1. A printer for receiving document data from a computer system and printing an interface onto a surface, the interface being at least partially based on the document data, the document data including identity data indicative of at least one identity, the identity being associated with a region of the interface, the interface including coded data, the printer including:
a coded data generator configured to generate the coded data based at least partially on the identity data;
a printing mechanism for printing the interface onto the surface; and
a first ink reservoir for supplying first ink to the printing mechanism, whereby the coded data is printed using the first ink, and wherein the first ink, when printed on the interface is not substantially visible.
2. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first ink is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.
3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the first ink is comprised of a compound having at least one polar substituent group selected from the group comprising SO3H, NH2 and CN.
4. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the interface includes visible information in addition to the coded data, the visible information being based at least partially on the response data.
5. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the coded data is also indicative of at least one reference point of the region.
6. A printer according to claim 3, wherein the at least one reference point is determined on the basis of a coded data layout.
7. A printer according to claim 4, wherein the printer is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer system.
8. A printer according to claim 5, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the printer being configured to:
receive, from the computer system, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and
use the layout selection information to select one of the stored coded layouts for use in determining the at least one reference point.
9. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the coded data includes at least one tag, each tag being indicative of the identity of the region.
10. A printer according to claim 8, wherein the coded data includes a plurality of the tags, the coded data generator being configured to ascertain a position of each tag prior to printing, the respective positions being determined on the basis of a coded data layout.
11. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the coded data generator is configured to receive the coded data layout from the computer device prior to printing the coded data.
12. A printer according to claim 5, further including storage means for storing a plurality of the coded data layouts, the coded data generator being configured to:
receive, from the computer device, layout selection information indicative of one of the coded data layouts; and
generate the coded data based on the layout selection information.
13. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes:
first identity data defining a relative position of that tag; and
second identity data identifying the region.
14. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 11 or 12, the printer being configured to print the interface onto the surface on demand.
15. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 11 or 12, wherein the interface is printed over a plurality of the pages.
16. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the surface is defined by a substrate.
17. A printer according to claim 15, wherein the substrate is laminar.
18. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the tags are disposed at predetermined positions on the surface.
19. A printer according to claim 18, wherein the tags are disposed on the surface within a tessellated pattern comprising a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles containing a plurality of the tags.
20. A printer according to claim 19, wherein the tiles interlock with each other to substantially cover the surface.
21. A printer according to claim 20, wherein the tiles are all of a similar shape.
22. A printer according to claim 21, wherein the tiles are triangular, square, rectangular or hexagonal.
23. A printer according to claim 19 wherein the tags are disposed stochastically within each of the tiles.
24. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one common feature in addition to the second identity data.
25. A printer according to claim 24, wherein at least one common feature is configured to assist finding andor recognition of the tags by associated tag reading apparatus.
26. A printer according to claim 24, wherein the at least one common feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
27. A printer according to claim 26, wherein the at least one common feature is rotationally symmetric so as to be rotationally invariant.
28. A printer according to claim 26, wherein the at least one common feature is ring-shaped.
29. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one orientation feature for enabling a rotational orientation of the tag to be ascertained by associated tag reading apparatus.
30. A printer according to claim 29, wherein the at least one orientation feature is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
31. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the at least one orientation feature is rotationally asymmetric.
32. A printer according to claim 30, wherein the at least one orientation feature is sewed along its major axis.
33. A printer according to claim 9, wherein each of the tags includes at least one perspective feature for enabling a perspective distortion of the tag to be ascertained by associated tag reading apparatus.
34. A printer according to claim 33, wherein the at least one perspective feature includes at least four sub-features which are not coincident.
35. A printer according to claim 13, wherein each tag includes a plurality of tag elements, the first and second identity data each being defined by a plurality of the elements.
36. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tag elements are disposed in one or more arcuate bands around a central region of each tag.
37. A printer according to claim 36, wherein there are a plurality of the arcuate bands disposed concentrically with respect to each other.
38. A printer according to claim 36, wherein each element takes the form of a dot having a plurality of possible values.
39. A printer according to claim 38, wherein the number of possible values is two.
40. A printer according to claim 35, wherein when representing one of the possible values, the tag elements absorb, reflect or fluoresce electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths to a predetermined greater or lesser extent than the surface.
41. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the possible values of the tag elements are defined by different relative absorption, reflection or fluorescence of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths.
42. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tags are slightly visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.
43. A printer according to claim 35, wherein the tags are visible to an average unaided human eye under daylight or ambient lighting conditions.
44. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the first identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
45. A printer according to claim 13, wherein the second identity data is represented in a format incorporating redundancy of information.
46. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an ink printer.
47. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the tags are printed using ink that is absorbent or reflective in the ultraviolet spectrum or the infrared spectrum.
48. A printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer includes a separate ink channel for printing the tags.
49. A printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer is configured to print the coded data and additional information substantially simultaneously onto the surface.
50. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using colored or monochrome inks.
51. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the additional information is printed onto the surface using one of the following combinations of colored inks:
CMY;
CMYK;
CMYRGB; and
spot colour.
52. A printer according to claim 9, wherein at least a plurality of the tags are disposed stochastically upon the surface.
53. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the tags are disposed in a regular array on the surface, in accordance with the coded layout data.
54. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the array is triangular.
55. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the array is rectangular.
56. A printer according to claim 53, wherein the tags are tiled over the surface.
57. A printer according to claim 15, further including a binding mechanism for binding the pages into a bound document.
58. A printer according to claim 49, wherein the surface is defined by a face of a page, the printer further including dual printing mechanisms for printing opposite faces of the page simultaneously.
59. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 11 or 12, wherein the printing mechanism includes an inkjet printhead for printing ink onto the surface.
60. A printer according to claim 59, wherein the printhead is a drop on demand inkjet printhead.
61. A printer according to claim 60, wherein the printhead is a pagewidth printhead.
62. A printer according to claim 61 wherein the printhead is configured to deliver a plurality of ink colors onto the surface with one printing pass.
63. A printer according to claim 61, wherein the printhead includes electro-thermal bend actuators to eject the ink onto the surface.
64. A printer according to claim 63, wherein the printer includes two sets of printheads, configured to print opposite surfaces of a page substantially simultaneously.
65. A printer according to claim 63, including a forced filtered air delivery mechanism for keeping nozzles of the printhead relatively free of paper dust.
66. A printer according to claim 63, wherein the printhead includes moving nozzle chambers.
67. A printer according to claim 65, wherein the printer includes two sets of printheads, configured to print opposite surfaces of a page substantially simultaneously.
68. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 67, wherein the coded data is printed using an ink that contains a dye that contains an infrared-absorbing molecule that consists of two side groups that contain an odd number of carbon atoms and unsaturated nitrogen atoms whereby each of these carbon atoms and unsaturated nitrogen atoms can be locally described as being chemically bound to three adjoining atoms if it is a carbon atom and chemically bound to two adjoining atoms if it is a nitrogen atom of which at least one must be a carbon atom or an unsaturated nitrogen atom such that of these adjoining atoms there is only one double bond to one carbon atom or an unsaturated nitrogen atom whereby the two groups are chemically bound together by one or more intervening central groups wherein the central group preferably is one of CO, 0, S, SO, SO2, Se, SeO, SeO2, Te, TeO, TeO2, CR1R2, NR1, SiR1R2, GeR1R2, PR1 where R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are selected from the group R; and
the central group may contain more than one of the above mentioned specific groups in any possible combination; and additionally, the two side groups can be directly connected to each other; and
R is the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a halide atom, a hydroxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted amine group, a substituted or unsubstituted thioalkyl group.
69. A printer according to claim 68 wherein the two side groups of the infrared-absorbing molecule contain any substituted group.
70. A printer according to claim 67 wherein bulky substituents are utilized in the infrared-absorbing molecule.
71. An interface surface produced by a printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 11 or 12.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
a processing system configured to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field; and
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit; and
a transmitter configured to:
transmit the at least one bit via the first antenna; and
transmit the replica of the at least one bit via the second antenna.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the frame in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the at least one field using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to:
transmit, via the first antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency; and
transmit, via the second antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a third antenna and wherein the transmitter is configured to:
transmit, via the first antenna, a first bit of the at least one field at a first frequency;
transmit, via the second antenna, a replica of the first bit at the first frequency;
transmit, via the second antenna, a second bit of the at least one field at a second frequency; and
transmit, via the third antenna, a replica of the second bit at the second frequency.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is further configured to:
transmit, via the third antenna, a third bit of the at least one field at a third frequency; and
transmit, via the first antenna, a replica of the third bit at the third frequency.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
9. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
generating a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
replicating at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
transmitting the at least one bit via a first antenna; and
transmitting the replica of the at least one bit via a second antenna.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the frame is transmitted in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one field is transmitted using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the at least one bit comprises transmitting, via the first antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency and wherein transmitting the replica of the at least one bit comprises transmitting, via the second antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
transmitting, via the first antenna, a first bit of the at least one field at a first frequency;
transmitting, via the second antenna, a replica of the first bit at the first frequency;
transmitting, via the second antenna, a second bit of the at least one field at a second frequency; and
transmitting, via a third antenna, a replica of the second bit at the second frequency.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
transmitting, via the third antenna, a third bit of the at least one field at a third frequency; and
transmitting, via the first antenna, a replica of the third bit at the third frequency.
16. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
17. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
means for generating a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
means for replicating at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
means for transmitting the at least one bit via a first antenna; and
means for transmitting the replica of the at least one bit via a second antenna.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the frame is transmitted in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one field is transmitted using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the means for transmitting the at least one bit is configured to transmit, via the first antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency and wherein the means for transmitting the replica of the at least one bit is configured to transmit, via the second antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
means for transmitting, via the first antenna, a first bit of the at least one field at a first frequency;
means for transmitting, via the second antenna, a replica of the first bit at the first frequency;
means for transmitting, via the second antenna, a second bit of the at least one field at a second frequency; and
means for transmitting, via a third antenna, a replica of the second bit at the second frequency.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:
means for transmitting, via the third antenna, a third bit of the at least one field at a third frequency; and
means for transmitting, via the first antenna, a replica of the third bit at the third frequency.
24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
25. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions executable to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
transmit the at least one bit via a first antenna; and
transmit the replica of the at least one bit via a second antenna.
26. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
a processing system configured to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field; and
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit; and
a transmitter configured to:
transmit, via the first and second antennas, the at least one bit at a first frequency;
transmit, via the first antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency; and
transmit, via the second antenna, a negative of the replica of the at least one bit at the second frequency.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the frame in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the at least one field using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
31. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
generating a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
replicating at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
transmitting, via a first antenna and a second antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency;
transmitting, via the first antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency; and
transmitting, via the second antenna, a negative of the replica of the at least one bit at the second frequency.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the frame is transmitted in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one field is transmitted using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
36. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
means for generating a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
means for replicating at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
means for transmitting, via a first antenna and a second antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency;
means for transmitting, via the first antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency; and
means for transmitting, via the second antenna, a negative of the replica of the at least one bit at the second frequency.
37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the frame is transmitted in a channel having a bandwidth of about 1 MHz.
38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one field is transmitted using binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) and a coding rate of \xbd.
39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the first frequency is above DC and wherein the second frequency is below DC.
40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one field comprises at least one of a signal (SIG) field or a short training field (STF).
41. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a computer-readable medium having instructions executable to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field;
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
transmit, via a first antenna and a second antenna, the at least one bit at a first frequency;
transmit, via the first antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency; and
transmit, via the second antenna, a negative of the replica of the at least one bit at the second frequency.
42. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
a first pair of antennas;
a second pair of antennas;
a processing system configured to generate at least two space-time streams; and
a transmitter configured to:
transmit, via the first pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a first frequency band; and
transmit, via the second pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a second frequency band.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising a third pair of antennas, wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit, via the third pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a third frequency band.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the first pair of antennas comprises a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein the second pair of antennas comprises the second antenna and a third antenna, and wherein the third pair of antennas comprises the third antenna and the first antenna.
45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first frequency band is above DC and wherein the second frequency band is below DC.
46. A method for wireless communications, comprising:
generating at least two space-time streams;
transmitting, via a first pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a first frequency band; and
transmitting, via a second pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a second frequency band.
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising transmitting, via a third pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a third frequency band.
48. The method of claim 47, wherein the first pair of antennas comprises a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein the second pair of antennas comprises the second antenna and a third antenna, and wherein the third pair of antennas comprises the third antenna and the first antenna.
49. The method of claim 46, wherein the first frequency band is above DC and wherein the second frequency band is below DC.
50. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
means for generating at least two space-time streams;
means for transmitting, via a first pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a first frequency band; and
means for transmitting, via a second pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a second frequency band.
51. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising means for transmitting, via a third pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a third frequency band.
52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the first pair of antennas comprises a first antenna and a second antenna, wherein the second pair of antennas comprises the second antenna and a third antenna, and wherein the third pair of antennas comprises the third antenna and the first antenna.
53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the first frequency band is above DC and wherein the second frequency band is below DC.
54. A computer-program product for wireless communications, comprising a computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable to:
generate at least two space-time streams;
transmit, via a first pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a first frequency band; and
transmit, via a second pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a second frequency band.
55. An access point, comprising:
a first pair of antennas;
a second pair of antennas;
a processing system configured to generate at least two space-time streams;
a transmitter configured to:
transmit, via the first pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a first frequency band; and
transmit, via the second pair of antennas, the at least two space-time streams in a second frequency band; and
a memory component configured to store the at least two space-time streams before transmission.
56. An access point, comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
a processing system configured to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field; and
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
a transmitter configured to:
transmit the at least one bit via the first antenna; and
transmit the replica of the at least one bit via the second antenna; and
a memory component configured to store the frame before transmission.
57. An access point, comprising:
a first antenna;
a second antenna;
a processing system configured to:
generate a frame comprising a preamble having at least one field; and
replicate at least one bit of the at least one field to form a replica of the at least one bit;
a transmitter configured to:
transmit, via the first and second antennas, the at least one bit at a first frequency;
transmit, via the first antenna, the replica of the at least one bit at a second frequency; and
transmit, via the second antenna, a negative of the replica of the at least one bit at the second frequency; and
a memory component configured to store the frame before transmission.