Bar code data entry device

• US 7,967,207 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• 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:
  US10/714,097
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 235379-381, 235/462.01, 235/435, 235/454, 235/492, 235/461, 235/385, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• 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, comprising:

using a portable communication device with a camera and a display unit therein, to obtain an image of a bar code, wherein the bar code is a dual type bar code comprising a first part of a first barcode format and a second part of a second barcode format, wherein the second and first formats are different, and where said first part and said second part are sufficiently close together that they are imaged by a single imaging device at one time;

decoding, by the portable communications device, the first part and second part to obtain corresponding first and second information, wherein said second information comprises more information than the first information;

addressing a remote server, by the portable communications device, using information from said decoding as an address to access said remote server;

receiving information from said remote server, in said portable communication device, based on using said address;

receiving and displaying, on said display unit of said portable communication device, said obtained information, wherein said obtained information comprises additional information from that included in said barcode and wherein said obtained information is based on a meaning that was represented by said barcode;

using said portable communication device to make a telephone call;

and wherein said obtaining of said image comprises capturing a single image of the dual type barcode, said single image comprising both said first and second part, and processing said image via a processor of the portable communication device to obtain the information from said first and second part.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:

using said portable communication device to make a telephone call at a different time than said using to obtain an image; and

at a different time than said telephone call or said using to obtain an image, using said camera to obtain a video.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first part is a linear bar code and said second part is a non-linear bar code.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first process is a scan in a first linear direction and said second process is a scan in a second linear direction different than the first linear direction.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said second part is one of grayscale or color of the bar code, where said color of the barcode includes colors other than black and white.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said barcode is part of an advertisement, and said information obtained from said remote server represents more information about the advertisement.

7. A method as in claim 2, wherein said using comprises using the portable communication device to scan an advertisement, and wherein said information that is received from the remote server represents more information about the advertisement.

8. A method as in claim 2, wherein content of the barcode is a pointer to a remote database, and said content is decoded to determine information indicative of said pointer, and said meaning is received from said remote database based on said pointer.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein one of said parts is in a grayscale of the bar code.

10. A method, comprising:

using a portable communication device with a camera and a display unit therein, to obtain an image of a bar code, which has two different bar code parts, including a first barcode part in a first format, and a second barcode part in a second format different than the first format, wherein the second and first formats are different, and where said first part and said second part are sufficiently close together that they are imaged by a single imaging device at one time;

decoding, by the portable communications device, the first part and second part to obtain corresponding first and second information, wherein said second information comprises more information than the first information;

addressing a remote server, by the portable communications device, using information from said decoding as an address to access said remote server;

receiving information from said remote server, in said portable communication device, based on using said address;

receiving and displaying, on said display unit of said portable communication device, said information from said remote server; and

at a different time, using said portable communication device to make a telephone call.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said first part is a linear bar code and said second part is a non-linear bar code.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said first format bar code is intended to be scanned in a first linear direction and said second format bar code is intended to be scanned in a second linear direction different than the first linear direction.