Barcode Device

• US 20080191023A1
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reflection Code LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scott C Harris
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• 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 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

reading a barcode that has multiple parts including a first one-dimensional barcode part and a second two-dimensional barcode part, wherein said first one-dimensional barcode part encodes a first set of information including plural different items of information, and said second two-dimensional barcode part encodes a second set of information including plural different items of information, wherein the least one of said plural different items of information within said first set of information represents the same information as at least one of said items of information within said set of second information, and where said second set of information also includes additional items of information beyond that in said first set of information;

checking plural items of information within a barcode part using a checking function that operates to determine whether information represented by said barcode part represents valid information; and

based on said checking, using information from said barcode part when said checking indicates that said information is valid, and not using said information when said checking indicates that said information is not valid.

2. A method as in claim 1, where said using comprises sending information based on reading said barcode part to a remote database over a channel, and receiving information from said database beyond that read from said bar code part.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said reading comprises reading the barcode using a hand-held device which includes a display screen.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising receiving information from said database, and displaying an indication received from said database on said display screen, said information displayed on said display screen being at least one information item of information different than that read from said bar code.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said bar code includes acceptance information.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said bar code defines a total area occupied by both said first and second barcode parts, and where said first barcode part occupies substantially 25% of the total area and said second barcode part occupies substantially 75% of the total bar-code area.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein information in the first barcode part and in the second barcode part both represent information about the item.

8. A method as in claim 2, wherein said sending comprises sending the information over the Internet.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the information from said reading is presented as part of a website address.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein said reading comprises reading the barcode to obtain a first set of digits representative of a first information part in the first barcode part, which first information part is also present in the second barcode part, and to obtain a second set of digits representing a second information part from said first barcode part, which second information part is also present in the second barcode part, and further comprising concatenating said first information part and said second information part as part of said using.

17. A method as in claim 10, wherein information obtained from the barcode represents a web address.

11. A method, comprising:

reading a barcode that has multiple parts including a first one-dimensional barcode part including at least one item of information encoded therein, a second two-dimensional barcode part that includes at least multiple items of information encoded therein;

first reading one of said barcode parts to obtain a first item of information from said one barcode part, where said first item of information is also present in said second barcode part;

second reading said one barcode part to obtain a second item of information from said one barcode part that is different than said first item of information, where said second item of information is also present in said second barcode part;

concatenating said first item of information with said second item of information to obtain an overall information part; and

using the overall information part formed from said concantenating as representative of the barcode scan.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein said first one-dimensional bar-code part and said second two-dimensional barcode part each represent information about an item associated with the barcode.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein said reading is carried out using a hand-held computer based device which includes a display screen.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising sending said concatenated information part from said handheld device to a remote database.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said sending comprises sending said concantenated information part over the Internet to the remote database.

16. A method as in claim 14, further comprising receiving information from the remote database, and displaying said received information on the display screen of the device.

18. A method as in claim 15, further comprising using the information from the barcode to access the Web address.

19. A method as in claim 11, further comprising checking the multiple items using a checking function that determines if one of the barcode parts is valid, and which allows the code to be used for said using, only if the code is valid.

20. A method as in claim 11, wherein said information from the code comprises acceptance information.

21. A method, comprising:

reading a barcode that has multiple parts including a first one-dimensional barcode part and a second two-dimensional barcode part, wherein said first one-dimensional barcode part encodes a first set of information including plural different items of information, and said second two-dimensional barcode part encodes a second set of information including plural different items of information, wherein the least one of said plural different items of information within said first set of information represents the same information as at least one of said items of information within said set of second information, and where said second set of information also includes additional items of information beyond that in said first set of information;

sending information based on reading said barcode part to a remote database over a channel; and

receiving information from said database over the channel, beyond that read from said bar code part;

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said reading comprises reading the barcode using a hand-held device which includes a display screen.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein said bar code includes acceptance information.

24. A method as in claim 21, further comprising checking plural items of information within a barcode part using a checking function that operates to determine whether information represented by said barcode part represents valid information;

and

based on said checking, using information from said barcode part when said checking indicates that said information is valid, and not sending said information over said channel when said checking indicates that said information is not valid.

25. A method as in claim 21, wherein said reading comprises reading the barcode to obtain a first set of digits representative of a first information part in the first barcode part, which first information part is also present in the second barcode part, and to obtain a second set of digits representing a second information part from said first barcode part, which second information part is also present in the second barcode part, and further comprising concatenating said first information part and said second information part.

26. A barcode reading system, comprising:

a hand-held device barcode reading device which includes a display screen, which reads a barcode, and checks plural items of information within a barcode part using a checking function that operates to determine whether information represented by said barcode part represents valid information, and if said checking determines that the barcode represents valid information, sends information based on reading said barcode part to a remote database over a channel, and receives information from said database beyond that read from said bar code part, but does not send said information if said checking functions determines that the barcode does not represent valid information.

27. A system as in claim 26, wherein said handheld device further displays an indication received from said database on said display screen, said information displayed on said display screen being at least one information item of information different than that read from said barcode.

28. A system as in claim 26, wherein said handheld device reads acceptance information from said barcode.

29. A system as in claim 26, wherein said handheld device further reads the barcode to obtain a first set of digits representative of a first information part, and to obtain a second set of digits representing a second information part and further concatenating said first information part and said second information part.

30. A barcode reading system, comprising:

a handheld reader with a display that reads a barcode, sends information based on reading said barcode part over a channel, receives information from the channel, and displays on said display information based on the barcode, but which is information beyond that information contained within the barcode.