Barcode device

• US 7,878,400 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reflection Code LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BarTex Research, LLC
• Inventors: Harris, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/970,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.04, 235/462.07, 235/462.25, 235/494, 235/491
• US Class Current: 235/462.04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06056 the marking comprising a further embedded marking, e.g. a 1D bar code with the black bars containing a smaller sized coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10881 constructional details of hand-held scanners
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes

Abstract

Bar codes used for various applications. A bar code can be used for biometrics, or for computer data entry. A special bar code is described that has additional information, but can be read by other readers.

Claims

1. A method of forming a bar code, comprising:

forming a first bar code portion, which represents a first format bar code, and would be found as valid when scanned by a first bar code scanning process, said forming using first information to form the bar code portion, and

forming a second bar code portion separate from but associated with the first bar code portion, formed in a second format which is different than said first format, and said forming forms said second bar code portion associated with said first format bar code portion, and forming said second bar code portion using second information comprising the same information as said first information that is found in said first bar code portion, and additional information that is different than said first information, wherein said forming said first bar code portion and said second bar code portion forms said first and second bar code portions integrated together into a single bar code formed by machine on a substrate,

wherein said first information includes an address used to access a remote database that stores information, and wherein said second information includes information that is also stored in said remote database that is accessed by said first information, and wherein said second information is in a color of the bar code, whereby scanning with a monochrome scanner returns only said first information which can be used for accessing said remote database, and scanning said color information provides the actual information that would have been obtained from accessing the database using said first information.

2. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion is a two dimensional bar code.

3. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion includes a bar code which is found invalid by said first bar code scanning process which is used to decode said first bar code portion if said first bar code scanning process were used.

4. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein said color in said second bar code is a grey scale.

5. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein said second bar code portion includes information which is encoded in two separate and orthogonal directions.

6. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein said color in said second bar code is any of a number of colors that can be designated by a series of bits.

7. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1 wherein both of said first bar code portion and said second bar code portions each represent personal identification information, wherein said first bar code portion represents a first part of personal identification information, and a second part represents at least a portion that is also included in the first part and also represents additional information beyond said first information.

8. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 1, wherein said additional information defines information which is related to said first information.

9. A method of forming a bar code as in claim 8 wherein said additional information includes supplemental information to the information included in said first bar code portion.

10. A method of scanning a bar code, comprising:

using a machine for scanning a first barcode part to obtain only first information;

using a computer for interpreting said first information including an address of a remote database;

accessing said remote database using said address to obtain first additional information;

using a machine for scanning a barcode second part that is integrated with said first barcode part to obtain second information from a color of the barcode second part;

wherein said barcode second part is formed in a second format which is different than a first format of said first barcode part;

interpreting said second barcode part to obtain second information, where said second information includes the same information as said first information, and at least second additional information beyond said first information, and where said first additional information obtained from accessing said database using said address obtains information that is also stored in said second information obtained from interpreting said second barcode part, wherein scanning with a monochrome scanner returns only said first information which can be used for accessing said remote database, and scanning said color information provides the actual information that would have been obtained from the database.

11. A method of scanning a bar code as in claim 10 wherein said second bar code part is one which would be found invalid if scanned by a scanning process which is used to decode said first bar code part.

12. A method of scanning a bar code as in claim 10 wherein said color in said second bar code is a grey scale.

13. A method of scanning a bar code as in claim 10 wherein said first part and said second part are integrated together into a single bar code.

14. A method of scanning a bar code as in claim 10, wherein both of said first and second parts represent personal identification information, wherein said first part represents a first part of personal identification information, and said second part represents at least some of the same information that is in said first part, and also additional information indicative of a greater quantity of information than said first part.

15. A method of scanning a bar code as in claim 10 wherein said color in said second bar code is a grey scale.

16. A method of using a barcode comprising:

using a computer for encoding a first part of the barcode to have first information encoded therein in a first bar code format;

said first information including an address of an internet-accessible database;

storing second information in said internet accessible database; and

encoding a second part of the barcode which is integrated with said first bar code format together into a single bar code to form said second part of said barcode in a second format which is different than said first format and to have said second information, where said second information includes the same information as said first information, and at least second additional information beyond said first information encoded therein, and wherein said second information is encoded in a color of the barcode, said encoding carried out such that scanning said first part of said barcode with a monochrome scanner returns only said first information which can be used for accessing said Internet accessible database, and said second information from the color of the barcode provides the actual information that would have been obtained from the Internet accessible database.

17. A method of using a bar code as in claim 16 wherein said second part has a greater quantity of information than said first part.

18. A method of using a bar code as in claim 16 wherein said second part has related information to said first part.

19. A method of using a bar code as in claim 16 wherein said first bar code format is a linear bar code format.

20. A method of using a bar code as in claim 16, wherein said color in said second bar code is any of a number of colors that can be designated by a series of bits.

21. A method of using a bar code as in claim 16 wherein said color in said second bar code is a grey scale.