Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-called multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A code image quality check apparatus adapted to check the quality of a code image printed and recorded on a printing medium as an optically readable image of error correcting code data containing information data adapted to be optically read by manual scanning. The error correcting code data is provided with the ability of correcting errors in response to code image read errors. The code image quality check apparatus extracts code image read errors from the error correcting code data restored from the read code image without executing any error correcting operation and reduces the extracted read errors into numerical values, using a predetermined unit, which numerical values are then notified to the user in a predetermined display mode at the output section of the apparatus.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-caled multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A coded data output apparatus comprises an image data input or generation section, a resolution parameter specifying section, a resolution parameter modifying section and an image data output section. The image data input or generation section inputs or generates data for a dot code image to be printed. The resolution parameter specifying section specifies parameter data relating to the resolution of the image data input or generated by the image data input or generation section. The resolution parameter modifying section modifies the parameter data relating to the resolution specified by the resolution parameter specifying section according to the characteristic specific to the applied plate making apparatus. The image data output section outputs the input or generated image data according to the parameter data relating to the resolution and modified by the resolution parameter modifying section.

Abstract: In a system for printing and recording multimedia information on an information recording medium in the form of an optically readable code pattern, reading the code pattern and restoring the original multimedia information, the code pattern of the information recording medium includes processing information necessary for editing and processing data according to the restoration processing procedure for restoring the multimedia information. Further, the restoration processing procedure includes a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5 and an application process. In the layer 5 and application process, a set specification identifier determining section selects the decoding section, selects the reproducing output section and sets parameters according to the set specification name identifier and SDCH supplied as header information prior to user data of the subset from the layer 4.

Abstract: An information recording medium (30) has a recorded system control file (SCF) (96) representing processing parameters necessary for reproduction processing for reading out a print-recorded code pattern and reproducing original multimedia information. With an SCF readout switch (88) operated, an initially determined SCF read-out parameter is input from a parameter memory (92) to a controller (66). The controller (66) controls each part in accordance with the input parameter and outputs read-out image data as a 1-SDU.sub.1 to an overlying layer and a state signal, that is, a signal showing that the SCF is being read out, as a 1-SDU.sub.2 to the overlying layer. The overlying layer decodes the contents of the SCF (96) and a parameter setting signal is input as the 1-SDU.sub.3 from the overlying layer and it is stored in the layer 1 parameter memory (92).

Abstract: On an information recording medium, multimedia information including at least one of audio information, image information, and text data is recorded as an optical readable code. The code is constituted by arranging a plurality of blocks, and each block has a data dot pattern including a plurality of dots arranged in correspondence with the data contents, and a marker which is arranged to have a first predetermined positional relationship with respect to the data dot pattern and determines a reference position required for reading the data dot pattern. The dots of the data dot pattern and the markers are recorded on the information recording medium so that the dots, the markers, and the information recording medium have different predetermined reflectances or transmittances. More specifically, in order to reduce code redundancy, the dot code is recorded as follows.

Abstract: An information (transmission) medium (30) has a code pattern printed and recorded thereon, containing processing information necessary to subject data to edit processing in accordance with a reproduction process for reproducing, to original multimedia information, a dot pattern which is read out from the information recording medium. A multimedia paper (MMP) reproduction apparatus (28) as the information reproducing apparatus performs data processing based on the processing information.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-called multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A dot code consists of a group of plurality of blocks arranged in a matrix manner, and each block has markers, an array direction detecting code, a block address, and block recorded data. A dot code in which two rows and (N/2) columns of N blocks having block addresses 1 to N are arranged and which has an effective code width CEW is doubly provided, i.e., two such dot codes are recorded parallel on an information recording medium. A recording code width CRW in this case is twice the effective code width CEW.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a dot pattern recorded thereon and optically readable, and the dot pattern is formed of a group of blocks arranged in matrix. Each of the blocks has both a data dot pattern constituted of a plurality of dots arranged in accordance with the content of data and a block address pattern representing an address of the block arranged in a predetermined position in relation to the data dot pattern. The dot pattern is formed such that the same blocks in predetermined areas of the block group are overlapped in the scanning direction.

Abstract: A modulating apparatus wherein input data is modulated in the case of recording code data, which can be read optically, on a recording medium, so that a number of consecutive bits of a predetermined value in the code data is less than a predetermined number of consecutive bits of the predetermined value in a reference mark (e.g., a marker in a dot code), in order to discriminate the code data from the reference mark. An 8-10 modulating apparatus for modulating 8-bit input data to 10-bit data comprises two 4-5 modulating units (memories) for converting 4-bit input data to 5-bit data. And a 10-8 demodulating apparatus for demodulating 10-bit input data to 8-bit data comprises two 5-4 demodulating units for converting 5-bit input data to 4-bit data.

Abstract: A code pattern of an information recording medium contains processing information necessary for editing data according to a restoration processing procedure for restoring multimedia information. The restoration processing procedure has a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5. The layer 5 has a file management function. The layer 4 has a function of collecting subset elements to create a subset and converting the same to create a data transfer unit or sector which the layer 5 deals with. The layer 3 or lower layer has a function of reading the code pattern from the information recording medium, subjecting the code pattern to a preset restoration process and outputting the subset elements.

Abstract: In a system for printing and recording multimedia information on an information recording medium in the form of an optically readable code pattern, reading the code pattern and restoring the original multimedia information, the code pattern of the information recording medium includes processing information necessary for editing and processing data according to the restoration processing procedure for restoring the multimedia information. Further, the restoration processing procedure includes a hierarchical structure of layers 1 to 5 and application process. In the layer 5 and application process, a set specification identifier determining section selects the decoding section, selects the reproducing output section and sets parameters according to the set specification name identifier and SDCH supplied as header information prior to user data of the subset from the layer 4.

Abstract: A reading section optically reads a code from a recording medium having a portion on which multimedia information including at least one of audio information, video information, and digital code data is recorded as an optically readable code. A plurality of processing sections sequentially process the code read by the reading section and output the processed code as the original multimedia information. An operation switch designates the start of reading of the code. A control section causes one or a plurality of the plurality of processing sections to terminate a processing operation for a code which has been read by the time the operation switch is operated, and executes processing for data of the processed code in correspondence with another processing section on a subsequent stage, on the basis of the operation of the operation switch after the start of reading is designated by the operation switch.