Patent ID: 8520483

Claim:
A method of retrieving information from a holographic data storage medium, comprising: directing a laser beam to a first micro-holographic symbol located in a first layer of the holographic data storage medium; and directing the laser beam to a second micro-holographic symbol located in the first layer or a second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer are different, wherein the holographic data storage medium comprises a sequence of micro-holographic symbols arranged in one or more locations in one or more data layers, wherein the micro-holographic symbol comprise location information, such as layer number, radial and/or angular location information in the holographic storage medium and/or address information for a data section, wherein the sequence of micro-holographic symbols arranged in a plurality of layers form a staircase structure wherein each micro-holographic symbol is offset angularly from corresponding symbol in adjacent layers in the holographic data storage medium.