Apparatus for processing human-readable and machine-readable documents

• US 6,002,491 A
• Filed: 06/24/1997
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P, Li, Chung-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, KIM Y
• Application Number:
  US08/881,260
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 358/450, 358/426, 358/434-436, 358/438-440, 358/442, 358/468, 358/448
• US Class Current: 358/436
• 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: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An original document of one or more pages containing human-readable printed information is encoded in one or more two-dimensional bar code symbols and transmitted by facsimile to a remote site where a facsimile of the symbols is machine read, decoded and printed to provide an accurate reproduction of the original document. The facsimile symbol can be facsimile transmitted to another remote site where the facsimile symbol is regenerated, machine read, decoded and printed as another reproduction of the original document. The machine readability of the symbol facilitates computer entry of the original document printed information. The coded symbol may also contain data used at a remote site to control processing and dissemination of the original document printed information.

Claims

1. A facsimile system comprising, in combination:

a first scanner for optically scanning a succession of original documents to produce image data of an image borne by each original document;

an encoder, coupled to the first scanner, for encoding the image data of each of the succession of original documents into a corresponding succession of encoded bar code data;

a first printer, coupled to the encoder, for printing a succession of encoded bar code data on a composite sheet;

a first facsimile machine for transmitting a facsimile of the composite sheet;

a second facsimile machine for receiving the facsimile transmission of the composite sheet and producing a facsimile composite sheet bearing the succession of encoded bar code data;

a second scanner for scanning the succession of encoded bar code data on the facsimile composite sheet to produce a corresponding succession of symbol data

a decoder for decoding the succession of bar code data into a corresponding succession of reproduced image data; and

a second printer, connected to the decoder, for printing the reproduced image data on a corresponding succession of facsimile sheets,

whereby the succession of original documents is reproduced on the composite sheet in a bar coded form.

2. The facsimile system defined in claim 1, which further includes word processing means, connected to the decoder, for processing the reproduced image data.

3. A facsimile system comprising, in combination:

a first scanner for optically scanning a succession of original documents to produce image data of an image borne by each original document;

an encoder, coupled to the first scanner, for encoding the image data of each of the succession of original documents into a corresponding succession of encoded bar code data;

means for transmitting a facsimile of the succession of encoded bar code data;

means for receiving the facsimile transmission;

a decoder, coupled to the receiving means, for decoding the succession of encoded bar code data to produce a corresponding succession of reproduced image data; and

a printer, connected to the decoder, for printing the succession of reproduced image data as a corresponding succession of facsimile sheets duplicating the succession of original documents,

whereby the succession of original documents is reproduced on the composite sheet in a bar coded form.

4. The facsimile system defined in claim 3, wherein said printer includes means for printing the encoded bar code data as a succession of encoded symbols on a consolidation sheet.

5. The facsimile system defined in claim 4, which further includes:

a transmitting facsimile machine for generating a facsimile transmission of the consolidation sheet;

a receiving facsimile machine for receiving the consolidation sheet facsimile transmission; and

regenerative means, at the site of said receiving facsimile machine, for creating copies of the consolidation sheet, the regenerative means including a second decoder for decoding the succession of encoded symbols included in the consolidation sheet facsimile transmission, and a second printer for printing out a facsimile consolidation sheet and a succession of second facsimile sheets duplicating the succession of original documents.

6. The facsimile system defined in claim 3, which further includes word processing means, connected to the decoder, for processing the reproduced image data.