Method and apparatus for implementing spatial pointers and labeling via self-clocking glyph codes with absolute addressing for determination and calibration of spatial distortion and image properties

Abstract

A method for printing a human-readable document from a composite image data file is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a scanned image of the composite printed document to extract a spatial pattern of the document and other image property information. Next, the machine-readable content in the composite image is decoded to obtain reference information describing nominal spatial relationships of the human-readable and machine-readable content. The method then compares observed spatial relationships with reference spatial relationships to obtain a spatial deviation value. The spatial deviation value is then applied to the scanned image, and then a corrected image is outputted.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of producing a composite human-readable and machine-readable image, comprising: 
 generating human-readable content for placement on a substrate; and    generating machine readable code marks for placement on the substrate, wherein the machine readable code marks encode spatial reference pointers.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spatial reference pointers include image properties of the composite image.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises generating a printed image wherein the physical image provides accurate spatial references and accurate image properties consistent with the spatial reference pointer information.  
     
     
         4 . A method for evaluating a human-readable document from a composite image data file comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of the composite printed document to extract spatial relationships in the document and other image property information;    decoding the machine-readable content in the composite document to obtain reference information describing nominal spatial relationships of the human-readable and machine-readable content; and    comparing observed spatial relationships with reference spatial relationships to obtain one or more spatial deviation values.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein decoding further comprises decoding the machine-readable content on the composite document to obtain nominal image property information of the human-readable content.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein comparing further comprises comparing nominal image property information with observed image property information to obtain an image deviation value.  
     
     
         7 . A method for printing a human-readable document from a composite image data file comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of the composite printed document to extract a spatial pattern of the document and other image property information;    decoding the machine-readable content in the composite document to obtain reference information describing nominal spatial relationships of the human-readable and machine-readable content;    comparing observed spatial relationships with reference spatial relationships to obtain a spatial deviation value; and    applying the spatial deviation value to the scanned image;    outputting a corrected image.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein decoding further comprises decoding the machine-readable content on the composite document to obtain nominal image property information of the human-readable content.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein comparing further comprises comparing nominal image property information with observed image property information to obtain an image deviation value  
     
     
         10 . A method for evaluating a human-readable document from a composite document comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of an inputted hardcopy composite document to extract a spatial relationship in the document;    decoding the machine-readable content in the inputted composite document to obtain reference pointer information describing nominal spatial relationships in the human-readable and machine-readable content;    extracting at least one spatial relationship from the outputted printed document;    outputting a printed document;    obtaining a scanned image of the outputted printed document;    extracting at least one spatial relationship from the outputted printed document;    comparing the reference spatial relationships with the extracted spatial relationships from the inputted printed document to obtain one or more input hardcopy spatial deviation values; and    comparing the reference spatial relationships with the extracted spatial relationships from the outputted printed document to obtain one or more output printed document spatial deviation values.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein comparing the reference spatial relationships with the extracted spatial relationships from the outputted printed document further comprises, comparing extracted spatial relationships from the outputted printed document to the extracted spatial relationships of the inputted document to more relative spatial deviation values.  
     
     
         12 . A method for copying a human-readable document from a composite document comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of an inputted hardcopy composite document to extract a spatial relationship in the document;    decoding the machine-readable content in the inputted composite document to obtain reference pointer information describing nominal spatial relationships in the human-readable and machine-readable content;    outputting a printed document;    obtaining a scanned image of the outputted printed document;    extracting at least one spatial relationship from the outputted printed document;    comparing the reference spatial relationships with the extracted spatial relationships from the outputted printed document to obtain one or more spatial deviation values; and    calibrating the copier to produce a corrected copy that closely approximates the inputted hardcopy composite document.    
     
     
         13 . A method for copying a human-readable document from a composite document comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of an inputted hardcopy composite document to extract a spatial relationship in the document;    decoding the machine-readable content in the inputted composite document to obtain reference pointer information describing nominal spatial relationships in the human-readable and machine-readable content;    outputting a printed document;    obtaining a scanned image of the outputted printed document;    extracting at least one spatial relationship from the outputted printed document;    comparing the reference spatial relationships with the extracted spatial relationships from the outputted printed document to obtain one or more spatial deviation values; and    calibrating the copier to improve at least one aspect closer to the nominal reference information for the inputted hardcopy image    
     
     
         14 . A method for calibrating a scanner using a composite printed image wherein the physical image provides accurate spatial references and accurate image properties consistent with the spatial reference pointer information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a scanned image of the composite printed document to extract spatial pattern of the document and other image property information;    decoding the machine-readable content in the composite document to obtain reference information describing reference spatial relationships of the human-readable and machine-readable content; and    comparing observed spatial relationships with reference spatial relationships to obtain one or more spatial deviation values;    applying spatial deviation values to correct subsequent operation of the scanner.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 comparing observed other image property information with reference image property information to obtain one or more image property deviation values; and    applying image property deviation to correct subsequent operation of the printer.    
     
     
         16 . A method for calibrating a printer from a composite document data file comprising human-readable content and machine readable code marks, wherein the machine readable code marks comprise spatial reference pointers and image property information, the method comprising: 
 obtaining a hardcopy composite document from the printer;    obtaining a scanned image of an inputted composite document to extract a spatial relationship in the document;    decoding the machine-readable content in the scanned composite document to obtain reference information describing nominal spatial relationships in the human-readable and machine-readable content;    extracting at least one spatial relationship in the scanned composite document;    comparing reference spatial relationships with spatial relationships in the printed document to obtain one or more spatial deviation values; and    applying spatial deviation values to correct subsequent operation of the printer.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 comparing observed other image property information with reference image property information to obtain one or more image property deviation values; and    applying image property deviation to correct subsequent operation of the printer.