ADD-ON CAPTURE RATE IN A BARCODE SCANNING SYSTEM

• US 20040084530A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalogic Scanning Incorporated (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: PSC Scanning, Inc. (Datalogic ADC Incorporated)
• Inventors: McQueen, Alexander M., Cherry, Craig D., Turkal, Randy J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,729,603 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• 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: G06K 7/1434 Barcodes with supplemental or add-on codes

Abstract

A scanner system and method for improving the capture rate of reading labels with add-ons without sacrificing throughput with respect to non-add-on labels, the scanner including a mode in which the scanner “learns” over time which base label codes will have associated add-ons. At first, the required number of reads of base label information is set to a programmable number that is very low, and is preferably one. As the scanner successfully reads both a base label and its add-on data, the base label data is stored in a list in the scanner'"'"'s memory and the required number of reads of this particular base label is increased to a second programmable number which is higher than the first and preferably high enough to obtain a reasonable add-on capture rate. Future scans of a base label corresponding to that of one in the list store will result in additional read attempts to ensure the capture of add-on information while the initial low number of reads remains in tact with respect to non-add-on labels. Thus, first pass read rate is preserved where possible and throughput is optimized. Base label statistics on successful base label and associated add-on reads, as well as ordering and selective storage of base label information based on frequency of base label occurrence may also be provided to further optimize performance while reducing system requirements.

Claims

1. In a system for reading labels by one or more optical scans, a method of label recognition comprising the steps of:

identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

determining whether the label data further comprises add-on data;

storing base label data for label data determined to comprise both base label data and add-on data in a list, such that the list comprises base label data with respect to which add-on data is expected to be associated; and

adjusting a minimum number of reads required for base label data in the list so as to allow for capture of add-on data without sacrificing throughput of base label data without add-on data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of storing base label data further comprises the step of storing a type of add-on data expected to be associated with the base label data.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of storing base label data further comprises the step of storing statistics in relation to the base label data stored.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the statistics stored comprise the number of times each base label data in the list has been read.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the statistics stored comprise the number of times an add-on has been read in association with each base label data in the list.

6. A system for reading barcode labels wherein some labels include add-on data, comprising:

a processor for identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

means for determining whether the label data further comprises add-on data; and

a list store for storing base label data in relation to label data which further comprises add-on data based upon the determination from said determining means wherein data from said list store is utilized with respect to new label scans to adjust a minimum number of reads of base label data in relation to labels in the list store so as to allow for capture of add-on data without sacrificing throughput of base label data without add-on data.

7. In a barcode scanner system, a method of recognizing scanned labels incorporating base label data and add-on data, comprising the steps of:

associating a first minimum number of required base label data reads with each label to be scanned irrespective of whether add-on data is incorporated;

scanning new labels;

determining which new labels comprise add-on data in association with base label data;

storing label information for each first occurrence of a new label determined to comprise add-on data in association with base label data; and

associating a second minimum number of required base label data reads with each label determined to comprise add-on data in association with base label data.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the second minimum number of required base label data reads comprises the first minimum number plus an add-on attempt count number.

9. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

obtaining an individual read of at least base label data from a scanned new label;

identifying whether label information has been stored in relation to the base label data read; and

systematically requiring additional reads of at least base label data from a scanned new label such that reads comprising base label data only are obtained the first minimum number of read times for base label data for which label information is not identified as stored and the second minimum number of read times for base label data for which label information has been identified as stored.

10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

associating a minimum number of required add-on data reads with each stored label information;

identifying add-on data associated with base label data in the individual read obtained;

accepting scanned new labels after the second number of required base label data reads and the minimum number of required add-on data reads where the scanned new labels are determined to comprise add-on data in association with base label data;

accepting scanned new labels after the second number of required base label data reads where label information is identified as stored in relation to the base label data while add-on data has not been identified in association with base label data in the individual reads obtained; and

accepting scanned new labels after the first number of required base label data reads where label information is not stored in relation to base label data and add-on data has not been identified in association with base label data in the individual reads obtained.

11. In a barcode scanner system, a system for recognizing scanned labels incorporating base label and add-on data comprising:

a decoder for providing reads of label information comprising base label data and label information comprising both base label data and add-on data;

learning means for identifying and storing label information associated with reads of label information comprising base label data and add-on data; and

,

a processor for adjusting minimum base label data read requirements based upon identified and stored information from said learning means such that a higher number of minimum reads is associated with base label data corresponding to identified and stored information from said learning means than with other base label data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said learning means further comprises non-volatile memory storage means for storing information regarding base label data associated with reads of label information comprising base label data and add-on data.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said learning means further comprises Random Access Memory storage means for storing information regarding base label data associated with reads of label information comprising base label data and add-on data.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the information stored by said learning means includes base label data and add-on data.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the information stored by said learning means further includes total base reads and total add-on reads.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor further adjusts minimum base label data read requirements based upon statistics obtained from stored information from said learning means.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor further adjusts add-on data read requirements based upon statistics obtained from stored information from said learning means.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein stored information from said learning means is modified based upon statistics obtained from the stored information.

19. In a barcode scanner system, a method for recognizing scanned labels incorporating base label data and add-on data without sacrificing throughput with respect to scanned labels incorporating base label data without add-on data comprising the steps of:

obtaining reads of decoded label information comprising only base label data and decoded label information comprising both base label data and add-on data;

learning which base label data from the obtained reads of decoded label information is associated with add-on data and storing label information associated with reads of label information comprising both base label data and add-on data; and

,

systematically adjusting minimum base label data read requirements based upon learned and stored label information such that a higher number of minimum reads is associated with base label data corresponding to identified and stored information from said learning means than with other base label data.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the information stored includes base label data and add-on type label data.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the information stored includes total base reads and total add-on reads.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of adjusting minimum base label data read requirements based upon statistics obtained from information stored.

23. The system of claim 21 further comprising the step of adjusting add-on data read requirements based upon statistics obtained from information stored.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising the step of modifying stored information based upon statistics obtained from the stored information.

25. In a system for reading labels by one or more optical scans, a method of label recognition comprising the steps of:

formulating a list of base label data for which add-on data is expected to be associated;

identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

determining whether the base label data identified is in the list;

setting a first minimum number of reads required for base label data determined not to be in the list;

setting a second minimum number of reads, greater than the first minimum number, required for base label data determined to be in the list.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of

if the base label data is determined not to be in the list, adding the base label data to the list.

27. A method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of

if the base label data is determined not to be in the list, adding the base label data to the list.

28. In a system for reading labels by one or more optical scans, a method of label recognition comprising the steps of:

formulating a list of base label data for which add-on data is expected to be associated;

identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

determining whether the base label data identified is in the list;

requiring a greater number of minimum reads for base label data determined to be in the list than for base label data determined to not be in the list.

29. In a system for reading labels by one or more optical scans, a method of label recognition comprising the steps of:

formulating a list of base label data for which add-on data is expected to be associated;

identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

determining whether the base label data identified is in the list;

if the base label data is determined not to be in the list, setting a first timeout to allow continued searching for add-on data;

if the base label data is determined to be in the list, setting a second timeout, greater than the first timeout, to allow continued searching for add-on data.

30. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of

if the base label data is determined not to be in the list, adding the base label data to the list.

31. A method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of removing a base label from the list.

32. A method according to claim 31 wherein said base label is removed from the list if the base label has not been scanned for a selected period of time.

33. In a system for reading labels by one or more optical scans, a method of label recognition comprising the steps of:

formulating a list of base label data for which add-on data is expected to be associated;

identifying label data comprising at least base label data;

determining whether the base label data identified is in the list;

setting a greater timeout for continued searching of add-on data where the base label data is determined to be in the list than where the base label data is determined to not be in the list.

34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of

if the base label data is determined not to be in the list, adding the base label data to the list.