Method and application for scanning a barcode with a smart device while continuously running and displaying an application on the smart device display
First Claim
1. A barcode scanning application for a smartphone, the smart phone having an embedded camera, a visual display, and an operating system, the operating system communicatively coupling the embedded camera and the visual display;
- the barcode scanning application comprising;
a custom software input panel, the custom software input panel being provided with a barcode scanning key;
the custom software input panel occupying a first portion of the visual display;
a keyboard wedge capable of translating barcode data into keyboard strokes;
the barcode scanning application being communicatively coupled through the operating system to the embedded camera, the keyboard wedge and the custom software input panel;
the barcode scanning application being configured to operate while a different application is running and being displayed continuously on a second portion of the visual display;
the custom software input panel being configured to initiate the barcode scanning application when the barcode scanning key is touched;
the barcode scanning application, once initialized, being configured to cause the custom software input panel to be removed from the first portion of the visual display and to open a barcode viewfinder on the portion of the visual display previously occupied by the custom software input panel;
the barcode scanning application being configured to scan a barcode in the viewfinder, close the viewfinder, decode the scanned barcode, and send the barcode information to the keyboard wedge; and
the keyboard wedge being configured to translate the decoded barcode information into keyboard strokes, and to send the keyboard strokes to be displayed within the different application running and displayed continuously on the second portion of the visual display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A barcode scanning application is provided for a smartphone. The barcode scanning application includes a custom software input panel, which includes a barcode scanning key and a keyboard wedge capable of translating barcode data into keyboard strokes. The barcode scanning application, once initialized, is configured to cause the custom software input panel to be removed from the first portion of the visual display and to open a barcode viewfinder on the portion of the visual display previously occupied by the custom software input panel. The barcode scanning application is configured to scan a barcode in the viewfinder, close the viewfinder, decode the scanned barcode, and send the barcode information to the keyboard wedge. The keyboard wedge is configured to translate the decoded barcode information into keyboard strokes and send the keyboard strokes for displayed within a different application running and displayed continuously on the second portion of the visual display.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A barcode scanning application for a smartphone, the smart phone having an embedded camera, a visual display, and an operating system, the operating system communicatively coupling the embedded camera and the visual display;
- the barcode scanning application comprising;
a custom software input panel, the custom software input panel being provided with a barcode scanning key;
the custom software input panel occupying a first portion of the visual display;a keyboard wedge capable of translating barcode data into keyboard strokes; the barcode scanning application being communicatively coupled through the operating system to the embedded camera, the keyboard wedge and the custom software input panel;
the barcode scanning application being configured to operate while a different application is running and being displayed continuously on a second portion of the visual display;the custom software input panel being configured to initiate the barcode scanning application when the barcode scanning key is touched; the barcode scanning application, once initialized, being configured to cause the custom software input panel to be removed from the first portion of the visual display and to open a barcode viewfinder on the portion of the visual display previously occupied by the custom software input panel; the barcode scanning application being configured to scan a barcode in the viewfinder, close the viewfinder, decode the scanned barcode, and send the barcode information to the keyboard wedge; and the keyboard wedge being configured to translate the decoded barcode information into keyboard strokes, and to send the keyboard strokes to be displayed within the different application running and displayed continuously on the second portion of the visual display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- the barcode scanning application comprising;
-
8. A method of scanning a barcode with a smartphone while continuously running and displaying an application on a first portion of a smartphone visual display, the smartphone being provided with a user interface panel occupying a second portion of the smartphone visual display, the smartphone being provided with barcode scanning software, a viewfinder, and an embedded camera;
- the barcode scanning software, the viewfinder, the embedded camera, the user interface panel, and the visual display being communicatively coupled;
the method comprising;i. Initiating barcode scanning via the user interface panel while an application is running and being displayed on the first portion of the smartphone visual display; ii. Removing the user interface panel from the second portion of the smartphone visual display; iii. Opening a barcode scanning viewfinder on the second portion of the smartphone visual display previously occupied by the user interface panel; iv. Routing the embedded camera video feed to the barcode scanning viewfinder; v. Locating a barcode in the barcode scanning viewfinder; vi. Scanning the barcode; vii. Decoding the barcode; viii. Closing the viewfinder; ix. Translating the decoded barcode data into keyboard strokes; and x. Displaying decoded barcode information on the first portion of the smartphone visual display within the running application. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- the barcode scanning software, the viewfinder, the embedded camera, the user interface panel, and the visual display being communicatively coupled;
-
16. A barcode scanning application for a smartphone, the smart phone having an embedded camera, a visual display, and an operating system, the operating system communicatively coupling the embedded camera and the visual display;
- the barcode scanning application comprising;
a custom software input panel, the custom software input panel being provided with a barcode scanning key;
the custom software input panel occupying a first portion of the visual display, the custom input panel being communicatively coupled through the operating system to the embedded camera;a keyboard wedge capable of translating barcode data into keyboard strokes, the keyboard wedge being an integral part of the custom software input panel, the keyboard wedge configured to control a barcode scanning operation; the custom software input panel being configured to initiate the barcode scanning operation when the barcode scanning key is touched; the keyboard wedge being configured to operate the barcode scanning operation while a different application is running and being displayed continuously on a second portion of the visual display; the custom software input panel, upon initiating barcode scanning, being configured to minimize and to open a barcode viewfinder on the first portion of the visual display previously occupied by the custom software input panel; the keyboard wedge being configured to scan a barcode in the barcode viewfinder, close the viewfinder, decode the scanned barcode, translate the decoded barcode information into keyboard strokes, and to send the keyboard strokes to be displayed within the different application running and displayed continuously on the second portion of the visual display. - View Dependent Claims (17)
- the barcode scanning application comprising;
Specification