Apparatus and method for verifying a shelf tag

• US 5,721,421 A
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bass, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bass, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: VanDonkelaar, Jon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, FANNIE L
• Application Number:
  US08/680,439
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/462.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A shelf tag verifying apparatus having a portable terminal unit in radio communication with a base station and in acoustic wave communication with a nearby bar code reader. The bar code reader reads a bar code printed upon a product which rests upon shelving marked by a tag requiring verification. A decoder mounted within the bar code reader generates a binary product code corresponding to the bar code and appends a check code. A SAWR transmitter then transmits the binary product code and the check code to an ASH receiver mounted in the terminal unit. A microprocessor mounted in the terminal unit verifies the check code and generates a query for radio transmission to the base station, whereupon the base station responds with information for verification of the shelf tag.

Claims

1. Shelf tag verification apparatus comprising:

(a) a portable product code reader including;

(1) a scanner for scanning a product marked by a machine readable identifying code and generating an analog signal corresponding to light and dark gradations thereof,

(2) a decoder connected to said scanner for receiving said analog signal, generating a corresponding binary product code, and calculating a check code based upon said binary product code and a predetermined reference code,

(3) a surface acoustic wave resonator connected for generating a radio frequency signal and using said binary product code and said check code to modulate said radio frequency signal; and

(b) a hand-held terminal unit including;

(1) an amplifier sequenced hybrid receiver for receiving said radio frequency signal and reproducing said binary product code and said check code,

(2) a microprocessor connected to said amplifier sequenced hybrid receiver for receiving said binary product code, calculating a verifying code therefor, comparing said verifying code against said check code and unloading said binary product code in the event of a satisfactory check,

(3) a radio transmitter connected for receiving said binary product code from said microprocessor and transmitting a corresponding radio signal to a base station,

(4) a radio receiver for receiving a responsive radio transmission from a base station and supplying said responsive radio transmission to said microprocessor, and

(5) an indicating device connected to said microprocessor for creating an indication of said responsive radio transmission in a form recognizable to a human operator.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an audio unit mounted in said terminal unit for generating an audio signal to indicate successful verification of said binary product code by said microprocessor.

3. Apparatus for product identification comprising:

(a) a scanner for scanning a product marked by a machine readable identifying code and generating an analog signal corresponding to light and dark gradations thereof,

(b) a decoder fixed to said scanner for receiving said analog signal and generating a corresponding binary product code and a check code therefor,

(c) a surface acoustic wave resonator connected for receiving said binary product code and said check code and radiating a corresponding radio frequency message,

(d) an amplifier sequenced hybrid receiver for receiving said radio frequency message, and

(e) a microprocessor for verifying said check code and selectively processing said binary product code when said check code is satisfactorily verified.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a radio transmitter connected for receiving said binary product code from said microprocessor and transmitting a corresponding radio signal to a base station.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising an audio unit for generating a distinctive sound when said microprocessor has verified said check code.

6. A method of verifying information printed on a shelf tag comprising the steps of:

(1) generating a bar code signal by sweeping a bar code sensor across a bar code imprinted upon a package associated with said shelf tag,

(2) generating a binary product code by decoding said bar code signal,

(3) using said binary product code and a predetermined reference code to generate a check code,

(4) causing a surface acoustic wave resonator to radiate a radio frequency signal,

(5) using said binary product code and said check code to modulate said radio frequency signal,

(6) at a vicinity adjacent said shelf tag, receiving said radio frequency, modulated as aforesaid,

(7) at said vicinity, recovering said binary product code and said check code by demodulating said radio frequency signal,

(8) at said vicinity, using said binary product code, recovered as aforesaid, and said predetermined code to generate a verifying code,

(9) at said vicinity, verifying said check code, recovered as aforesaid, by comparison against said verifying code,

(10) transmitting said binary product code, recovered as aforesaid, from said vicinity to a base station, only in the event that said verifying step produces a result previously determined to be satisfactory,

(11) using said binary product code, recovered and transmitted as aforesaid, to create a message relating to said package,

(12) transmitting said message from said base station to said vicinity, and

(13) displaying said message at said vicinity.

7. Method according to claim 6 wherein a cyclic redundancy check is performed for generation of said check code and said verifying code.

8. Method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of signaling satisfactory performance of said verifying step by generating an audible signal.