of the blocks including:
• a data dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots arranged in accordance with contents of information data to be recorded,
• a marker by which the existence of the block is recognized, and
• a block address pattern representing an address of the block in the dot code,
• the data dot pattern, the marker, and the block address pattern being arranged in accordance with a predetermined positional relationship within each block;
• wherein the address of each block is such that the blocks can be individually identified and the dot code correctly read irrespective of an order in which the blocks are scanned by the reader;
• the information recording system comprising:
• input means for inputting the information data to be recorded;
• conversion means for converting the information data input by said input means into dot code data;
• and
• recording means for recording on the recording medium the dot code data converted by said conversion means, as optically readable dot code.

An optically readable dot code comprising blocks arranged and sized so that a plurality of said blocks fits on an imaging face of an imaging element of a reader for scanning the blocks to optically read the dot code, each of the blocks including:

• a data dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots arranged in accordance with contents of information to be recorded,
• a marker by which the presence of the block is recognized, and
• a block address pattern representing an address of the block in the dot code,
• the data dot pattern, the marker, and the block address pattern being arranged in accordance with a predetermined positional relationship within each block;
• wherein the address of each block is such that the blocks can be individually identified and the dot code correctly read irrespective of an order in which the blocks are scanned by the reader.