System, method and apparatus for communicating information between a mobile communications device and a bar code reader

• US 20030057284A1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ecrio, Inc.
• Inventors: Challa, Nagesh, Gobburu, Venkata T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for communicating information encoded in a bar code format between a mobile communications device and a bar code scanner. Transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format. A signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and the signal is transmitted as light pulses from the mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A method of actively providing transmission information data to a bar code scanner from a mobile communications device comprising:

encoding the transmission information data into a bar code format;

generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

transmitting the signal as light pulses from the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission information data is received by a mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bar code format is received by a mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is received by the mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a scanning beam; and

determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

8. A method of actively providing transmission information data to a bar code scanner from a mobile communications device comprising:

encoding transmission information data into a bar code format;

presenting representative information of the transmission information data using a user output facility of the mobile communications device;

generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

transmitting the signal in an active visual form.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the output facility is a display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission information data is acquired.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission information data is generated.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is transmitted via one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is transmitted in a visible light spectrum.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is transmitted in an infra-red light spectrum.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the signal is transmitted via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising:

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting step utilizes a color light source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one color is used that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one color is used that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is transmitted via turning an LED on and off.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is transmitted via activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmission information data is received by a mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

24. The method of claim 8, wherein the bar code format is received by a mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

25. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is received by the mobile communications device from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

26. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a scanning beam; and

determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

27. A mobile communications device for actively providing transmission information data to a bar code scanner, the device comprising:

(a) a program component for encoding transmission information data into a bar code format;

(b) a second program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

(d) a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses from the mobile communications device.

28. The mobile communications device of claim 27, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

29. The mobile communications device of claim 27, further comprising a display for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form.

30. The mobile communications device of claim 27, wherein the transmission information data is received from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

31. The mobile communications device of claim 27, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive a scanning beam for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

32. A mobile communications device for actively providing transmission information data to a bar code scanner, the device comprising:

(a) a program component for encoding transmission information data into a bar code format;

(b) a second program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format;

(c) an output facility for presenting representative information of the transmission information data on the mobile communications device; and

(d) a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses.

33. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the output facility is a speaker.

34. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

35. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the output facility comprises a display additionally being for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form.

36. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the transmission information data is acquired.

37. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the transmission information data is generated.

38. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

39. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum.

40. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source transmits the signal in an infra-red light spectrum.

41. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source is a display for transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising:

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

42. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

43. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

44. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source transmits the signal via turning an LED on and off.

45. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the light source transmits the signal via activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

46. The mobile communications device of claim 32, wherein the transmission information data is received from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

47. The mobile communications device of claim 32, further comprising a receiver adapted to receive a scanning beam for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

48. A system for actively providing transmission information data from a mobile communications device to a bar code scanner, the system comprising:

(a) a server for providing transmission information data;

(b) a mobile communications device including a light source for providing a signal as light pulses to a bar code scanner; and

(c) a host for providing communications between the server and the mobile communications device,

wherein the transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format, and the signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the server retrieves the transmission information data via one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a second server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

52. The system of claim 48, wherein the bar code format is received by the mobile communications device.

53. The system of claim 48, wherein the signal is received by the mobile communications device.

54. The system of claim 48, wherein the mobile communications device is adapted to receive a scanning beam to determine a scan rate of the scanning beam.

55. A system for actively providing transmission information data using a mobile communications device to a bar code scanner, the system comprising:

(a) a server for providing transmission information data;

(b) a mobile communications device including;

(i) a light source for providing a signal as light pulses to a bar code scanner, and

(ii) an output facility; and

(c) a host for providing communications between the server and the mobile communications device,

wherein the transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format, the signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format, and representative information of the transmission information data is presented on the output facility.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

57. The system of claim 55, wherein the output facility comprises a display for displaying the bar code format on the mobile communication device in a static visual form.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the transmission information data is acquired by the server.

59. The system of claim 55, wherein the transmission information data is generated by the server.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising of:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

61. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum.

62. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source transmits the signal in an infra-red light spectrum.

63. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source transmits the signal via altering one or more of the display attributes selected from the group comprising of:

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be accepted by a bar code scanner.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein at least one color is used by the light source that is adapted to be rejected by a bar code scanner.

66. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source transmits the signal via turning an LED on and off.

67. The system of claim 55, wherein the light source transmits the signal via activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

68. The system of claim 55, wherein the server retrieves the transmission information data via one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a second server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

69. The system of claim 55, wherein the bar code format is received by the mobile communications device.

70. The system of claim 55, wherein the signal is received by the mobile communications device.

71. The system of claim 55, wherein the mobile communications device is adapted to receive a scanning beam to determine a scan rate of the scanning beam.

72. The system of claim 55, wherein the output facility and the light source are the same.

73. A mobile communications device for actively providing information to a bar code scanner, the device comprising:

(a) encoding means for encoding the transmission information data into a bar code format;

(b) presentation means for presenting representative information of the transmission information data on a mobile communications device;

(c) generating means for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

(d) transmission means for transmitting the signal as light from a mobile communications device.

74. The mobile communications device of claim 73, further comprising identification means for identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

75. The mobile communications device of claim 73, wherein the bar code format is displayed on the presentation means in a static visual form.

76. The mobile communications device of claim 73, further comprising acquisition means for acquiring the transmission information data.