Variable formatting of digital data into a pattern

A method of encoding data into a pattern as digital data comprising:

• formatting the data into a series of digital data values formatted into a plurality of spaces with at least one grouping of spaces further formatted into a plurality of subgroupings of contiguous spaces each formatted into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns where each subgrouping is bordered on at least one side by a series of markers used as guideposts in determining the locations of the spaces, and where at least one bit in said series of digital data values is represented in each of said plurality of spaces where at least one logical state is expressed by the presence in the space of a spot of a particular spot size and at least one other logical state is expressed by the absence of a spot with said particular spot size from the space.

A method of encoding data comprising:

• formatting the data into a series of data values arranged in a pattern, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaces formatted into a plurality of subgroupings of contiguous spaces, each subgrouping formatted into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
• and
• encoding a series of markers near each of at least two subgroupings of spaces.

A method of encoding data comprising:

• formatting the data into a series of data values arranged in a pattern, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaces formatted into a plurality of subgroupings of contiguous spaces, each subgrouping formatted into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;
• and
• encoding a series of markers such that at least one marker in the series serves as a clocking mechanism for at least two subgroupings of spaces.

A method of encoding data into a pattern for output to a substrate, the pattern comprising at least one symbol representing at least part of said data, the method comprising:

• defining at least one attribute of said at least one symbol in terms of printer pixels;
• and
• formatting said at least one symbol into said pattern.

A system of encoding data into a pattern comprising:

• selecting means for selecting at least one value for at least one format parameter from a plurality of values for the parameter;
• and
• formatting means coupled to the selecting means for formatting the data into a series of data values wherein the series of data values are formatted into a plurality of cells at least some of which have a cell size having at least one dimension which, if a format parameter value has been selected defining a first dimension of a cell, then the first cell size dimension is defined as equaling the value so selected, and wherein at least one logical state in a cell is expressed by the presence in the cell of a spot with a spot size having at least one dimension which, if a format parameter value has been selected defining a first dimension of a spot, then the first spot size dimension is defined as equaling the value so selected.

A method of encoding digital data comprising formatting the data into a series of data values arranged in a pattern, the pattern comprising a plurality of spaces at least some of which have at least two dimensions including a first dimension M pixels and a second dimension N pixels, wherein at least one bit in said series of digital data values is represented in each of said plurality of spaces where at least one logical state is expressed by the presence in the space of a spot having at least two dimensions including a first dimension X pixels and a second dimension Y pixels, and where at least one of the dimensions M, N, X, and Y is capable of differing from at least one other of the dimensions M, N, X, and Y.