CA2046835A1 - Graphic matter and process and apparatus for producing, transmitting and reading the same - Google Patents

Abstract

GRAPHIC MATTER AND PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCING, TRANSMITTING AND READING THE SAME

ABSTRACT
An apparatus for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters, comprises: A - a text-composing device; B - a memory for storing character grids, representing clear characters, arranged in at least a coded font wherein the character grids are derived from a common, scrambled reference grid; and C - means associated with said text-composing device for selecting clear characters or character grids, as desired. A process for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters and graphic matter obtained thereby, are also described.

Description

2~l~6~5 ~7~31173~1~30~

~ ~_ ~ield ~th~l~n~o~

Thi~ ~e~on rela~s to gr~phic m~tter ~d ~ B ~d ~pp~ratua m~n~ ~d trall~mitt~g t~ ~e. Mo~ partictllarly, it rela~s ~
gr~phic, e~pec;ially pn~ted matter ~h~ ~ho~ld not ba re~d~ble at ~y ~m~ by mere i~3pec~oI;L~ but o~Iy ~ pr~dete~ined ~ime~ a~d/or ~rticul~rl~sr ~r prede~qr3:~ed p~rsons, to proce~ d ~ppa~tu~ ~Ol~
~ ~uc~ graphic rna~Ar~ fo~ ~n~ 3nd for allo~ng ~ch pre~2~;Led person~ to read it. ~ a~ple~ o~ ~u~ih ma~ter ar~ t~
~o~ ~o~afiio~ th~t sh~ld not be ulld~rstood w;t~haut ~ ce~sin efEort, su~h ~s ce~n ed~cation~l .m~erial, text~ contai~Ling i~format;iQn that i~ i~ de~ ed to protect :Etom c~su~l p~g, ~d te~s con~ ~he auth~n~;icEI~ion of ~ docume~t which came~ ~er~.

... .
The~:k }~tæd educ~l;io~l material o~en co~ s ~tle~t~ons7 the answ~rs to whi~h must be provided b~ th~ re~der and checked ag~t a ~t o~
a~w~ . Thus, ~i~ a2;~rc~e book~ re~ o natur~l sci~nce~ or oth~
~ubje~, probl~s R~ ~ forf h in ~ part o~ book, and the ~olu~o~s to the proble~ se~, forth ~ a diffor~rlt part o~ th~ book, e.g. an ~pp~ndi~, to ~Thich th~ reader ~ st co~ Luously re~r. Tn m~e compl~æ ca~es, ~ t~ ay ~ provided in which so~ wor~ or figllre9 ~ ~ ~d ~e ~3is~ wo~d~ or ~ ure~ are supplied i:~ a ~i~ererlt part of t;he book. l~e :~ece~si~ of constan~ refernng to a difEer~nt p~

2 ~ 3 ~
:"
~. ~
1173~7~01 o~ ercise 7~ook ~reates incol~ve~e~ce a3~d ~igcle, is t;h~ sou~c~ o~
~ot uncommo:n mistak~s~ su~h as when ~h~ ~f0r~nc~ numer~ls or oth~r indic~ion~ w:b~ch curr~la~ ~e ~es1;io:ns to th2 cor~esp~din~ ~s~er~
are rlot ~c~te, ~a ~y 3i{ni~s kh~ possab~lit~ o~rase~g wi~n ~e p~ted te~ di~tio~s ~h~t ~nust be suppl~ed by ~he reader and ~a;sr pre~en~ in~e~ degrees of di;~iC~ 7 i~3L o~ler ~radua:L1y to ~d~a~ce ~h~ 1earner's :b;nowledg~. It would be highly d~ ble to provide pri~1 ed ~att~r w~i~h includ~s elements whic~h c~o~ be read ~nless the reader wi~he~ it, e.g. ~n.~wer~ to q~estion~ ar da~ whi~ ~tlst be ~upp~ed by ~he reader.

.~ .
1~ ~n~r~ phic m~er~ ~ particula~ prin~ed te~ts, o~en co~ltains in~o~ ion, which it i~ des~ed to k~ep p~i~rate ~:nd pr~tect fi~om c~.~ual prying~ F~r ~stance, i~L~ma~on as ~o ~h~ balanc~ ~f b~nk accounts i~
;
often e~osed ta ~h~ eyes of str~ngers and i~ rea~able ~t ~ glance; or ~e~ confide~tial data m~ b~ cont~ined in o~ice do~e:clta w~ich p~s~ l~ough ~he ha~d~ o~ employees who ma~ ~t be complet~ly f;ru~ted ~o~ to di~g~ ~hem. ~u~ te~ts t herefore ca~ot be tr~nsmitted by such widely used mear~ ~s ~10copier ~ppa~tus. It would be des~r~1e to per3~it c~ea~ion arLd ~ransmis~ion of su~ tter in sllch a w~y as to .as6ur~ tha~ it ca~not be r~ad a:lld un~Lers~ood by u~aut~hnri2~d persons who m~ see it or ~ c~ t~ ib.

:, Id~ gr~phi~ m~tt~ words ornum~ers, ~s o~ ~ dsd irl ~oc~srlts to identi~ their ori~in, their de~tinatiorL etc.. 8uch ide~tiPgi~g~ graphic ma~er, however, can ea.~ily be reproduced or , cou~terfei~ed and i~ ofte~ unreliable. It wotlld be desirable to firld a way . to pr~v~nt such reprod:uc~ion ~d coun~erfeiti~

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1~33q~11~3Q~1 Au~hen~ica~iox~ of documents i~ dssirable in a mlmber of othe~
l~sta~c~ Eor e~:~mple~ d~ploma~ or certi~ tes of va~iou5 kind~
be cou~ feited ~d ~he ~genc~, ~UC31~ a public ofEce or an in~htate, ~h~ is pu~port~d to have issued th~m, ~ g ~d i~ to ~he~k th~ir ~utherL~ s m~r ye~s a~e ~uppos~d to ha~e passed srclce l~h~r ha~e ~een i~sued. Ag~n, p4bliG o~;ces ~ay n~t h~ve the time andlor ~e person~l for che~g the au~herLt~y o~ documents su~Initted to ~hem p~ of an app~o~ 4r a re~tratiorL, a co~pensation, and so D:ll. F~h~r, ~c~e~s w~ich axe ~ pos~d to be issu~d to speci~ed p~rsons ~or ~ issi~ to pe:~f~ces or ~ or the like, 3~ay ~a lost or sto1en or co~te~;~ed, ~nd ~hîs is ~rue of ~;~rds r~d to obt~in a~nis~ion to restncted premises, æuch as o~ices 02~ 1a~bOT~tOrie9 en~a~d i~
cor~dent~a1 ~ork; and the problem e~t~ hec3~g wheth~r t~ ket or c~rd has truly been issued to ~e per~o~ pr~en~ng i~. As fi~ as it i~
~IlOW~ to ~h~ applica:~t, :clo ~ctor;y solution to $he a:for~aid problen~s has been o~red so far in ~h~ art. Al~o7 in ~he c~ of ~ lly rele~ant do~ nts, ~uch as bi~ls, whi~h pu~port to hav~ been ;ssued by ~ per~on or compa~ to a~ol~her pe~on or compa~y, with respect to the msrc~ sup~lied or s~ s r~ d~red, it woula b~ ~ighly de~3ir~ble to px~ide means ~or pe~mitt;i~g ~e ~xrLp~t~7~t. ~uthori~ l8ily to determ:~n~ whet~her sn~ pa~ticular b~ll i~ ~th~u13 v~. tlR~ been issued ~y the per~orL or compang purpor~ing to hav~ ued it, ~d i8 re~ular rn all ~pects, whereb~ to p~ere~ ~h~ co~terfeiti~g of ~u~h bills or the prep~ion o~ bill~ t do ~ot ori~i~to w~th recogr~zed suppliers o:e bill~ or ~3ervice~ or ~re i~s~gul~ in other respects.

~0~3~

173311~32~ E/9~

Th~ p~or ~t has dealt with ~hes~ p~oble~, or at least w~h p~rt of them, e~ ly in three ways: by er~coding, b;y scram~ling 3nd ~y en~7ptio~ h~ncodîn~ is a corcLple2; procedure that cannot be u~d in e~eryday of ice ~ t~ e wor:~ and ~hich requires spe~ial ~i~i;clg. ~ he~m~re ~ode3 a~e ea~ broken ~n:las~ they are so ~omplea~ ~.s tc b~ u~able o~ly in v~ y sp~ial ~umst~ces. Sc~amblir g is ~ lly c~ed out in real time, ~7i2. a m~age ~nust be scr~:mlblad7 tr~7~ikted ~d u;~c~ble~ co~c~rrently. Lt' lt is ~ot, there i~ ~ne t:o ~sc~mbl~ the sc~m~led mes~ge by w~ Lown me~Lods7 based e.~.
on ~e ~r~q~e~cy of the l~t~r~ ~f the alphabet i:c~ the :Languag~s.
Fllrthermore pp~ra~us w~;ch pe~its to read a ~mbled megsa~e~ o ~e~ ~ s~a~ble a ~e~ mess~ge~ wher~ wov~d be l;y de3irable, and it is a Rur~ose of this irLve~tion? a~ w.ilI ~ppe~r h~rein~Ger, to provide ~raphic m~tter t~at m~ be read b;y p~rsons that axe ~at au~hor~;ed nQ~ ~apabl8 o~produ~g it.

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~ncryptis~ met;hods are kr~aw~L w~ch ar~ ba~é~ on the tr~sfo~mation ~f arL o~ ge irL~o ~ co~d im~e by~ means of a key ~id and visualiz~$ion of the original image i~om the cod~d ima~e hy opti~al mearls axe di~clo~d e.~. ~ U.S. pa~ 3,~14,87~ ch e~ncr~ 4n m~hodi howav~ ~ raore or 1~5~ ~on:3pl~ ~iiid l~;ngthy and l~hey c~ot d out i~ the cours~ of ordinary prin~ng proce~sea. Th~ a~e there:Eore ~ot applicable to the production o~` do~umen~ or to th~ir tr~sm~ssio:~.

Cryptograp~ syst~n:Ls~ based on public ka~r CryptOSySt~mB, are described e.g. in ~e article by P.~ or:Lba "E~:poneIltiatio~;L
cr~rptos~ ms o~ a :~3M PC", 1n rBM ~ystems ~ou~al, vol. ~9, No. 4 20~6~3a 1733~73~0~gl (1~9~ 2B-~3~ ile t~ r m~y a~ord a bigh de~ree o~A~re~y, ~ey are too co~ple~ to be cu~rently used by un~pee~ d pelsomlel i~ no~al oflice p~oced~re a~d for widespre~d use. Further, ~h~y - l~ke oth~r ~y~tems - are hiEl71;sr ~e~i~e t~ :noi~e~

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~ Xt i~ a pu:rpose of this inV~n~on to pro~de graphi~ matter, Ln par~l~
p2in~ed te~cts, that c~nnot ~e read a~d ~derstoo~ e:c~p~ hy ~u~o~ized , pe so~s.

., It i9 an~ r p~pose ~ ~ro~ide su~ m~tte~ in an eas;sr ~d P,CoIlom~
w~y, æ ~ p~r~ of ~on~en~;ion~l printin~ oper~

~ is ~ fi~ther purpose to provi~e s~lc~ Br ~i~h may b~ t~ ed by me71n~ o~ conve~t ion~l ~ppara~s, ~rL p~cular by ~leoopier.

It is a ~ill further purpose to provide BU~ att6~ which pe~ts ,. ~ut~elltica~i~n of dwun:Le~s ca~ it ~d of photo~atic ~r other copie~ o~ ~ origi~al docume~t.

It. i8 ~ s~ll fi~h~r p~po~ to pr~vide ~ app~ra~ d a pro~e~s for produci:t~g a3~d vi~uali~i~g a:~d/or readi~ s~ch ~phic n~at~r.

It~ i~ a st~ fi~bh~r pu~o~ ~o pl~o~d~ ~u~h app~ra~u~ and pr~ce~ th~
perrnit t~h~ tran~ iorl ~ ~uch ~ap~ic :Inatter in a fo~ t;h~t can~ot ~e vi~ualized a~d/or read hy lmauthorized person5 and subsequ~l~
visualizing and/or roadi~g Ul~ ~ame ~ .

2~6~3~

17~1732~17301~1/91 I~ is a sl~l :~rther pu~pose to pro~de ~pp~r~us ~:nd process ~or au~e;cLtLca~ , by means o such graphic matter7 doc~men~s, ~u~h as lly relev~ documeIi:ts, e.g. bills, receïpt~ ~nd -~e lî~e, or documeII:ts be~ng l;~e se~l of ~ comp~ or ~ publ~c a~thor~t~ ~ ~e lîke, o~ ke~7 or ~ ni$sîon cards.

O~her pu~poses of the i~el~tio:~ wlll become ~pp~rent ~s the desc~ipt~on ;proceeds.
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.. . .
The in~enf;ion co~p~ises a process :eor composi~ a p~table te~t, comp~s~ng coded c3~a~acters7 ~, ., . :. . .
- defi~ng7 at least ideally, ~ le~7t one bl~ ~d;
. . . ' ' , ' . . .
~ - çre~:~in~ a refer~ce gr~d consist~g of a scr~mbled distributio:ll, as - herei af~;er d~ed~ of ~t l~st ~wo dî~7~tizable vallles in the cells of ~he ~lank: gIid;
. . .
~S - ~eati~g at least o~ co~led fon~ by:

~, irLdividuall~ suPenmpo~ at lea~t îdea~lY. each ch~Lract~r to be ~pr~sed in t,~e Eo~t to at least a portioI~ o~the leference g~id, and b. çh~n~in~ -the di~ital v~lues of the re~erence ~rid i~ -the cells thereof to create a s~bled character grid which represents the cha~acter;

1~3$~1'7X~XO/~ 2 ~
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4 - s~or~g in a me~or;y com~ands ~o~ altern~tivel~r selectmg ch~cteIs or ch~ct~r ~rids, as desired; ~d .

5 - defini3l~ by mea~s of a te~t colrLposi~g dev:L~e ~he desl~ed ~e~t, wherein ~;ny char~cte~, not eomprise~ ~ a coded fon~ - hereina~er "~e~ ~h~a~kersn - are represented ~ a con~ention~ w~y and E~ny characters compr~sed i~ ~ ~oded fo~ - here~na~Ger "coded ch~acters" -~e repre~en~ed ~y the correspondi~g c:haracter ~rids, whereby ~o compose t~he tea3*.
... . . . .

q~aG ~ CL~O~ f~h~ co~p~Y~;~ ~ procc~ ~Or pro~ ~ p~ L t~
co:~prising coded ch~ci;ers, w~ co~plises compos:~n~ a ~t ~y the oresaid process~ wherei~ ~he ~harac~er ~ids a~e stored in the memo~
o~ ~ pF~nt-con~olli3:L~ deviee, a~d pr~tin~ ~he cor~posèd teæt ~y ~p~ic~ly deffn;n~ a~ aliy ~ear ~a~cters n ~h~ co~erL~on~l way, b) any coded charac~ers ~y si~rLs repre~e3~ ~ the di~t~l values o~ the respe~ive ckaracter ~qds.

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l~e in~ent,io~ ~rther compri~es a p~o~ess for producing and read~g a p~ted te~t co~p~ ode~ char~cters, which co:~pr~ses produ~;tlg ~ ~e~ b~ the proeess l~erei~before set ~orth, and subseqtlen~Ly iderLt~ the c~s of the ¢,hara~er grids in which the digital v~lues :: ~re ¢l~ere~t fro~ tlL~se o the .ref~eren~e ~rid, ~nd ns~ iæing each of id char~cter ~ias in decoded ~orm as ~ g~id, h.erei~l~eI~ called ~e "clear g~d", hav~ng the s~e dimensions (e.g., mlmb~r, size and disl;ribution OI cells) ~s th~ ¢h~r~cter, reference a~d blank grids, ~herein s~id ~ells having di~erent di,~ l values are dii~ererLt;ated from .. .

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2~ 83~

~1~3/1732t17~0/H19 the ~ema~ g cells o~ the charac-ter ~rids, herei~lafGer a~so call~d "t:h~
backgrouILd", whereby said diffielenl~ated ce31~ fo~ ~he ~le~ ch~e~s ~orresp~ ding ~ the coded ~cter ~ids Tn order ~o ide~ t~he cells of the ch~xa~ ds i~ which ~he di~tal values ~re dif~erent fro~ li~ose of the refe.re:l:Lce grid ~nd to cre~te the clear ~rids;

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~n ~ form of the in~en~;ion~

8a- a copy ofth~ r~fere:c~ce ~idls provided on a t~ nc-pc~e~ ~hee~, ~xd .

~a- corr~sponaence ma~ks a~e p~ovided on t~e p~ ted a;nd optio~lly i~npa5inated ts~t and on ssid trs~sps~ent copy, wh~reb;y whe~:L s~id ~Lsp~ t copy i9 s~J?erlmposed to ~he pr~rLt~d 't;ea~i?
~o ~ha~ a re~erence ~id is super~rLposed ~o e~ h~er ~d wh~cl~ is to be read, ~he coded ~ acters become de~ectable in clea~ ~o~ ~nd identi~able, and .
l~ ~o~her ~o~ o~ ~he ~n~e~ orl~

~b - ~t le~t th~ coded p~t or pa~ts of ~he p~ted te~ e sca~ned; ~d ~b the di~it~l value o~ each cell of each sca:~ned ch~ cter ~ids, as detec~ed as black or ~h~te in the sc~nning, is oo~cLp~tl to the v~lue o~
the co~responding csLl of the reference grid and the clesr grid is reatsd 2 ~ 3 a 17~730~9~

by ~ppl~ing the :~OR-~le, as here~after def~ed~ ~o t;he reslllts of said comparison.

The iIlvention fur~her comprises a:cL appara~,us f~r ço~posing p~le te:~, comprising coded chara~te~s, which compr~ses:

- a te~-composing device;
.

B - ~ :n~no~y ~7r storing character ~d~ represen~ clear C~ acters7 arranged ~ ~ le~st a ~oded ;E~ w~ereill ~he c~ c~ ~ds are de~ d i~om a eornmon~ sc~bIed ~e~ere~:Lce g~id; a:~d C - rne~S asso~ ed wil~h s~:id ~e~t~com~oslng d~vîce for selec~ cIe~r ~h~aeters or ch~c~er g~ids, as desi~ed~ .

~he ~ve3l~;ion ~r~her co~prises and apparatus :~or produ~ coded fo~s, ~ e stored ~ a memory ~ccording ~o ~aim 1, includiDg;

D - a ~n~o~ enerator;
.
E - m~ for causin~ s~id ~ era~ to ~enerat~ a~y desil~ed one among a ~ er o~ pred~tenn~ned random or q~asi-r~ndom ~rids to prov~de a re~er~nce grid; ~nd .F - me~ ~or compari:clg e~ch ~lear ch~ra~ to be compris~d in ~he ~o~t to a ~elected refierence ~d and chr~,~Lg t~he dig~tal values o ba~d latter o~l~ in the ~rea.s coverea b~ the clear cha:racter, whereby to cre~te a coded. ~r~ for e~h sele~ted re:~reIlce gnd;

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-1~
17.~7~ 01~Y9l which ap~ara~s rn~ opt;io~lIy ~e s~ue~ Lly comb~ned wi~ the te~-~omposing apparahls here~before de~

~he i.nYen~io~ filrther compri8es aIl app~tus for prin~in~ ~ te~
c~mp~i~ing coded char~cters, wh~eh con~pns~s ~ ~pparatus ~or ~omposrllg a te~t, as herein~efore ~efined, ~d;

- ~ p~n~-co~rolli~g de~ nd pr~cL~er;

where~-t,he a~sresaid memory is assoei~ed ~ith ~ p~nt-c~ntro~
de~ce, ~d ~his la~te~m~ elae:~ed w~ h~ t-~o~po~ing de~ice 02 ~ith ~he printer or m~ ~e a separat~ d~vice, ~h ~s an interface.

The in~en~o:~ fu~her coI~Lp~ises ~ ~ppara~us ~o~ re~ g ~ te~t, c~mprîSin~; codell ~h~acters, which COl:l~pliS&S:
.
me~n~ or compar~g ~Le prLcLted ch~c~r gT~ds w~h an,v s~lec~ed onv of ~e re:e~. ellc~ grids :fiom which ~he ~oded fon:ts s~red in ~'e ~ore~d memo2g are d~rived, whereb~ to ide~ the correspondi~g cle~ ~ Lc~ers; ~Ld I - means ~ar v~sualiz~g s~id cléar charac~,ers.

~n one fiorm of t~e i~veIIt;io~ the means :EOI` co:~parin~ the printed character ~rids with the reference ~id oorQprise transparerLt sheets :

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17~3/173~1L7301~

~ving printed t;~ereo~ he 2e:~erence grid ~d correspondence 3xl~rks on the prin~ed te:~t and on the tr~sp~re~ hee~ :E3y "~orrèspo~dence mar:ks" is me~ herein a:ny me~ns ~hat ~elm~t e~actIy to supeTimpose said transpalerl~ shee-t to s~d text, ~cluding prînted sign~ and.
mech~i~al rr~e~s~ such as bores ~:Ld pin~ n~ng aevices rray be used in place o:E cQrresponde;cLce mar~s a:nd are ~o be consiaered equ:iv~Ien~ ~o them.

~.another ~orrn o~ the i:~ventîo;n~ the means :~r ~omp~ ~he p~nted cha~ct~r grid.s w~th the refel~ce g~id comprise me~s ~or r~ ing ima~s ~d transmitti~ ~hern to.~ computer me~ory7 s7uch as a C~
ca~era or ~ s~a er, mea~ for ~ransmitti~ o ~ ital co~p~ra~r, w i~:h ~ay he a co~nputer, ~he op~ic~l infoImation obta~ed t~hrou~h said image trans~ni$~n~ mea~s, memory ;means fQr sto~ng in said com:pa~or the refere~:Lce grids o~, prefera~ly7 a ~andom ge~:Lera~or, me~ns ~o~ selecting a sto~ed re~r~n~e grid o~ the refierence ~2rid to be ~:nerated b~ s~id random ge:~erator, a~d mea~ ~or co~p~ri~g ~c~id . trans~itted in~o~ on with ~he selected r~erence ~rid.
.' ' ' : . ' ' T~e novel p~:nted ~raphic ~atter obt~ined by said proc~ss ~
~pparatus, aDd co~pFisi~g eleaT charae~ers and coded e~ar~ct~rs w~nch ~Lre a XO:R-rçpresent~t~on t~s here;~after de~ed~ o~ clear c~ar~cters7 is also ~L part of ~ i~ven~o~

By '~O~-rule"7 applied to the conlp~ison of di~ital v~ues~ i~ mea~t herein the rule accordi~g to w:hich ~he result o~ the co~p~ison i~ 0 (or white) if the two ¢o~pared va~ es a~e equal (~ot~ 0 or bot~ 1) and is 1 ~or bla~k) if they are c~ erent ~o~e is ~ ~d the other is 1~ rnis compa~ison 2 ~ 3 ~

~q'8~1~3~1730t~/~

can b~ e:Ee~ted, as is w~l known7 by means of a ~OR-~ate ol~ b~r sof~ware.
~3y "XOR-r~preSeI~tiO~l" 0~ R character i~ meant herein a ~harac~er ~id ~ the cells o~ which ara a~ibut~d 1~he ~1 V~IlU9S that result ~om ~e ap~ io~ of ~ ~OP-~le ts ~e l:ompaxl60~ 0;~ th~ clear charac~er and the re~ren~e ~rîd.

~;ion ~f thQ~i~

The i~ve~;ion wil1 ~e better underst~od iErom the des~ript~on of P-mb~d~merLgs ~hereofi wi~ refere~ce to the appenaP.a d~awh~s, wherei~

- Fig. 1 shuw~ a se~tence f~om ~ pri~ted page, înc~d~g a question ~rLd ~swar, pT~tP-d en~21~ pIa~ ch~rs;

- Fî~. ~ represents a ~e~erence gr~ at a gre~tly enla~B~ scale, . 3 shows how t~ h~ac~e~ H i~ ined on ~he bla~k grîd, show~
at a ~reat~ e:rllarged ~cale;

how~ a chara~r ~id repr~B~rl~g th~ said letter H, a~ a grei~tly er~l~r~d sc~le;

Fig. ~ r~pre~rLt~ a 8trip 1~ a ~parent :rnaterial with the ~pac~ in whlch the re~ere:llce ~r~d î~ to ba pr3nted ~d the ref~re~ce m~rk~
p~i~ted th~eon:

2~ 33~

17~2~q~0/Efgl . 6 ~eprese:rLt~ t;he po~on of the page of ~g~ 1, wh~re~ ~he ~æwer ~o the ~uestion of Fig. 1 i~ r~prese~d by ~ ~r grid, and wherein the corre~RoT~dence ~rks ~re also p~nted;

- Fig. ~ show~ how t~Le super~npositio~ o~e ~a~ent s~rip of Fig. 5 to portion of p~nt~d page of Fig. 4 pe~tæ to read the ~we~ to ~he question, - Fig. ~ s ~ ~Low c~aI t ~m a way of c~g into pra~ice a~
s~Lbodimen~ of ~Le ~pparatus ~c~ording to th~ ~bodi~nent af the precedi~ fi"~res - Fig. 9 illustxates in block d;agrs~m ~orm ~ ~pparatus according to aILo~h~r em~o~1ime~ o~ the illven:~o~

. 10 sche:~atic~ lu~trate~ the manne~ ~ whi~h ~L cl~r chara~t~r is reconstructed ~o~ th~ i~o~rLatiorl pro~i~ed b~ ~ ~c~er;

- E'ig~. 11, 12 a~d 1~ s~e~ c~lly ;~lustrate th~ m~er ~ which ~rtical defor~liio~s, ch~ of ~çalc, or di~er~c~ orie;~at~on betwe~n sca~nel~ ~d p~:Lt can b~ corllpen~ated;

- P ig~. 14aJ 14~ ~d 14c illust~ ~ use of line~r grids;

- Fl~, 15 ~ow~ tterhead o~ a bill to w~ not~ ~bodim~
inv~ntion i~ t~ b~ ~pp3ied, 2 ~ 3 ~

~q33~173~1730/E~/~

- Fi~ show& ~hz iden~ying d~ta ~ be marked on a st~eker attached to the bill, ac~or~ing ~o said ~mbodiment; alld - Fi~ 17 shows a s~i~kar be~g ~he data o~Flg 7. ix~ coded ~or~L

I~e blank ~d co~ f a ~ber of Ce~l9 to whi~h no ~pec~fic di~l ~al~e~ ~e iassd d OI' a~bltr~y v~lue~ no ~gni~ce - e.~ a~
z~os ~ are assig~sd. It de~ine~ t~he dimen~io~s of l;he ~efe~ence ~d chæac~r ~d~ Lsually de~ed ~y irl~r~ecti~Lg ~ 3s, the ~ature arLd ~paci~g whereof may ~ar~ accor~n~ to th~ ~pecif'lc app1ic~n that is made in e~ch Dldividu~l case. Pr~erably a ~arte5ian grid is us~d, whe~ein each ~d li~e may ha~e eil~her one of two o~entations~ t~he two orieI:Ltations b~ perpendicular to one ~other, and the spa~g of ~ucce~Lve parallel ~d li:nee, or `Igrid p*ch" being ~e~at~t. ~ l;lle embodiment ~ w:bich tl:Le clea~ ~d~ ~re defilled b;y suRe~imposition o ~he re~r~t:rl~ g~d to th~ cter ~ids ~he ~id pit~ e~erably not sma~er th~ orL~t~h of a millim~er, Z~
will ~acilitate th~ ~;act super~ poA~itio~t thou~h it will render ~e coded chaIact~rs le~s ~harp.

The bl~ rid m~y ~e g~aph;c~ d~ d o~ a screen or may only be ideally def~2d by its pitch or pitche~ or by the nu:m~er o~ its c~lls in the u~it area or by a ~ubrou1iine or othel~ p~o~ stored i:n the merLIo~ of a word processor or pri:clter o~ ol;h~ p~con~rolli~Lg device. Xt should be coD.~idered ~ I'd~E~ed'' w~ene~ it is po~ible to ~si~ to ar~y ~:ven c~ll ~hereoE a digitiza~e ~alue~ thou~h ~o su~h value is as yet assi~ned 2 0 ~ 6 ~ ~3 -1~
lq.~q~2~73Q~l~l By "digitizable ~alues" is me~ character~s~ics which c~ b~
~ep~e~e~ted ~y ~1 Ya~lleS, They ~n~y ~ ally be digital ~lues or, e~7 K~?hie s~bols, or bla~ and white or additionall~ dsgrees of ~ray, to which the d;~i~al Yalues may co~Tespo~d, or agai~ di~re;ll~ colors which may c~nvent;i~n~ll;y b~ ~ep~se~ted ~y d~gi~al value~ efer~hly, only ~wo di~it~ es are used, ~ince ~h~ i~ more de~ ble :Eor th~
pu~oses of ~Le inve~;ion, and th~y m~y b~ e~vala~ly r~pr~nted i:n al f~ ~y ~he values7 ~ æ~d 1 or bla~k ~d w~ite. ~ two dig~l v~lues are ~sed, ~.he r~ere33ce ~rid wî~l consist o~ a di~tribut;on of ~ ~d 1~, or blac;k~ ~a white5, i~l a ra~om manner i~ ~he eell~ of the blan~
grid.

~y "s~ led ~d" is. me~ ~ ~d whic~:L is su~iently ra~domi~ed to make the coded character~ ille~le without u~ the ref~r~rlc~ ~rid9 ud~g 1;~1~ o~ appro~ately r~dom ~r~ds. ~outines ~r~ Imown for bllil~g wha~ is c~lled a "random grid", though i~ p~a~c~ it i8 110~
c~ly~ but only "~si!', viz. appro~at~l5r, ra~do~ I~ it is desirsd to uge a s~ znbled ~d which co~ s le~s accumul~o~s o:~"clots" of black ~or 1~ cells the rou~ modi~ed to: a) retain ~he white ce~l v ~7~es wbi~ i~ defi~e~; b) ~o~ each bla~ vslue, ~he~k w~e~her the ~ollowi cell i~ white or blac~; c) if s~id ~o~lowin~ cell i~ whit~, re~ ~e blacl~
valu~, d~ i it iB black, v~ wh~th~r the precedin~ cell was whit~ o~
~Iac k, alLd if it wa~ w~ite, r~ t~e en~n~ bla~ value, but if it was bla~, r~d~ct i~ ~rLd dete~mine Q new v~lue. Thu~, ~he probabi~ity of h~ g two adjac~nt black cell~ nl the g~id ~vill be hal~ed, and can be ~rth~r reauced by rep~ating ~he s~me procedure, though cal~e ~hould be taken not to r~der t he w~i te cells become so predon~inant that t~ coded 2 ~ 3 ~
-1~
^17~/173~tl7~0J~

cha;racters will becon:Le de~iph~able. On thQ othe:~ ha~d, it i5 to he unders~ood ~at t~he us~ of a trul~r, or be~ter, pr~;ic~lly7 ra~dom gr~dy as created by con~rentiollal r~dom gen~r~tion, i5 ~ompri~ed in thi~
i~tvent,.to:~l, and therefore the e:~pression "scran~ble~ ~d" is to be const~tad a~ inclt~ding stlc:h random ~ds.

:B~r "cha~acter~" is mea~t letters, numer~ls, punctuation m~rks, mathematical or a:~ly other ~y~bo1s, ~d ~n ~en~ral, ~xL~ graphi~ sigILs.
Characters in ge;~r~l ~11 be co:nsid~ed ~u be "cl~r" when th~r r~pres0rLt themsel~e~, vi~. ha~re an aspect th3:t i~ reco~ b1e by ~hè
~ical reader as co3ltaiI3ing the ~oFm~tion ~hat the char~ r ;~
o~ ~ily ~ded to co~ey; whîle ~:hey will be ~or~sider~d as "~ded'l whe~ th~y do not ha~e su~h ~L aspect, vi~. repres~nt so~e~b;Dg th~t is ~ot or~ ily ~ssocia~d wi~ pect and 1~ o~kiorL th~at the~
are i~tended to co:~ve~ i9 ~ot im~Le~i2Ltely recognizable by m~ direct 7 n ~p ecl;io~l-:æy "superimposing~ at le~st ide~ r, the ~haract~r to a~ least a po~fion of~he re~r~:Lce ~rid" is mea~t est~blishing a co~esponde3:lce ~etween l~he point~ of the ch~racter a~d the cells of the re~erenc~ ~rid. Thi~ be dorle in m~ way~. One, mRy d~w or represent oll a ~c~esn, ~.~., a co:~nputer sare0~, ~he reference ~rid, ~Lnd ac~ally dr~w ~h~ ~h~acter over the referenc~ ~d. ~lte~ r, on~ ~ght d~w a bla~k ~d which is ~ replica of that 02~ 1Iy u~ed ~ld dr~vv the ch~rac~r on ~h~
~plica bl~ rid, and then establish a corres~?ondence b~t~vee~
c011~ occ~Lpi~d by the ~a~t~r irL ~ia bl~ grid ~d t he corTe~pondi~g ce~l~ o~ the reerellce grid. :~n order to ~o t~liS7 one need not ac~ 1y draw ~he character ove~ the replica bla~k ~d, b~ ~an d~w ar sh~w an 2 ~ 3 ~
-~7-11732~L730/Elf~1 a scr~en s~id lblank ~d and then fi~ he cells ~ereo~ with approp~ia~e ~ymbol~ so as ~o cre~te the outli~ of the character~ Th~ wo~d "d~aw"
sho~d he construe~ a~ ludi~g arLy op~r~tion which de~ines the wn" ch~r~er or out~ or are~, cQmprisir~ creation ~nd/or ~se ~ a del;ning su~rou~ or ~ r pro~a~

Changing the digital values ~ he cells in the area covered by ~he ~upe~po~ed ~ar~ be ~f~e~ed i;~ ~ desired way. Of co1lrse, or-ce a~a~, ~ s~ld rea n~ y be defined onl~r ideall~ ~nd not EL~$u~1y graphic manner, or, ~ other word~ ma~ be "~w~ the ~oad se de~ed h~r~inbe~ore. ~ Lce ~ha di~ alue~ of t~e re~ere3 L~e ~d are pre~er~l~ only ~07 ~he cha~ge w~ a~ied out in $he celIs ~ompris~d ~L the superLmpos~d ch~r~cter ~11 p~e~er~bly be a3:
i~er~;ion oi:` ~ digital valu~, ~iæ a ~ge ~o:cn O to 1 or fiom bl~k to w~ite, OT vi~ e~;a. I~e two opera~ions 3a ~d ~ o~the pl~oce99 d~tined ~e~ei~befol~e c~ be comb~ed b~ ~how~ on a sc~ee~ o~ ally "~rawir~" ~e referenc~ ~id and T~verl;îng 1~he dî~i~al v~lua~ o~ ~he cell~
w~i~h are d~ ~ed ~s bei~ com~6ed in the ~rea oecupied by ~h~
charac~. The c~ ~ which ~he inve~ion î~ c~rried out x~aLy b~
~raphicall~ indicated m any suit~bl~ way, e.g. by a mark, ~o as to be appara~t to the op~rator'~ ey~1 who ~us d~es, c~ncurrentt~r ~it~in the i:~lv~rSiG~, the al~sa compr~d ~ ~h~ outli~e OI l~he charact~rt where t~e irlV~rsioIl is to b~ ei~ect~dA

By "a pr~-cQnt~ro33i~g d~ e" i~ ~e~t ~y d~vice which de~rqnine~
what wiU be p~nt~d ~d tllU~3, ge~r lly, it may he the t~ ompo~i~g de~Tics (îndîcat~d as A i~ t~e above defi~i~on of ~e i~ven~ion~, such as wor~l proc2~sor - to which non-limitative re:~erence wil~ be made 2 ~1 ~ 6 ~ 3 3 ~73~73~L7~0/EVg~

b~reina~r ~ describing t~e e~bodi~erl~s o~ ~he ~vell~on - or pri}:~ter (H), bllt possibly i~ ~y be ano~her deYice t~t m~y be pro~ded ~or this ~pecific pu~pose. Th~ co~nd~ whi~ de~7 mine how the ~ ~g i~
c~ied out may be ~red 9.g. l~ word proces~or m~Lory ar in p~inter memor~. ~he ~roI~d proces~o~ ~ay compose all e~tire p~ or a;r~ re te~ nd ~ it to ~he p~ter, w~i~h will ~re it, or it :m~
compose s~gle words or e~en ~g~e chara~e~s a~d t~a~sInit *~m immedia~ely ta the p~ter, wh~ch wi~ store the~ in its memor~r. The word proeesso~ a~d the pri~ter may b~ of a:~y l~d 3mown in the a~t, ~d, for irl~ce, theg m~r be respe~ ely ~ or microc~nput~r and a la~r or in~jet or bubbl~jst or o~he~ o~p~L~er, or 1~hey 3m~y ba Linot~pe~ or ~her ~ppar~ us~d ~r boo3~p~tin~ or t;he }ike. Th~
~a:ca~r ~ds, ~e:~ore, may bs ~ ad in ~h~ memory o~ tha w~rd proce~sor or o~the ~ter, as the con~e~tional ~o~t~ be stored i~ ~e memory o~ eonven~;ion~l w~rd proc~ors aDd pr~nter~ or o~her d~ es.

All the chaI~acter ~ids dexiving from a ~ive~ re~erence ~rid w~l1 con~itu~e a "eoded ~ont". A p~t~r - whatever its type - may ~tore a numbex of cod~d fo~ . ~ this c~se~ te~t compo~g device will ~ommu~ ts to l;he pri~t~r the ieon~ w~t h which it should p~nt ~nd ~a ~everal ~ rs, id~ntî~ d a5 plain charactarsr e.g. by ~hèLr ASCII
~;ymboIs. 7~e i~p~ to ~h~ pr~t~r will ~hus b~l ~he ~ plain ~haraGt~rs w~re pn:~t~d, ~cept ~o~ ~gl~ l command, to p~t ~ ~v~ coded fon~ e~, ~he p~ er may ~BC~i~e fram the ta~t co~poai~g d~vice sev~rall~ indivi~al coded ch~ract~r in th~ sa:m*
w~ ~:c~ whi~h it would 1`4C~ a pur~ly ~phic i~put, ~. ~he t~xt coml?o~ d~vice will input to ~ printer ~;he coded characters i:a ~aphic l~guage, and the pri~Lt~r will b~ able to u~der~tand s~ch 20~6~3a hic l~e by me~n~ ~fill known in ~he art, e.g. as P()STSCPcIPT
language~

The word processor will co~:Lpose the desired te~t b~ mean~ of ~haracte~. ~ost of t he t~ nore prec~ly 1~he part~ thereof wbich ~e to ~e p~ted pl~ly i;~ ~ ~s~%l w~r~ ~d :~ot by mea:~s o~ a fic~nt created according to ~he invention, may be re~resen~ed in any :knnwn an~
conv~n1ion~Ll ma~er, a:cld m ma~ ~se~ ~ hSCII ~ymbol~, w~l~ ~;he ch~act~rs ~omp~ised 7n the co~ed fo~6 will be repr~6e~ted by ~he correspondin~ chara~ter ~ids. :1~ ordar thus to d~e l;he te~ he WQI~l pro~e~sor must register a co~ w~ dic~te~ how e~ch ~r is ~io be represe~ed. In p~¢e it will be suffl~ to ~dicate what p~rts o~ e p~ ~d in a coded font. I~is ~n b~ done either ~y at~ib~;ng to ea~ coded e:l Laracter a sy~bol of its ow~, as i~
oftell done ~nth conventio~æl foD:l;s, or by indi~at~g b;y me~n~ o~ an appropriate symbol th~ poi:~t a:t wbich ~he coded te~t be~:7n~, ~d the po~rL~ at whi~h ~e cod~d te~ end~ ch commPn~ will be st~red in the me~nory of the d~vica ~bich co~o~e~ the tegt, gen~ally the word P1~0CeSaOI~, b~ th~y will be ~cecuted eit ha~ ~g l~he w~rd processor or ~y the Pril:Lt~3r Or by ~ davice co~l~olli~g th~ ~ng opera~on, dependling or ~hich device ~tore~ the coded ~on~s.

:13y "~suali%i~ a ta~t or text po~on, is ma~t herei:rl renderi~g its cQ~k~ i~e ~ a~y wa~ ., b~ showing it on a scree~ Dr di~play ~y ~ind, or pr~L~g it, or b~th. A ~t n~ed not be ~isualized m the ~ma ~raphi~ fiorm i~ whi~ it ~a~ CO~CrAPO~ed~ it sui~ice~ that it~
co~e~ts be v~sible i~ u.ch ~ w~y ~-~t ~hey may convey ~heir ~ntended mean~g For e;~:~mple, ~ t~xt ;~y h~e been compo~a~ a ce~taîn ~0~6~3~

~7~q7&~7~0 ont~ with parts of it in a coded ffi~t, a~d the ~oded p~rts ms~y b~
decoded and t~e clear word3 thus reconatrllcted m~y be show~ on d~play ~ a ~ear ~o~t ~ha~ i~ altog~ dî~en~ ~om the ~ol~t in w;hi~h ~he ts~t ha~ been composed, a:rld may also ba ~erent :~oxn ~he ~ont in which i~ i& in~e~ded ~ be p~ted ~rLd ~11 be pr.~n~ed. N~re~;hele~s7 l~e ~;splay con~ ~e~ ~ "nsu~îon" of the te~ nd as ~uch is equivalen~ om the ~ewpoi~ of ~hia applic~Ltion, to any othar ization, suc~ as a pnnt ~r ~ displ~y o~ t he ~ ~ in a di:~ere~:t ~ont. ~t wi:~l be a~prec~ated t~t ~uch di~erence~ will u~u~lly e~ist, e.~., wh~n the di~play is of ~he "En~ish :~la~ ~ype~ w~ile th~ te~:t m~y ba i~rtelldsd to be p inted i~ g desired fo~ made a~ la~e ~y a ward p~o~sg~ ~a p~ le, e,g" ~ a lase~ or o~h~r ~r~Lter. Tha w~rd "~e~t" as ~sed here~, i~cludes matter whi~ con~i~ts of or compris~
matter o~her ~harL wor~ suGh as, e.~ umbers, graphic si~, ma~ema~cal or other symbols, s~d ~e like. In ~ome cases~ and pa~ ul~ly in th~ authe~t~cal;io~L of documeD:ts, "Vi911ali~g L~ t"
should be con~rued a~ playi:n~ ~ot ~he ~le~r ~ itsel~, ~ut som~ ~ther t~t ~hi~ beæs a cer~ r~l~tiorl to it ~d which a~presses the result o~
a test, e~. ~t a CB~ docume~t be~ the ta~ has b~n raco~
a~ autherL~c or a csr~ Op~ iQn as au~oIized, or th~ opposit~, as wi:~l b~come ~eax herein~er.

Onco a te:gt ha~ bee~ eompos~d, th~ coded c;h~racters al~e pr~nted b~
atb~ibu~Lg the ~pproprial;c color values to t~ v~rious cells o the chara~t~ ~i~. :~ ~a mos~ CDmmO:I:I wa~ 0~ car~in~ o~t th~ e~t ion, wh0re the digitiza~le ~r~lue~ e only ~o a~d ca~ be r~pres~nte~ by O
and 1, the c~113 to whi~ he 1 value is associate~ will be p~ted in black or black p~els will be printed there~ d the cell~ whicJl ~e O ~lue

6 3 3 ~

1733J173~3Q~gl is ma~ed will recei~re no ~n~rk ~Ld rQmai ~ void, viz. white.
Altern~el;y, ~uit~le col4r co:nbi~atio~s could b~ us~d; ~d ~g~in, ~:nore th~n two digital values~ reql~iring ~nore th~ twn colors or shad~
of color, may be re~d.

I;~ a pr~f~rred form ~1~he invel~ion, ~e ~oded pa~ or psrts of the test~re vi~ualized i~ decoded for~ by p~ltin~ ~e~ in sllch fo~n. ~L
~oth~r pre~erred ~orm, th~y a~e vîsualizad on ~. ~ee:n er on a display, su~ih as a li~d cryætal display.

~ ~her pref~rred ~ of the i~æntion~ the p:~ted te~, C:OrnpD~lt ~ ~h~ coded p~ or pa~ts, is ~an~3n~$~d by telecnpier ~ and thQ t;ran~mit~ed code p~t or pa~ t~h~reo~ a~e ~ned, ~eco~e~ ~nd visuali~ed.
.

I~ a stîll fil~e~ p~eferred for~ o~ ~e ~ention, ~he re~ere~ce grid, Ielat~ve to a ~iven p~ted te~ct comp~s~g a cod~d p~ or p~s, is s~or~d i:CL th~ mel:no~y of ~ ~eI~ or of ~ co~puter mea3:L~ ta wbich the æc~r iB operat~v~ly connacted or of another de~ice for compa~ng .n~d c~:L~act~ ~d data vnt:h ~afsren~ data7 and prefe~abIy a ~ber of such r~f~re~ca grid~ oT~d a;~ld a signal, e.~F., a codQ, is ~ed to the d~3vice i:r~ which ~ ~id~ ars ~to~a~ for sele~ th~ pa~cular o~ r~ to th~ p~ r coded ~;~b that is to be decoded a~ ~he n:lame~:Lt. Alt~rna~ ly, the reference ~rid Corr~BpondiD~ to the ~acter grid~ to be s~od is constructed prior to or co~current;ly w~th ~h~ ~cannin~ op~r~tion by mea~ or ca~stru~g random or ~cr~bled grld3, such a~ a sllitable micro~rcu~t or com~u~er pro~m, a~d a 5i~Il~, 13.g., a cod~, is fed to ~h~ devic~ whi~h the grids ~re 2~fl6~3,a 173~1732~1730JE~/9 ~tored for select~g the par~cular grid th~t i3 req7~ed ror decnding par~cular coded te~

her pre~emd forIn ~ the irl~nt ion, ~h~ coded te~t inc~ude~
or is accomp~d by 6pa~ e~i~ixl~ tlle lat&ral spacI~g of iv~n nt~ber ~ characte~ ~rid cells7 e.~.t ~hos~ compriged ~n a co~e~
t o~ the ts~ betwe~ coded porl;ions ~ eof~ t~is is co~par~d with ~he spaw~ of ~e same ~ r o~ ce11~ of 1~e r~o~n~e ~d or Qf ~e bl~ ~id ~d the spac~ll:g r~tio ~o dete~i:r~ed is util~zQd to compe:n~a~ ~or an~ ~h~ge i~ s~le inl~odu~2d or u~ ontrGlledl;y or ~do~ oc~Ted betwee~ t~ie d~fini~io~ ~ the cha~ r gri~ ~d its sub~ission t~ t~ s~g opex~iio~. Optiorl~lly, said spaci~l~ Sig~15 oPte~ de~ne the ~er~ical posi~on~ o~ the li~as or liIl~ se~
co~prising c~ara~er ~ds~ Op~o~AlIy~ ~Iso, ~he coded te~ in~udes a ~ of ~y ~a or oth~ ~ ion, ju~h a8 a code, d~fini~g ~he heigh~
o~ ~he ~rac~er g~ids. Op~ion~Iy. fi~ er, l;;he te:Yt ~¢lude~ ai~, which ~re cn~v~en~ly the afolesaid spacing~ , which s~r~ to d~te~ne tihe ~r~anta~o~ o t he ~haracter g~d~, in order to compe~sate ~or any de~ia~ons of th~ direct~orls of ~C7nn'in~ with respect to tha ~oII of ~h~ ~id axa~

till ~rth~r fo~n o~ the i~ve~tion~ Qat~h ch~ct~r grid COmpr~8eB at l~ast two, ~nd optio~ mor~ io~Ls, th~t are ~r~d o~ t:he basi~ of ~erexlt r~fbrence gnd~ al ig ~e:~t to the devic~ sto~ or c~at~g the r~ference ~r~d~ fior ~electirLg ~he refe~e~lce g~id relative to ~he ~irst sQc~ion, a~d this lat~er c:ontains ~ code, to be r~ad by the ~canner7 defini~ th~ re~erenc~ grid rel~tive to the second section tax~d Gt1 O~
~he sec~ion~ ar~ more ~ha~ two).

~4~(~3 i 173.~732117~

Ill a still ~ther ~oFm o~ ~e i~e~on, w~ h is pa~icul~rly ~ ~r ce~taiD applicat~orls, the re~eren~e ~ids are uri~imensio:r~al or li~ea~, ~z. are co~sti~ted each by a sLngl~ row o~ dig~t~l. v~ue~, usually O
Iw~ite) aIld 1 ~la.ck~ d ea~ ~ractar g~d~ w ;c~ ewi~e li~}~ar, is defined ~ er~i~g the digi~ alue~ i~ one or mor~ ~gme~ts ~hereinafter c~lled the "coae se~e;llt~") o~ ~aid row o~ v~lues. The number, len~h and d~g~ u~on of the code ~egmen~ c~nsti~ut~ the character code, vi~. deii~Le the c:haract~r th~ represented. The ch~rac~ code~ are conveniiio;n~l ~d ~:~ g~nera~ will nol; be rel~d ~ ~he ~,omet;~ic ~ of the ch~actar. q~he sc~d cha~ r ~i~ ara compared wil;h the correspondi~g r~ferellce grid~, sto~d or created a~
hereinbefore e:~plained, 1~e ~r~ter ~od~ i~ t~eb~ ~co~d. ~d the col~e~pon~i~g cla~ cha~c~er is ~ u~ ed i~ Ly corLver~n~ way, by buildin~ a ~ ~id h~1ing suitable d~nsion~, or in ~:ny ~ w~
by which a ~haracter defined by a s~ol oi~ a cQd~ be ~16UaliZQdi, e.g., i:~ the g~ w~5r i~ wb~ ra~er~ ~e visualîz~d on~ th~y ~e defi:ned by A~ II sgmbols.

:n ~ Y~Fia3~t of the l~st mentiorl~d for~n o;f the inYention, the digital he rows which cons~tu~e the re~erence and ~a~acte~ grids, ca:~L b~ represen~ed by m~$ ~th~r ~a~ optîc~l mes~, ~.~. by ma~etic dots i:~t~d of color pi~5. The c~n~ng~ in ~uch a ~8e, wilL ~ot b~
op~c~l, bu~ wîll bs adapt~d to the ph~sical :nature of t~e digital-~ralue-defi~ing m~ employed. J3c~ g :ma~etic card~, e.
~o~veILtio~ the ~t.

2 ~ 3a J~

17~q~ ~U9l ~uch a variant call be app~ed in g~eral to all the el:nbodimer~ts o~ the inven~on, ~. t~ v~lues ~a~ be d~fined by any ~uitahle physi~al :me~s and c~rraspondi~g sc~n~ devic~s can be ~mpl~ed. The resul~ng adaptatio:cls in the w~ys of ~ out the i~:rlv~ntio~ ll be obvious t~ p~rsons skilled i~ ~a a~. CorresporLdi~gly~ ~he word "~ca~ ing" should be co~t~uad, u:~lBSs ot;tLer~se ~t~ted, ~nd pa~icul~qrly i~ ha de~nit~on of ~;he invarLtion and ~ ~he c1~6, al~;
broadl~ cludix:l~ optic~l, ma~netic sc.~g, and i~ general the sC~nning of a:~y p~ysical e~i~es c~p~bla o~ def~n;n~ di~ val~e~; the word "æc~n~e~" 6hould ~e conæ.trued as iLnt~ d~g ~ny devic~ ~or t;~ansmit~ image~ opt~cally, m.~g~et~ or ol;ha3~wise defined, to a con~pu~er memo~; and ~he word ~'pnn~g" 8h~r~d be con~trued a~
a ~d - ~L rn~t~ or line~ ~ of ~lo~ or ~el;ic d~ nr ~
a~ o~er ph;ysi~l ~nti~eg c~pa~l~ Of d~;nin~ alues. :13n~ties of ature w~ch c~ be ~ntar~?reted ~ eprese~g dig~t~l value~
be ~ne~ally desi~a~ed a~ "digi~izab1e value~ d thiB e~qpr~SSiGn should be ~o consl;rued in ~he ~

I:a con~t~ctir~ e bl~k ~d the refere~ca grid~. thc degTee of resolut~o:ll posses~ed by t;he pr~ter to ~e u~ed is taken i~ accour~. A
laser prqn~r, connected e.g. wlth ~ or microcomp~ ad aj a ~ord procc~so~, m~y prir~t as ma~ q ~0~000 c~ per squ~ inch; ~nd i~ the plqnter i~ a L~otype, ~he resolut ion is muc~ high~r. A ra~dom grid ma~ b~ c~est~d by raIldo~ generators w~ own ~n ~he ~rt. The ~do:m ~ he r~Eeren~ ~d by i:~troduci~g in all t;h~
c~lls of t~ blank grid a ~i~t~l value chos~ a more or less ra:Qdomi~ed way, ge~erally either white ~0~ or black (1). }~owever, th~
re~lutinn~ m~ntioned abov~ ~re u~ually e~:cq~sive.

3 ~

17~3~/1~0~/~L

~ere~orA, e~ ll will inclu~e a number o~ dots~ which wilL rece*~ the ~ame ~igi~l ~ e~ e.g. be ~ w~$~ or black~ th~ ~se of a laser pIinter, ea~ cell of ~h~ blan~ grid may in~l~de about 144 dots or more.
Correspo~ gly, the pr~ter, w~en prLr~ ng ~ a ~ansp~r~nt sheet ~he re~rer~ce ~rid, w~I~ in6ert biack doks in ~ he ~Q~3 0~ ~he cell~ where th~ ital vall}e is 1, arld w~ll not p~t ~y~, in t~he are~s of ~e ce~ls wh~r~ the ~i~sl ~7alue is 0. ~k will be possi~le to use shades of g~ay instead of blac~ b~ er~g black ~ota 0~31y ~n aL ~reater or s3~aller pa~
o~ ~aid cell a~ea~. Therefor~. the word black shQuld be coDst~ued, wherever appropr~ate, as possibly in~Luding ~.

his of COt~ e w~ LGt OC~Ul' if t~he priin~r is o~ ype, su~h as the :E~ot~l~ ~ype, which ha~ ~ ~u~h les~ ~e re~olu~ion.
, ~e shape ~f ~Le dots p~Lt~d may depen~ o~ ~he t~pe of p~nt~er. Some pri~Lters, in p~r~ r Lino~pes, will pnnt a bla~k square which cov~rs 1~e entirs ~,pa~e a~ailable for ~;ha dot, and t~ is very con~e~ient for c~ out ~bis in~e~:Ltion. I~ oth~r ~ses, e.g. in ~e case o~ so~e las~r print~r~, ~e pr~r wiIl p~t in s~ch dot, whi~ he a~ea o~ ~he 1 val~e, a black n~ k th~t does not cover tl:le e~tiire dot and may have dif~erent shapes, i~r irLst~ae ~ diamon~ sh~p~ t ~L;y r~ L referen~
~id wi:ll be f~rm~d, which i~ schematiGall;~ illustr~ted by way of ~nple iII Pig. 2. ~Iowe~r~r, sinc~ t;ha call~ grid ~re ~x~rem~l~
s~LUl f~r ~ ke. the ,~rid h~s been ~r~a~r ~lar~d iIl ~ig. 2, a;nd o~ly ~ po~on of it is ~howIl.

Irhe subseque:~t ope~tio~ ~hat of cr~ he :Eont, can be camed o~ ~
vanou~ wa~s. It will be ~derstood that ~or ~ach reference grid at least 2~ $~3~

I7S~11732~L7~

a ffint ~ y be created and as many fionts can be c~ea~d or stored in the n~aInory o:E ~ word processor or a pn~t~ or in ~ener~l ~ print çontrollin~ devi~e a~ a~e the possible re~er~nca g~æ~

A po:F~ion ~f the blan~ ~id ~u~icierLt to a~commoa~e l~e desired charac~ is æhown Ol:L the scrRen of t;~e word processor. It ~ ~how~ ~t ~he lal~gest po~ibl~ ~le, compatibly with the si~e of t~e scr~e~ in order to fa~litate ~h~ ~llowiDg opera~:ons~ I~ th~ ~a c~l19 ~ll g~ne~lly ~e too sm~ll, e~ wh~n e:~lirged, ~or th~ operator to ~rr~ uu~ the ope~Ltio~ ~h~t will b~ des~bed, the ~id w~ll pr~rably 1~ ~ho~ o~
l;~ei B~ ;h ce~ls ea~h o~ w~clL comp~es a num~er of the ~e cell~
o~ ~he ~rid, s~y, four or more. ~he eRlls ~ich define the ~re~ of the desired ~cter ow be m~r~;ed o~ the scree~ any ~p~?~opr;ate w~. ~ . 3 it is a~umed ~ha$ said cells have beerl co:~ple~ly bl~c~en~dl so th~t the le$te~ ppearg in it~ llo~ sha~pe~ b~t tha;y could ~ n~rked in ~ny ~ r ~isibl~ w~, s~y by enter~ ' mark in each ~11 or i squ~e~ or rec~le~ Tepresen~ each ~ c~ll or a 3~un~r of celts, u:r~ he desire~ act~r app~s ~ reco~:~ble ma3~.eI O;~ s~ree~. ~h~ word processo~ w~l me~ ize ~he r~sult o~
~a opera~ion ~nd a~so~e it w~h th~ çhara~er7 i~ cas~ ~ le~ter :E. The word proco6sor will llow compa~e each area ~omp~sed irL th~
defi~i~on a~ ciharac~er w~th the corre~por~di~ ar~a of the re:~erence ~d, ~ rt t;he ~i~i~l v~lues ~sociated with ~ach cellj of sai~ ~d areal vi2;., in ~he c~e of b~ digi~ ~alue~, will ~ha:nge O t~ 1 and 1 O. 'rh~ ~kill~d per~o~ will encount~r no ~ iL~lt~ ;~11 providing th~
r~quired software. The resul~ gr~d i~ th~ acte~ grid, iltusk~ted, ~11 at a ~rea~ e~ d s~le, ~n Fi~. 4, w~ich will of co~ e be sc~bled or even r~Lndom, ~s th~ re:~rence glid was sc~bled or ~ven 2 ~ 5 ~7~ Vg~

ra:rldom. For e~ch cha~a~ter arLd eac}:L reIer~n~e ~, at least a c~a~ct~r grid is provided, so t~at if di:~r~t refer.e3lce grids h~e been pre~ed ~;cLd ~kored 7n the m~ ry of the wor~ processor, 3~ equ~l m~mber of fion~3 may be pr~parPd.

It is howe~er hî~hly desi2~ble ~h~ ~he prin~g oper~ should not be r~qu~red to go i;hrough the t;ime coxls~ ng p~ocedur~ desc~ibed. It iB
~h~r~oIe prefera~l~ to pro~ide to ~i~ a cod~g prog~a; n, in the ~or~ of a di~c or i~ o~r suit~bIe fo~, w~ich c~rL~i:ns a~l the necess~ data which ~ be transfs~d ~ the word pro~ or me:mor~r~ e.~ to a h~rd disk, or to a~ot.~er memory of ~ p~ t co3:ltl~0~i:ng devic~ or a p~qnter.
refer2n~e ~a ~ b~ ~on~ide~ed as a "ke~" which tr~ Eorms cla~ cha~ rs into coded c~arac~er~. ~he word pI~oces~or or o~hær deYic~ ~sed will have a ~nber of ~le~r ~o~ts in it~ mern~, ide~ied?
.g. by A~ ~r o~h~r ~bol~, ~d o~he~ ~lea~ fo~ be crea~ed or roduced by ~he operator. ~Fhe codi~S~ progra~ ha~ stored therein a n~mb~ of k0g~ ~r~ferellce ~rids) ~d t~ in~h~actio:~s ~or ~reat;illg a ~:raci;~ when~ver ~L clear ch~racter i~ fed to t;he word pro~3~sor or other d~ and ~ key is sel~c~d. ~ other word~, ea~h ke~ ~re~er~nce ~i~) gener~t~s a font corre6pon~ to an~ ~lea~ fo~t fed to l~e de~ice.
Tll~ oper~tor neea only select a k~r, ~d, whe~ ha com~s to the par~ of t is ~o b~ cod~d~ e 1~he appro~lat~ command in ~r ~uitable way ~d ~r~ onc~ ag~n th~ com:m~d or ~ er~t co:mmand wl:~n ho wi~he~ to ret~ to cl~ pri:~t~g. Th~ comm~ds will b~ o~
th~ ~ype "ST~T CODI:N~" and 'E~ CC~ h~o cnmmarLds bei:~ r~?r~nt~d o~ the SC~ by suit~blo ~i~s. Alte~ativelsr, t~he pa~a~ coded ~ont could be e~ec~d b~r depr~s~g a key, ~L t~h~ wa~r i~L wbî~ i~ ordinary keyboards capitals ale obtained by ~pr~fisin~ a " 2~l~6~

17~1~tl7~Q/~l "C~PS LC)C~ '' ke~r, or by de~res~g ~ key which also ge:clera~es corra~pondence :mark a~ the be~g a:Gd ~ ~e e~d of ~he coded ~t.
P~ur~er, ~ mber of clear fo:clt~ :may ~ included i:~ ~he p~v~m ~ed ~h~ word proce~or or o~her dence, in place o~ or i:n addi~on to ~ font~
~e pr~seD:~ in ~ ~d proce~sor or de~

It will also be cle~ ~hat di~r~ coded ~o~ts: :rLa;y b~ crea~ed, xlot o~l;y by ~l:npl~g clear ch~ c~e:r~ eren~ re~erenc~ grid~ bu~ by e~nplo~g d~re~t co;clv~tional ~on~, 8.g., ~he cod¢d ~o~ m~y be ~d by ideaIly or act~ r super~m~o~i~g e~ch of t~e co:~Y~;io~l fo~ word p~oce~sor ~ use, to the ~ me re~ ce griL If ox~ is, e.g.~ in ~old ~haracter~, the co~ed font w~l co~re~po~dingly be bold~ l~is permi~ to ob~ a v3xi~t~r of 2fEects b~ ~ o~ ~e invention.

A te~t whi~ is p~ or ~o:~npletel~ cod~d ma;~ be co~posed, us~ t~he coded ~ont~, o~ t co~p~g dflvic~, e.g. a w~rd processo~ sact lsr the ~ame way a~ a normaiL, ~lear t~t is GompoQed, nd ~y ba ~heliked on the screen of the word proces~or o~ other ~18vice, in ~he u~ wa~
~he cod~d ~ont~ are stored i~ t co~xLposi:ng de~nc~ he c~ ~er~
~how~ on the screen will pr~e~ly be ~ the ~:~ventio~lal7 ~r~ctly re~ le ~o~t, ~hough the~ mig~t ~l~o b~ he cod~d f~b. ~ y ca~e7 ~11 that th~ o~ra~or ha to do is to compose the te~t like ~ normal, ~ile~ to~, ~nd give ~:he ~ppropriat~ co~ands to det~rmine w~i~h p~
o~ t are to be code~. 'rhe op~r~tor wDi tho~ cau~e the ~ompo~ed te~ct ~o b~ pr~e~ in the usual way, by wb~tev~r prin~r i~ dispos~l.

2 0 4 ~

173~ J1730~EI/91 ~e:n ~he coded te~ is to be read~ ~cording tn ~ em~od~ner~ of the i~ve~tio~ ref~re~Lce grid will be pr~nt~d on a t~p~rent ~e~t of paper. I~a~sparerL~ ~heet~ c~ing ~ he reit'er~nce g~ds ~hat may be used wi~ u~11y be prep3~ed pre~o~ Ld ~he ~eren~e glid &o~respond~ to tlle font ~sed will be ~elec~ed i;cl eac~ case. A r~:~ren~
~id can be ~b~ou~ly p~llt~d, ~g., ~ ~g ~e STA:E~T C~l)IN~ ~rLd ~he END CODIN(~ comrnands~ separa~d by a bl~k apa~e.

e e3nb~dimellt ~f th~ inv~tio~ ~he ~omp~sed ts~ î~ ~p~g~a~d and correspor~derlce m~rks ~re pro~ided ~ le~ on each pa~ or po~ ly o~ eac~ pred~ 0~ed po~ion o~ ~ pa~ p~ o:~ tha n~ure o:~
the ~t and of ~e coded fo~ts, ~d on ~h~ d~g~e~ of pre~ on desired7 8 well ~s o:c~ the si~e o~ the te:~ ~ha~r~, corresponda~ce m~rk~ o~
d~erent kiDd~ may be ~,ed. Fo~ ~ns~, a pri~tad word ma~ ~0rve ~s co~esponde~ mar~:, or a graphic ~g:~ o~ any kind }nay be u~ a~, ~or in~t~nce, ~ C~0~7 or a ~cle or the like~ I~ is co:nv~r~ie~t, in ~
p~sfe~ed e~bod~en:~ of t he in~ o~, to u~e p~ of ral~ ely ~nple ~rap~c g~gns.

~n ~d em~o~ime3:~t, the wmmand~ dete~ the beg;n~ ~d the ~nd of the coded t~ y ~l~o ~us~ thG pD~ g of a co~espo~d~nce m~l~ thi~, m~er~ each coded te2ct po~tion ~ qp~ic c~ar~r or oh~r~ct~rs, word or ~b~r o~ word~ wIll ba provid~d with it~ o~
cor~po~d~ m~rks, in its immQdiate v~i~ i~her~ ~acilita~ the m~nt. I~ s~, ~e tr~pa~nt ~he~t will c~ a n~b~r of r~er~nce ~ids o~ di~ere~ lengths~ ~ach pro~r~ded wi~h re~erence nd ~:L e~c~ ca~e the reference gPd will b~ used which has ~h~
s~n~e l~h ~ t~e ~oded ~e:ct portio:~ to be read. Me~hanical ali~nm~nt ~ 0 4 6 ~ 3 ~

~7~7~(~1 r~ans, however, can aI~o be provided. Th~ if the ~e~t is pnn~d on a sub~trate whiçh h~s prede~ed d~e~io~s such ~s e.g. a card, ~d in a predete~nined positio;~ ther~on, the l;ransparent sheet ~ y ~e fo~med and p~iLted wi~h ~he ~e dimensioDs and ~h~ same posi{;ion ~f t~he ra~eren~e g~id~ and m~ be aligned wi~h ~he subst~a~e by ~serl~g them i:n a co3:n~non ~rame adj~ted to th~ir dimen~iorls. The l;r~nspare~t ~h~t m~y al~o be ~?e~en~ly mou~ted oll ~u~h a fi~ e.
Or~ ~atively, pereor~on3 can be provided in both ~he ~ub~ tR and ~he tr~ pa~e~t sheet, to pe~nit ali~m~t by mea~s of p~ ~ v~riety of me~ l solutions ~ sily be de~sed by sk~ d p~rsons.

~ epres~n~3 a t}~sp~e~ s~rip, Wi~L ~h~ refier~n~e ~a ~0~ only s~ma~iie~lly ~ o~mly ~ aded - ~ ~pli~:ity o~ u~t~a~on, and wi~ r~fer~n~ m~a in the ~ha~e o~ cros~es. Tha st;rip will be at 1~ast ~ hi~ ~ ~ cod~d c:haracter and may be a~ ~igh a~ a~ e~tir~
p~t~d pa~, but ~ner~lly its siz~ w~l be i~t~nediate betwa~ those two ~ ne~ ~d it will be hig~ enough to c~er a ~l~mber o~line~ o~tha pri~ted t~t. Its height will b~ dete~i~ed in ~ w~y as to S~:9~
se~e~l ~qu~r~ . Ik l:CLU~t not be ~o l~¢ge as to cover ~ c~r~
:which ~i~ica~t dime;:Lsio~al accuracies m~y a~ise ~. ~he p~tsd page. Eow~er, i~ m~s~ no~ b~ ~o s~all that it~ e will be ~co~venient ~d that too man~ p~irs ~f ~orrespo~dan~e ma~k~ ll be re~ d i;~ the pri~d ~a~. E5aoh Bhip will c~ r~r~ marl~ th~t are Q,uf~iciently ~o;~ct to po~i~on it on ~he pnnted pa~e, If BU~h marks aro in pairs, as in the ~3E~ple îllllst~ated, the ~p will have at le~st on~ p~ir of them, ~ut it rrLa~ l~ave a pIuralit;y of p~r~i d~pendi~ o~ it8 hsight arld on th~
di:~ne~o~ a~cllracies th~t are ~ ly to occur in a por~ion of ~Le . print~d pl~gB having ~he same height.

"` 2 ~ 3 ~

~t~73~L7~1:11/~1 ~ a prefe~red embodimen~ of ~ en~o;n ~he ~3nspa~ent et~ip will i~lclude ~ever~l repel~tiori~ of ~he ~me re~erence grid 5et 8id~ ide.
The ~ef~re;cl~e g~id, i~ ral, ~ill have ~L wid~h that i~ of ~he ~ame o~der of ma~ikllde as its heigh~, w~ile a p~ted li~e, a~d ~he~efore the tran~p~ f;rip~ may be ~u~ wider. Thus the ~ip ~y co~prise ~
~er~ ~a~, e.~ o twsnt~, ~ qui~ p~ssibb less or more, of iden~ical referen~e grids or of di~re~t ~2pe~0;~s of 1~he same r3~er~n~e ~a~ The dis~ce b~weerl homolog4u~ poirl~ o~ adya~2llt ~ds r~ ~e ~lled t~e " orizontal pi~h" of l~e re~erence ~ids in the m~ ~d Bkip. The ~d~ re~ngle o~ :Fig~ y optionally be ~ken a~
s~ rep~ese~ su~ ~ lt;i-~id s~ip. :~ su~ a s~ i u~ed, the p~er ~ ~0 ~o p~ ogramm~d a~ to p~n~ adjace3~ charac~er ~ds ir- su~h ~ w~;sr ~t their holrLologous poirlts will haYe ~he ea~e muts~7 di~ce, ~ '~orizontal pit~" ~ ~e char~ci;er g~ids in ~ult;i-g2id ~hip. It 1s ~lear ~hat w~en ~ l~;sr is sllp~lmposed to ~
pFi~ed line~ ~11 the coded ~h~ac~ers irl the line ~11 r~ster w~th a re~r~e.~d ~d will become concurren~y readable. Fur~her, the t~r~p~r~ trip may be high e~ou~ ~o cover mor~ t;han 4~e~ pnnted y ~o ~r~r "~ p~ted lines. ~ thi6 ca~a i~s heigh~ wilI be at l~
equ~l i;o "n" ~ that oi~ a p~ted lille plu~ "n 1" ~ixaes l~e ~tical pitch b~tween printed ~ine~ se~r~l r~f~rence ~îd~ will th~n ba diq~ributed ~ b~ ~ip ~o~ a~ id~ b~ ~ide7 bu~ o t~c ~ne~ below ~he ol~ r, vi~ he 9t~i,p cover& ~n" p~:L~qd i~:le~, the ref~rerlc~ gria~ ~ be ;buted in '~ ll rows, havirLg ~he ~ame ~rtica~ pit~h as the p~i~t~d lîrLes, ea~h ro~ ~ompr~ a pluralil~ of reference ~rid~ ~ide by side~
eme:n:t will be ef~ective on the sole co3:ldition that the co~ed ch~cter be printed ~n such. a posi~o~ed relations~ip on the page, ~hat 2 0 ~

173~ ~73~1 when the tr~L~parerl~ ~trip is superi:cnposed th~r~to ~a th~
correspo~ xLc~ ~d ref~renc~ mark~ d~ each c~aract~r gr~d will be e~Eacl;ly register wi~h a ~ re:cLce ~id q~ne ~o~ware requ~red to ~c~ie~e l~bis ~ ~asilg be prov~ded b~ lle~ persons.

1~ ~n~pa~en:~ sh~e~ on wb~&~ ~ ~e~ere~ce g~d l~ p~n~ed sho~ld be ~ime~ st~ble. :D~en6~on~ ~le ~ pa~t pl~s~ic~
known and ~ ows how to p~t thereon v~ord~ a~d ~raphic ~gr~.
~he trans~ t ~h~e~ will carry the ~a mark~ as those used ~
Gor~e~po de;cL~ m~ks on ~he printed pag~ w~ h ha~e be~n dee~i~d ~ refer~nc~ ma~kq. A com~le3: ~eference ~ can be ILSed ~r ea~
pa~ o~, ~o~e ~on:venien~, a p~ of ~7imple ~a~phic ~gn~37 or a pl~r~
pa~rs o~ ~gxaphi~ s~g~ for ~ach pageO q~he re~son ~or ~g a plur~iksr of ~aphic ~i~ns JEl~7 r~f~rence ma~ s îs th~:t there m~y be som~
di~n~iona~ irregulari~e~ in th~ p~ted page or i~ ~he tra~sp ~n~
sh~et and the~ore if o~ly two r~f~re~lce sig~ ~re used ~or a~ e:~re p~, the di:cn~onal îrre~arit~es r~gh~ make ~he superimposit;ion o~
the p~ted t~ct to the re~erenc0 ~rîd ~p~rfect and ~e c~ded font ~h~ Gt~rs would not be Q2Yîly Id~ifi~d. IrL or~r to miniTr~liz~ ~f3 co~eque~ces of dim~n~io~l ~r~ ies, o~e ma;sr ~ith~ print o:ll a p~e ~ plu~ali~ of pair~ of:re~r~ce ~ign8, or provide, ~n~d of a t;~n~parent ~h~ha~ of a p~dp~ge, ~ pa~ st~ip h~ing a heigh~ ~hat i~ equal to l~e l~ ht oi~ one o~ a few pr~d lin~, ~d pri~t on the p~n~ed ~a~e a ~ltlr~Lt~ oPpair~ oiE r~ c~ m0rk~ ~or each ~ p~g~ h~ th~ ~e o~ the ~srlspare~t s~;rip.

Fîg. B repres~t~ the ~ port;ion o~ pa~ sho~L in Fîg. ~ ~ whe~ein the an~wer to the q~ tion i~ ~pr~sented b~ ch~racter ~ s a~d 20~3a ~7~8~ 301~1 co~respondence m~ks ~0 p~ted ~t th~ side~ of said ~ds. :~f s~e~
answ~rs wer~ prese3~ on ~e~eral lines, p~i~s of co~spondence m~
would be p~o~rided ~ ~ le int~ e.g, i~ al to ~he h~ht of the transp~e~t ~ p ~f Fig. ~. Thus, said st;;rip may be ~l~d up or dow~ ~lo~g the page ~d lts re~e~e~ce ~ar sllccess~ aligned wit~
1~he v~ous p~ of correspondin~ marks arl~ ~y de~ired port ion of the page l~n be covered i ~s w~. Of cour~e, ~e tr~s~2ar~ rLt were a ~eet ~ gh as the whole pa~ef only on~ pa~ of wrreE~ond~ce :inark~ would b~ ictly re~ d, but f~r ~e~er pre::~sion~ ~eve~al p~8 could prefera~y be provi~l~d both ~L ~he pr~ted page ~d oll the transp~Te:clt æhaet~
, F~g. 7 shows ~ow ~he t~parent s~ip o~ iB superi3~pos~d on ~
pe~t;ha~t porf~orl of ~ig. 6 to re~ ~;he c~ded a~we~. :~ the ~ear grid . sh~ h~rein~ the cle~r ch~r~ct~r i5 ~aerL ~g bla~k on a ~ray ba~o~d, w~i¢h i5 a ra~do~:n ~ture o whi~ ~d black p~l~.
.
~ig. ~ ~chemat ic~lly illust~ s a par~ul~ly ~imple wa~r of ~ing the ii:Ly~n~on in~o practice, ~.g. b~ mea;rls o~ ~ p2~0~m and an associ~t~d p~ . The program will comprise a r~domizer~ w33i~h iR ~le to corLs~ct ~a:~ldoIn or, with th~ ~itable pro~ram modificatîons, scr~ml~led ~f~re~ce g~. E~ch re~ererlce ~d i~ identified b~ a numeric key. ~3~ce a lar~ mber of r~ndom grids m~y be con~tructed~ the keys a~ her~ as~ d to be. ~on~ o ~O,OOO. To con~ t ~ coded ~nt1 a 3~:~ is fiIstl~ chos~. The progr~ alBO Jaas a ~umber of ~les, iden~i~d bY na~7 CO;~lprl61~g all kh~ pl~l ch~rac~rs which it may be de.sired to ue, d~ d on th~ rid, a~ showr. ~n :Fig. 3. A :eile will b~ chosen by n~ne. Ih~ p~ogr~ will ~h~n con~truct~

`` 2~6g3~

1~811732~

in ~he man~e2 e~ ~ned hereinbefore, aIl the ~oded charact~rs ~or~e~pondin~ to -~he cho~e~ re~er~-nce grId ~d ~he chosen plai~L
char~ter ~i:la~ and ~e t~he resulti~ code~ fon~ u~de~ r suit~ble iden~ficati~n, depeIldin~ o~ the ke~ ~d ~he file. I~e coded fo~t c~ ~now b~ duw~lo~de~ to ~he pri:~er ~nd stored ~ere~. ~ t is wishe~ t~ print a t will be par~ly ~ pI~i~ ~d p~ly 7 oo~aed ~ct~rs, t;~ ~ame of t he file cho~ o~stmctin~ ~he coded f~t ~ill be e~red and t he pri~ ~ill p~t wi~h ~he plai~ ~onts whi~ e no~ly a~ bI~ ~o i~, in~e~ the correspo:oding codad ~har~c~ers between th~ "ooda"
m~l~s, ~di~ted ~ the fig~e by ~. IEit i~ wished to modit~ a codesl ~ont ~hu~ con tructed, the Qditing ~mmana ~ ~a ~ve~ d ~he file identffled b~ its n~ne. A~y cod~d ~er3 that ig i~ wished ~o fflOdi~r will now b~ c~led ~p ona by on~/ tbe proc~ r s~een will ~how ~he c~r~a~ponding ~ria~7 the ~q7~ired moai~:ation3 w~ll be ma~e o~ the grid, a:nd ~e r~ult wi31 be saYed, u~ 11 da~red ~haracter~ e ~een ~ended. Th~ nsw Pil~ will be ~e b~is Ior co~ c~ing ~ n~w, ded ~oded fon~.
.- ' ' . :
The in~antio~ ~n be ~ed o~ i2~ ~he courRe of ~ normal print~ing operalion, s~ce ~1 ~at i~ ~ee~d, besid~ the norm~ ipul~orL~, i6 to depres~ on~ comm~d key. No xu~h simpIa ~d e:~E~ent w~;sr of p~ivac~r, ha~ bsen taugh~ ~ th~ pr~or ar~t as ~ar a~ ~e ~pplica~t lm~ws.
. .

;En ~ preferrqd ~Orn o~ v~nti~n, a~ h~rein~eo~ ot~d~ ~he co~d te~:t i~, ~ca~ed, the ~igit~l v~lueq of ~h cell of ~ac:h scanned ch~act~r ~rid i~ compared ~nth the v~lue of the corr~pondir-~ cell of the re~ere:ncs ~rîd, ~:~d th~ ~OF~ le îs applied to ~h~ results o~ said o?

~q32/1~3~91 cor~parison. The resulti~ cle~r grid ~as a whi~e ba~k~r3~nd ~co~posed o~ ~lls ~ the ~ro Yalue), e~îd~n~n~ ~he ~le~r ~aracts~
cor~ sed o~black cell~ (hav~ l;he 1 v~Iue) .

I:~ a pref~red ~mbodime;~ of ~ n~~ nean~ ~or ~isT~a~ g ~he ~tilear c~ra~er~ m~ ~o~ist of or ~ompris~ mea~ ~o~ playin~
~nd/or p~g the same. Pr~erably, ~id vis~li~g means corllp~ise me~ns ~or pro~i~g ~ sha~p color contr~s~ betwe~ cl~ar ch~r~rs ~d background, e.g., ~r p~inting thç~ c~racters i~ ~ color, ~r~fera~ly blac~;, and ~he b~ck~rou~d in a sh~ply co~ ras~g color, pref~rably wh~te. When the re~er~n~e ~d char~ ~ds are l~e~, the visnalis~ing mA~6 comp~ise mea~S ~or di~pla~ ~d/ur ~ ting ~he ~L*a~ char~ co~po~di~ to pred~ ra~er codes~

~ n embod~ent3 said maaI:Ls for Idell~fying and ~eu~lly ~i~er~n~ng ~&ter g~d cells are s~u~tur~ly ~s~ociated w~h the ~C nnin~ mea~8 alte~tive embo&ent, the~r co:lnpr~se co:~:npu~r ~e~ns. Tn a ~e~ e~bo~iment, t h~ ~mpri9e a XO~ ~ate, wbi~ be, ~ own, d~Led as hardw~re ar saPc~re.

her embodim~lt, m~ are pr~ided ~or de~c~ng and co:rnpen~ fol chan~e~ ale, horizo~tal ~d ~ertic~l, which occlLrred i~ ~h~ ch~a~r ~ds be~ore ~heir prasa~tation to ~h~ sca~ g , ~d op~onally Ior an;sr an~la~ dev~o~ between l;he grid ~s ~d ~ on~ o~

Preferably, the ~tal ~alues ale id~tiei~d, ~d ~he ~c~ing is e~ected, op1;ically or m~gnet;ically.

:17~32t17~

As noted, iIl a prefe:~ed ~o~ of ~he i~ on, the di~tal ~lue~ rel~ed to c~lls o~ ~he ~riou~ ~ used ~e o~l~ two, O (or white~ and ~ ~or black), and correspo~ agly the c~ o ~e cle~r g~:d~ w~ich ~ ~h~
cleal~ ch~racters, vig. th~ ce~l8 w~ch h~ve th~ O OE t~h~ 1 value w~lere ~e co~espo~ refe~ence grid cell~ h~ve ~he ~ o~ the O ~ e, respecE:ively ~e~ ually di:~r~ed f~om i~he b~ckgro~d by ~ ~ color, e.g, bl~ck, for ~he one~ a~d ~ r~t eolor~ ~.g., whita, ~or the o~er.
l~ste~d of white or of black, ~y .c~ be u~e~ eg. by rende~ the c:lear characters (OI` ~ ba~ O bl~l3; o~ ~3ta, ~nd lea~in~ e backgrou~d ~or cle~ ch~ract~rsl resp~v~ly) ~ the ~or:m of a s~bled gr~ . a ra~do:m or ~lose to ~dom :c~i2~e o:E wht~s and blac~s.

lo~ dia~ o~ i~g. ~ 10 i~ scanne~ to wbioh such a te:~ 12 i~ ~d. ~he t~ ma;y ori~e ~ a pD~L~ or m~ ~ con~eyed ko the ~c~ r ~om an~ o~;her soul~ce~ ~ p~i~ular, ~ a preferred embodim~t of ~ i;o.ve~;ti~ the t~t is ir~ t3:1C ~orm of a ~py t;~a~s~it~d by ~ fa:~; recei~in~ mach~Le, ~ irLdisated in broken li~eB a$. 13 Yg. ~. S~anner 10 I~y be o~ a;ny ~Lowrl t~p~. Th~ scan~er bllilds an e of th~ ~egt, ~ thi~ ca~ ~e ~ d portion thareo~, conEi~ of ~black ~lld wh~te pi~:el~ 12 :linen~ oiE ~e p~cel di~ibu~tion i~
~rally much greater th~:n that of the charact~ grids l:lsed i~
carryixlg o~ ~h~ o~ It~iough it ~ that it s~tlld not ~e ~maller~ :E~g.t the scR~er may r~i~r 400:~400d6tO00 pixels per s~a;~ ch, wh~rea5 ~ chara~ter grid, ~ pre~erably u~d~ may hRv~
lbqtween 100 ~d 10,000 cell~ pQ~ ~Iqua:r~3 inch. In th~ emt~odirneD~
9, t~e ~Rnner co~v~s in~or:~io:cl, rellti~e to ~he digital vs31ues of t;he 3 ~

~7~ 7~ o/E~

sca~ed ~d cells, to a mi~ocomputer 14, Said microcomputer ei~:her stores the re~ere~ g~ds whi~ may h~e ~e~ra u~ed to constl~ct the c~cter ~rids comprl~ed i;~ ~he ~ e r~l, or is ~o prograr~d ~L8 ~o congtE~ct ~;y one ~ ~ 1lU~i3r o~ ~e~e;rence ~rids, tl~e lat~r gol~tio}:
ba~l~g E~crable if ~ r of po~ible grid~ h In ~ r c~se, ~a~h ~d i~ iden~ie~ ~y ~ code, e.g. ~ n~nber The oper~L~r feeds ~he code ts the ~crocomputer, or ~ code i~ inGluded in the te~ ~nd revealed by ~h~ æc~er, a:lld ~îs eit~he~ selec~s ~d loads OI~ con~ucts load~ eorre~7po~dr~g referen~e ~d~ E ~he te~ iB Se~ b y f~, ~d the r~f~e~ce ~id h~ ELot be~rl pr~ously cho~n and m~de k :LOW~
to the ~ddressee of t he me~7~ge7 the g~id code ~:nust slso be 6en~ ~ t~:is ~ase, i~F p~olarl~ high security is des~d, ~ code whi~h is s~t may rlot be the gri~ codq, ~ o~ oIlsl;i~u~e a3:~ inpu~ fiom ~hich a ~b~ou~e ~r pro~r~m7 ~tored i:ll compu~ar 14 or eI~ewhere7 de~ive~ the ~t code. 3~s~ad of a combin~io~ o~ a sca~er with ~ gen~ral ~omp~ter, ~ uni~r~ de~i~e could be cons~nlcted accordi~g to the

7 ~ iO~, w~ich embDdi6s a ~ca;cL~er snd ~pecial compi~e~ circ~u~
GO~pn~ g a random ~nerator, m~ans ~r ~eIecth~ the d~sired re~erenc3 gri~ t~ ~t~d by i~, ~d D~ear~ for so:mp~, for ea~h coded ch~rac~e~ gr~d, the opti~1 i~form~t~on obtain~d throu~h ~e s~er wi~h ~he re~ren~ ~.

c~n~, ~r ~he ~;mo b~ t :rlo cha~es of ~e or de~r~t;io~s of a~ kind ha~e beerl. pro~ced or h~Y~ oc~Ted in ~he c~a~actsr grid~
th~ si~u~o~ will b~ ~s d~picted in Fig. iLO, iIl which, ~or ~he p~pos~ of a ~ r Iar~ scaI~, only a ~ew ce~ o~ the blan~ gricl ar~
~onqide~ed. The micro~omputer ~ill ~O:CDp~re the optical i~or~tion ~ceived :ProIn t,ha scanner with a blank grid correspondi~g to the 2~83~

p~ti(,~ular refere~e ~cl ~o be u~d~ ~he bl~ ~r~d of Fi~. IO is L ~d c~pos~d oE ab~ ae ~O ~d ordi~t~ . A f~w ce~ls 2 . thereof ~e sh~wn. T~e pi::~el~ ~3 are tho~3 registered b~T th0 sl~n~er.
~deally, each ~d cell 2~ ~Lould be i~led ~i~h~r with blac~k pi~els ~3 or with whi~e pi~els, and b~ ~orrespo~ gly cons3dered ~ ~o~pllt 3r 14 as a 1 (black) or O (white~ ce~l. In pr~c~ce, ~mall, ~dom ir~egularities ma~ occur ~d thera ~y be er~olleou~ pi2~els - s~ch as one o~ so:cne bl~k p~cels 23 ~ g i:~ ~ cell adjac~:nt t~ ~e* proper OR~3 ~d whi~h ~ho~ld be e~ whi~, as show~ ~ 24; or o:~e or moP~ w~ pi~
g in a c~ ~vhi~ æhsul~ be en~ la~ hown at ~ ~ bu~ ~he ~orllputer will corre~ ~uch ~Frors a;~d con3ider a cell to bs ~lac~ ~or w~ it is predomi~ ly~la~k ~OI` whi~e). ~e b~ grid, 1~en ~o ll~d vn~h di~;~l values derived from the optical i~for~tion ~rorn ths ~ar~er, can be ~lled "a.sc~ner g~id".

Go; :nput~r 14 ~ompar~ ~he re~ul'Gir~ di~ val~le o~ e~ch ~ca:~ner ~rid cell w~h that oi~ ~hs corre3ponding ce:ll o~ the reEererlc~ ~d, e.g., by a}~ ~ a ~ R ~a~, prv~d~d ~ an el~me3:l~ of hardw~re or l~otigh ~of~ . The res~lt;ing outp~ is f~d ~o a ~is~ g device 1~ . g) w~ be a pri~ter or a displa~ or ~n~r other suî~able d~ 8~ice 16 vi~ualize~ r~lk~n~ pictt~a of th~ ~lear ~cter, r~pr~entad by ~he ~aract~r grid that has been sca~ed, by p~n~ or ~i~playing a bla~k dot ~ e~Lch c~ll ~ w~ic~ t~B ~ca~er and re~ere}lce ~rid va~ues oppos~te (:1 or 0~ ~nstead of O or 1, re~p~c~ly); or prir~ or displayi~
the e~re c~ bl~c~, ~d l~ving l~h~ o~!:Lex~ c~lls ur~p~ed, vl~. white.
tead ~f black and whit~, ang other coIItras~n~ colors or aIl~ ot;her ki~d of nsllally detectable con:tr~t could l~e used.

2 ~ L~. 6 ~ 3 ;J

17~3/17~q7~/E191 Of cou~se, thero is no need to ~can ~he e~-~e p~ted ~t, mo~t oiFwh~
ca~ be in ~ear char~l;er~ ~nd t;his would be ~ waste o~. Irh~efore, only th~ coded par~ of the $e:~t will be ~7ibmitted ~o the ~cann~.
Never;hele~, c~nt~ol oX ~he ~ca~i~g c~nnot be ~o accDrat~ t~a~ onl~
in~o~na~o:cl p~ainin~ coded ts~ por~o~ submitt~d to the comp~t~r. I~ re~ole de~r~le to print ~ th~ pDnt~ a~ ~e b~g and a~ the eI:Ld of eacl~ ed part, ~ spa~L~ or si~s of ~y ~a ~h~ ~ ~ca~ the beg~i~g an~ t~e erld of ~ c~ded ~
~e~e~, ~Lnd which carl be deæignated ~ere~ ~s STl~T ~M:PA~
and STOP CO~ I~ signs. ~ch s~ m~r ba conYe~en~ly in~e~d in 1;he te~t when ~e ST~T C~OI~ING ~d P~ COI~
com~n~nds ~re gi:ven ~n composing t~le t~t7 a~ e~cp1ai:n~d ~ ~e p~re ~pplic;~on. The ST~::)P CO~PA:E~I~G sign may ~l~o con~ the indicat~on of ~ e~ of ~cter ~ids whi~ bee i ser~ed betw~en ~he t~o sign~. When t;he c~pu~er re~eives the S7~
GO~EPAR~Ci~ sign, it w~ll b~ tQ s~pe~impos~ ~ the optical info~ ;ion ~eceiY~d ~o~ sc~er ~ suc~ession of bl~ g~ids, and w~ll co:zLt;;nu~ ~o do so until l;he STOP COMP.ARIN(;~ ppe~s~ A~
~at poirl~, if t~ e ha~7~ beerL ~o ~c~l~ ch~n~e~ or ol~her d~orm~-~ons in ~he grids, the :number ~ s~a bl~k rids will b~ id~tical to ~ mb~r of ~e~ ~ids ~ndicated by ~h~ STOP COMPA13ING si~ hsre is a dii~renGe betw~en ~e ~ox~d two num~a~, ~ha co:mp~:~ will add t~he ~i~ id or glids, or OE~el t~ supern~ y ones~

~t thi~ point~ ~r~ may be ~ ~eren~e between th~ hori~ontal spacir botw~on l~he two si~ and the o~rall le~ h o:~ the suceessio~ of bl~nk grid~ Thi~ dic~te 8 ch~ oie scale, wh~th~r pla~ed or accid~ al. The computer will co:mp~ te for such ~ e ei~her b~r 3 ~i /1732/l~Y91 a~justin~ the ~7cale ~f t;he bl~nk ~ds, or7 pre~erably, b~ enl~rgin~ or redu~ ~e pdct~e pr~Yided b~ ~he s~er. I~ ~.g., ~he ~ded 'Ge~ h~
besn ~itted by fi~: and h~ ~ b~ 10~ in ~he proc~ed;ngs, the ~orclputer will i~ea~ by 1a~ the di~anc~ be~wee~ ~he pi:~el~ or7 ~lte~t;ively7 the n~ber of pi;~;els a~d ~e spa~ be~v~en grol:Lp~ of pi~ ls, rec~rved :~o:m ~he s~nne~

~erl~ic~l ch~ges of ~c~1e c~uld be compe:n~ated in Iike m~er, by providing re~rerL~ w~ich will :indic~ he verti~l positio~lLs of t~e ~i~ ~d e~ o~ ea~h ~ow 2~d ~m;pa~g th~ wi~h ~e be~F
~d end, ~L ~1 ~va~i~l d~ection, o~ $~ g~oups o~ pi~:el~ d~ g each row. :I:n ~ way ~er~i~ sh~ ge (or d~ata~o~) can bs cornp~ted ~ol. :E ow~ e ve~c~l spaci~g betwe~ rows is ~e~l~ not cri~ic~l, and ~11 v~ia~oIIs th~re~ ne~d not b~ corre~eL The height ~)f each row o ~a~ rids, o~ ~e othe~ ha:~d, ;~ o~te;cL m;tical. I~ occu~
~hat i~ ~mission by fa2~ a row is ver~;cally ~ hhed out o~
compr~ssed, and thi~ ~ill re~ in de~orma~ n tha:~ may well pre~e~t ~ accu~te decoai~g. ~y tbi~ aprov~ment, ~v~lically ~ tLed or c~mpre~sed rows are rendered readab1e.

Thl~ lu~ tedin Fig. 11. ~ rL p~t~ the cod~d t~x~, iti~ k~ow~
how hi~h a~d how di~tan~ th~ ro~rs o~ coded prin~ ~hou1d be. This is dia~t icall~ ~hown bg ehown by ~guare w~v~ 30, in which the shadQd area~ c~t~ t~e v~rtic~l loc~L~io~ of Ihe code~ pri~t: th~
height o~ ~ach ~;~ad~d ~r~a is that o~ a row of coded prin~ ~d the di~t~;cLce b~twe~n a:reas is that b~twqexl p~int row~. L~k~wise, square w~e lin~ hows ~e ~re~tical d:istribution OI ~Le rows of ~oded prirLt after t ra~n~issiorL by ~ thi~ case, the di~t~ces between rows ha~e 2~l~6~3 173~q3~3Q~l not materially ~h~ged~ ~nd i the~ hadl, tbis woul~ l:~ot, anyway, be c~iliic~l; but o:n~ of t he r~w~ ted ~:~ 3 , has bee~ ~ pre~sed to one third of i~ trae height. A ~oded ~gn, e.g, a r~umber o~dot~ pla~d ~t ~e top o~ e~ch p~ted page, w~ll ir~dic~te the h~i~t whic:h ~he ch~cter grids should hasT~ (w~ h, of course, i~ ~e ~e ~s lo~ as they h~e b~e~ om the ~ re~e~ ~rid). The scanner w~ ave read the ~ign ~nd ~a~sm~tted the i~ o~ation, whi~h it repre~ex~t~, to ~orllputer 14~ Compu~er 14 will re~is~ he ~act ~ tha hei~h~ o~ row ~a, ~ ~e~ by th~ sc~ne~ îs ~maller ~h~ th~ d~ d by f;he ~id i;~orm~fi.oD, and w~ll multiply ~ ~t~ of pi~Ls o~ ~d row 3~2 ~n ~
appropr~ate rat~o~ ~LS ~chem~tically illu~tr~t~d in Fî~ , I;hereby recon~titu~g l;he true coded r~w.

~e ~igns hereir~before de~cribed, or O~L~r signs p~ovided ~or this purp~s~ o d~e ~ orie~t~îo:~ o~ the ~h~rac~er ~rid~. ~ the grid~
hey ~ually ~e, Cartesian~ t;he~ ~ par~lel to ~rL ab~ ae ~nd al~ ordiD~ltes a~is. r~h~ sc~:~er i~ often p~a~d over ~e tegt at sn allgle wi~ ~e p~ e~, ~nd s~s l~he pnnt a~ a ~ Lt~ ~ ~rder to ~ompare th~ optical i~for~a~ion prov~ded ~y tlle sc~n~er ~ ch~acter g~ds7 it is ~ces~ t it in a blank ~id to ~raa~ a sca~ner grld7 a~d ~i~ r~ ires ~ ~e ~ca~ d ~ e~ be par~3121 to the abs~
o~ l~he ~a. Thl~ ia ~how~ ~rL ~g. 1~, in which tlhe ~TAR'r ~nd ~3TC)P
CC)MPARI~ sig~, ~0-~, are as~um~d to be used a~ entatio~
r~ 7, ~ ~r~ ~o~s-shaped. The ~;gure ~howf~ th~t th~ linas ~re see~ by ~he scan~er ~ a ~lant, sinc~ ~he ~c~er iB oriented ~ 3how~ by line~ 53. In ord~r to coIl~7truct the sc~r ~rid ~d ~arrg out the othQr oper~tion~ described herembe:Eore, it is nece~7~ to compe3:ls~ is sl~ d pIac~ t~e bI~k 3~ para~l to the lines o:~ p~nt. T~is is done 2 ~ 3 ~
1173~1~31)1~

b~ the ~cro~on:~pllte~ or microcircl~it me~s, based o~ the an~le a betwee;~ he refer~ce æi~ and the oIie~l;~tion o~ ~he s~ner.

7n ~ v~a;rL~ of ~he ~Lve~t io~ he co~ed ~:~ ~t is ~o be re~d ~d ~éd to th~ s~e~ h3s ~be~:cL da~iber~tely ~:~ged iJ:L S~L~ 0 ~ome u~tla~
sma~l erte~, either ~hrou~h its txans~ ~oI:L by ~a~ 41` ~ ly o~h~r w~y.
V~hen ~his is don~7 a~ ~ho~ed pBr~o:cl who ;~ight h: Lve ~n~
r~el 3~ ~d in ~pbic form orl a tr~sp~rent sheet~ 03~ mi~ht som~ow h~e recons1~ctad it ~om t;he a~l~s o~ a ~iw:slb~r ~ ~oded te~s~ will not b~ ~ble ~ ~d th~s p~rlicular ~oded ta~t in ~e ~or~l w~y, ~z. bs~ ri~po~ g ~hereto the re~e~ ~id, bu~ a~hori~ed parson~ w~ ar~ in posse~sion ~ t~ code which idell~e~ ~e rleference ~d ~d, ~d o~l~ the~ ~ be ~ ~o re~d th~ t ~ m~ans of tb~
i:~npro~emen~ hi 3 w~y, t~ e ~n~ ed ~ vo d~grees o secllri~ ordin~ ~e~ i~ ob~i~d b~ codin~ part of ~e ~eæts, a3~d ~e brok~n only by obtai~ g or re~n~tructing the re~e~en~e ~;
e~urity i~ ob~ained by ~gi:ng 1~e ~ o:e the ~oded teæt, .and can be brok~ only by obtaining ~ ref'ere~ce grid ¢ode.

Tn ano~;he~ of ~Le irLvent~on, the character ~d coinp~ises a rmmb~ s~ec~ons. ~ t s~on i~ ~o~s~ ed o~ b~ of a ~st r~f~r~nce g~d, ~nd a coa~ id~n~ing sa~d ~d is se~t to 2~ co~p~tQr, ~uc~ ~ co~npwter 14 of Fi~ 9, or ~ like d~ice, ~r i9 ma~e~ o~ ~he te~t its~. :Fh~ r read~ t~e first sec~ion ~d the compu~er Identi~ie~
the g:rid code. which i~ ~o~ n~u~ed ~d w:bich co~ pond~ to the refer~rLc~ ~ on ~18 basi~ o~ which ~he ~cond section of ~he c~act~r g~d has be~:~ composed. The compu~er ~ n 8~1ects or builds said re~erenoa gr~d and compRres said seco~d sectioll with ilt. If the 32117~0~/~1 ~ha~ct~i~ ~id Gnly con~ s two s~tions, the co3~nt of ~a~d second sec~ion is ~L ~Iea~ ch~r~ct~r, ~d this la~r i~ vssuali2ed ~d th~
deco~ proces~ is complRted a~ ~o that charac~er g~a If the character g~id con~ins ~ third seF~on, I;he cont~:Lt ~ t;he 3econd se~l;io~ will ~e a ~cond ~id code ~d ~he proces~ ~s~ibed will be repeated: t:t~e computer will iden~ ~aid seco:~d ~d c~, select or ~uild the correspor~ g reference grid, a~Ld co~p~re s~d th~rd ~ec~io~
~he pro~s~ ~a;y b~ repeated with an~ nu~ber o~ e~1on~
Al~rn~tiYely, t~ ~oded t~ O:CL~ ~ ~st gnd whi~ ~e~ a ~i~
code and th~ rem ;nin~ ch~racter ~ids will be compared to the re~er~n~e ~id thus identified. C)r, ~e two 21ter~atiYes may be comb~ed.

~ eml~odime:~t of ~he inve~io:ll in whic:h the grids are li~ear is ;llu~br~ed in F;g~. 14a to 14c~ Fig. 14~ ~hows a rovv o~ digi~l v~ues~
whi~ cons~;i~ t~e ~efe~ce ~i~, ~hown a~ gre~tly a~br~nated w~h e~ f;o what i~ would no~y be i:CI ac~u~ p~ctice. Fig. 14b i~ the cor~spondi~ ~r g~id~ ~14C di2~r~mati~ illustrate~ the ~o~p~riso:~ o~ ~he two g~i~; t;he raised se~e~ ~0 indicate 203:~S in whi~h ~he di~ital v~lues o~ ~ two grid~ oppo~i~e. The dialgr~3n of .14~ c~n b~ inteYpreted a~ a li~e~ ~d as ~how~9 ix~ which the ~e~n~n~ ~a i;~dic~ ~he ~ values a~ld the ~e~nents Bl the 0 ~ e~. Said linear gr;d con~ ute~ a ~r~d codA ~ i~ a~l ot;her embcldiment~ of f;:ha ~V~XltiO~; ~e chara~t~r ~d has beer~ ted a:nd s~nn~d ~d the results o~ the ~g ~ b~e;~ ~s:rr~it~ed to ~ co:mputer, ~ch as 14 in Fi~; ~, or ~k~ device. A code ide~ ing t he ~ ence grid ha~9 bee~
se:~ to the comptlter or i~ orporated in the te~rk a~ld rsad b;y the ~c~er~ The computer selectg or buil~ the reference ~rid of Fig. 14a 2 ~ 3 ~

~311.78~91 and compares it w~h ~he character ~d of :Eig. 14b, wher~y ;t reco~zes the ~ode o~l~g. l~c. T~e comp~t~r t.he~ sel~ct~ ~he ~ ter wh~ch corr~sponds to ~h~ code, in the ~o~v~n~:~l correspo~d~nce whîch ha~ beQn es~a~lished for car~ing o~ ~bis embod;me~t af ~
irLve~t~on~ e.~., in the same w~y i~ w~ h it wollId select a ~r~er ~ccording tn the co~e~pondi~g ASCll s~bol, and cause~ said ~ra~ to be visuali~ed.

AB alr~ady ~ted~ a pu~pose of t~s in~en~o~ to prov~ae m~aas for a~i;h~ti~ating ~ocument~ or tic:ke~s or card~ and the ~ e, s~o~)~i6i~g pr~ed m~er ~a~ is pa~ly code~, ~;nd ~1vha~:L read in decoded form by an ~ul;horLzed pPrson w~ll prove or dispr4~e Wi~L c~rtai~ hat the docllme~:~ has ~eed bee3l issued by ~he persorL ~di~ated on i~ ~s i~s o~i~a$or or to the person who b~rs it~ and will option~lly provide additiional p~ t in:fio~ n~

In p~i~ular~ i~ is a purpose of this ~lY13:CLtiOn to pro~de m~ by whi~ the fi~cal authorities may a~c~tain, sp~edily a3~d ~Itho~;
~ifficult y o~ s~pense, whet~her~ any ape~i;li~, fiscally ~leva~t documLe~ is ~uth~tic, ~nd espaci~ly wha~her i~ ~ be~:a is~ued to o~ ~ the person or çompax:l~t purpor~ to h~v~ issued it; b~ ompa~y, publîc of Ec~ or t~ ma;sr ~cel tain wh~h~r a spe~i~c documen:t, su~h as ~
c~ t~ or dîp1um~, h~ a~tu~lly b~n i~ued by it c~ control per~onn~:L
:may spe~ a~c~rt~i~ wh~her ~ per~o~, e~hibitin~ icket or ~rd ~or a~i~ioxl t~ ~y preIn~ses~ i6 the persorl to who~ ~id t i~et or c~d ~s be~n i~sued. and who i8 ~u~Lorized to m~:e u~e o~ it ~ WithO~lt r~quir~g any ~lt~ra~io~ c~ ~ doc~e~t to be auehe:cLtic~t~d or ~y unug~~~l p~ovi~on in prepa~g itt such as, that it b~ printed on special 20~ ~ 8 3 a 17.~732~1.~0/E~19~

paper nr ~ pec~al ink ~nd w~thout the llse of soph~cated or costly e~ipmen:t, or ~e u~ of spe~ial tsch~iq~le~.

This i~ a~h~eved b~ ~n embodime~t of ~le p~o~es~ ~ $he ~ven~;io~, wllit:EL
co~nprises l~e steps of pro~ding, OXL a ~a~kin~ 3~sociated w~t:h ~he i~
s~ch a~ ~ ~o~me~7 ti~et or ~r~, ~ b~ ~Lu~e~i~ted (w~ich ~a~ng ~ be ~:he i~ it~e~, or a stic~ or the lik~ ~o be ~ppli~d to i~ t w~ omp~e~ d:~taL that ar~ coded b~ ~he process ~ ~ v~n~iDn7 saia d~L~ be~ng such ~t their comparison wi~h t~h~ dE~a ~ed ~L ~e~r on the ~ o~ ~nother Tel~:ted item pe~its to a~e~ te ~he item or re~o~ize i~ a~ counter~ei$, and ~vhen~er 1~he ~u1~ o ~e item i~
t~ b~ checked, ~ende~ the.coded d~ ~ead~ble a:nd i~lentii~i~le by s7lpe mpo~ng a ~an~p~ t ~heel;, c~ ~he ~e~er~nc~ grid or scan~ the coded data a~d ide~ rein the c~l~ of th~
char~r grid~ ~n whir~ ~tiz~le v~l~e~ ~re di~er~Lt f~o~L 1~ho~e of ~h~ r~fer~ce g~d, ~s h~rein~ ore e~3:pl~ed.

Th~ ba~ on whi~ Le coded d~a are pn:ll~d ma~r be ~ st:i~er ~ be appli~d ~o the i~ or ik may lbe t~he it~

l~e cod~ed da~ may co~ e iden~ity dataj that. ~ e:~clu~ gls it~:ln, su~ a hll nl~mber or ~he Iik~, and/8r ad~it ional d~ e~r or coded fibrm.

~g. ~ hows ~ l~tterhe~d~ the fi3cal regi3~ltiOlaL r~ ber ~d ~e bill n~:ber, ~ppea~ o~ a bill P~ good~ ~uppliL~d, alle~d to he ~ bill ~a.
~7 issued by Joseph Sr~Lith ~d t:o., VAT ~u:rnb~3r 7g88gS~. To au~he~ e said bill, a sti~ker is prir~ed i~:l coded ~orm. The dat~

2 0 l~ 6 ~ 3 j 1733~1732AL~3~/91 p~ted on the s~icker should have ~ relatiol3ship to those ~ed by ~h~
b;ll, ~uch th~ is ~pparent to a~yone ~ie~ them, bu~ can~ot b~
~es~d ~y ~uthonzed per~on~ hey do not conorm to ~ g~:~e~al ~le t~hat c~ be lea~ed ~y th~ ~ompari~on oiF ~ ~w unr~lated c~se~.
S~d da~ are cho~en by t}:~ iS~UP~ 0~ ~l b;ll, ~ld ~hould co:~pris~ Ie~ters îd~ingi~ Tn tbi~ t~ce, rti~ su~ed~hat~ oseph S~
and Co. has c~Los~n ~he le~rs "Josth". ~ArLyon~ re~g t:ho~e le~t~rs wi~l see ~e rela~onship to t he ~'s :name, but whoe~er should w~sh to cu~ter~eat ~ blll to m~ke ~ appea~ ~s i~sued by s~id ~m, ~ o~ l~iow whF~t le~rF, to ~os~. ~he ~2m7 ~fi~ar, may~ he let~ers fi~o~
~e to time ~d U8~, e~g., i~ d oiE "Jo~t~", "ph~;m". Ano~her w~y of ~repa~i~g t;he ~t ick~r, i5 to u~e ~he e~tire ~m'~ nam~, or a lmairl p~ of i~ - e.~ ~ t~;s cas~, "J. ~mIthH bu~ pr~ it in a ~o~ ~r~n~ :~om ~hat of the letgerh~ad. A p~rson wishi~g to ~ouin~rfei~ a bill ~i~ht glle~7t3 t~he ~e ~"J. Srait:h", but not the particul~r ~t u~ea, whi~ o ma~ b~
c~a~d firom time to 1~ime. S~ srlo~her way o~ prepa~ th~ sticker will be to r~s~er on it t~he reg~atio~ n~e~ or the la~; ~ew ~t~
1~hereof - ~, optio~ lly, i~ :3 ~orlg ~;f Fe~;~t iirom ~at of tl;le 1~er~ad.
Addi~ caliion~ ~a~y be ~dded~ d one ~hat ix ~ig~ly ~lesi,~bl~ i~
th~ ord~ umber of 1~he bi11, in ~s c3.~e 937. T~i3 will be a sai~egual~d a~t ~he danger of a nl7~nb~r o~ r~ o~ the :f~rm he~n~ stole~
~hie~ will not h:rLow w~at ~wmher is ~ ked i:~ coded ~orm o~ ch of the:~, ~d will be u~Lable to pr~ re ~ ~ounter~it bill beanng ~he ~ame ber ~ particul~r s~ick~r wh~c~ he uses. The data to be prill~ed co~d form ~4r ~he bill of Fig. l~ ar~ show~ in Fi~, 16.

S~id da:~a ~re t~en coded by us:ing EL ~pe~i~ic ref~rence ~rid. If l;hedoc~nt is to bs ~uthentica~ad only by tha issuer, 1~ latter ~irill be the 3 ~ ~

47^
l~q3~131)~1 or-ly one ~o possess the r~iierence ~ I~ it i~ ~ ~e a~ntic~ted ~ ~
co~trolli:n~ author~y, e.~., b~ ~ ~ ofEce, ~hîs l~r w~ll dedde what re~ere~ id~ should be u~ed, ~Idla e.g., wi:C~ assig}~ nt ~ rence ~rid~ ~ ~iffierer~t ~ of the cour~y alld to ~ ren~ ;~iscal p~nods, ~
year~ o~ part~ of y@~, or ~ccordin.~ to ~L~ oth~ crit~:~ion. ~he r~fere~e ~rids will ~ p~ed o~ y ar~ ~u~onz~a~ supe~sed pr~r and wîIl be kept only by ~e ~on~roU~g autho~y. Persor~ or co~p~i~s t~ in~d to issue b~ g, ~hat are register~d wil~lh a ~T o:l3i~e, will ord~ their stick~r~ e~o3~ the ~ ul~ho~ized pri~Lter~ only to whol~ ~hey ~ co~unicat~ wh~t sho7l1d app~r orl t~e ~ti~e~. 1~ prirL~er ~11 kllow in e~ch cas~ wh~ ~efere~ ~d ~ u~e, acc~rding ~ the ~n6~c~o~s o~;he co~troll~ng au~h~rity. T)~e d~a o~F:ig. ~ ppear i~ coded fio~n on ~ r, e.g~, as ~own ~ ~i~7 17 The s~ck~2~ will b~ a~hed to the bill~ ~ the ordi~al nu~ e~ be the s~me o~ ill a~d o~ ~he ~ k;er W~ e book:s of ~he perso~ ~r con:lpa;ny that h~ paid, o~ g~d to ha~e p~d, the bill are ~ked b~ a $a~ ~ontroller, ~s 1~t~r ~;11 car~y wi~L him a num~e~ of ke~, viz~ nsp~rent ~heet~ be~xin$ the rsfi~2enc~ ~ids. The~e a~a o~ly ~xnall pîeces of tr~spare~ t ma~ d ~ to ca~7, but only ~L lirnit~d num~e~ i~ r~q~red in ~r~cB~ B.~., ~ the~ tel~ito~
~or~r~d b~ th~ cal author~ ~rLi;o 10 di~icts a~d $ y~ e t~ b~ cov~red7 ~0 k~ys ~ufflc~. The ta:$ controIIer will ~d amo~
~ key co~ po~di~g ~o ths ~on~ a~d ~h~ period of time ;~ whîch a:ay bi~l th~t look~ piciou~ h~ been i~ued7 bu~ if ~lot, he wi~l ~ote the r~levan~ parl icular~ o~the bill and re~ 1~ h ~e appropri~ keyy o~ r~quest tha~ the bill, or a Xero~ ~opy t he~of, b~ brou~ht to his o:fflce ~o~ controL B~ ~erel;y ~upa~i:mposin~ the ke~ to the ~ticker, ~ wîll 17.~732~7~g.

asce~tai:~ w~e~ t~is l~tter ~e~r~ th~ correct indica~ions anA i~
f;her~ole ~ut~ c, or not.

There is no w~y 3n w~ich ~ counter~eit~r can pas~ ch a control. H~
might le~n :~om ~ fai1~1 ~pl4;sre3 the da~a by wh~ch a ~iven co:~pa~y id~ntiiie~ i~SRIf on ~he s~ker~ t he ~11~ not be able to h~ve l~he s~i~ers p~ted, since :he does not haYe t~ r~erence $~id. Fo~
th~ s n~e r~son, he ~11 ;CLo~ be ~ble to issu~ e :cLame of ~n im~gi~ ~upplier, a~ is don~ ~ometi~ es by cou:n~e~ei~r~, sinc~ he will ~ot be able to ha~e stickers pr}:ated be~g its imagin~r;y ~d~ification~ e might comb into pos~ession of a mlmber o` ~ rs o:f a gi~en company, but s~l he w~ ot know t~e bill rl~b~rs ma~:ed o~
th~m ~d will be ~ ble ~o hava co~terfeited, matc~ing ~ill blanks p~ted~

O~her ~ta, cod~d or not, e.g., bar codes, may be ad~d to the ~er, ~ut 1;hese are 1 L~t a p~r~ of ~he inv~ntioIl.

Authe~ tio~ o~ ~y dooL~ts q~er ~a~ bills may be ~d out ~n 1~ha s~rLe way, wi~h t~ obv~ous mod~i~a~;iol:ls if the per~on or co:~pa~
or i~t;t~ta th~Lt issu~ th9 do~t i~ o ~he on~ l~hat aw~tica~s ~t, ~d ~h~r~fors ~h~ on~ d~d~s w:bi~h ref~r~ce grid~ are to he u~d a~d ke~p~ th~

Tt'the code~ ~ta a:re decode~ by ~he e~nbo~imen:t o~th~ invention whichco:~p~ s ~CU~ , the cont:roll~ o~ th~ document will ca~
with him, instead o~ R n~u~ber.of l~:eys, a scanner coupled with suitable comp~:Lter or microcircuif; means. Such device~ can be relatively 17~L7~t~L7 ine:~rpens*e and lîght to ~r;y~ ~d their op~ration ~eq~ires onl;y moder~te ~ ing and sl~ll. The ~ous ~e~erenc~ grids ~re tha~
stored in th~ ~c~nel~ ~nd~o~ co~puter or ~icro(~ it me~ones, ~d ~ e:~tre~ely 1arge ~um~er ~ æ~ ca~ 13e tlLns ~t~red, æ~ tha~ ~he corL~oller will be a~le to ~ontrol a~y bi~l or other ~ocume~t ~Lt looks s~pic~o~ y lo~ding the appropria~ ~ re:nce ~rid. Since ~he grid~
~re iderl~ied by ~oae~ co~Ltroller ~eleds to c~y, b~d~s ~ke devi~, is a ~i3t o~ the code~ relative ~ the pos~fble ~orLes ~:nd pe~ods of ~ne or other c;ri~i~ of choice o$~he ~f~re:~ce grid~q. UAU~11Y~ ~t will be eno~ or hi~ to ~ed to the comp~t~r or micTocirc~l; tl~ ~ict ~u~e~ ~ the ~ar9 to whic~ a:cLy su~iciou~ bill ~e~ers, ~d ~ s~n said ~ de~iee will a~m~ti~lly load t~he appropr~a~a r~ersnc~
g~i~s, will ~n~u~ a scaD~er gnd ~d cor~p~e it to t~ refer~nc~ ~rid, ide~ t~ cells of the two ~ 3 which ha~te diff~rent digitsl ~alues (gener211y~ 0 ~r 1 i~stead o~ l or 0, respe~tivel;y3 ~d ~e sai~ ce which d~ine ~he elear config~orL ~ ~he data~ pre~rably o~ a dis~?la~
p~ided i~ ~iha de~ all as :har~i~bei~or~ des~be. All ~e opera~;ions ~ ~ ~med ou~ almo~t ins~e~u~ly, so ~hat ~he ta~ co~ oller will imm~dia~ely r~ad on ~h~ displa;y the data cod~d on the do~L~ d ~he~ whe~er ~hey are the co~ect o~e~. ~his way of decodi~g t:he dat~
a~ri~d ~ ~he docum~nts pe~its e~ily to ~e~l ~vith situa~o~ L whi~h a 1~ a~ber OI 1~ wo~la be r~quired, ~uch as ~he~ ~e~r~l ~t;t~iGtS ~B to be co~7~red; however, i~ be pr~erable even w:h~ the nh~r of l~ nod~:~a~ it ~ Oi~ 9~pler n~3nipul~ox:L~

T~e ~ of ~c~ rs is ~lso useful when ticket~ or ad~ sion c~rd~ are to be ~ck~d, e~p0c~ally when the~sr have beerl ~nt b~ mail, as it of ;en h~ppens, and there is a dang~r ~st, i~ they are valuable7 ~hey may be 2 1~ 3 /17~0~

~t~ c~se 1~e ~he~k m~st b~ prac~cally in~s~:~eous, ~5 the ti~ets or ~Ld~sioIl c~r~ may ~ e2:hib~d in rap~d ~uccessio~ bg ~isi~ors, sp~c~ato~ p~l;icipallt~ in me~t~ngsg seekin~ a~m;s~îon.
Su~h perso~ l present ~e ~ket o~ card, toget:lher with ~n id~:Dti~y do~ex~, to t~ che~k~ at ~he elltrkmce to the pa~ premise~; the r will ~ t or ~d a;nd r~ad on the display ~ his device;
or o~ a ~ ed ~splay~ the nam~ or other identi~ datum ~od~d ~ereon, t it ~or~po~ t of the id~tit~ do~nt. Ih~ can ~e ~one very ~ kly, ~n~o~t delayin~ the stre~n o~ a~is~îo~ ~ksT~.

The decoding b~r ~r~:inn;n~ pe~mi~ to ~ o pra~ice a~ r embo~ nt of the L~erL~03l~ which ~roYide~ bigher ~ecu~y~ The p~ged, ~oded ite;a:l - wh~ e~ d what~Ye~ ~e do~e~ with whî~h t is assoMated- m~y ~omprise two or more su~ e se~ents.
The ~s~ se~m~nt i~, coded ~cordin~ ~ ~ re~er~nce ~d~or k~y t~t i~
com~ur~i~d to tha c~ecker, and ma~ be ch~nged at r~l~tively long intervals. The second segmen:~ is ~oded ~ccordi~g t~ a dif~re~t re~erarLGe ~d, whî~h m~y di~er ~om group to ~roup o~ ite~, a.~., dooument~ ~r ti~ d wb~ ide:nt;ified bsr a ~ code t:h~t i~
prinl;ed, irL coded fo~, i~ the first sa~allt. Ihe ~omputer er micro~rcuit will ~e1ect OI' bu~ld the ISrst re~ere~ce grid, based on $he i:nfo~n~t;ion f~d to it by the ch~ r, read the grid code ~rked ~her.eon w~t~?.ou~ it, ~ ct or build a ~co~d refer~:Lce gnd idlE~tiiied by ~id ~id ~ode, and read a~d vi~u~i2e ~h~ coded data l:narked or ~ecorld &egmen~ o~ ~t he p~in~ted i~. This oper~tion c~ be I~ep~t~d onc~
or 5~v~r~1 t~e~ Inore, b~ pI~ovidi~ t~ e or ~re segments in ~he cod~
print.

20~6~ a 17~q3~17~0~1 The appara~us for ca~ng out -the proces~ ~c~ordir~g to the invention, whell d~cod~g i~ do:~ throu~h s~ y co:np;ri~e a ~ca~er a~
a compu~ ected t;:hereto, p~videdwit~ pl~ programmed ~o ca~ry ou:t all the necess~y oper~t;io~ desc~ibed her~i~Lbe~ore.
Altern~ely, a ~g~ ~tructur~ may be provid~d, WhiG~ embod;ies sc~er, display, ~nd mi~ro~u~t means adap~ed ~o:c c~g out the a~ore~ decoding opera~ioIls, which micl~oc~c~t mea~æ ~ay be hardware desi~ned æolely for that purpose, or ma~ be more gen~
p~po~e all~ be sui~hly p~o~nme~ uch device~ ~r ca~g ~ut ~he p~ocess accordin~ ~o thi~ ~ ?rov~m~ e:cltio~ ar~ a pa~t of latte~.
-:
I~ will be ~vident ~om the foregoing ~n~bodime~t~ how ~ LYe~l :m~y ~ ~amed ou~ for au~herlt i~ng~ ~;y do~umer~t oth~ fiscal do~ or ~ t or ~ on &ar~ codsd d~ta msy be p~
o:u a s~ke~, w~î~h is applied to t he do~ or n~y be pxill~d dir~ y ~ l~e do~ent wh~:cL the id~ f~e bear~ thereofi~ not i~po~, or is $o be ~hecl3:ed ill ~th~r w~y~. For e~ample9 8:~ in~itut~ wbi~
releas@s ce~ ic~t~ or diplomas, ~uc~ ~s a u~er~ , may pl~t on each of t~em coded dal;a that wiIl.permit to ~cer~ain its au~ i~t~, ~r~n ~t~r a co~id~ y decodin~ them by m~ of keys or ~c~ r d~c~, b~s~d o~ r~r~nca ~rids, th~ d~ o~ af wbi~h is kz~own only to th8 ll~l.Ve~

Likewi~e, a ba~ may a~si~ to ~ach of its C~:Q:tS ~ n~ber o~ o~her code, ~ow~ o~ly to ~ ba~ ~d to th~ ~lierlt, to which a ~iven r~erence ~rid ~o~espo:~ds. This c~ be dons easily, ~ince e.g. the nnmber of dîl P~rent ao~o r~dom ~id~ w~ich c~ be constructed usi~g~ two digital 20l16(~

tq~732~Lq~O~U9l Yalues is 240, wh;~ is a x~ er far e;~;ceeding t~ha ear~h's papul~tion, and ~a ~b~r can ~e ~ea¢ly inc~ea~ed by uL~ wo or mora ~d~ in combin~o~ ~lB ~ ~ned herei~e~ore. :3ach clie:llt w~ll ~be provided with me~ clL as a di~kette c~ a pro~ r corL~
only ~g refere~ce grid. Then he ~ ~end a~ ~st~u~io~ to the b~nk ~d p~t on ~hem his name in cod8d ~o~n, a~d khe ban~ can decide it a~d check ~hat ~he ~ ~ci;io~s o~inat~ ~om him. T~ no w~y i:~
w~ich ~yo~Le ~ ~ou~te~eit ~ a "sl~nRtu~e", unles~ o~e ~ot ohly ~l~ows th~ client'~. code, but al~o has accex~ to ~e ~dom ge~ra~
e.~. to ~he cornp~er, n w~ich 1~e correspo~de~ce betwee~ said ~ode a~d:
~ give:n ~d has bee~ stored. Not ~en th~ bar~'~ p~r~or~el can cou: :Lterfei~ *, ~or the banl~;'s co~pu~er ~Ly be sa programm~d a~ ~ lead c~ed m~9 b~ to be ~le to wri~

A~ ~ready m~nt;io~ed, l;he t~ ~ is v~suaLi~ed may not be th~ 8ame l~halt ~as been coded, as lorlg as it bears a ~:now~ ~elation~9hip to i~. ~hus, e.g" ~he bla~ check~ is~ued hy ~ bank ~ ~ear th~ n~ma of the h~lder or ot~e~ a~ree~ mark~ in coded fo~L When a pe~so~ to be th~
~c~ holder wi~h~ to cash one of c~8 at a b~:nk whe~e he i~
llnknow~, the b~nk te31er will s~an the codsd ~ acte~. The acco~t hoIder will t~en en~er into a co~pu~er, con:clected wi~h t~he ~ca~ner, ~is per~on~:l code llumber ~or other code (wl~ich o~ly he k~ows) by mea~ o~
J~e~r~ w~ich o~ c~n ~se, so ~hat ~ ode ~vill r~m~in secret. ~e codad char~c~ers will be ~cod~d bsr th~ computer on the ba~is o~
2ef~;~ence ~id cor~espoxLdin~ ~o the c0;~18 ~hat he ha~ e~tered. ~ the code is t~h~ corre~ one, th~ u~c~d~d ch~ rs will spell l~h~ account holder'~
name or o~er ~greed mar~, whîle îf i~ i~ not~ they will ~p~ or~lethin~
~l~e arLd ~ ~erleral someth;~lg :meaDin~les~. An appro~val o~ a g 3 .~

173.~J17B~7~/H/~l disapproval will corr~pondi~gly be dî~played by ~he computer.
Add~1iionally, ot her info~ma~ion ~ ~e displayed ~h~t is associated ~vith ~he ba~ holder'~ code, 6.g, i~ to tha sum~ ca:n ~e ca~hed by hirn. In li~e :c~l~nn~3r~ a p~son ~ dit ca:rd ca~ ~ro~e th~t he i~
the card holdeI; a p~rson h~ving ~ e~ p~-~it or ~ ~cket can prove ~h~t he is to p0rso~ to whom it was is~ue~, 3~d so ox~, b~ h~ coded characters marked o~ e card~ perrni~ or l~et ~rLd UnCDdil~g ~hem by en~ g ~is own perso~l code. ~ ~very case~ t~he person c~g ou~
~he con~ol - b~ tella~, g~ rd ~d so ~o - will not be ~bl~ to forge t;he coded ~ract~r~. ~n ~erLer~ a ~ iety ~ applicaticn~ of ~he inv~nt~on, the clear ~raCterS c~ be ~isualized not ~s th~ a~ ly are, btlt through ~ome i~ormation comneceed to th~m.

~, ': :

Claims (24)

1 - Apparatus for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters, which comprises:
A - a text-composing device;
B - a memory for storing character grids, representing clear characters, arranged in at least a coded font wherein the character grids are derived from a common, scramble reference grid; and C - means associated with said text-composing device for selecting clear characters or character grids, as desired.

2 - Apparatus for producing coded fonts, to be stored in a memory according to claim 1, including:
D - a random generator;
E - means for causing said generator to generate any desired one among a number of predetermined random or quasi-random grids to provide a reference grid; and F - means for comparing each clear character to be comprised in the font to a selected reference grid and changing the digital values of said latter only in the areas covered by the clear character, whereby to create a coded font for each selected reference grid.

3 - Apparatus for printing a text, comprising coded characters, which comprises an apparatus for composing a text according to claim 1 and:
G - a print-controlling device; and H - a printer;
wherein the memory for storing character grids is associated with said print-controlling device.

4 - Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print-controlling device is chosen from the text-composing device. the printer or a separate interface.

5 - Apparatus for reading a text, comprising coded characters, which comprises:
K - means for comparing the printed character grids with any selected one of the reference grids from which the coded fonts stored in the memory according to claim 1 are derived, whereby to identify the corresponding clear characters; and I - means for visualizing said clear characters.

6 - Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the text-composing device is a microcomputer word processor.

7 - Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for comparing the printed character grids with the reference grids comprise transparent sheets having printed thereon the reference grid and correspondence marks on the printed text and on the transparent sheet.

8 - Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for comparing the printed character grids with the reference grids comprise means for scanning the same, means for comparing digital values, means for transmitting to said comparing means in digital form information obtained through the scanning means, means for defining the reference grid to be compared, and means for comparing said transmitted information with the selected reference grid.

9 - Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the scanning means is an optical scanner.

10 - Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the comparing means, the information transmitting means, and the reference grid defining means are structurally combined with the scanner.

11 - Apparatus according to claim 8, comprising means for correcting for scale distortions in the scanned text and/or for angular displacements therefor with respect to the scanning direction.

12 - Apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means, inserted between the printer and the means for comparing the printed character grids with reference grids, for transmitting said character grids.

13 - Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for visualizing the decoded, clear characters are chosen among printing means, displaying means and means for checking the decoded characters against a comparison text and displaying at least one of at least two predetermined texts, depending on the results of said check.

14 - Process for composing a printable text, comprising coded characters, by;
1 - defining, at least ideally, at least one blank grid;
2 - creating a reference grid consisting of a scrambled distribution, as hereinafter defined, of at least two digitizable values in the cells of the blank grid;
3 - creating at least one coded font by:
a. individually superimposing, at least ideally, each character to be comprised in the font to at least a portion of the reference grid; and b. changing the digital values of the reference grid in the cells thereof comprised in the area covered by the superimposed character, whereby to create a scramble character grid which represents the character;
4 - storing in a memory commands for alternatively selecting characters or character grids, as desired; and 5 - defining by means of a text composing device the desired text, wherein the clear characters are represented in a conventional way and the coded characters are represented by the corresponding character grids, whereby to compose the text.

15 - Process for producing a printed text, comprising coded characters, which comprises composing a text by the process of claim 14, wherein the character grids are stored in the memory of a print-controlling device, and printing the composed text by graphically defining: a) any clear characters in the conventional way, b) any coded characters by signs representing the digital values of the respective character grids.

16 - Process for producing and reading a printed text comprising coded characters, which comprises producing the text by the process of claim 15, and subsequently identifying the cells of the character grids in which the digital values are different from those of the reference grid, and visualizing each of said character grids in decoded form as a clear grid having the same dimensions as the character grids, wherein said cells having different digital values are differentiated from the background, whereby said differentiated cells form the clear characters corresponding to the second coded characters.

superimposed to the printed text, so that a reference grid is superimposed to each character grid which is to be read, the coded characters become detectable in clear form and identifiable.

18 - Process according to claim 16, wherein, in order to identify the cells of the character grids in which the digital values are different from those of the reference grid and to create the clear grids, at least the coded part or parts of the printed text are scanned, the digital value of each cell of each scanned character grids as detected as black or white in the scanning, is compared to the value of the corresponding cell of the reference grid and the clear grid is created by applying the XOR-rule to the results of said comparison.

19 - Process according to claim 14, comprising printing the composed text, transmitting the same by telecopier, and scanning, decoding and visualizing the transmitted coded parts thereof.

20 - Process according to claim 14, comprising associating to the coded text spacing signs defining the lateral spacing, dimensions and/or orientation of the character gird cells.

21 - Process according to claim 14, wherein the reference grids are unidimensional.

22 - Process according to claim 14, wherein the character girds represent authentication marks of a document bearing them and the decoded characters are visualized by checking the same against a comparison text and displaying at least one of at least two predetermined texts. depending on the results of said check.

23 - Graphic matter, including clear character and coded characters as parts of a single print, said coded characters being character grids which represent clear characters in a corresponding characterized by a scrambled reference grid.

24 - Graphic matter according to claim 23, obtained by the apparatus of claim 3 and by the process of claim 15.