Information card with fault tolerant printing of encoded information

Abstract

An information storage card with one side printed with text and or images and the opposing side printed with encoded information readable by an optical sensor and decodable by a microprocessor, wherein the encoded information is repeated at different locations on the opposing side of the card such that localized card damage or printing faults do not prevent the sensor and the microprocessor from decoding the encoded information. Preferably, the encoded information is distributed across substantially the total of the second surface of the identifying card. The encoded information can be printed on the second surface and the text and or images can comprise business contact details for the owner of the card. The encoded information can include company information for a company associated with the owner.

1 . An information storage card comprising: 
 one side printed with text and or images; and    the opposing side printed with encoded information readable by an optical sensor and decodable by a microprocessor, wherein the encoded information is repeated at different locations on the opposing side of the card such that localized card damage or printing faults do not prevent the sensor and the microprocessor from decoding the encoded information.    
     
     
         2 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein said encoded information is distributed across substantially all of the opposing side of the card.  
     
     
         3 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein the encoded information is encoded as an array of dots printed in a fault tolerant manner.  
     
     
         4 . An information storage card according to  claim 3  wherein the array of dots is grouped into a plurality of data segment blocks with each data segment block having a delineated border region for accurately spatially locating the dots.  
     
     
         5 . An information storage card according to  claim 4  wherein the delineated border region includes a series of periodically spaced markers, the periodicity being substantially twice the pitch of the array of dots.  
     
     
         6 . An information storage card according to  claim 5  wherein the delineated border region further include s at least one line of dots spaced adjacent to the periodically spaced markers.  
     
     
         7 . An information storage card according to  claim 6  wherein the periodically spaced markers comprises 2 adjacent printed dots.  
     
     
         8 . An information storage card according to  claim 6  wherein the periodically spaced markers comprises 3 adjacent printed dots.  
     
     
         9 . An information storage card according to  claim 6  wherein the delineated border regions further comprise a series of target structures along at least one edge of the border region, the targets being positioned in a predetermined relationship to the array of dots within a corresponding data segment block.  
     
     
         10 . An information storage card according to  claim 9  wherein the targets comprise a small region of a first color within a much larger region of second color distinguishable from the first color.  
     
     
         11 . An information storage card according to  claim 10  wherein the targets further comprise a second small region of a first color, the size of the second small region being substantially proportional to a target identification number for the target.  
     
     
         12 . An information storage card according to  claim 11  wherein the data segment blocks further include a rotation marker and the data segment blocks are substantially rotationally invariant, apart from the rotation marker, under a  180  degree rotation of the card.  
     
     
         13 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein the text and or images comprises business contact details for the owner of the card.  
     
     
         14 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein the encoded information comprises company information for a company associated with said owner.  
     
     
         15 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein the encoded information comprises encryption data for conducting an encrypted transmission with said owner of the card.  
     
     
         16 . An information storage card according to  claim 1  wherein the encoded information comprises encrypted authentication data for authenticating the owner of the card.