Systems and methods for automatic insertion of machine-readable graphical codes into printable documents

• US 20020143814A1
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Olsen, Andrew, Hepworth, Paul J., Zhou, Weiyang
• Application Number:
  US10/103,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143814A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A system is disclosed for enhancing a material with machine-readable graphical codes. The system includes a processor and memory in electronic communication with the processor. The memory includes a material that comprises an item. The memory also includes a material enhancing module. The material enhancing module obtains the material and identifies the item in the material. A machine-readable graphical code is then generated that corresponds to the item. The material enhancing module inserts the machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the item into the material.

Claims

1. A system for enhancing a material with machine-readable graphical codes, the system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory comprising;

the material, wherein the material includes an item;

a material enhancing module programmed to implement a method comprising;

obtaining the material;

identifying the item in the material;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the item; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the material.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the material comprises an electronic file.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the electronic file is a text file.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the item is a string.

5. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the electronic file is a document.

6. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the electronic file is an HTML file.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the item is a hyperlink.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the item is a part number.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the item is an email address.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the material comprises a plurality of items and wherein the material enhancing module generates a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the memory further comprises an application for processing the material.

12. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein application is a word processor.

13. The system as defined in claim 11 wherein the application is a web browser.

14. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the material enhancing module comprises a document enhancing module.

15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein the memory further comprises an application for processing the material.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the method further comprises detecting the application and sending a copy message to the application.

17. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the method further comprises saving the machine-readable graphical code to a file.

18. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the inserting is accomplished by sending an insert message to the application to insert the machine-readable graphical code from the file.

19. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the document enhancing module generates an object that comprises the machine-readable graphical code.

20. The system as defined in claim 19 wherein the object further comprises object properties.

21. The system as defined in claim 19 wherein the method further comprises providing a user interface for editing the object.

22. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the material enhancing module comprises a searching and enhancing module.

23. The system as defined in claim 22 wherein the method further comprises searching for a string that matches a search pattern.

24. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

25. The system as defined in claim 23 wherein the search pattern is associated with a template and the machine-readable graphical code is generated through the use of the template.

27. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the web page comprises a plurality of hyperlinks and wherein the web page enhancing module generates a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

28. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the memory further comprises a web browser for processing the web page.

29. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises saving an enhanced web page.

30. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises obtaining an original URL from a web browser.

31. The system as defined in claim 29 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a new URL to a web browser.

32. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is inserted into the web page so that when printed the web page includes the machine-readable graphical code adjacent to the hyperlink.

33. The system as defined in claim 28 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a copy-to-clipboard message to the web browser.

34. The system as defined in claim 26 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

35. The system as defined in claim 33 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a select-all message to the web browser.

37. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the material comprises an electronic file.

38. The computer program as defined in claim 37 wherein the electronic file is a text file.

39. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the item is a string.

40. The computer program as defined in claim 37 wherein the electronic file is a document.

41. The computer program as defined in claim 37 wherein the electronic file is an HTML file.

42. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the item is a hyperlink.

43. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the item is a part number.

44. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the item is an email address.

45. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the material comprises a plurality of items and wherein the material enhancing module generates a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

46. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the material enhancing module comprises a document enhancing module.

47. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the method further comprises detecting an application for processing the material.

48. The computer program as defined in claim 47 wherein the method further comprises sending a copy message to the application.

49. The computer program as defined in claim 47 wherein the method further comprises saving the machine-readable graphical code to a file.

50. The computer program as defined in claim 47 wherein the inserting is accomplished by sending an insert message to the application to insert the machine-readable graphical code from the file.

51. The computer program as defined in claim 46 wherein the document enhancing module generates an object that comprises the machine-readable graphical code.

52. The computer program as defined in claim 51 wherein the object further comprises object properties.

53. The computer program as defined in claim 51 wherein the method further comprises providing a user interface for editing the object.

54. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the material enhancing module comprises a searching and enhancing module.

55. The computer program as defined in claim 54 wherein the method further comprises searching for a string that matches a search pattern.

56. The computer program as defined in claim 36 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

57. The computer program as defined in claim 55 wherein the search pattern is associated with a template and the machine-readable graphical code is generated through the use of the template.

59. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the web page comprises a plurality of hyperlinks and wherein the web page enhancing module generates a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

60. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises saving an enhanced web page.

61. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises obtaining an original URL from a web browser.

62. The computer program as defined in claim 60 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a new URL to a web browser.

63. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is inserted into the web page so that when printed the web page includes the machine-readable graphical code adjacent to the hyperlink.

64. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a copy-to-clipboard message to a web browser.

65. The computer program as defined in claim 58 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

66. The computer program as defined in claim 64 wherein the method implemented by the web page enhancing module further comprises sending a select-all message to the web browser.

68. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the material comprises an electronic file.

69. The medium as defined in claim 68 wherein the electronic file is a text file.

70. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the item is a string.

71. The medium as defined in claim 68 wherein the electronic file is a document.

72. The medium as defined in claim 68 wherein the electronic file is an HTML file.

73. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the item is a hyperlink.

74. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the item is a part number.

75. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the item is an email address.

76. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the material comprises a plurality of items and wherein the method further comprises generating a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

77. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the method further comprises detecting an application for processing the material.

78. The medium as defined in claim 77 wherein the method further comprises sending a copy message to the application.

79. The medium as defined in claim 77 wherein the method further comprises saving the machine-readable graphical code to a file.

80. The medium as defined in claim 77 wherein the inserting is accomplished by sending an insert message to the application to insert the machine-readable graphical code from the file.

81. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the method further comprises generating an object that comprises the machine-readable graphical code.

82. The medium as defined in claim 81 wherein the object further comprises object properties.

83. The medium as defined in claim 81 wherein the method further comprises providing a user interface for editing the object.

84. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the method further comprises searching for a string that matches a search pattern to identify the item.

85. The medium as defined in claim 67 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

86. The medium as defined in claim 84 wherein the search pattern is associated with a template and the machine-readable graphical code is generated through the use of the template.

26. A system for enhancing a web page with machine-readable graphical codes, the system comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory comprising;

the web page, wherein the web page includes a hyperlink;

a web page enhancing module programmed to implement a method comprising;

obtaining the web page;

identifying the hyperlink in the web page;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the hyperlink; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the web page.

36. A computer program for enhancing a printable material with machine-readable graphical codes, the computer program comprising:

a material enhancing module programmed to implement a method comprising;

obtaining the material;

identifying an item in the material;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the item; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the material.

58. A computer program for enhancing a web page with machine-readable graphical codes, the computer program comprising:

a web page enhancing module programmed to implement a method comprising;

obtaining the web page;

identifying a hyperlink in the web page;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the hyperlink; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the web page.

67. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

obtaining a material;

identifying an item in the material;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the item; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the material.

87. A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

obtaining a web page;

identifying a hyperlink in the web page;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the hyperlink; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the web page.

88. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the web page comprises a plurality of hyperlinks and wherein the method further comprises generating a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

89. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the method further comprises saving an enhanced web page.

90. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the method further comprises obtaining an original URL from a web browser.

91. The medium as defined in claim 89 wherein the method further comprises sending a new URL to a web browser.

92. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is inserted into the web page so that when printed the web page includes the machine-readable graphical code adjacent to the hyperlink.

93. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the method further comprises sending a copy-to-clipboard message to a web browser.

94. The medium as defined in claim 87 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

95. The medium as defined in claim 93 wherein the method further comprises sending a select-all message to the web browser.

96. A method for enhancing a printable material with machine-readable graphical codes, the method comprising:

obtaining the material;

identifying an item in the material;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the item; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the material.

97. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the material comprises an electronic file.

98. The method as defined in claim 97 wherein the electronic file is a text file.

99. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the item is a string.

100. The method as defined in claim 97 wherein the electronic file is a document.

101. The method as defined in claim 97 wherein the electronic file is an HTML file.

102. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the item is a hyperlink.

103. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the item is a part number.

104. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the item is an email address.

105. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the material comprises a plurality of items and wherein the method further comprises generating a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

106. The method as defined in claim 96 further comprising detecting an application for processing the material.

107. The method as defined in claim 106 further comprising sending a copy message to the application.

108. The method as defined in claim 106 further comprising saving the machine-readable graphical code to a file.

109. The method as defined in claim 106 wherein the inserting is accomplished by sending an insert message to the application to insert the machine-readable graphical code from the file.

110. The method as defined in claim 96 further comprising generating an object that comprises the machine-readable graphical code.

111. The method as defined in claim 110 wherein the object further comprises object properties.

112. The method as defined in claim 110 further comprising providing a user interface for editing the object.

113. The method as defined in claim 96 further comprising searching for a string that matches a search pattern to identify the item.

114. The method as defined in claim 96 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

115. The method as defined in claim 113 wherein the search pattern is associated with a template and the machine-readable graphical code is generated through the use of the template.

117. The method as defined in claim 116 wherein the web page comprises a plurality of hyperlinks and wherein the method further comprises generating a plurality of machine-readable graphical codes.

118. The method as defined in claim 116 further comprising saving an enhanced web page.

119. The method as defined in claim 116 further comprising obtaining an original URL from a web browser.

120. The method as defined in claim 118 further comprising sending a new URL to a web browser.

121. The method as defined in claim 116 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is inserted into the web page so that when printed the web page includes the machine-readable graphical code adjacent to the hyperlink.

122. The method as defined in claim 116 further comprising sending a copy-to-clipboard message to a web browser.

123. The method as defined in claim 116 wherein the machine-readable graphical code is generated through use of a template.

124. The method as defined in claim 122 further comprising sending a select-all message to the web browser.

116. A method for enhancing a web page with machine-readable graphical codes, the method comprising:

obtaining a web page;

identifying a hyperlink in the web page;

generating a machine-readable graphical code corresponding to the hyperlink; and

inserting the machine-readable graphical code into the web page.