One dimensional bar coding for multibyte character

• US 6,279,828 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shawwen Fann
• Original Assignee: Shawwen Fann
• Inventors: Fann, Shawwen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Application Number:
  US09/260,149
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.07, 235/462.16, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes

Abstract

One dimensional bar code patterns for encoding single and multi-byte characters and method for encoding and decoding these one dimensional bar code patterns using existing bar code readers and scanners. The encoded bar code patterns are generated by base number code systems greater than two with a code length of eight, although longer code lengths are possible. A rule oriented method for generating the one dimensional bar code patterns for both single and multi-byte characters and other rules may be applied to the use of base number code systems greater than two for generating the one dimensional bar code patterns. The rules increase the accuracy of the interpretation and resolvability of the generated bar code patterns.

Claims

1. A method for generating one dimensional bar code patterns having images of bar and space derived from a base number code system greater than two used for encoding single byte and multi-byte characters, the base number code system having designated base numbers, comprise the steps of:

a) choosing the base number code system;

b) picking a code length between eight and sixteen for the chosen base number code system of step a);

c) generating a designated number for each combination of the designated base number within the chosen base number code system having the chosen code length;

d) assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated base number within the chosen base number code system;

e) translating each designated base number within the chosen base number code system according to the assigned image of step d) thereby forming a bar code pattern; and

,

f) selecting unambiguously decodable generated bar code patterns.

2. One dimensional bar code patterns generated according to the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting unambiguously decodable generated bar code patterns comprise the steps of keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less;

decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the designated numbers within the chosen base number code system using the same image assignment of step d); and

, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the generated combination of designated numbers within the chosen bar code system before the translation step e).

4. One dimensional bar code patterns generated according to the method of claim 3.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising choosing bar code patterns having a total bar pattern length of no more than twelve;

selecting bar code patterns starting with a bar and ending with a space;

assigning to a start bar code pattern, a bar code having a full width combination of one, two and three;

picking a stop bar code pattern starting with a bar and ending with a bar from an unselected set of bar code patterns;

designating a command code pattern to a bar code pattern having a total bar or space width of eight; and

, assigning a value and a function for each of all selected bar code patterns.

6. One dimensional bar code patterns generated according to the method of claim 5.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the stop bar code pattern has a total combination of seven bars and spaces and a full width image combination of 1,2 and 3.

8. A method for generating one dimensional bar code patterns having images of bar and space derived from a base-4 number code system used for encoding single byte and multi-byte characters, the base-4 number code system having 0,1,2, and 3 as designated base numbers, comprise the steps of:

choosing a code length of eight;

generating a designated number for each of all combinations of the base-4 designated numbers having the code length of eight;

assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated base-4 number, the width of each image corresponding to the number of bars or spaces making up the image to 2 bars for 0, 1 bar for 1, 1 space for 2, 2 spaces for 3, 3 bars for 0,1 and 3 spaces for 3,2;

translating each base-4 numbers of a code length of eight according to the assigned image forming a set of bar code patterns; and

, selecting unambiguously decodable generated bar code patterns comprising the steps of keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less;

decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the base-4 designated numbers using the same image assignment; and

, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the same base-4 designated numbers before the translation step.

9. One dimensional bar code patterns generated according to the method of claim 8.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising choosing bar code patterns having a total bar pattern length of no more than twelve;

selecting bar code patterns starting with a bar and ending with a space;

assigning to a start bar code pattern, a bar code pattern having a full width combination of one, two and three;

picking a stop bar code pattern starting with a bar and ending with a bar from an unselected set of bar code patterns;

designating a command code pattern to a bar code pattern having a total bar or space width of eight; and

, assigning a value and a function for each of all selected bar code patterns.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the stop bar code pattern has a total combination of seven bars and spaces and a full width combination of 1,2 and 3.

12. One dimensional bar code patterns generated according to the method of claim 10.

13. A method for encoding and decoding single and multibyte characters, comprising the steps of:

for encoding,

preparing a look up table including in correlating columns;

unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from a chosen base number code system greater than two obtained by a process of picking a code length between eight and sixteen for the chosen base number code system, generating all combinations of designated numbers within the chosen base number code system having the chosen code length, assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated number within the chosen base number code system, translating each designated number within the chosen base number code system according to the assigned image,

designated numbers corresponding to the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

decimal equivalent of the designated numbers coding the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

assigned values for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern,

assigned functions for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern;

inputting a data;

using the look-up table, processing a byte value of the inputted data to an assigned value, correlating the assigned value to an assigned function and a decimal equivalent;

selecting a bar code pattern corresponding to the decimal equivalent of the designated numbers;

for decoding

scanning the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern of bars and spaces having a width measured in units;

translating the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern using the chosen image assignment rule used by the encoding method to the designated number of the chosen base number code system, the designated number having a decimal equivalent;

from the look-up table of the encoding method, fetching the assigned value correlating to the decimal equivalent, determining the assigned function from the assigned value; and

,

converting the assigned function to a character set.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the translation for encoding and decoding is done one byte at a time.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the assigned value is the index for fetching the decimal equivalent of the designated number.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the assigned value is numerically the same as the byte value of the inputted data for the encoding step or of the scanned bar pattern for the decoding step.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the encoding step further comprise sending the selected bar code pattern to a generator for printing;

and, printing the selected bar code pattern according to a selected code page.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the width of the scanned images of one unit is a single bar or a single space, the width of two units is a double bar or a double space and the width of three is a double bar followed by a single bar or a double space followed by a single space.

19. A method for encoding and decoding single and multibyte characters, comprising the steps of:

for encoding,

preparing a look up table including in correlating columns;

unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from a chosen base number code system greater than two obtained by a process of picking a code length between eight and sixteen for the chosen base number code system, generating all combinations of designated numbers within the chosen base number code system having the chosen code length, assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated number within the chosen base number code system, keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less, decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the designated numbers within the chosen base number code system using the same image assignment for each designated number, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the generated combination of designated numbers within the chosen bar code system, translating each designated number within he chosen base number code system according to the assigned image,

designated numbers corresponding to the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

decimal equivalent of the designated numbers coding the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

assigned values for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern,

assigned functions for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern;

inputting a data;

using the look-up table, processing a byte value of the inputted data to an assigned value, correlating the assigned value to an assigned function and a decimal equivalent;

selecting a bar code pattern corresponding to the decimal equivalent of the designated numbers;

for decoding

scanning the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern of bars and spaces having a width measured in units;

translating the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern using the chosen image assignment rule used by the encoding method to the designated number of the chosen base number code system, the designated number having a decimal equivalent;

from the look-up table of the encoding method, fetching the assigned value correlating to the decimal equivalent, determining the assigned function from the assigned value; and

,

converting the assigned function to a character set.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the translation for encoding and decoding is done one byte at a time.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the assigned value is the index for fetching the decimal equivalent of the designated number.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the assigned value is numerically the same as the byte value of the inputted data for the encoding step or of the scanned bar pattern for the decoding step.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the encoding step further comprise sending the selected bar code pattern to a generator for printing;

and, printing the selected bar code pattern according to a selected code page.

24. A method for encoding and decoding single and multibyte characters, comprising the steps of:

for encoding,

preparing a look up table including in correlating columns;

unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from a chosen base number code system greater than two obtained by a process of picking a code length between eight and sixteen for the chosen base number code system, generating all combinations of designated numbers within the chosen base number code system having the chosen code length, assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated number within the chosen base number code system, keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less, decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the designated numbers within the chosen base number code system using the same image assignment for each designated number, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the generated combination of designated numbers within the chosen bar code system, translating each designated number within the chosen base number code system according to the assigned image, choosing bar code patterns having a total bar pattern length of no more than twelve, selecting bar code patterns starting with a bar and ending with a space, assigning to a start bar code pattern, a bar code having a full width combination of one, two and three, picking a stop bar code pattern starting with a bar and ending with a bar from an unselected set of bar code patterns, designating a command code pattern to a bar code pattern having a total bar or space width of eight, assigning a value and a function for each of all selected bar code patterns,

designated numbers corresponding to the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

decimal equivalent of the designated numbers coding the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the chosen base number code system greater than two,

assigned values for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern,

assigned functions for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern;

inputting a data;

using the look-up table, processing a byte value of the inputted data to an assigned value, correlating the assigned value to an assigned function and a decimal equivalent;

selecting a bar code pattern corresponding to the decimal equivalent of the designated numbers;

for decoding,

scanning the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern of bars and spaces having a width measured in units;

translating the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern using the chosen image assignment rule used by the encoding method to the designated number of the chosen base number code system, the designated number having a decimal equivalent;

from the look-up table of the encoding method, fetching the assigned value correlating to the decimal equivalent, determining the assigned function from the assigned value; and

,

converting the assigned function to a character set.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the translation for encoding and decoding is done one byte at a time.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the assigned value is the index for fetching the decimal equivalent of the designated number.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the assigned value is numerically the same as the byte value of the inputted data for the encoding step or of the scanned bar pattern for the decoding step.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the encoding step further comprise sending the selected bar code pattern to a generator for printing;

and, printing the selected bar code pattern according to a selected code page.

29. A method for encoding and decoding single and multibyte characters, comprising the steps of:

for encoding,

preparing a look up table including in correlating columns;

unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from a base-4 number code system having 0, 1, 2 and 3 as designated numbers with a code length of eight, generating all combinations of designated numbers having the code length of eight, assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated number, the width of each image corresponding to the number of bars and spaces making up the image to 2 bars for 0, 1 bar for 1, 1 space for 2, 2 spaces for 3, 3 bars for 0, 1 and 3 spaces for 3, 2, keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less, decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the same base-4 designated numbers using the same image assignment for each designated number, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the same combination of base-4 designated numbers, translating each base-4 designated number according to the assigned image,

designated numbers corresponding to the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the base-4 number code system,

decimal equivalent of the designated numbers coding the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the base-4 number code system,

assigned values for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern,

assigned functions for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern;

inputting a data;

using the look-up table, processing a byte value of the inputted data to an assigned value, correlating the assigned value to an assigned function and a decimal equivalent;

selecting a bar code pattern corresponding to the decimal equivalent of the designated numbers;

for decoding,

scanning the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern of bars and spaces having a width measured in units;

translating the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern using the chosen image assignment rule used by the encoding method to the designated number of the chosen base number code system, the designated number having a decimal equivalent;

from the look-up table of the encoding method, fetching the assigned value correlating to the decimal equivalent, determining the assigned function from the assigned value; and

,

converting the assigned function to a character set.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the translation for encoding and decoding is done one byte at a time.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the assigned value is the index for fetching the decimal equivalent of the base-4 number.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the assigned value is numerically the same as the byte value of the inputted data for the encoding step or of the scanned bar pattern for the decoding step.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the encoding step further comprise sending the selected bar code pattern to a generator for printing;

and, printing the selected bar code pattern according to a selected code page.

34. A method for encoding and decoding single and multibyte characters, comprising the steps of:

for encoding,

preparing a look up table including in correlating columns;

unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from a base-4 number code system having 0, 1, 2 and 3 as designated numbers with a code length of eight, generating all combinations of designated numbers having the code length of eight, assigning an image having a width measured in unit for each designated number, the width of each image corresponding to the number of bars and spaces making up the image to 2 bars for 0, 1 bar for 1, 1 space for 2, 2 spaces for 3, 3 bars for 0, 1 and 3 spaces for 3, 2, keeping all bar code patterns having images of three units or less, decoding the translated bar code patterns having images of three or less back to the same base-4 designated numbers using the same image assignment for each designated number, isolating bar code patterns translating back to the same combination of base-4 designated numbers, translating each base-4 designated number according to the assigned image, choosing bar code patterns having a total bar pattern length of no more than twelve, selecting bar code patterns starting with a bar and ending with a space, assigning to a start bar code pattern, a bar code having a full width combination of one, two and three, picking a stop bar code pattern starting with a bar and ending with a bar from a unselected set of bar code patterns, designating a command code pattern to a bar code pattern having a total bar or space width of eight, assigning a value and a function for each of all selected bar code patterns,

designated numbers corresponding to the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the base-4 number code system,

decimal equivalent of the designated numbers coding the unambiguously decodable bar code patterns derived from the base-4 number code system,

assigned values for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern,

assigned functions for each unambiguously decodable bar code pattern;

inputting a data;

using the look-up table, processing a byte value of the inputted data to an assigned value, correlating the assigned value to an assigned function and a decimal equivalent;

selecting a bar code pattern corresponding to the decimal equivalent of the designated numbers;

for decoding,

scanning the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern of bars and spaces having a width measured in units;

translating the unambiguously decodable bar code pattern using the chosen image assignment rule used by the encoding method to the designated number of the chosen base number code system, the designated number having a decimal equivalent;

from the look-up table of the encoding method, fetching the assigned value correlating to the decimal equivalent, determining the assigned function from the assigned value; and

,

converting the assigned function to a character set.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the translation for encoding and decoding is done one byte at a time.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the assigned value is the index for fetching the decimal equivalent of the base-4 number.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the assigned value is numerically the same as the byte value of the inputted data for the encoding step or of the scanned bar pattern for the decoding step.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the encoding step further comprise sending the selected bar code pattern to a generator for printing;

and, printing the selected bar code pattern according to a selected code page.