Abstract

The article of the invention is an optically readable label for storing encoded information, said label comprising a data energy of a multiplicity of information-encoded hexagons contiguously arranged in a honeycomb pattern, and having at least two different optical properties.A process for encoding information in an optically-readable data array comprised of a honeycomb of contiguous hexagons encoded by assigning optical properties to individual hexagons in a predetermined pattern, ordering the hexagons in a predetermined sequence, and printing the hexagons with at least two optical properties.A process for retrieving information by optically scanning an information-encoded data array of contiguous polygons, preferably hexagons, creating an optical replica of the digital bit stream representative of the optical properties of the information encoded polygons, decoding that optical replica and retrieving the decoded bit stream.A stream for performing the foregoing encoding and decoding processes.