Two-dimensional code, reading and producing method and recording medium storing related software

A method for reading a two-dimensional code, said reading method comprising the steps of:

• providing a two-dimensional code including a plurality of cells arranged in a predetermined two-dimensional pattern, said code comprising an information recording region for recording information, a plurality of blocks constituting said information recording region, and each block involving a recording mode designating code indicating a recording mode of the information recorded in each block,
• wherein said recording mode designating code of each block is disposed in front of the information recorded in said block, so that said recording mode designating code is decoded prior to said information in each block and said information is decoded according to the recording mode specified by said recording mode designating code;
• performing partial decode processing for each of said plurality of blocks to decode the recorded information in each block in accordance with the recording mode specified by said recording mode designating code;
• and
• reading the information in said information recording region based on the partial decoding result of said plurality of blocks.

A method for producing a two-dimensional code including a plurality of cells arranged in a predetermined two-dimensional pattern,

• said two-dimensional code comprising:
• an information recording region for recording information,
• a plurality of blocks constituting said information recording region, and
• each block involving a recording mode designating code indicating a recording mode of the information recorded in each block,
• wherein said plurality of blocks include a plurality of block pairs, each block pair consisting of a data block and an error-correcting block, and
• an error-correcting level is independently applied to each block pair, and said producing method comprising the steps of:
• encoding all of the information based on a predetermined error-correcting level designated as an initial value,
• additionally encoding the information of a block pair based on a designated error-correcting level when the designated error-correcting level of said block pair is different from said initial value,
• performing an overflow judgment to check whether the coded information is accommodated in a corresponding block,
• repeating the encoding operation when said coded information overflows the corresponding block, by using another format having a wider information recording region until the encoded information fits in the corresponding block.

A recording medium storing a software program installable in a computer system to read a two-dimensional code including a plurality of cells arranged in a predetermined two-dimensional pattern, said code comprising an information recording region for recording information, a plurality of blocks constituting said information recording region, and each block involving a recording mode designating code indicating a recording mode of the information recorded in each block,

• wherein said software program comprises the processing of:
• performing partial decode processing for each of said plurality of blocks to decode the recorded information in each block in accordance with the recording mode specified by said recording mode designating code;
• and
• reading the information in said information recording region based on the partial decoding result of said plurality of blocks.

A recording medium storing a software program installable in a computer system to produce a two-dimensional code including a plurality of cells arranged in a predetermined two-dimensional pattern,

• said two-dimensional code comprising:
• an information recording region to record information,
• a plurality of blocks constituting said information recording region, and
• each block involving a recording mode designating code indicating a recording mode of the information recorded in each block,
• wherein said plurality of blocks include a plurality of block pairs, each block pair consisting of a data block and an error-correcting block, and
• an error-correcting level is independently applied to each block pair, and
• said software program comprises the processing of:
• encoding all of the information based on a predetermined error-correcting level designated as an initial value,
• additionally encoding the information of a block pair based on a designated error-correcting level when the designated error-correcting level of said block pair is different from said initial value,
• performing an overflow judgment to check whether the coded information is accommodated in a corresponding block,
• repeating the encoding operation when said coded information overflows the corresponding block, by using another format having a wider information recording region until the encoded information fits the corresponding block.