Customizing Barcode Images for Particular Displays

• US 20100149187A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Inventors: Smrzlic, Pero, Slavin, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,736,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• 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 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/60 Rotation of whole images or parts thereof

Abstract

Techniques for ensuring maximum readability of barcodes displayed in pixel displays. The techniques use the characteristics of the pixel display to determine the form of the barcode in the pixel display. Determination of the form includes determining a size of the barcode which renders the barcode'"'"'s elements easily readable by a barcode reader and a shape, and or orientation of the barcode in the display which permits the entire barcode to be displayed in the display. Additionally, in a barcode with redundant information, the amount of redundant information may be reduced in the displayed barcode. The techniques may be applied to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an image of a barcode in a pixel display belonging to a device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining an image form of a plurality of possible image forms of the barcode, the determined image form being readable by the barcode reader as displayed in the pixel display; and

causing the determined image form to be displayed in the pixel display.

2. The method of displaying an image of a barcode in a pixel display of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms differ in orientation in the display.

3. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 2 wherein:

the orientation of the determined image form is diagonal with regard to the pixel display.

4. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 3 wherein:

the barcode is a 1-dimensional barcode; and

the elements of the barcode in the determined image form are truncated as required for the diagonal orientation.

5. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a possible image form has a minimum display height in pixels and a minimum display length in pixels which render the possible image form readable by the barcode reader.

6. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 5 wherein:

the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode; and

the minimum display length is an integer multiple of a minimum length of the barcode, the minimum length being a length such that every element of the barcode is a single pixel wide.

7. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 6 wherein:

an element of a barcode which is readable by a barcode reader has a minimum element width; and

the minimum display length is an integer multiple of the minimum length such that the width in pixels of each element of the barcode in the possible image form is at least equal to the minimum element width.

8. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the determined image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

9. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 8 wherein:

the determined image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

10. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 8 wherein:

the determined image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.

11. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms differ in their shapes.

12. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 11 wherein:

the shapes include a shape in which redundant elements of the barcode are omitted.

13. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode which may have different shapes.

14. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the steps of the method are performed in the device to which the pixel display belongs.

15. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein

the device to which the pixel display device belongs is connected to a server via a network and the method further comprises the step of:

receiving a value to be represented by the barcode from the server.

16. A device which has a pixel display and is characterized in that:

the device performs the steps set forth in the method of claim 1.

17. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the steps of the method are performed in a server which has access to the device to which the pixel display belongs via a network.

18. The method set forth in claim 17 further comprising the step of:

obtaining information about the pixel display, the obtained information being employed in the step of determining the image form.

19. The method set forth in claim 18 wherein:

in the step of causing the determined image form to be displayed, the server provides the determined image form to the device.

20. A server, the server being characterized in that:

the server performs the steps set forth in the method of claim 1.

21. A method of making a pixel representation of a one-dimensional barcode for a pixel display such that when the pixel representation is displayed in the pixel display, the barcode is readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a minimum length of the one-dimensional barcode wherein each element of the one-dimensional barcode has a width of 1 pixel in the pixel display;

determining a minimum element width which each element of the one-dimensional barcode must have when displayed to be readable by the barcode reader; and

making the pixel representation by multiplying the minimum length by an integer amount such that the width in pixels of each element of the barcode in the pixel representation results in an element width of the element as displayed in the display device which is at least equal to the minimum element width.

22. A method of making a pixel representation of a two-dimensional barcode for a pixel display such that when the pixel representation is displayed in the pixel display, the barcode is readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display,

the method comprising the steps of:

determining a minimum size of the two-dimensional barcode wherein each element of the two-dimensional barcode has a size of 1 pixel in the pixel display;

determining a minimum element size which each element of the two-dimensional barcode must have when displayed to be readable by the barcode reader; and

making the pixel representation by expanding the minimum size by an integer amount such that the size in pixels of each element of the barcode in the pixel representation results in an element size of the element as displayed in the display device which is at least equal to the minimum element size.

23. A device which includes a pixel display in which a barcode is displayed for reading by a barcode reader, the barcode being displayable by the device using a plurality of possible image forms and the device being characterized in that:

the device displays an image form of the plurality thereof such that the displayed image form is readable by the barcode reader.

24. The device set forth in claim 23 wherein:

the displayed image form has an orientation in the pixel device such that the displayed image is readable by the barcode reader.

25. The device set forth in claim 24 wherein:

the orientation of the displayed image form is diagonal.

26. The device set forth in claim 23 wherein:

the barcode includes redundant information; and

the displayed image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

27. The device set forth in claim 23 wherein:

the barcode includes redundant information; and

the displayed image form omits at least part of the redundant information.

28. The device set forth in claim 23 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms have different shapes; and

the shape of the displayed image form is such that the displayed image is readable by the barcode reader.

29. The device set forth in claim 28 wherein:

the shape of the displayed image form is such that redundant information in the barcode is omitted from the displayed image.

30. A device which includes a pixel display in which an image of a barcode is displayed for reading by a barcode reader, the device being characterized in that:

the image of the barcode is displayed diagonally in the display device.

31. A device which includes a pixel display in which an image of a barcode is displayed for reading by a barcode reader, the device being characterized in that:

the barcode includes redundant information; and

the image of the barcode as displayed in the display device does not include at least a part of the redundant information.