System and method for recovering bar code errors

• US 6,540,143 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Matsumori, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/574,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/462.12, 235/462.13, 340/5.9, 340/5.91, 340/5.92, 705/20, 705/22
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1473 error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

A system and method that facilitates the recovery of bar code scanning errors due to irregularities in the bar code. When a bar code scanning error occurs, the system displays the erroneously scanned bar code indicating the characters that could not be resolved successfully. The store clerk or operator need only fill the missing digit to confirm the scanned item without manually entering the entire code. Alternatively, a search engine evaluates the portions of the bar code which have been successfully resolved and displays a text and/or graphics list of all products having the resolved portion of the bar code. The store clerk or operator then need only choose the correct item from the screen list to confirm the sale. A printer allows the completed bar code to be printed on a receipt paper. The user of the system may then use the printed bar code for items that continuously result in a bar code error. The system may further keep a list of erroneously scanned bar codes. This allows manufacturers or retailers to improve their bar code quality by identifying those bar codes that consistently give a large number of errors due to a particular repetitive defect.

Claims

1. In an electronic shopping system including a network server having a memory storing a plurality of merchandise item entries, each entry identified by a unique bar code set, the set including sequential code values uniquely identifying the merchandise, a terminal in communication with the network server including:

means for communicating with the network server;

a bar code set reader acquiring a particular bar code set from an item of merchandise;

a processor coupled to the memory and the bar code set reader, the processor being operable to execute program instructions including;

matching the acquired code set to a corresponding code set in the memory;

determining whether the acquired code set is a valid code set; and

substituting a logical prompt in place of an invalid portion of the acquired code set; and

a display for displaying the acquired code set with the substituted logical prompt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bar code set is a bar code number.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the logical prompt is a pre-determined error character.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the logical prompt prompts a user to complete the code set by entering a valid character code in the place of the logical prompt.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display further displays a plurality of products whose bar code sets include character codes matching a valid portion of the acquired code set.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the logical prompt prompts a user to complete the code set by selecting one of the displayed products.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the display includes images of the products.

8. An electronic shopping system for performing merchandise purchase transactions, the system comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of merchandise item entries, each entry identified by a unique bar code set, the set including sequential code values uniquely identifying the merchandise;

a bar code set reader acquiring a particular code set from an item of merchandise;

means for matching the acquired code set to a corresponding code set in the memory;

means for determining whether the acquired code set is a valid code set;

means for substituting a logical prompt in place of an invalid portion of the acquired code set; and

a display for displaying the acquired code set with the substituted logical prompt.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the bar code set is a bar code number.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the logical prompt is a pre-determined error character.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising means for completing the acquired code set with valid character codes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for completing includes means for entering a valid character code in the place of the logical prompt.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the display further displays a plurality of products whose bar code sets include character codes matching a valid portion of the acquired code set.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for completing includes means for selecting one of the displayed products.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the display includes images of the products.

16. The system of claim 11 further including a printer for printing the completed code 17.

17. The system of claim 8 further including means for maintaining a list of erroneously scanned bar codes.

18. In an electronic shopping system, a terminal comprising:

a bar code set reader acquiring a bar code set from an item of merchandise and transmitting the acquired bar code set in a data stream, the bar code set reader inserting one or more substitution characters into an invalid portion of the data stream upon detection of a read error;

a display for displaying valid and invalid portions of the data stream, the invalid portion including the substitution characters, wherein a user is prompted to replace the substitution characters with one or more valid character codes for completing the data stream.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein the bar code set is a bar code number.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the substitution character is a pre-determined error character.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the display further displays a plurality of products whose bar code sets include character codes matching the valid portion of the data stream.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the user selects one of the displayed products for completing the data stream.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the display includes images of the products.

24. In an electronic shopping system including a network server having a memory storing a plurality of merchandise item entries, each entry identified by a unique bar code set, the set including sequential code values uniquely identifying the merchandise, a method for performing merchandise purchase transactions including:

acquiring a particular bar code set from an item of merchandise;

matching the acquired code set to a corresponding code set in the memory;

determining whether the acquired code set is a valid code set; and

substituting a logical prompt in place of an invalid portion of the acquired code set, and displaying the acquired code set with the substituted logical prompt.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the bar code set is a bar code number.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the logical prompt is a pre-determined error character.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the logical prompt prompts a user to complete the code set by entering a valid character code in the place of the logical prompt.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising displaying a plurality of products whose bar code sets include character codes matching a valid portion of the acquired code set.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the logical prompt prompts a user to complete the code set by selecting one of the displayed products.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the displaying includes displaying images of the products.