Scannable barcode display and methods for using the same

• US 6,877,661 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David W. White (David White), James Ryan Miller, Omead Amidi, Richard M. Webb, Timothy Dobbler
• Original Assignee: David W. White (David White), James Ryan Miller, Omead Amidi, Richard M. Webb, Timothy Dobbler
• Inventors: White, David W., Amidi, Omead, Miller, James Ryan, Dobbler, Timothy, Webb, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stcyr, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, APRIL ALICIA
• Application Number:
  US09/932,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/455, 235/462.01, 235/462.06, 235/462.14, 235/462.22, 23546243-46245, 235/427.01, 705/14, 705/26
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10702 Particularities of propagating elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors G06K7/10831 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a wireless data transmission scheme through the use of a display capable of displaying symbolic information, a data acquisition device capable of identifying and capturing said displayed information and a mitigation device adapted to allow the data acquisition device to capture the symbolic information. The symbolic information may be a barcode displayed on an LCD outputting linearly polarized light. The data acquisition device may be a laser scanner, and the mitigation device may be a quarter wave retarder located between the display and the scanner. A larger system may utilize this wireless system or a different front end in a more generalized backend information transfer system. The backend system may include a centralized data center adapted to be used with retail couponing, ticketing, digital receipts, or a plurality of other information systems in which data is used separately from its storage location.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system, comprising:

a display for displaying symbolic information by emitting linearly polarized light;

a symbolic data acquisition device for identifying said symbolic information using electromagnetic waves; and

a mitigation device oriented between said display and said data acquisition device.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said mitigation device changes the polarization angle of light emitted from said symbolic data acquisition device such that the emitted light is not planar.

3. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said mitigation device is a wave retarder.

4. The communications system of claim 1, wherein said mitigation device is a quarter wave retarder.

5. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said display is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD).

6. The communications system of claim 5, wherein said LCD is incorporated into a cellular telephone.

7. The communications system of claim 6, wherein said telephone includes a barcode scanner.

8. The communications system of claim 6, wherein said symbolic information is a barcode.

9. The communications system of claim 8, wherein said telephone is connected to the Internet.

10. The communications system of claim 5, wherein said LCD is incorporated into a personal digital assistant.

11. The communications system of claim 5, wherein said LCD is incorporated into a pager.

12. The communications system of claim 5, wherein said LCD is incorporated into a computer.

13. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said data acquisition device is a laser scanner.

14. The communications system of claim 13, wherein the polarization angle of the light emitted from said laser scanner changes over time.

15. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said quarter wave retarder is removable from said display.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein said retarder is attached to said display by a plastic static sheet.

17. The communications system of claim 15, wherein said retarder is attached to said display by a removable plastic or glass face on the display.

18. The communications system of claim 15, wherein said removable retarder is marked with a plurality of orientation symbols to facilitate the application of the retarder to multiple displays with different light polarization planes.

19. The communications system of claim 15, wherein said removable retarder is color-coded to correspond to displays with a specific polarization plane.

20. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said retarder is manufactured as part of said display.

21. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said retarder is manufactured as part of a protective casing of a device that incorporates said display.

22. The communications system of claim 21, wherein said device is a flip-style cellular telephone.

23. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said symbolic information is a barcode.

24. The communications system of claim 4, wherein said display is incorporated into a device that is connected to the Internet.

25. A wireless communications method, comprising the steps of:

displaying symbolic information on a display which outputs linearly polarized light;

providing a mitigation device between the display and a data acquisition device; and

acquiring the symbolic information from said display utilizing electromagnetic waves emitted from said data acquisition device.

26. The communications method of claim 25, wherein said mitigation device is a quarter wave retarder.

27. The communications method of claim 26, wherein said data acquisition device is a laser scanner.

28. The communications method of claim 26, wherein said symbolic information is a barcode.

29. The communications method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

inputting said symbolic information; and

storing said symbolic information before said step of displaying said symbolic information.

30. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said inputting step comprises scanning a barcode.

31. The communications method of claim 30, wherein said barcode is a manufacturer'"'"'s coupon.

32. The communications method of claim 30, wherein said scanning step utilizes a cellular telephone barcode scanner.

33. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said inputting step comprises selecting a coupon barcode from a web site.

34. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said inputting step comprises selecting a coupon designation from a received email message.

35. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said inputting step comprises selecting a coupon designation from a received pager message.

36. The communications method of claim 29, wherein said inputting step comprises the steps of:

scanning a barcode on a product; and

receiving coupon information via the Internet related to said scanned product.

37. The communications method of claim 36, wherein said received coupon information is an adjustment in the price of said scanned good based on intelligent factors selected from the group consisting of inventory level, time of season, manufacture promotion, store promotion, and customer product interest.

38. The communications method of claim 25, wherein said mitigation device is a retarder.

39. The communications method of claim 25, wherein said display is an liquid crystal display.

40. A system for transmitting information, comprising:

a data entry device for inputting information;

a data center for storing said information;

a point-of-use computer for utilizing said information; and

a display device in communication with said data center for communicating said information to said point-of-use computer via a wireless data link, wherein the display device includes a mitigation device, and wherein said information is a barcode identifying a consumer credit card, bank card, membership card, or identification card.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said display device further comprises a quarter wave retarder and said point-of-use computer comprises a laser scanner, further wherein said scanner acquires said information displayed on said display device as a barcode.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said display device emits linearly polarized light.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said display device is an LCD.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein said display device is a cellular telephone.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said data center clears credit card transactions.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said data center clears automated clearing house (ACH) transactions.

47. A method for transferring information, comprising the steps of:

entering information into a system for storage;

storing said information;

displaying a scannable symbol related to said information on a display that outputs linearly polarized light; and

scanning said symbol to acquire data related to said symbol, wherein said symbol is a barcode, further wherein said scanning step takes place on a point-of-use computer including a barcode scanner, and further wherein said display is an LCD with a quarter wave retarder attached thereto.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said stored information is communicated to said display via the wireless Internet.

49. An electronic couponing method, comprising the steps of:

storing coupon identification information in an electronic database at a data center;

selecting at least one item for purchase at a retail store;

determining if an electronic coupon for at least one of said at least one item exists in the database; and

redeeming said coupon at the retail store, wherein said selection occurs on a web-enabled telephone, and further wherein said telephone includes an LCD with a quarter wave retarder.

50. A payment method, comprising the steps of:

storing payment information about a consumer in a data center;

sending identification information about said consumer to a point-of-sale computer;

receiving identification verification about said consumer from the point-of-sale computer; and

completing a payment transaction with the aid of the data center, wherein said identification information is a barcode received through a mitigation device with information pertaining to an automated clearing house transaction.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said identification information is a barcode with information pertaining to a credit card transaction.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein said stored payment information includes consumer account information and an authorization to debit said account.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein said step of sending identification information about said consumer to a point-of-sale computer further comprises:

serving a barcode including said identification information to a wireless consumer device with a display;

displaying said barcode; and

scanning said barcode with a laser scanner connected to the point-of-sale computer.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said display emits linearly polarized light.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said display is an LCD including a wave retarder.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said consumer device is connected to said data center by a wireless Internet connection.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said step of completing a payment transaction comprises generating a full automated clearing house (ACH) transaction to be served to a bank.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said ACH transaction is served to the bank from the data center.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein said step of completing a payment transaction comprises generating a full credit card transaction to be served to a credit card clearing house.