Machine readable 2D symbology printable on demand

A method of converting a character string into an optically readable two dimensional symbol, each character belonging to a source string alphabet, the two dimensional symbol comprising an ordered plurality of printable elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting an encoding scheme comprising at least one code set, said at least one code set including a plurality of bit sequences, each bit sequence corresponding to a group of at least one character of the source string alphabet, each bit sequence comprising a pre-defined number of binary digits, each binary digit selected from the group consisting of:
• a first binary digit and a second binary digit;
• generating a sequence of code words, the sequence of code words representing the character string according to the encoding scheme;
• generating a sequence of printable elements by encoding each first binary digit in the sequence of code words by a printable element printed in a printable element position and by encoding each second binary digit in the sequence of code words by a vacant printable element position;
• arranging the sequence of printable elements in a rectangular array having a longitudinal axis, the rectangular array comprising a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of columns being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the rectangular array further comprising a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of rows being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the printable elements being positioned on a grid in a checker board-like manner, the grid being diagonal to the longitudinal axis, each printable element occupying a printable element position defined by an intersection of a printable element row and a printable element column, each printable element position being spaced from neighboring printable element positions, the printable elements being sequenced according to a pre-defined pattern
• wherein two neighboring corner positions of the rectangular array are printable element positions, and two positions opposite to the two neighboring corner positions are space positions.

An optically readable two dimensional symbol employed to encode a character string each character belonging to a source string alphabet, the two dimensional symbol comprising an ordered plurality of printable elements arranged in a rectangular array having a longitudinal axis, the rectangular array comprising a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of columns being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the rectangular array further comprising a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of rows being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein intersections between rows of the plurality of rows and columns of the plurality of columns define both printable element positions and spaces between printable element positions;

• wherein the printable elements are positioned on a grid, the grid being diagonal to the longitudinal axis, each printable element occupying a printable element position defined by an intersection of a printable element row and a printable element column, each printable element position being spaced from neighboring printable element positions;
• wherein the plurality of printable elements is sequenced according to a pre-defined pattern;
• and
• wherein each character of the character string is encoded into a sequence of printable elements using an encoding scheme comprising at least one code set, said at least one code set including a plurality of bit sequences, each bit sequence corresponding to a group of at least one character of the source string alphabet, each bit sequence comprising one or more binary digits, each binary digit selected from the group consisting of:
• a first binary digit encoded by a printable element printed in a printable element position and a second binary digit encoded by a vacant printable element position;
• and
• wherein the printable elements are sequenced following a spiraling pattern.

A method of converting a character string into an optically readable two dimensional symbol, each character belonging to a source string alphabet, the two dimensional symbol comprising an ordered plurality of printable elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting an encoding scheme comprising at least one code set, said at least one code set including a plurality of bit sequences, each bit sequence corresponding to a group of at least one character of the source string alphabet, each bit sequence comprising a pre-defined number of binary digits, each binary digit selected from the group consisting of:
• a first binary digit and a second binary digit;
• generating a sequence of code words, the sequence of code words representing the character string according to the encoding scheme;
• generating a sequence of printable elements by encoding each first binary digit in the sequence of code words by a printable element printed in a printable element position and by encoding each second binary digit in the sequence of code words by a vacant printable element position;
• arranging the sequence of printable elements in a rectangular array having a longitudinal axis, the rectangular array comprising a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of columns being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the rectangular array further comprising a plurality of rows, each of the plurality of rows being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein intersections between rows of the plurality of rows and columns of the plurality of columns define both printable element positions and spaces between printable element positions, the printable elements being positioned on a grid, the grid being diagonal to the longitudinal axis, each printable element occupying a printable element position defined by an intersection of a printable element row and a printable element column, each printable element position being spaced from neighboring printable element positions;
• and
• wherein the printable elements are sequenced following a spiraling pattern.