Data-bearing fabric

Abstract

A fabric includes a plurality of open stitches and a plurality of closed stitches that cooperatively define a data-bearing section. The data-bearing section contains coded information associated with the fabric. In defining the data-bearing section, each of the open stitches and each of the closed stitches are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system. Each of the open stitches and the closed stitches is recognizable from a captured image of the data-bearing section based on image recognition technology. The coded information is extractable by identifying relative locations of the open stitches and the closed stitches in the data-bearing section, and applying the encoding system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric comprising a plurality of open stitches and a plurality of closed stitches from which at least one portion of said fabric is knitted, said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches cooperatively defining a data-bearing section which serves as said at least one portion of said fabric, wherein:
 said data-bearing section contains coded information that is associated with said fabric and that serves as an encoded string;   in defining said data-bearing section, each of said plurality of open stitches and each of said plurality of closed stitches are employed to respectively represent specific symbols of an encoding system; and   each of said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches is recognizable from a captured image of said data-bearing section based on image recognition technology, the coded information being extractable by identifying relative locations of said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches in said data-bearing section, and by applying the encoding system.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches are arranged and linked together so as to constitute said data-bearing section, the symbols constituting the encoded string. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of open stitches and said plurality of closed stitches are arranged in one of a one-dimensional arrangement and a two-dimensional arrangement so as to define said data-bearing section. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the encoding system is a binary code system, the coded information is obtainable using the binary code system, and each of said plurality of open stitches represents the symbol “0” and each of said plurality of closed stitches represents the symbol “1”. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the encoding system is a binary code system, the coded information is obtainable using the binary code system, and each of said plurality of open stitches represents the symbol “1” and each of said plurality of closed stitches represents the symbol “0”. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the coded information indicates one of a one-dimensional code and a two-dimensional code. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said data-bearing section includes at least one sub-section representing a specific attribute of said fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 7 , wherein the attribute of said fabric includes one or more of a material of said fabric, a producer of said fabric, a geographical location in which said fabric is made, a price of said fabric, a client ordering said fabric, a pattern of said fabric, a color of said fabric, and a product which said fabric is used to produce. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 7 , wherein said data-bearing section further includes a boundary portion that surrounds said at least one sub-section.