System and method for decoding and analyzing barcodes using a mobile device

• US 20050011957A1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scanbuy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scanbuy Incorporated
• Inventors: Zastepine, Roman, Shrivastava, Prateek, Attia, Olivier, Outmezguine, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.460
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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 7/14 using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method for decoding barcodes using mobile device. Generally, the barcode image is acquired via a digital camera attached to the mobile device. After the barcode image has been acquired, software located on the mobile device enhances the barcode image and subsequently decodes the barcode information. The barcode information is then transmitted to a server via a wireless network. The server processes the barcode information and transmits media content related to the barcode back to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode comprising the steps of:

imaging a barcode with mobile device equipped with a digital camera;

enhancing said barcode image using software located on said mobile device;

decoding the barcode information from said enhanced barcode image;

transmitting said barcode information to a server via a wireless network;

processing said barcode information using said server to determine the media content associated with said barcode information; and

transmitting said media content to the mobile device via said wireless network.

2. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said barcode is decoded by said server.

3. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said barcode is decoded by said mobile device.

4. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said enhancing of said barcode image comprises at least one of the steps of:

correcting said barcode image for skew;

correcting said barcode image for yaw;

correcting said barcode image for barcode sizing;

correcting said barcode image for rotation of said barcode from the normal position;

sharpening the pixels in said barcode image; and

enhancing the edges of said barcode in said barcode image.

5. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said decoding of said barcode comprises the steps of:

calculating the number of edges in said barcode image;

loading a first symbology library;

comparing said number of edges to a predetermined threshold require for said symbology library; and

decoding said barcode from said barcode image utilizing said symbology library.

6. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of other symbology libraries are loaded if said number of edges is less than said predetermined threshold.

7. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device is at least one of the group consisting of a camera phone, mobile phone, smart phone, PDA, pager, pocket PC or laptop computer.

8. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said barcode is constructed from at least one of the standardized barcode symbology libraries consisting of the group of UPC-A, UC-E, ISBN, RSS-14, RSS-14E, RSS-14L, Interleaved 2 of 5, EAN/JAN-8, EAN/JAN-13, Code 3, Code 39 Full ASCII, Code 128, PDF417, QR Code, or Data Matrix.

9. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said media content is a search result of a database constructed from said barcode information.

10. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said media content transmitted to said mobile device is product information.

11. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said wireless network is a WAP network.

12. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said barcode information is transmitted to said server via a SMS message.

13. A method of decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 1, wherein said barcode information is transmitted to said server via a MMS message.

14. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode comprising:

at least one machine readable barcode;

at least one mobile device equipped with a digital camera for imaging said barcode, wherein said mobile device decodes the barcode information from said barcode image;

a wireless network; and

a server for receiving and processing said barcode information via said wireless network, wherein said server transmits media content to said mobile device after processing said barcode information.

15. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said mobile device enhances said barcode image by performing the steps of:

correcting said barcode image for skew;

correcting said barcode image for yaw;

correcting said barcode image for barcode sizing;

correcting said barcode image for rotation of said barcode from the normal position;

sharpening the pixels in said barcode image; and

enhancing the edges of said barcode in said barcode image.

16. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said decoding of said barcode by said mobile device comprises the steps of:

calculating the number of edges in said barcode image;

loading a first symbology library;

comparing said number of edges to a predetermined threshold require for said symbology library; and

decoding said barcode from said barcode image utilizing said symbology library.

17. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of other symbology libraries are loaded by said mobile device if said number of edges is less than said predetermined threshold.

18. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said mobile device is at least one of the group consisting of a camera phone, mobile phone, smart phone, PDA, pager, pocket PC, desktop, or laptop computer.

19. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said barcode is constructed from at least one of the standardized barcode symbology libraries consisting of the group of UPC-A, UC-E, ISBN, RSS-14, RSS-14E, RSS-14L, Interleaved 2 of 5, EAN/JAN-8, EAN/JAN-13, Code 3, Code 39 Full ASCII, Code 128, PDF417, QR Code, or Data Matrix.

20. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said media content is a search result of a database constructed from said barcode information.

21. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said media content transmitted to said mobile device is product information about said manufactured good.

22. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said wireless network is a WAP network.

23. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said barcode image is transmitted to said server via a MMS message.

24. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said barcode information is transmitted to said server via a MMS message.

25. A system for decoding and analyzing a barcode according to claim 14, wherein said mobile devices utilizes an operating system from the list consisting of Symbian OS, Java, embedded VC++, Windows CE, and Palm OS.