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Abstract

A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling and decoding flags in the coding pattern; (c) determining whether first data symbols in the coding pattern define first data or a fragment of second data embedded in a block of tags; (d) sampling the first data symbols; and (e) (1) decoding the first data if it is determined that the first data symbols define the first data; or otherwise (2) storing the sampled first data symbols in a memory of said reader and assembling stored first data symbols into the second data when sufficient first data symbols have been sampled. The imaged portion has a diameter of less than a block of tags, and is typically less than two tag diameters.

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First Claim