Method and apparatus for accessing product information using bar code data

• US 20010030234A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wiklof, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,669,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/081 provided with an additional controlled phase shifter H03L7/0998 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/0814 the phase shifting device being digitally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/087 using at least two phase detectors or a frequency and phase detector in the loop

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a user product information via scanning of a machine readable symbology on a product. A symbology, for example a bar code, is scanned and the data therein passed into a URL which is used to present related product information to a user via the internet. The URL may directly link to the information or be a look up database for further redirection.

Claims

1. A device for accessing product information comprising:

a body,

an operator input means,

a scanning means,

a computer means, including a microprocessor, memory and I/O,

a communication means, and

an information display means;

said body housing said operator input means, scanning means, computer means, communication means and information display means;

said operator input means arranged and configured for an operator to initiate a scan of a machine readable symbology by said scanning means;

data received from said scanning means is processed by said computer means and stored in said memory for transfer via said communication means;

said communication means transmits said data received to a host computer and receives product information related to said data received,

said product information is communicate to the operator via said information display means.

2. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said scanning means is a moving beam laser.

3. The device of

claim 1

wherein said scanning means is a CCD or CMD imager.

4. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said scanning means is a fixed spot wand.

5. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said communication means is a radio, further including an antenna.

6. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said communication means is a cellular telephone, further including an antenna.

7. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said communication means is an infrared emitter/detector.

8. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said information display means is a visual display.

9. The device of

claim 1

, wherein said communication means is an audio speaker.

10. A method for parsing data from a symbol to form a URL, comprising the steps of:

decoding data received by scanning a machine readable symbol,

assigning a network prefix to a front portion of said data, and

appending a domain name at the end of said data.

11. A method of

claim 10

further including the step of parsing the data into a site name and discreet file locations at that site by assigning a fixed number of digits to be the site name and the remaining digits as a pointer or sub-pointers to sub-locations at the site name.

12. The method of

claim 10

wherein rather than appending a domain name, a series of domains are alternatively assigned until one containing data is found.

13. A method of

claim 10

wherein the data is a file identifier for a pre-determined network prefix, site name and domain name.

14. The method of

claim 10

, wherein the machine-readable symbol is a UPC, EAN or JAN symbol on a product.

15. A method for retrieving information related to a machine-readable symbol comprising the steps of:

scanning a machine readable symbol,

parsing data received from the machine readable symbol into a URL,

connecting a user to the URL.

16. The method of

claim 15

wherein the data received from the machine-readable symbol is parsed into a URL of a host website and a file location at the host website.

17. The method of

claim 15

where the wherein the data received form the machine-readable symbol is parsed into a first URL of a host website and a code;

when the first URL is connected to, said code is decoded into a second URL to which the user is then connected to.

18. The method of

claim 17

wherein the code is decoded by a the host website and product data related to the code is then transmitted to the user.

19. A system for retrieving data related to a machine readable symbol comprising:

a machine readable symbol scanner, connectable to

a computer means having a connection to the internet,

at least one internet server containing data related to the machine readable symbol,

a software means for parsing data received into said computer means from said scanner into a URL, connecting to the internet, accessing data related to the machine readable symbol and displaying it to a user.

20. The system of

claim 19

wherein the scanner is connected to the computer means via a wedge device inserted between a computer keyboard and a computer.