Method for improving the readability of composite images
View Patent ↗A method for improving the readability of composite images by determining available areas on a document where no text or graphics will be printed in visible ink and printing one or more 2-D bar code with invisible ink at a size pre-determined based on the available areas. The one or more auxiliary 2-D bar codes are printed in luminescent ink, either invisible or lightly colored when viewed under white light.
1. A method for printing a composite image on a mailpiece, comprising the steps of:
a) determining dimensions of a mailpiece,
b) determining locations and area of text and graphics to be printed on the mailpiece with visible ink,
c) determining available areas on the mailpiece where no text or graphics will be printed in visible ink,
d) determining a maximum size of a 2-D bar code that will fit in at least one of the available areas on the mailpiece,
e) generating a bitmap a primary 2-D bar code to be printed in a primary one of the available areas,
f) printing the primary 2-D bar code from the bitmap with a luminescent ink in the primary available area.
2. A method according to claim 1 which further includes the step of printing an optional FIM associated with an auxiliary bar code to identify the type of bar code and create a signal to provide instructions for reading the auxiliary bar code.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises the further steps of:
g) determining additional available areas on the mailpiece where no text or graphics will be printed,
h) determining the maximum size of a 2-D bar code that will fit in each of the additional available areas on the mailpiece,
i) generating a bitmap for at least one redundant 2-D bar code to be printed in the additional available area
j) printing with a luminescent ink in one of the additional available areas at least one redundant 2-D bar code from the at least one redundant 2-D bar code bitmap.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the primary 2-D bar code is printed in the largest available area.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the primary bar code is printed in the maximum size permitted for printing without overlap with other printed areas.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the luminescent ink is invisible luminescent ink.
7. A method for printing a composite image containing redundant information, comprising the steps of:
a) determining dimension of a mailpiece,
b) determining locations and areas of text and graphics to be printed on the mailpiece with visible ink,
c) determining at least one available area on the mailpiece where no text or graphics will be printed in visible ink,
d) determining a maximum size of a 2-D bar code that will fit in the available area on the mailpiece,
e) generating a bitmap for 2-D bar codes to be printed in the available area,
f) printing a primary 2-D bar code from one of said bitmaps with a luminescent ink in a primary available area, and
g) printing, also with a luminescent ink, an auxiliary 2-D bar code from one of said bitmaps containing redundant information in a second available area.
8. A method according to claim 7 which further includes the step of printing address information in dark ink on the mailpiece and wherein the 2-D bar code printed in the primary available area is on one side of the address and the 2-D bar code containing redundant information is printed in a second available area on the other side of the address.
9. A method according to claim 7 which further includes the step of printing an optional FIM associated with an auxiliary bar code to identify the type of bar code and create a signal to provide instructions for reading the auxiliary bar code.
10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the method comprises printing at least one additional auxiliary 2-D bar code.
11. A method according to claim 7 wherein the primary 2-D bar code is printed in the largest available area.
12. A method according to claim 7 wherein the primary 2-D bar code is printed in the maximum size permitted for printing without overlap with other printed areas.
13. A method according to claim 7 wherein the auxiliary 2-D bar code contains information redundant with that in the primary 2-D bar code.
14. A method for printing on a document a composite image, comprising the steps of:
a) determining dimensions of a document,
b) determining locations and areas of text and graphics to be printed on the document with visible ink,
c) determining at least one available area on the document where no text or graphics will be printed in visible ink,
d) determining a maximum size of a machine-readable code that will fit in the available area on the document,
e) generating a bitmap for machine-readable code to be printed in the available area, and
f) printing a primary machine-readable code from said bitmap with luminescent ink in the available area.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the method comprises the further steps of
g) determining additional available areas on the document where no text or graphics will be printed,
h) determining a second maximum size of at least one redundant machine-readable code that will fit in the additional available areas on the document,
i) generating a bitmap for at least one redundant machine-readable code to be printed in one of the additional available areas on the document;
j) printing with a luminescent ink in one of the additional available areas at least one redundant machine-readable code from the at least one redundant machine-readable code bitmap.
16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the primary machine-readable code is printed in the largest available area.
17. A method according to claim 14 wherein the primary machine-readable code is printed in the maximum size permitted for printing without overlap with other printed areas.
18. A method according to claim 14 wherein the luminescent ink is invisible luminescent ink.
19. A method according to claim 14 wherein the machine-readable is a 2-D bar code.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein an error correction code level of the 2-D bar code that will fit in the available area is determined.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein the document is one of a legal document, a financial document, a mailpiece and a label.
22. A computer readable medium for providing program code for execution by a programmable data processor, the processor being responsive to said program code to:
a) determine dimensions of a document,
b) determine locations and area of text and graphics to be printed on the document with visible irk,
c) determine available areas on the document where no text or graphics will be printed in visible ink,
d) determine a maximum size of a machine-readable code that will fit in the available area on the document,
e) generate a bitmap for the machine-readable code to be printed in the available area,
f) to control a printer to print a primary machine-readable code from the bitmap with a luminescent ink in a primary available area.
23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein the processor being further responsive to said program code to:
g) determine additional available areas on the document where no text or graphics will be printed,
h) determine the maximum size of a 2-D bar code that will fit in the additional available areas on the document,
i) generate a bitmap for at least one redundant 2-D bar code to be printed in the additional available area, and
j) print with a luminescent ink in one of the additional available areas at least one redundant 2-D bar code from the at least one redundant 2-D bar code bitmap.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the document is one of a legal document, a financial document, a mailpiece and a label.