Vehicle license plate indicia scanning

• US 20080116282A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharra, Ronda D., Romanchik, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,403,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]

Abstract

A method of reading information bearing indicia comprising the steps of: scanning indicia on a vehicular license plate utilizing an indicia reader; decoding the data; and, utilizing the decoded data to retrieve information regarding the vehicle and/or vehicle operator from a remote database.

Claims

1. A method of reading information bearing indicia comprising the steps of:

scanning indicia on a vehicular license plate utilizing an indicia reader and providing data representative thereof;

decoding the data to provide decoded data; and

,

utilizing the decoded data to retrieve information regarding the vehicle and/or vehicle operator from a database.

2. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indicia reader is at least one of the following:

a laser scanner; and

an optical indicia reader.

3. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 1, wherein the scanning is performed at a roadside point.

4. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of capturing a digital image with the indicia reader and archiving the digital image.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein archiving is for at least one of the following:

statutory requirements;

future identification;

process compliance; and

forms completion.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indicia reader comprises an image sensor and further comprising the step of operating the image sensor in the full frame exposure mode.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the decoded data is utilized for forms completion at the roadside point.

8. An indicia reader for use at a roadside point comprising:

an imager for reading indicia on a vehicle license plate and capturing an image of the vehicle or vehicle operator for archival purposes, wherein the imager comprises a sensor array and a controller for operating the sensor array in full frame exposure mode.

9. A method of reading indicia having encrypted data provided therein comprising the steps of:

scanning indicia on a vehicular license plate utilizing an indicia reader;

recognizing the presence of encrypted data in the indicia;

retrieving an appropriate encryption key for decrypting the encrypted data;

decrypting the data utilizing the encryption key; and

,

decoding the decrypted data.

11. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from a host device in communication with the indicia reader.

10. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from firmware in the indicia reader.

12. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from the indicia.

13. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, wherein the scanning is performed at a point of transaction.

14. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of loading an encryption key into the indicia reader from a host device.

15. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 11, wherein the indicia also provides unencrypted data.

16. An indicia reader capable of reading indicia having encrypted data provided therein comprising:

a reader for scanning indicia on a vehicle license plate;

a controller for;

recognizing the presence of encrypted data in the indicia;

retrieving an appropriate encryption key for decrypting the encrypted data;

decrypting the data utilizing the encryption key; and

, decoding the decrypted data.

17. An indicia reader in accordance with claim 18, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from firmware in the indicia reader.

18. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 16, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from a host device in communication with the indicia reader.

19. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 16, wherein the encryption key is retrieved from the indicia.

20. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 16, wherein the encryption key is loaded into the indicia reader from a host device.

21. A method of reading indicia in accordance with claim 16, wherein the controller also decodes unencrypted data from the indicia.

22. An indicia reading system comprising:

an indicia reader for scanning information bearing indicia on a vehicular license plate;

a host device for decoding the data; and

,

a remote server for utilizing the decoded data to retrieve information regarding the vehicle and/or vehicle operator and sending the retrieved information to the host device.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the indicia reader is at least one of the following:

a laser scanner; and

an optical indicia reader.

24. A system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the scanning is performed at a roadside point.

25. A system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the indicia reader captures a digital image of the vehicle and/or vehicle operator for archival purposes.

26. A system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the decoded data is utilized for forms completion at the roadside point.

27. A system in accordance with claim 22, wherein the indicia reader comprises an image sensor operated in full frame exposure mode.