Method and apparatus for storing data

摘要

A method and an apparatus (30) for storing data as a coded two-dimensional pattern (1, 6) of pixels (2) on a photographic medium (27) are described. An image (3) representative of the data to be stored is divided (11) a into a two-dimensional array of blocks (4). A representative color value is determined (12) for each block (4) to obtain a two-dimensional array of representative blocks (5). At least part of the data to be stored is coded (13) such that the resulting coded two-dimensional pattern (6) of pixels (2) resembles the two-dimensional array of representative blocks (5). The coded data are printed (14) onto the photographic medium (27).