XML PRINTER SYSTEM WITH RFID CAPABILITY

• US 20090321513A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Alleshouse, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An XML system is configured to print bar code labels, tags, tickets, cards, or other media, and/or encode RFID devices embedded in media, based upon an extensible markup language (XML) input data stream. The XML system includes a computer system operatively coupled to a network. The computer system further includes an XML processor configured to receive, parse, and process an XML input data stream and obtain schema identified in the XML data stream from a schema repository. The XML processor validates the XML data stream based upon the schema obtained. Also included is an XSLT processor configured to obtain a stylesheet identified in the XML data stream from a stylesheet repository. The XSLT processor transforms data in the XML input data stream into transformed XML data based upon the stylesheet obtained. Also, an XSLFO processor formats the transformed XML data into formatted XML data based upon XSLFO instructions contained in the stylesheet. A barcode rendering subsystem then receives the formatted XML data and generates a bit map representative of the bar code label. Alternatively, the system includes an XML processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream, a ZPL processor configured to receive and process a format template, a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template, a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and a barcode rendering engine configured to generate a printable representation of the bar code label, tag, ticket, card, other media, and/or generate encoding information for an RFID device.

Claims

1. An XML system adapted for printing bar code labels, tags, tickets, cards or other media and/or for encoding of RFED devices embedded in the media, based upon an extensible markup language (XML) input data stream and a format template, the XML system comprising:

a computer system having

a memory subsystem;

a communication interface operatively coupled to a network;

an XML processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream;

a ZPL processor configured to receive and process the format template;

a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template;

a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template; and

a barcode rendering engine configured to receive the associated and formatted XML data and generate a printable representation of the bar code label, tag, ticket, card or other media and/or generate encoding information for the RFED device.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the XML processor generates a plurality of events based upon commands embedded in the format template.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the events are selected from the group consisting of a set printer speed event, set quantity of labels to print event, select media event, select ribbon to use event, choose paper event, use 300 dpi printer event, use 600 dpi printer event, and variable data event.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the format template is sent to the XML processor and saved for use with downloaded XML data, the XML data download at a subsequent time.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the format template is a ZPL-based format template.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the computer system reads data encoded in the RFID device.

7. The system according to claim 1 further including a host computer operatively coupled to the network.

8. The system according to claim 6 further including a host computer operatively coupled to the network.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the data read from the RFID device is transmitted to the host computer.

10. The system according to claim 1 further including a printer operatively coupled to the computer system.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the printer is controlled according to a ZPL-based printer control language.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein the printer is controlled according to a non-ZPL-based printer control language.