Systems and methods for interfacing multiple types of object identifiers and object identifier readers to multiple types of applications

• US 7,392,933 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2003
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Code Corporation (Brady Corporation)
• Inventors: Powell, George, Hepworth, Paul J., Zhou, Weiyang
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Application Number:
  US10/623,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20040019893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/382, 705/50, 709/245, 340/5.1, 340/7.1
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5055 considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application involves receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

Claims

1. In a computing device, a method for interfacing an object identifier reader to an application, comprising:

receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader through a first communication port of the computing device, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters, wherein the first communication port comprises hardware which places the object identifier reader in electronic communication with the computing device;

identifying the information in the object identifier data;

identifying an application to receive the information, wherein the application is also running on the computing device;

determining that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port;

determining that the application expects to receive the information through a second communication port by identifying an association between the application and the second communication port; and

sending the information to the application on the computing device through the second communication port, wherein the information is received by the application through the second communication port and processed by the application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port and determining that the application expects to receive the information through the second communication port comprise searching an application registry, and wherein the application registry comprises the association between the application and the second communication port.

3. A system for interfacing an object identifier reader to an application, comprising:

the object identifier reader; and

a computing device comprising;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

the application stored in the memory;

a first communication port in electronic communication with the object identifier reader, wherein the first communication port comprises hardware which places the object identifier reader in electronic communication with the computing device;

a second communication port in electronic communication with the application;

a software module stored in the memory, the software module being configured to;

receive object identifier data from the object identifier reader through the first communication port, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters;

identify the information in the object identifier data;

identify the application to receive the information, wherein the application is also running on the computing device;

determine that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port;

determine that the application expects to receive the information through the second communication port by identifying an association between the application and the second communication port; and

send the information to the application on the computing device through the second communication port, wherein the information is received by the application through the second communication port and processed by the application.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein determining that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port and determining that the application expects to receive the information through the second communication port comprise searching an application registry, and wherein the application registry comprises the association between the application and the second communication port.

5. A computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for:

receiving object identifier data from an object identifier reader through a first communication port of the computing device, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters, wherein the first communication port comprises hardware which places the object identifier reader in electronic communication with the computing device;

identifying the information in the object identifier data;

identifying an application to receive the information, wherein the application is also running on the computing device;

determining that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port;

determining that the application expects to receive the information through a second communication port by identifying an association between the application and the second communication port; and

sending the information to the application on the computing device through the second communication port, wherein the information is received by the application through the second communication port and processed by the application.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein determining that the application does not expect to receive the information through the first communication port and determining that the application expects to receive the information through the second communication port comprise searching an application registry, and wherein the application registry comprises the association between the application and the second communication port.