System and method for bar code rendering and recognition
First Claim
1. A system for rendering an image using a rendering device, the image comprising a bar code within a bar code display area, the bar code having a minimum unit display size requirement, the bar code display area having a maximum display size in at least a first direction, and the rendering device having a resolution, the system comprising:
- means for detecting the resolution of the rendering device; and
means for scaling the bar code by a scaling a factor to a size that is essentially a largest whole number multiple of the minimum unit display size, but less than the product of the maximum display size multiplied by the detected resolution of the rendering device.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for rendering accurate bar code images in a distributed network wherein a plurality of different types of rendering devices, such as printers, having different resolution characteristics are connected for rendering such images. The resolution of a connected rendering device is detected and the bar code image to be rendered by such device is scaled to effect proper alignment of the resolution units of the bar code and the rendering device whereby the need for interpolation is effectively obviated. The bar code is scaled by a whole integer multiplier of the minimum bar code size based upon at least one dimension of the print area of the bar code display and the resolution characteristic of the rendering device. The bar code image is aligned or mapped and is centered in the display area with equal units of the excess print area on either side of the image. By avoiding the need to interpolate print data by the rendering device, the bar code rendering system defeats inaccuracies in detection and decoding and provides a more reliable data recovery system.
45 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system for rendering an image using a rendering device, the image comprising a bar code within a bar code display area, the bar code having a minimum unit display size requirement, the bar code display area having a maximum display size in at least a first direction, and the rendering device having a resolution, the system comprising:
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means for detecting the resolution of the rendering device; and
means for scaling the bar code by a scaling a factor to a size that is essentially a largest whole number multiple of the minimum unit display size, but less than the product of the maximum display size multiplied by the detected resolution of the rendering device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for rendering an image using a rendering device, the image comprising a bar code within a bar code display area, the bar code having a minimum unit display size requirement, the bar code display area having a maximum display size in at least a first direction, and the rendering device having a resolution, the system comprising:
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a detector for detecting the resolution of the rendering device; and
a scaler for scaling the bar code by a scaling a factor to a size that is essentially a largest whole number multiple of the minimum unit display size, but less than the product of the maximum display size multiplied by the detected resolution of the rendering device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for rendering an image, the image comprising a bar code within a bar code display area, the bar code having a minimum unit display size requirement, the bar code display area having a maximum display size in at least a first direction, the steps comprising:
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determining a resolution of a rendering device; and
scaling the bar code by a scaling a factor to a size that is essentially a largest whole number multiple of the minimum unit display size, but less than the product of the maximum display size multiplied by the determined resolution of the rendering device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for enabling, via a remote terminal, the viewing of information about available incentives, the selection of desired incentives, and the printing of selected incentives, wherein a printed incentive includes a bar code, the method comprising:
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storing information pertaining to a group of available incentives at one or more Internet-accessible locations;
downloading, from an Internet-accessible location to a remote terminal, print management software for use in printing selected incentives via a printer associated with the remote terminal, the print management software being operable to;
(i) detect a resolution of the printer associated with the remote terminal;
(ii) use the detected resolution to determine a scaling factor for scaling a bar code to be printed on the printed incentive; and
(iii) cause the printer to print an incentive with a bar code scaled according to the determined scaling factor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A system for enabling, via a remote terminal, the viewing of information about available incentives, the selection of desired incentives, and the printing of selected incentives, wherein a printed incentive includes a bar code, the system comprising:
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means for storing information pertaining to a group of available incentives at one or more Internet-accessible locations;
means for downloading, from an Internet-accessible location to a remote terminal, print management software for use in printing selected incentives via a printer associated with the remote terminal, the print management software comprising;
means for detecting a resolution of the printer associated with the remote terminal;
means for using the detected resolution to determine a scaling factor for scaling a bar code to be printed on the printed incentive; and
means for causing the printer to print an incentive with a bar code scaled according to the determined scaling factor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification