System for reading, storing and using bar-encoded data from a coded business card or other printed material

• US 5,483,052 A
• Filed: 12/07/1993
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herbert J. Smith III, Thomas G. White Jr
• Original Assignee: Herbert J. Smith III, Thomas G. White Jr
• Inventors: White, Thomas G. Jr., Smith, Herbert J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/162,626
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472, 235/462, 235/380, 235/487, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/462.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners

Abstract

A system for reading, storing and using data from a business card or other printed material comprises a business card or other printed material having high density bar-encoded data imprinted thereon, the data being divided into discrete fields; a bar code reader adapted to read the bar-encoded data; and a computer coupled to the reader for storing and manipulating the data with respect to the fields.

Claims

1. A system for reading and storing data from a business card, comprising:

a) a business card having printed business data and a bar code containing said business data, said data being divided into discrete fields;

b) a portable bar code reader adapted to read said bar code;

c) a computer coupled to said reader for storing and manipulating said data with respect to said fields and providing an output report;

d) said reader including means for storing and downloading the read data to said computer;

e) said reader is pen-shaped having a removable cap; and

f) said cap including said storage and downloading means.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said bar code is two-dimensional.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said bar code is disposed on one corner of said business card.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said business data includes at least a person'"'"'s name, address and telephone number.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said business card is made of plastic.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said computer is a personal electronic organizer.

7. A method for collecting data from a printed material, comprising the steps of:

a) imprinting a printed material with data;

b) imprinting the printed material with a bar code containing the data;

c) scanning the bar-encoded information with a portable pen-shaped bar code reader having a removable cap;

d) storing the read data in said cap;

e) downloading the read data from the reader to a computer;

f) sorting the data in the computer; and

g) generating an output of the sorted data.

8. A system for reading, storing and using data from an encoded printed material, comprising:

a) a printed material having printed data and a bar code containing said data, said data being divided into discrete fields;

b) a portable pen-shaped bar code reader adapted to read said bar code;

c) said reader including means for storing and downloading the read data to said computer;

d) said reader is pen-shaped having a removable cap; and

e) said cap including said storage and downloading means.

c) a computer coupled to said reader for storing and manipulating said data with respect to said fields and providing an output report.

9. A portable bar code reader, comprising:

a) a pen-shaped housing including a removable cap;

b) a scanner disposed within said housing;

c) means disposed within said cap for storing the scanned data; and

d) means associated with said cap for downloading the stored data into a computer.

10. A portable bar code reader as in claim 9, wherein:

a) said housing includes a power supply for said scanner.

11. A portable bar code reader as in claim 9, wherein:

a) said cap includes a power supply for said storing means.