Patent ID: 7181066

Claim:
A method for omnidirectional location of bar code symbols and other graphical code symbols in an image of an object, each code symbol having an oriented encoded signal, the method comprising: choosing a candidate start region in the image; determining whether the candidate start region includes at least a portion of a candidate oriented encoded signal, including: selecting a subset of pixels, from the candidate start region, having enough information for signal detection; computing a measure of interest of the subset of pixels for use in eliminating candidate start regions that do not contain a signal of interest, without rejecting candidate start regions that might contain a signal of interest; and deciding whether the measure of interest is sufficient to warrant further examination of the candidate start region; determining an approximate orientation of the candidate oriented encoded signal; and growing the candidate start region, using the approximate orientation, so as to form a candidate symbol region that encloses an entire candidate code symbol, including at least a portion of the candidate start region.