1. A camera system comprising: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon, said coding pattern having at least one data block, wherein each data block contains a data area having an encoded control block, said control block containing encoded information regarding the size of data encoded in the data area; and a handheld digital camera device comprising: a digital camera unit comprising a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and performing an action in said handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern, wherein said decoding comprises the steps of: identifying the data block in the imaged coding pattern; decoding the control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from the data area; and decoding the coding pattern contained in the data area of the data block.