Methods and apparatus for supplemental barcode detection and decoding
First Claim
1. A scanner for detecting and decoding primary and supplemental barcodes, comprising:
- a laser for generating light;
a video receiver assembly for detecting light patterns produced by a reflection of the light generated by the laser from one or more barcodes passing within a field of view of the video receiver assembly and producing data based on the light patterns; and
a controller for analyzing the data produced by the video receiver assembly to detect a plurality of barcode labels including a primary label and a supplemental label, the controller being able to be set to a supplemental label mode in which the scanner is operative to detect the primary label and recover primary label data, initiate a delay upon detection of the primary label, and attempt to detect a supplemental label and recover supplemental label data, the controller being operative to process the primary label data if no supplemental label is detected within the delay period, the controller being operative to process both the primary label data and the supplemental label data if the supplemental label is detected during the delay period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting and decoding a supplemental barcode accompanying a primary barcode. A supplemental barcode is affixed to a product in the vicinity of a primary barcode. A scanner in a barcode reading system, such as a point of sale system, scans for a primary barcode. Upon detection of a primary barcode, the system inserts a delay while attempting to detect a supplemental barcode. Upon detection of a secondary barcode, the primary and supplemental barcode information is processed, for example by sending the information to a terminal connected to the scanner. Upon expiration of the delay without detection of a supplemental barcode, the primary barcode information is processed.
47 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A scanner for detecting and decoding primary and supplemental barcodes, comprising:
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a laser for generating light; a video receiver assembly for detecting light patterns produced by a reflection of the light generated by the laser from one or more barcodes passing within a field of view of the video receiver assembly and producing data based on the light patterns; and a controller for analyzing the data produced by the video receiver assembly to detect a plurality of barcode labels including a primary label and a supplemental label, the controller being able to be set to a supplemental label mode in which the scanner is operative to detect the primary label and recover primary label data, initiate a delay upon detection of the primary label, and attempt to detect a supplemental label and recover supplemental label data, the controller being operative to process the primary label data if no supplemental label is detected within the delay period, the controller being operative to process both the primary label data and the supplemental label data if the supplemental label is detected during the delay period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A label processing system comprising:
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a terminal for receiving information and processing transactions; a computer connected to the terminal for supplying information to the terminal and receiving transaction information from the terminal and maintaining and processing the transaction information to perform statistical functions; and a scanner connected to the terminal, the scanner being operative to receive commands and information from the terminal and detect and process barcode labels, the scanner comprising; a laser for generating light; a video receiver assembly for detecting light patterns produced by a reflection of the light generated by the laser from one or more barcodes passing within a field of view of the video receiver assembly and producing data based on the light patterns; and a controller operative to receive commands from the terminal and supply information to the terminal, the controller being operative to analyze the data produced by the video receiver assembly to detect a plurality of barcodes including a primary label and a supplemental label, the controller being able to be set to a supplemental label mode in which the scanner is operative to detect the primary label and recover primary label data, initiate a delay upon detection of the primary label, and attempt to detect a supplemental label and recover supplemental label data, the controller being operative to process the primary label data if no supplemental label is detected within the delay period, the controller being operative to process both the primary label data and the supplemental label data if the supplemental label is detected during the delay period. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of label processing comprising the steps of:
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(a) initializing a label processing system including a scanner and a terminal; (b) selecting an operating mode for the label processing system, the operating modes available for selection including a conventional mode and a supplemental label mode; (c) monitoring light captured by the label processing system for detection of a barcode; (d) if a barcode is detected, providing operator feedback from the scanner if the scanner is set to provide feedback, and examining the operating mode of the system, and if no barcode is detected, returning to step (b); (e) if the operating mode is set to the conventional mode, transferring to step (f), and if the operating mode is set to the supplemental label mode, transferring to step (g); (f) transferring the barcode data to the terminal, providing feedback from the terminal if the terminal is set to provide feedback, and returning to step (b); (g) examining the operating mode to determine if an early tone mode has been set, and if yes, looking for an indication of a supplemental label, and if no indication of a supplemental label is found, returning to step (f) and if an indication of a supplemental label has been found, transferring to step (h), and if an early tone mode has not been set, transferring to step (h); (h) inserting a delay and looking for a supplemental label; (i) if a supplemental label is found within the delay period, providing operator feedback from the scanner if the scanner is set to provide feedback, transferring the supplemental label data to the terminal, and providing operator feedback from the terminal if the terminal is set to provide feedback, and if no supplemental label is found within the delay period, transferring to step (f); and (j) returning to step (b). - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification