Method and apparatus for transforming digitally encoded data into printed data strips

• US 4,754,127 A
• Filed: 05/08/1987
• Issued: 06/28/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Softstrip, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cauzin Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Glaberson, John, Brass, Robert L., Mason, Richard W., Roth, G. Thomas, Santulli, Scott, Feero, William M., Balaska, Richard K. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, John G.
• Application Number:
  US07/047,681
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 235/456, 364/200, 364/900
• US Class Current: 235/456
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/121 by printing code marks applying code marks to labels B65C9/46; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26

Abstract

A data strip (2) of predetermined size is made (a) by determining the total nibbles of digital information to be encoded and the maximum number of integral nibbles per data line (14), using predetermined minimum dibit dimensions, after allowing for parity checks, alignment guides (32,36), and a start line (28), (b) by increasing the dibit dimensions to achieve the predetermined size, and adjusting the bit size to account for ink spread, and (c) by preparing a reader instruction header (16) containing coded specifications as to the data strip format. These factors are interdependent and must be correlated to provide a final data strip (2) satisfying all the predetermined criteria.

An associated printer (64) prints the data strip (2) with a header (16) and a data portion (12) in the determined format. The printer (64) may be a dot matrix printer which prints a data strip having the full width of the printer, which is then reduced photographically to increase the accuracy of the final data strip (2); or a laser or dot matrix printer can be used to print in the finished size.

Claims

1. The method of transforming data stored in a digital memory of a computer system into a printed data strip having a data portion encoded in multiple data lines containing double bits or dibits of information and a header, said printed strip conforming to predetermined dimensional criteria and optical reader operating system specifications, said method including

(a) Determining:

(1) The minimum acceptable height and width of said dibits,

(2) The number of nibbles of data or the desired multiple-dibit integral unit size to be used by said reader and the number of said units of data in said stored data, and

(3) The desired width and height of the proposed said data strip,

(b) Calculating the maximum number of nibbles or said integral units that can fit on a data line within said dimensional criteria and the resulting total number of data lines needed to encode said stored data in said proposed printed data strip,

(c) Increasing the size of said double bits or dibits as required to cause the resulting said printed data strip to meet said dimensional criteria,

(d) Formatting a header for said proposed printed data strip which contains computer-readable information disclosing the height and width of double bits or dibits used in said data lines, and the number of said nibbles or said integral units per line; and

(e) Outputting said data strip including said header and said data portion in the above-determined format.

2. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of initially printing said data strip in a size larger than said predetermined dimensional criteria and thereafter photographically reducing said printed data strip to make its dimensions conform to said predetermined dimensional criteria for said data strip.

3. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 1 including the step of increasing the size of said dibits by increasing the height thereof.

4. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 1 including adjusting the size of bits in said dibits, before printing to allow for ink spread.

5. The method of transforming data stored in a digital memory of a computer system in a printed data strip having a data portion encoded in multiple data lines containing double bits or dibits of information and a header, said strip conforming to predetermined dimensional criteria and optical reader operating system specifications, said method including

(a) Determining:

(1) The minimum acceptable height and width of said dibits,

(2) The number of nibbles of data to be used by said reader and the number of units of data in said stored data, and

(3) The desired width and height of the proposed said printed data strip,

(b) Calculating the maximum number of nibbles that can fit on a data line within said dimensional criteria and the resulting total number of data lines needed to encode said stored data in said proposed printed data strip,

(c) Increasing the size of said double bits or dibits as required to cause the resulting said printed data strip to meet said dimensional criteria,

(d) Formatting a header for said proposed data strip which contains computer-readable information disclosing the height and width of double bits or dibits used in said data lines, and the number of said nibbles per line; and

(e) outputting said printed data strip including said header and said data portion in the above-determined format.

6. The method of transforming data stored in a digital memory of a computer system in a printed data strip having a data portion encoded in multiple data lines containing double bits or dibits of information and a header, said strip conforming to predetermined width criteria and optical reader operating system specifications, said method including

(a) Determining:

(1) The minimum acceptable width of said dibits,

(2) The number of nibbles of data to be used by said reader and the number of units of data in said stored data, and

(3) The desired width and height of the proposed said printed data strip,

(b) Calculating the maximum number of nibbles that can fit on a data line within said dimensional criteria and the resulting total number of data lines needed to encode said stored data in said proposed printed data strip,

(c) Increasing the size of said double bits or dibits as required to cause the resulting said printed data strip to meet said width criteria,

(d) Formatting a header for said proposed data strip which contains computer-readable information disclosing the height and width of double bits or dibits used in said data lines, and the number of said nibbles per line; and

(e) outputting said printed data strip including said header and said data portion in the above-determined format.

7. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 6 including the steps of initially printing said data strip in a size larger than said predetermined dimensional criteria and thereafter photographically reducing said printed data strip to make its dimensions conform to said predetermined dimensional criteria for said data strip.

8. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 6 including the step of increasing the size of said dibits by increasing the height thereof.

9. The method of transforming stored data as set forth in claim 6 including adjusting the size of bits in said dibits, before printing, to allow for ink spread.

10. The method of transforming data stored in a digital memory of a computer system into a printed data strip having a data portion encoded in multiple data lines containing double bits or dibits of information and a header, said printed strip conforming to predetermined width criteria and optical reader operating system specifications, said method including

(a) Determining:

(1) The minimum acceptable width of said dibits,

(2) The number of multiple-dibit integral in said stored data, and

(3) The desired width of the proposed said data strip,

(b) Calculating the maximum number of said integral units that can fit on a data line within said width criteria and the resulting total number of data lines needed to encode said stored data in said proposed printed data strip,

(c) Increasing the size of said double bits or dibits as required to cause the resulting said printed data strip to meet said width criteria,

(d) Formatting a header for said proposed printed data strip which contains computer-readable information disclosing the height and width of double bits or dibits used in said data lines, and the number of said integral units per line; and

(e) Outputting said data strip including said header and said data portion in the above-determined format.