Bar code scanner and software interface interlock

• US 20050060366A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: LV Partners LP (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Philyaw, Jeffry Jovan
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/93 which locates resources of other pieces of information, e.g. URL [Uniform Resource Locator]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

An interlocking architecture for a software interface and a bar code scanner. Upon power-up, a handshaking operation is performed between a scanner (1600) having a scanner processor (2600) and a computer processor (2612) of a computer (302) based upon the code stored in the NV memory (2602) of the scanner (1600) and a unique code associated with the software interface running on the computer (302). A wedge (1608) is provided as an interface mechanism for the scanner (1600) and a keyboard (1610) to a keyboard port (2500) of the computer (302). The handshaking occurs through the wedge (1608) via a keyboard interface (2610) to the processor (2600) such that a successful handshake directs the processor (2600) to engage a switch (2604) which enables power to a sensing head (2606) for read optically encoded information. The software interface operates from a computer memory (2614) associated with the processor (2612) whereby an unsuccessful handshake using unique number of the software interface by the processor (2612) sends a disabling signal though the keyboard circuit (2618) through the wedge (1608) to the scanner processor (2600) to disengage the switch (2604) to drop power to the sensor head (2606). The handshaking operation is performed on a regular basis during system power-up to ensure that the original software interface and scanner (1600) are still in use.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an input device to a computing device, the input device having a software interface, comprising the steps of:

providing an input device operable to allow a user to input information upon power being applied to the input device, which input device operates in an operating mode to allow the information to be input thereto;

connecting the input device to a computing device which operates the software interface for processing the information received from the input device;

performing an encrypted handshaking operation between the software interface and the input device to allow the input device to continue in the operating mode to read the input information; and

if the handshaking operation fails, disabling the operability of the if the input device is in the operating mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing is performed in a local mode where the handshaking operation is enabled locally on a periodic basis during operation of the input device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing is performed in a remote mode where the handshaking operation is enabled remotely by an enabling signal on a periodic basis during operation of the input device from a registration server disposed on a network common to the computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer is automatically logged in to the server using the software interface during operation in the remote mode to receive the enabling signal.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of registering in the remote mode such that first-time operation of the software interface requires registering the software interface and the by providing user profile information of the user and both of a unique number for the software interface and a unique number for the input device to the registration server, in response to which the registration server provides the enabling signal for operation of the input device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, subsequent to the step of registering, and when operating in the remote mode, the computer is automatically logged in to the registration server to perform a matching operation at the registration server with the unique number of the software interface and a registration database, and transmitting the enabling signal to the computer in response to a successful match.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device is a scanner operable to scan input scannable information.

8. An architecture for controlling an input device with a software interface, comprising:

an input device operable to allow a user to input scannable information and having an operating mode for allowing the user to input the information, which operating mode can be disabled;

a software interface operable to run on a computer which interfaces to the input device, said software interface communicating with the input device to interpret the input information wherein the input device is in the operating mode;

wherein an encrypted handshaking operation is performed between said software interface and said input device to allow the input device to continue in the operating mode to read the input information and said software interface operable to disable the operating mode of said input device if the handshaking operation fails.

9. The architecture of claim 8, wherein in a local mode, the handshaking operation is enabled locally on a periodic basis during operation of said input device.

10. The architecture of claim 8, wherein in a remote mode, the handshaking operation is enabled remotely by an enabling signal on a periodic basis during operation of said input device from a registration server disposed on a network common to the computer.

11. The architecture of claim 10, wherein the computer is automatically logged in to the server using the software interface during operation in the remote mode to receive the enabling signal.

12. The architecture of claim 10, wherein first-time operation of the software interface in the remote mode requires registering the software interface and said scanner by providing user profile information and both of a unique number for said software interface and a unique number for said input device to the registration server, in response to which the registration server provides the enabling signal for operation of said input device.

13. The architecture of claim 12, wherein the computer is automatically logged in to the registration server when operating in the remote mode to perform a matching operation at the registration server with the unique number of the software interface and a registration database, and transmitting the enabling signal to the computer in response to a successful match.

14. The architecture of claim 8, wherein said input device comprises a scanner for scanning scannable information.