Simplified bar code decoding with dynamically loadable data character sets
First Claim
1. A method of decoding a 2-D bar code in a bar code reader, comprising the steps of:
- (a) loading into said bar code reader, prior to step (b), a loadable correlation listing correlating decoded values of bar/space patterns to corresponding data characters;
(b) selecting, prior to step (h), between said loadable correlation listing and a default correlation listing available in said bar code reader;
(c) reading a plurality of bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code and deriving corresponding sequence data;
(d) processing said sequence data corresponding to a bar/space pattern to provide a numerical value representative thereof;
(e) utilizing said step (d) numerical value as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern, if said numerical value does not exceed a predetermined number;
(f) converting said step (d) numerical value to a corresponding number, if said numerical value exceeds said predetermined number, and utilizing said corresponding number as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern;
(g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for other bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code to provide decoded values thereof;
(h) utilizing the correlation listing selected in step (b) to correlate each of a plurality of said decoded values as provided in steps (e), (f) and (g) to a corresponding data character; and
(i) providing a decoded bar code signal representative of the corresponding data characters from step (h).
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Accused Products
Abstract
The reading and decoding of two-dimensional bar codes in a bar code reader are simplified and field loading of different data character sets is enabled. Decoding of bar/space patterns of a bar code is simplified by deriving T-sequence data representative of the bar/space pattern and then processing a majority of the T-sequences directly into decoded values representative of the bar/space pattern. Dynamic loading of new data character sets fully or partially superseding a factory installed default character set correlation listing is enabled by use of loadable correlation listings keyed to foreign language characters, symbols, words or phrases relevant to particular applications. The loadable correlation listings can be encoded into a two-dimensional bar code and loaded via a reading of the bar code by the bar code reader.
40 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of decoding a 2-D bar code in a bar code reader, comprising the steps of:
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(a) loading into said bar code reader, prior to step (b), a loadable correlation listing correlating decoded values of bar/space patterns to corresponding data characters; (b) selecting, prior to step (h), between said loadable correlation listing and a default correlation listing available in said bar code reader; (c) reading a plurality of bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code and deriving corresponding sequence data; (d) processing said sequence data corresponding to a bar/space pattern to provide a numerical value representative thereof; (e) utilizing said step (d) numerical value as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern, if said numerical value does not exceed a predetermined number; (f) converting said step (d) numerical value to a corresponding number, if said numerical value exceeds said predetermined number, and utilizing said corresponding number as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern; (g) repeating steps (d), (e) and (f) for other bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code to provide decoded values thereof; (h) utilizing the correlation listing selected in step (b) to correlate each of a plurality of said decoded values as provided in steps (e), (f) and (g) to a corresponding data character; and (i) providing a decoded bar code signal representative of the corresponding data characters from step (h). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of decoding a 2-D bar code in a bar code reader, comprising the steps of:
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(a) loading into said bar code reader, prior to step (f), a loadable correlation listing correlating decoded values of bar/space patterns to corresponding data characters; (b) reading a plurality of bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code and deriving corresponding sequence data; (c) processing said sequence data corresponding to a bar/space pattern to provide a numerical value representative thereof; (d) utilizing said step (c) numerical value to provide a decoded value for said bar/space pattern; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) for other bar/space patterns of said bar code to provide decoded values thereof; and (f) utilizing said correlation listing to correlate each of a plurality of said decoded values as provided in steps (d) and (e) to a corresponding data character. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of decoding a 2-D bar code in a bar code reader comprising the steps of:
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(a) reading a plurality of bar/space patterns of a bar code and deriving corresponding sequence data; (b) processing said sequence data corresponding to a bar/space pattern to provide a numerical value representative thereof; (c) utilizing said step (b) numerical value as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern, if said numerical value does not exceed a predetermined number; (d) converting said step (b) numerical value to a corresponding number, if said numerical value exceeds said predetermined number, and utilizing said corresponding number as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern; and (e) repeating steps (b), (c) and (d) for other bar/space patterns of said bar code to provide decoded values thereof. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of decoding a 2-D bar code in a bar code reader comprising the steps of:
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(a) loading into said bar code reader, prior to step (g), a loadable correlation listing correlating decoded values of bar/space patterns to corresponding data characters; (b) reading a plurality of bar/space patterns of said 2-D bar code and deriving corresponding sequence data; (c) processing said sequence data corresponding to a bar/space pattern to provide a numerical value representative thereof; (d) utilizing said step (c) numerical value as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern, if said numerical value does not exceed a predetermined number; (e) converting said step (c) numerical value to a corresponding number, if said numerical value exceeds said predetermined number, and utilizing said corresponding number as the decoded value of said bar/space pattern; (f) repeating steps (c), (d) and (e) for other bar/space patterns of said bar code to provide decoded values thereof; and (g) utilizing said correlation listing to correlate each of said decoded values as provided in steps (d), (e) and (f) to a corresponding data character. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification