Camera system comprising color display and processor for decoding data blocks in printed coding pattern

1. A camera system comprising:

a coded media displaying a coded pattern, said coded pattern including a data block, wherein the data block contains a data area containing encoded information regarding a size of data encoded in the data area; and

a portable camera device comprising:

an image sensor configured to capture an image of the coded pattern and generate data representing a digital representation of said image;

a color display; and

an integral processor configured for:

controlling operation of the image sensor and the color display;

collecting the data representing the digital representation of said image directly from the image sensor;

processing the data representing the digital representation of said image to decode the coded pattern;

generating decoded information decoded from the coded pattern; and

performing an action in said portable camera device based on the decoded information, wherein said processing includes:

identifying the data block in the image of the coded pattern;

determining the size of data encoded in the data area; and

decoding the data area of the data block;

wherein said portable camera device further comprises a second image sensor; and

wherein the second image sensor is configured for capturing an image to display on the color display.

2. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein said image sensor and said second image sensor are configured for capturing stereoscopic digital images.

3. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein said processor is configured to perform said decoding in less than 0.32 seconds.

4. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein said data block comprises a plurality of target structures defining an extent of the data area.

5. The camera system of claim 4 , wherein said decoding comprises the step of:

determining the extent of the data area using the target structures.

6. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein said coded pattern is encoded by Reed-Solomon encoding.

7. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein said decoding corrects for one or more errors in the image of the coded pattern.

8. The camera system of claim 7 , wherein said error is due to image blurring.

9. The camera system of claim 7 , wherein said error is due to physical damage of the coded media.

10. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the coded pattern is comprised of black and white dots.

11. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the action performed in said device is an image-warping effect.

12. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is a CCD or CMOS image sensor.

13. A camera system comprising:

a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon, said coding pattern having at least one data block, wherein each data block contains a data area having an encoded control block, said control block containing encoded information regarding a size of data encoded in the data area; and

a handheld digital camera device comprising:

a digital camera unit comprising a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and

an integral processor configured for:

controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display;

decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and

performing an action in said handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern, wherein said decoding comprises the steps of:

identifying the data block in the imaged coding pattern;

decoding the control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from the data area; and

decoding the coding pattern contained in the data area of the data block, and

wherein the action performed in said device is an image-warping effect.

14. The camera system of claim 13 , wherein said data block comprises a plurality of target structures defining an extent of the data area.

15. The camera system of claim 14 , wherein said decoding comprises the step of: determining the extent of the data area using the target structures.

16. The camera system of claim 13 , wherein said coding pattern is encoded by Reed-Solomon encoding.

17. The camera system of claim 16 , wherein said decoding corrects for one or more errors in the imaged coding pattern.

18. The camera system of claim 16 , wherein said error is due to image blurring.