System, method and apparatus for communicating information between a mobile communications device and a bar code reader

• US 6,685,093 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ecrio, Inc.
• Inventors: Challa, Nagesh, Gobburu, Venkata T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/963,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/469, 235/472.01, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/462.46
• 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: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• 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: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• 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, method, and apparatus for communicating information encoded in a bar code format between a mobile communications device and a bar code scanner. Transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format. A signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and the signal is transmitted as light pulses from the mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A method of providing transmission information to a bar code scanner from a mobile phone comprising:

receiving on the mobile phone the transmission information via a wireless transmission;

encoding in the mobile phone the transmission information into a bar code format;

generating in the mobile phone a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

transmitting the signal as light pulses from the mobile phone.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the mobile phone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising furnishing the transmission information from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a scanning beam emitted by a bar code scanner; and

determining a scan rate of the scanning beam;

wherein the generating step comprises generating the signal to simulate a reflection of the scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format at the scan rate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone is a GSM phone, a WAP-enabled phone, a Java 2 Micro Edition phone, a personal communication system phone, or a multi-function wireless smart phone.

7. A method of providing transmission information to a bar code scanner from a mobile phone comprising:

receiving on the mobile phone the transmission information via a wireless transmission;

encoding in the mobile phone the transmission information into a bar code format;

presenting representative information of the transmission information using a user output facility of the mobile phone;

generating in the mobile phone a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

transmitting the signal in an active visual form from the mobile phone.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the output facility is a display.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal in a visible light spectrum.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal in an infra-red light spectrum.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising:

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via turning an LED on and off.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising furnishing the transmission information from one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and the Internet.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a scanning beam emitted by a bar code scanner; and

determining a scan rate of the scanning beam;

wherein the generating step comprises generating the signal to simulate a reflection of the scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format at the scan rate.

19. The method of claim 7 wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting a first color selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, arid a second color selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner.

20. A mobile phone comprising:

a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission;

a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format;

a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses.

21. The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

22. The mobile phone of claim 20, further comprising:

a display; and

a program component for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display.

23. The mobile phone of claim 20, further comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive the scanning beam; and

a program component for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

24. A mobile phone comprising:

a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission;

a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format;

a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format;

an output facility for presenting representative information of the transmission information; and

a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses.

25. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the output facility is a speaker.

26. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

27. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the output facility comprises a display, the mobile phone further comprising a program component for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display.

28. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

29. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is a visible light spectrum source.

30. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an infra-red light spectrum source.

31. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is a display, further comprising:

a program component for transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising;

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

32. The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an LED, further comprising:

a program component for turning the LED on and off.

33. The mobile device phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an infrared transmitter, further comprising:

a program component for activating and deactivating the infrared transmitter.

34. The mobile phone of claim 24 wherein the light source is a color light source having a first color emission selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, and a second color emission selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner.

35. A mobile phone comprising:

receiving means for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission;

encoding means for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format;

generating means for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

transmission means for transmitting the signal as light.

36. The mobile phone of claim 35, further comprising identification means for identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type.

37. The mobile phone of claim 35, wherein the presentation means comprises means for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form.

38. A system for communicating transmission information comprising:

a server for providing the transmission information;

a mobile phone comprising;

a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission;

a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format;

a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and

a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses;

a host for providing wireless communications between the server and the mobile phone; and

a bar code scanner for receiving the light pulses from the light source.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising:

an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen.

41. The system of claim 38, further comprising one or more of the group comprising:

a personal computer, a second server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and the Internet;

wherein the server retrieves the transmission information therefrom.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the mobile phone further comprises:

a receiver adapted to receive the scanning beam; and

a program component for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the transmission information is acquired by the server.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the transmission information is generated by the server.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the light source transmits the signal in an infra-red light spectrum.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the light source is a display; and

the mobile phone further comprises a program component for transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising of;

a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the light source is an LED; and

the mobile phone further comprises a program component for turning the LED on and off.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the light source is an infrared transmitter; and

the mobile phone further comprises a program component for activating and deactivating the infrared transmitter.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein the mobile phone further comprises:

an output facility; and

a program component for presenting representative information of the transmission information with the output facility.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein:

the output facility comprises a display; and

the mobile phone further comprises a program component for displaying the bar code format on the display in a static visual form.

52. The system of claim 38, wherein the light source is a color light source having a first color emission selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, and a second color emission selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner.

53. The system of claim 38, wherein:

the light source comprises a display; and

the mobile phone further comprises a program component for presenting representative information of the transmission information on the display.