U.S. patent application number 13/937110 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-28 for methods and systems for data interchange.
This patent application is currently assigned to ROELESIS WIRELESS LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Roelesis Wireless LLC. Invention is credited to Leslie D. Baych, Bruce D. Melick, Nicholas J. Peters, Gregory P. Probst, David M. Snyder, Paul R. Staman.
Application Number | 20160117319 13/937110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46326334 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160117319 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Snyder; David M. ; et
al. |
April 28, 2016 |
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DATA INTERCHANGE
Abstract
A method for data interchange includes summing up data
associated with an electronic document to provide summed up data,
representing the summed up data as one or more bar codes, and
returning the one or more bar codes for display and data capture
via a bar code scan from either a video display or a printed
version of the one or more bar codes. The electronic document may
be of any number of formats. The summing up may include taking data
from multiple information fields to create the summed up data. The
data may include data tags or a step of adding data tags to the
data to assist in data interchange may be performed.
Inventors: |
Snyder; David M.; (Cedar
Rapids, IA) ; Melick; Bruce D.; (Cedar Rapids,
IA) ; Baych; Leslie D.; (Robins, IA) ; Staman;
Paul R.; (Amana, IA) ; Peters; Nicholas J.;
(Williamsburg, IA) ; Probst; Gregory P.; (Iowa
City, IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Roelesis Wireless LLC |
Dover |
DE |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
ROELESIS WIRELESS LLC
Dover
DE
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130299572 A1 |
November 14, 2013 |
|
|
Family ID: |
46326334 |
Appl. No.: |
13/937110 |
Filed: |
July 8, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13603261 |
Sep 4, 2012 |
8528817 |
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13937110 |
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13023767 |
Feb 9, 2011 |
8282001 |
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13603261 |
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11550297 |
Oct 17, 2006 |
7942328 |
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13023767 |
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11015635 |
Dec 17, 2004 |
7350708 |
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11550297 |
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09753863 |
Jan 3, 2001 |
7070103 |
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11015635 |
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10847994 |
May 18, 2004 |
7267279 |
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09753863 |
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10158718 |
May 30, 2002 |
6764009 |
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10847994 |
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11131853 |
May 18, 2005 |
7150400 |
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11550297 |
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60294375 |
May 30, 2001 |
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60232825 |
Sep 15, 2000 |
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60213843 |
Jun 23, 2000 |
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60174220 |
Jan 3, 2000 |
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60572140 |
May 18, 2004 |
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60727605 |
Oct 18, 2005 |
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60813899 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
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60834523 |
Aug 1, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/04 20130101;
G06K 7/1095 20130101; G06Q 10/10 20130101; G06K 7/10009 20130101;
G06K 7/10544 20130101; G06F 16/93 20190101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A method of transmitting data from a first software application
to a second software application, the method comprising: receiving
a displayed portion of an electronic document associated with the
first software application, wherein the displayed portion is
displayed on a video display associated with a first computing
system, and further wherein the electronic document comprises a bar
code; reading the bar code into bar coded data; decoding the bar
coded data into information; and using the information to populate
a data field associated with the second software application
executing on a second computing system.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first computing system and
the second computing system are part of the same computing
device.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving the displayed portion
of an electronic document comprising a bar code includes the bar
code incorporated into the electronic document as one or more
images.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein decoding the bar coded data into
information comprises decoding the bar coded data into data
tags.
19. The method of claim 15 further comprising, subsequent to
decoding the bar coded data into information, adding data tags to
the information.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the information includes markup
language data.
21. A system of transmitting video displayed bar coded data from a
first software application to a second software application, the
system comprising: a memory and a processor; and a video display
configured to display a portion of an electronic document such that
the displayed portion is readable by a reader, the electronic
document associated with the first software application and
comprising a bar code, wherein the reader is configured to-- read
the bar code into bar coded data; transfer the bar coded data to a
decoder configured to decode the bar coded data into information;
and transfer the information to a distributor configured to
populate a data field associated with the second software
application.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the first software application
executes on a first computing system and the second software
application executes on a second computing system.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the reader is a component of the
second computing system.
24. The system of claim 23 wherein the second computing system
comprises a camera and, at least prior to decoding the bar coded
data into information, the camera captures an image of the bar code
in the displayed portion of the electronic document.
25. The system of claim 22 wherein the first computing system and
the second computing system are part of the same computing
device.
26. The system of claim 21 wherein the bar coded data includes data
tags.
27. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for bar
coded data transmission from a first software application to a
second software application, the instructions, when executed by a
computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:
receiving a displayed portion of an electronic document associated
with the first software application, the displayed portion
displayed on a video display associated with a first computing
system, the electronic document comprising a bar code; reading the
bar code into bar coded data; decoding the bar coded data into
information; and using the information to populate a data field
associated with the second software application executing on a
second computing system.
28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27 wherein
decoding the bar coded data into information is performed by the
second computing system.
29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 wherein the
second computing system comprises a camera and, at least prior to
decoding the bar coded data into information, the camera captures
an image of the bar code in the displayed portion of the electronic
document.
30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27 wherein the
first computing system and the second computing system are part of
the same computing device.
31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27 wherein the
bar code is incorporated into the electronic document as an
image.
32. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 27 wherein the
information includes data tags.
33. A system of transmitting data between a first software
application and a second software application, the system
comprising: a memory and a processor; and means for displaying a
portion of an electronic document such that the displayed portion
is readable by a reader, the electronic document associated with
the first software application and comprising a bar code, wherein
the reader is configured to read the bar code into bar coded data,
transfer the bar coded data to a decoder configured to decode the
bar coded data into information, the decoder further configured to
transfer the information to a distributor configured to populate a
data field associated with the second software application.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the first software application
and the second software application are both executing on a shared
computing device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/015,635 filed on Dec. 17, 2004 which is a CIP of
application Ser. No. 10/847,994 filed May 18, 2004 which is CIP of
application Ser. No. 10/158,718 filed May 30, 2002 (now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,764,009).
[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 10/874,794 filed on May 18, 2004 which is a continuation
of application Ser. No. 10/158,718 filed May 30, 2002 (now U.S.
Pat. No. 6,764,009), which is a non-provisional of provisional
application No. 60/294,375 filed May 30, 2001.
[0003] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/532,557 filed on Sep. 18, 2006 which is a continuation
of application Ser. No. 11/325,713 filed Jan. 5, 2006 (now issued
U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,040), which is a CIP of application Ser. No.
09/753,863 filed Jan. 3, 2001 which claims benefit of 60/232,825
filed on Sep. 15, 2000 and claims benefit of 60/213,843 filed on
Jun. 23, 2000 and claims benefit of 60/174,220 filed on Jan. 3,
2000.
[0004] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/325,713 filed Jan. 5, 2006 which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 09/753,863 filed on Jan. 3, 2001 (now U.S.
Pat. No. 7,070,103) which claims benefit of 60/232,825 filed Sep.
15, 2000 and claims benefit of 60/213,843 filed on Jun. 23, 2000
and claims benefit of 60/174,220 filed on Jan. 3, 2000.
[0005] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 11/131,853 filed on May 18, 2005 and claims benefit to
application No. 60/572,140 filed on May 18, 2004.
[0006] This application is a non-provisional of 60/727,605 filed
Oct. 18, 2005.
[0007] This application is a non-provisional of 60/813,899 filed
Jun. 15, 2006.
[0008] This application is a non-provisional of 60/834,523 filed
Aug. 1, 2006.
[0009] All applications listed above are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0010] 1. Field of the Invention
[0011] The present invention relates generally to data interchange
technology, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a
method and apparatus for inputting tagged or un-tagged data into
electronic documents (e-forms), summing up data in the electronic
document, or in a linked and separate document or file as one or
more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for use in data interchange.
[0012] 2. Problems in the Art
[0013] Electronic data interchange (EDI) is the
application-to-application electronic exchange of business data
found in invoices, purchase orders and dozens of other business
transactions. Data destined for EDI transmission is initially
entered into a computer, usually by a keyboard or through an Auto
ID system using bar codes, radio frequency identification (RFID),
magnetic stripe; optical character recognition (OCR), etc.
[0014] EDI reduces lead times and inventory levels, improves
bidirectional information accuracy, reduces management costs and
improves the quality of products and services.
[0015] Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between different software
applications running on disparate computer operating systems is not
easy to accomplish. Currently, EDI has a relatively low adoption
level, and is limited mainly to large companies. Standards for EDI
are still under discussion and are expected to evolve slowly. As a
result, users must have applications that can extract data from
internal systems, format this data into EDI transaction sets, and
partners must be capable of using these formats. Accomplishing this
generally requires negotiation to determine the level of
interaction between the parties exchanging information, security,
and issues like timing of communications.
[0016] Currently, custom EDI applications use sophisticated
computer software such as IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or
other programs, commonly referred to as middleware, in computer to
computer data interchange applications. This middleware is
expensive and requires a trained computer programmer to establish
and maintain the data transfer links. Furthermore, middleware is
not flexible. As business trading partners and suppliers change,
and/or the format of data storage is modified in a host computer,
the service of a trained computer programmer is required to
maintain the data interchange capabilities. It is therefore
desirable to minimize the amount of middleware software
required.
[0017] Major retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, and Dayton Hudson
have all but excluded small suppliers due to their EDI
requirements. Small companies that do not possess the
infrastructure and/or volume to justify EDI investments have
essentially been excluded by major companies as trading partners.
This has raised an interesting dilemma for business: whether to
allow system constraints to drive business practices or to allow
business practices to drive systems.
[0018] Bar codes were first introduced in the United States in the
late 1960s. Bar code technology allows almost any data to be
collected rapidly and with almost perfect accuracy. Bar code
technology provides a simple and easy method of data collection by
encoding text information that is easily read by many different
stationary, and/or inexpensive hand held electronic devices. Bar
codes have become the standard method of identification,
processing, and management used universally throughout the
manufacturing, retail, and distribution industries. While the
utilization of this technology has been limited to printed media,
similar needs exist for capturing, storing, and interchanging data
using a digital medium.
[0019] The age of the Internet, along with an increasing dependence
on external business partners for sales and marketing, distribution
and processing have given rise to complex issues surrounding
information storage, retrieval, and exchange. These issues are
compounded by the lack of an efficient, universal means by which to
exchange data across disparate platforms and operating systems used
in business today.
[0020] While there are obvious reasons to maintain a closed
network/system (virtual private network) for operational and
proprietary purposes, these same systems limit flexibility in the
universal exchange of data. Further complicating this issue is the
integration of new suppliers, customers, service providers and
distributors into these networks, where the convergence of data is
critical.
[0021] Legacy systems have historically posed challenges for
organizations, being both expensive and inefficient for data
migration. Drafting complex software solutions for conversions has
been and will continue to be an ongoing obstacle. In the
convergence process, hardware incompatibilities may also create
unique considerations.
[0022] One of the largest challenges companies face today is
addressing their technology needs to enable business-to-business
(B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) initiatives. Traditional
electronic data interchange (EDI) methods have been largely
unaffordable and have left most companies on the sidelines due to
the costs associated with such systems. Yet, according to a recent
Jupiter Research Report, 70% of companies rank "moving online" as
their top priority going forward. System Integrators (SI's) have
been aggressively developing commercial applications to address
these needs, however research analysts agree that most of these
efforts are too expensive and lack the flexibility necessary to
enable broad based alternatives to Web EDI.
[0023] The underlying problem will continue to be how to deal with
hundreds of different data standards, platforms, and operating
systems. Some of the most basic aspects of enabling electronic
commerce are data capture, integration, and personalization
capabilities. These considerations, along with the ongoing needs
associated with access to data, anywhere, and at anytime, have
resulted in a proliferation of new techniques and devices to
satisfy these needs. While considerable advancements have been made
in this regard, barriers continue to exist that limit the universal
access and exchange of information.
[0024] B2B and B2C electronic commerce is predicated on
sophisticated middle-ware, third-party administrators and in some
cases the physical re-entry of information. Sophisticated computer
software such as IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, referred to
as middle-ware, is required for computer-to-computer data
interchange applications. These techniques are both expensive, lack
flexibility and subject to considerable human error.
[0025] Another form of EDI is Optical Character Recognition (OCR).
This technology has been employed to speed the collection of human
readable data, in the form of handwriting, from scanned paper
forms. Even though OCR speeds the data collection process, it is
still an expensive method due to the error-checking required to
insure that correct data has been captured and input. Also, OCR is
limited in its ability to be a widely adopted EDI technology.
[0026] Optical character recognition (OCR) was one of the earliest
Auto ID technologies used in retail applications in the mid-1980's.
Today, OCR is currently part of resurgence because of improved
reading equipment that is much more accurate, and recognizes a
wider range of type styles than earlier equipment.
[0027] OCR is typically used to read selected areas of text (as
opposed to text recognition software that process full pages of
text). OCR is both human- and machine-readable and suited for use
with account numbers or short data strings.
[0028] OCR readers scan the data in much the same way bar code
scanners do: either by moving the document past the scanner or
moving the scanner over the document. The scan produces a "picture"
of the text that is then analyzed for characteristic features.
Features are then matched to specific letters or numbers for
output.
[0029] It should be noted that OCR readers do not work the same way
as vision systems do. The equipment for text string scanning is
much simpler and less expensive that vision systems or text
scanners.
[0030] Another OCR technology is magnetic ink character recognition
(MICR). MICR like OCR has a narrow range of usefulness as an EDI
system that can be widely adopted.
[0031] Another OCR technology is intelligent character recognition
(ICR). ICR is the intelligent recognition of non-OCR font
characters, and hand-printed characters. ICR like OCR and MICR has
a narrow range of usefulness as an EDI system that can be widely
adopted.
[0032] Wireless devices in the form of cellular phones, PDA's,
pager's, etc. have equipped consumers with additional
functionality; however barriers have become more complex between
such devices and their various operating platforms and software
applications. In addition, these devices do not provide for an
easy-to-use, two-way interactive means by which to access and
interchange data.
[0033] To achieve the desired flexibility and speed in capturing,
storing, and interchanging data, businesses and consumers continue
to deal with increasingly complex integration issues with
management information systems.
[0034] Some of these issues have recently been solved by leveraging
the proven ability of bar codes as an easy, point-of-use method for
capturing and exchanging data, where computing devices may share
the same data sources seamlessly and easily. More importantly,
these methods enable small to medium size companies with electronic
commerce capabilities without the need to build infrastructure, or
to develop sophisticated middle-ware solutions.
[0035] Another form of EDI that is becoming more prevalent is
eXtensible Markup Language (XML). XML is an open standard that is a
subset of SGML (Standardized General Markup Language). XML was
developed to overcome the shortcomings of HTML (Hypertext Markup
Language) which much of the data on the Internet is tagged in. One
of the shortcomings of XML is both ends of the EDI transaction must
support the import and export of XML documents. XML is neither easy
nor cheap to implement. To use XML efficiently, it is not simply a
matter of adding XML to existing software processes, but instead
will require re-engineering. The most difficult problem which
restricts easy and widespread XML implementations is the ability to
easily interface data into a legacy system via an Internet web
browser.
[0036] Many large businesses have positioned themselves to conduct
business online, but due to the costs and complexity associated
with electronic commerce, their vendors have not been quick to
follow. Given the cost savings benefits of on-line businesses,
these companies will be more willing to find new suppliers and
trading partners online rather than by traditional means.
[0037] During the past decade, acquisitions and mergers have also
escalated at a rapid pace as more and more companies posture for a
piece of international trade. As economies continue to open,
companies will continue to aggressively pursue strategic alliances
to capitalize on these opportunities. To date, an overriding
consideration in such alliances has been complex conversion and
information exchange issues. While the Internet has done much to
free the information flow, the compatibility of legacy hardware and
software remains paramount.
[0038] Another limitation of e-Forms is they have been limited to
HTML, XML, or PDF formats or a few proprietary formats.
[0039] There is therefore an unfilled need for a method and
apparatus which solves these and other problems. This invention has
as its primary objective fulfillment of this need. The present
invention is not, however, to be limited in any way by this
discussion.
FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
[0040] A general feature of the present invention is the provision
of a method and apparatus for tagged bar code data interchange
which overcomes the problems found in the prior art.
[0041] A further feature of the present invention is the provision
of a method for data interchange using tagged printed and/or video
displayed bar codes which uses XML as an ad hoc middleware.
[0042] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data interchange between computers using different
operating systems using tagged printed and/or video bar codes.
[0043] A further feature of the present invention is the provision
of a method for data interchange between computers using different
computer software applications using tagged printed and/or video
bar codes.
[0044] Another feature of the present invention is a method for
data interchange using tagged video bar codes generated by a
software application running within, or in conjunction with an
electronic document, to represent data contained therein.
[0045] Another feature of the present invention is a method for
data interchange using tagged printed bar codes generated by a
software application running within, or in conjunction with an
electronic document, to represent data contained therein.
[0046] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged video bar
codes for business-consumer transactions.
[0047] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged printed
bar codes for business-consumer transactions.
[0048] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged video bar
codes for consumer-consumer transactions.
[0049] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged printed
bar codes for consumer-consumer transactions.
[0050] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged video bar
codes for business-business transactions.
[0051] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged printed
bar codes for business-business transactions.
[0052] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method and apparatus for data interchange using tagged video
and/or tagged printed bar codes via a remote web, security, or
phone camera and transmitted to a remote video display for data
capture.
[0053] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged printed and/or tagged video bar codes to provide data in
multiple languages.
[0054] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged printed and/or tagged video bar codes in conjunction with
XML network routing equipment.
[0055] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using a
keyboard.
[0056] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using voice
recognition technology.
[0057] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using a
computer-telephone interface.
[0058] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
1-D bar code data.
[0059] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
2-D bar code data.
[0060] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged 3D
bumpy bar code data.
[0061] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
OCR data.
[0062] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
MICR data.
[0063] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
RFID data.
[0064] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
magnetic stripe data.
[0065] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using tagged
ICR data.
[0066] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
1-D bar code data.
[0067] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
2-D bar code data.
[0068] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
3D bumpy bar code data.
[0069] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
OCR data.
[0070] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
MICR data.
[0071] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
RFID data.
[0072] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
magnetic stripe data.
[0073] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data input into an electronic document using un-tagged
ICR data.
[0074] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data interchange between computers using different
operating systems using tagged video bar codes in an e-mail.
[0075] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data interchange between computers using different
operating systems using tagged video bar codes in an Instant
Message.
[0076] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for data interchange between computers using different
operating systems using tagged video bar codes in a web-page.
[0077] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a cell phone device.
[0078] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a PDA device.
[0079] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a television set-top
device.
[0080] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a communication network router
device.
[0081] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a communication network switch
device.
[0082] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a communication network hub
device.
[0083] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into an Automatic Teller Machine
(ATM) device.
[0084] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a laptop computer device.
[0085] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a personal computer (PC)
device.
[0086] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a pager device.
[0087] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for tagged data output into a text messaging device.
[0088] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a cell phone device.
[0089] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a PDA device.
[0090] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a television set-top
device.
[0091] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a communication network
router device.
[0092] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a communication network
switch device.
[0093] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a communication network hub
device.
[0094] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into an Automatic Teller Machine
(ATM) device.
[0095] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a laptop computer
device.
[0096] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged bar coded data output into a personal
computer (PC) device.
[0097] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a pager device.
[0098] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a method for un-tagged data output into a text messaging
device.
[0099] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
an efficient method for bar coding UNICODE characters.
[0100] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
bar code representing tagged or un-tagged address information on a
video display.
[0101] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged video or printed bar codes for discounts given
to restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores at the time of
delivery of inventory in order to keep track of discounts and
provide data to accounting and back-end systems.
[0102] Another feature of the present invention is using tagged or
un-tagged video bar codes as pre-paid chits for things like
bowling, go-kart rides, etc.
[0103] Another feature of the present invention is using cell phone
cameras in conjunction with bar code decoder software to scan and
decode tagged or un-tagged printed or video bar codes.
[0104] Another feature of the present invention is using web
cameras in conjunction with bar code decoder software to scan and
decode tagged or un-tagged printed or video bar codes.
[0105] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged video bar codes as cash or gift cards.
[0106] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data on PDF documents in a print
directory such as Yummy!.
[0107] Another feature of the present invention is the conversion
of scanned bar coded data on a driver's license to XML data.
[0108] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in RSS feeds.
[0109] Another feature of the present invention is the use of a
hash to produce the expiration date of product that carries a
tagged or un-tagged bar code.
[0110] Another feature of the present invention is the use of XML
tags in a tagged bar code to do mathematical calculations in a
printed or video bar code.
[0111] Another feature of the present invention is the use of a
hash in conjunction with a PIN to encrypt a tagged or un-tagged bar
code.
[0112] Another feature of the present invention is the use of a
hash in conjunction with a PIN to un-lock all or a portion of a
tagged or un-tagged bar code.
[0113] Another feature of the present invention is the use of XML
tags in a tagged bar code to represent row and cell identifiers in
a spreadsheet software program.
[0114] Another feature of the present invention is the use of XML
tags in a tagged bar code to represent attributes and tuples and
specific records in a relational database.
[0115] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data on employee financial
transaction card statements and expense statements and vouchers for
the purpose of reconciliation.
[0116] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in conjunction with EDI
standards, such as ANSI.1, ASC X12, UN/EDIFACT, CICA, etc.
[0117] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML XSL or XSLT file.
[0118] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to and XML XSD file
[0119] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML Schema file.
[0120] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML DTD file.
[0121] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML file with XML
Signatures.
[0122] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML pointer file.
[0123] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML XPath file.
[0124] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML file with XLinks.
[0125] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an e-Form created by the XForm
standard.
[0126] Another feature of the present invention is the association
of a tagged or un-tagged bar code to an XML document that uses
XML:ID.
[0127] Another feature of the present invention is the present
invention is a security feature in which tagged or un-tagged bar
codes are graphically separated into two or more layers, and the
graphical combination of all the layers is required in order to
complete the graphical representation of the bar code for
scanning.
[0128] Another feature of the present invention is the secure
wireless transmission of tagged or un-tagged bar coded data by the
optical scan.
[0129] Another feature of the present invention is the integration
of the Airclic bar code solution to further extend the power of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded e-Forms.
[0130] Another feature of the present invention is the integration
of the NeoMedia cell phone camera bar code reader solution to
extend the power of tagged or un-tagged bar coded e-Forms.
[0131] Another feature of the present invention is the enabling of
coupons distributed by Booble.com.
[0132] Another feature of the present invention is the integration
of the DataCard driver's license solution with the present
invention.
[0133] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
DataIntro software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the
present invention.
[0134] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
PureEdge software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the
present invention.
[0135] Another feature of the present invention is the use of Icoya
software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the present
invention.
[0136] Another feature of the present invention is the use of Adobe
software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the present
invention.
[0137] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
Microsoft software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the
present invention.
[0138] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
Macola software to create the bar coded e-Forms used in the present
invention.
[0139] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
Altova MapForce software to manage and map bar coded e-Forms used
in the present invention.
[0140] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in SmartBOL software
products.
[0141] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in Macromedia frames in web
pages, or windows.
[0142] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in QuickTime frames in web
pages, or windows.
[0143] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar coded data in RealNetworks frames in web
pages, or windows.
[0144] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged EPC bar codes.
[0145] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged Quick Response bar codes.
[0146] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged Semacodes.
[0147] Another feature of the present invention is the providing
the self-tagging capability of e-Forms and related documents using
43 Things, Flickr, del.icio.us, etc.
[0148] Another feature of the present invention is HIPPA compliant
tagged or un-tagged bar coded documents
[0149] Another feature of the present invention is Sarbanes-Oxley
compliant tagged or un-tagged bar coded documents.
[0150] Another feature of the present invention is encrypted data
tags contained in the bar code.
[0151] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar codes to represent data in an e-Form as an
integral part of the e-Form.
[0152] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged or un-tagged bar codes to represent data in an e-Form in a
separate software application.
[0153] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
e-Forms that are not constructed with HTML.
[0154] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
e-Forms that are not constructed with XML.
[0155] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
e-Forms that are not constructed as PDFs.
[0156] Another feature of the present invention is the use of the
VISA XML standard for financial transaction card statement data
interchange.
[0157] Another feature of the present invention is the use of AJAX
programming.
[0158] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
biometric data included within tagged or un-tagged 2D bar codes for
validation, authentication, and verification activities.
[0159] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
biometrics used in conjunction with tagged or un-tagged 2D bar
codes for validation, authentication, and verification
activities.
[0160] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
MLC/MSC encoded bar codes.
[0161] Another feature of the present invention is the use of WiFi
enabled cell phones as a device that can receive and transmit the
present invention's form which may or may not contain tagged and/or
un-tagged data summarized as a bar code.
[0162] Another feature of the present invention is the use of cell
phone-PC merged devices.
[0163] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-A-Web Page" as a shortcut method to access web pages that may
or may not include tagged and/or un-tagged data summed up as a bar
code.
[0164] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-An-Exit" as a shortcut method to access information related
to hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations, etc. located at or
near a specific exit on a highway. The information related to
hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations, ATM, etc. would be
accessed by speaking or typing the Highway and Exit number into a
cell phone, PDA, smart phone, etc., without having to depend on
location based services acquiring a user's location, or may not
provide enough granularity of position.
[0165] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-An-Airport" as a shortcut method to access information
related to restaurants, bookstores, ATMs, rest rooms, etc. located
at or near a specific gate or concourse in an airport. The
information related to restaurants, bookstores, ATMs, rest rooms,
etc., would be accessed by first speaking or typing the airport
code, and second speaking or typing the concourse, gate number, or
flight number into a cell phone, PDA, smart phone, etc. without
having to depend on location based services acquiring a user's
location using WiFi, cell location, or GPS--which doesn't work
indoors, or may not provide enough granularity of position. This
feature of the present invention may be used with video bar codes
that represent discounts, coupons, chits, tickets, bar coded
e-money, etc., for vendors in or near the airport. These video bar
coded discounts, coupons, chits, tickets, bar coded e-money may be
delivered via SMS, EMS, MMS, e-mail, IM, etc.
[0166] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-An-Train Station" as a shortcut method to access information
related to restaurants, bookstores, ATMs, rest rooms, etc., located
at or near a specific track or concourse in a train station. The
information related to restaurants, bookstores, ATMs, rest rooms,
etc., would be accessed by first speaking or typing the train
station name, or train station code, and second speaking or typing
a concourse, track number, or train number into a cell phone, PDA,
smart phone, etc. without having to depend on location based
services acquiring a user's location using WiFi, cell location, or
GPS--which doesn't work indoors, or may not provide enough
granularity of position. This feature of the present invention may
be used with video bar codes that represent discounts, coupons,
chits, tickets, bar coded e-money, etc., for vendors in or near the
train station. These video bar coded discounts, coupons, chits,
tickets, bar coded e-money may be delivered via SMS, EMS, MMS,
e-mail, IM, etc.
[0167] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-A-Stadium" as a shortcut method to access information related
to restaurants, ATMs, rest rooms, etc. located at or near a
specific seating section in an indoor or outdoor sporting venue.
The information related to restaurants, ATMs, rest rooms, etc.,
would be accessed by first speaking or typing the stadium's name,
or stadium's code, and second speaking or typing a seating section,
or seat number into a cell phone, PDA, smart phone, etc. without
having to depend on location based services acquiring a user's
location using WiFi, cell location, or GPS--which doesn't work
indoors or shielded environments, or may not provide enough
granularity of position. This feature of the present invention may
be used with video bar codes that represent discounts, coupons,
chits, tickets, bar coded e-money, etc., for vendors in or near the
stadium. These video bar coded discounts, coupons, chits, tickets,
bar coded e-money may be delivered via SMS, EMS, MMS, e-mail, IM,
etc.
[0168] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-A-Convention Center" as a shortcut method to access
information related to restaurants, ATMs, rest rooms, etc., located
at or near a specific area, exit, entrance, etc. in a convention
hall, etc. The information related to restaurants, ATMs, rest
rooms, etc. would be accessed by first speaking or typing the name
of the convention center, or convention code, and second speaking
or typing a specific area, exit, entrance, etc., into a cell phone,
PDA, smart phone, etc. without having to depend on location based
services acquiring a user's location using WiFi, cell location, or
GPS--which doesn't work indoors. This feature of the present
invention may be used with video bar codes that represent
discounts, coupons, chits, tickets, bar coded e-money, etc., for
vendors in or near the convention center. These video bar coded
discounts, coupons, chits, tickets, bar coded e-money may be
delivered via SMS, EMS, MMS, e-mail, IM, etc.
[0169] Another feature of the present invention is the use of GoXML
as an XML schema.
[0170] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
NavXML and GeoXML as schemas.
[0171] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
Autonomy software that enable identification of the patterns that
naturally occur in text, based on the usage and frequency of words
or terms that correspond to specific concepts. In order to extract
a document's digital essence (which may or may not include data
summed up as a tagged or un-tagged bar code) in order to enable a
host of operations to be performed automatically.
[0172] Another feature of the present invention is the inclusion of
a bar code reader, RFID scanner, magnetic stripe reader in a sled,
integrated into a cell phone, PCMCIA, SDIO, etc
[0173] Another feature of the present invention is the use of iDRS
intelligent recognition software application to process imaged
files to extract data contained therein using ICR, OCR, MICR, and
1D and 2D bar code recognition technologies.
[0174] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
microfilm and/or microfiche as either a source and/or target for
the present inventions forms containing tagged and/or un-tagged
data summarized as a bar code.
[0175] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
a software feature or ASP to provide a service for providing
copyright filing of the present invention's forms containing tagged
or un-tagged data summarized as a bar code.
[0176] Another feature of the present invention is the use of JSON
Lightweight Data Interchange as an alternative to XML.
[0177] Another feature of the present invention is the use of JSON
Lightweight Data Interchange in conjunction with XML.
[0178] Another feature of the present invention is the use of XML
in the form of RSS Branded feeds.
[0179] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes in conjunction with documents
created in the OpenDocument Format.
[0180] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes in conjunction with documents
created in the XForms format.
[0181] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes in conjunction with documents
created using Microsoft XPS.
[0182] Another feature of the present invention is the use of a
Kofax departmental sized scanner with a built-in bar code scanner
and decoder.
[0183] Another feature of the present invention is the use of bar
codes displayed in web pages that use Adobe Flash.
[0184] The present invention may be built on top of Redberri
software.
[0185] One or more of these and/or other features and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent from the following
specification and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0186] The present invention is directed towards means and methods
for the interchange of data. This includes the interchange of data
from one electronic system to another electronic system either
directly or through an intermediary physical form such as a printed
bar code, a video displayed bar code, an RFID tag, or other
physical mechanism. The interchange of data is performed in a
meaningful way so that it is readily usable. In particular,
embedded tags can be used to facilitate the proper identification
of the data.
[0187] According to one aspect of the invention, a 3-step method
and apparatus provides for 1) inputting tagged or un-tagged data
into electronic documents (e-forms), 2) summing up data in the
electronic document as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for
interchange using data tags, and 3) outputting tagged data.
[0188] In the first step, tagged or un-tagged input data can come
from a variety of data sources, including, but not limited to, 1D
and/or 2D bar codes displayed on driver's licenses, national
identification cards, social security cards, military
identification cards, company identification cards, business cards,
financial transaction cards including, but not limited to, credit
cards, check cards, and ATM cards, health plan identification
cards, purchase receipts, warranties, bills of lading, purchase
orders, invoices, sales orders, insurance cards, statements of
account, work orders, drawings, photographs, blueprints, packing
lists, UCC forms, contracts, redemption coupons, newspapers,
magazines, products, product packaging, vehicles, shipping
containers, pallets, etc. In addition, tagged or un-tagged sources
for data input into an electronic document can come from sources,
such as, but not limited to, 3D bumpy bar codes, RFID tags,
magnetic stripes, optically recognizable characters (OCR),
characters recognizable via magnetic ink technology (MICR),
intelligently recognized characters (ICR), voice, voice recognition
technology, computer-telephone interfaces, keyboards, touch
screens, PC, laptop, PDA, mouse, pager, text messaging device, WiFi
enabled cell phones, cell phone-PC merged devices, etc.
[0189] Electronic document file types have previously been created
using a very limited number of file formats, specifically, HTML and
XML in order to make them universally available for viewing in a
browser, and as PDFs using the Adobe Reader plug-in. In a quantum
leap forward the present invention makes virtually any electronic
document file format available for viewing and as a mechanism to
sum-up data for exchange as one or more tagged or un-tagged bar
codes. As an example, additional electronic document file types
that would be made available in the present invention using a
viewer, such as, but not limited to the Kamel Fastlook browser
plug-in include, but are not limited to the following:
TABLE-US-00001 300 - Enable WP 3.0 BAK - AutoCAD backup files BMP -
Windows bitmap CAL - SuperCalc 5 CDR - Corel Draw (Header only) CGM
- Computer Graphic Metafiles CH3 - Harvard Graphics 3.0 CHP -
Legacy files CHT - Harvard Graphics 2.0 CUR - Windows Cursor DB -
Paradox Database DB - Smart Database DBA - DataEase 4.x DBF - DBase
III, IV, V DCX - Multipage PCX DGN - Intergraph/MicroStation files*
DIB - Windows bitmap DIF - Navy DIF DLL - Windows DLL file DOC -
First Choice 3 WP DOC - IBM DisplayWrite 4/5 DOC - Microsoft Word
4.0-6.0 DOC - Microsoft WordPad DOC - MultiMate 3.6 DOC - SmartWare
II DOC - Wang IWP files DOC - Word for Windows 1.0, 7.0, 97 DOX -
MultiMate 4.0 DRW - Micrografx Draw DTF - Q&A Database DWF -
AutoCAD DWF 2.0 DWG - AutoCAD Drawing files DX3 - DEC DX files DXF
- Drawing Interchange files EPS - EPS (TIFF header) EXE -
DOS/Windows Executable EXE - Self Extracting ZIP FAX - CCITT Group3
Fax FAX - CCITT Group3/4 Fax FFT - IBM FFT files First Choice Word
Processor FNT - MultiMate Advantage 2 FNX - MultiMate Note FOL -
First Choice DB FWK - Framework III GEM - GEM Image Generic WKS GIF
- Rendered Image files GP4 - CALS Group4 images HPGL/2 -
Hewlet-Packard Graphics Language HTML - Internet-WWW IBM Writing
Assistant ICO - Windows Icon IDW - Autodesk Inventor IMG - GEM
Image file JFIF JPEG - Compressed Color JW - JustWrite 1.0/2.0
Lotus Manuscript 1.0-2.0 Lotus PIC LTR - PC File 5.0 Doc LZA
Compress LZH Compress Mac WordPerfect 2.0 Mac WordPerfect 3.0 Mac
WordPerfect 1.x Mac Works 2.0 Database Mac Works 2.0 Spreadsheet
Mac Works 2.0 Word Processor Macintosh PICT/PICT2 MacPaint MacWrite
II MASS 11 MDB - Microsoft Access MI - ME10/30 Microsoft Office
Binder Multiplan 4 Novell PerfectWorks 2.0 Word Processor Novell
PerfectWorks 2.0 Draw Novell PerfectWorks 2.0 Spreadsheet Novell
Presentations 3.0 OS/2 Bitmap OS/2 Warp Bitmap PCX - Zsoft
Corporation files PFB - PFS Write PL - PFS: Plan PPT - PowerPoint
3.0-4.0PPT - Powerpoint 7.0 PR2 - Freelance files Professional
Write 1-2 PRT - CADKey design file PWP - Professional Write Plus
Q&A Write Q&A Write 3 R2D - Reflex files RBF - R: Base
SystemV/5000 RFT - IBM DCA/RFT files RLC - CAD Overlay files RLE -
Windows bitmap RTF - Rich Text Format SAM - Ami Pro files SAM -
Samna files SDW - Ami Draw Signature SLDDRW - SolidWorks SNP -
Lotus Snapshot SPR - Sprint files SS - First Choice Spreadsheet SSF
- Enable Spreadsheet SY1 - Smart PIC files SYM - Lotus Symphony TAR
- UNIX Tar files TAZ - UNIX Compress files TGA - Rendered Image
files TIF - TIFF Group3/4, LZW Color TW - Total Word files TXT -
IBM DisplayWrite 2/3 TXT - Text Files VW4 - Volkswriter files WB1 -
Quattro Pro for Windows WDB - MS Works Database WG1 - Lotus 123 for
OS2 Windows Works Database Windows Works Spreadsheet WK1 - Lotus
123 v1.0-2.0 WK3 - Lotus 123 v3.0-5.0 WKS - MS Works Spreadsheet
WKS - VP-Planner WKU - Mosaic Twin files WMC - WordMarc files WMF -
Windows Metafiles Word for Macintosh 4.0-5.0 WP - WordPerfect 4.2
WP - OfficeWriter WPD - WordPerfect 5.x WPD - WordPerfect 6.0-7.0
WPF - Enable WP 4.x WPG - WordPerfect Graphic 1.0-2.0 WPG -
WordPerfect Presentations WPS - MS Works Wordprocessor WQ1 -
Quattro Pro DOS WRI - Windows Write WS - WordStar 3.0-7.0 WS -
Smart Spreadsheet WS - Wordstar for Windows WS2 - WordStar 2000 XLC
- Microsoft Excel Chart XLS - Microsoft Excel XyWrite/Nota Bene ZIP
- PkZip file
[0190] Also, by using other viewers in the present invention, such
as, but not limited to, DjVu, DiJu files that include data summed
up as one or more tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes can be
read.
[0191] In addition, by using other viewers in the present
invention, such as, but not limited to, PureEdge Viewer, PureEdge
files that include data summed up as one or more tagged and/or
un-tagged bar codes can be read.
[0192] Tagged input data is automatically input into an electronic
document. Input data tags may be useful to facilitate data input to
an electronic document, and subsequently re-tagged by the
electronic document in order to facilitate interchange into an
information system. Alternatively, input data tags may be useful to
facilitate data input into an electronic document, and subsequently
remain with the input data without alteration in order to
facilitate interchange into an information system.
[0193] Un-tagged input data is semi-automatically input into an
electronic document.
[0194] In step two, source data and/or electronic form fields
contained in the electronic document are summed up as one or more
1D and/or 2D tagged bar code(s), which is the means for data
interchange via bar code scanning technology in the present
invention. Alternatively, the data may be summed up by the remote
server and returned to the original electronic document, or other
electronic documents as one or more 1D and/or 2D tagged bar codes
for data interchange via bar code scanning technology. The
electronic document may use the data tags contained in the source
data, and/or strip the source data tags and/or re-tag the source
data in order to facilitate data interchange. Additionally, the
electronic document can add data tags to un-tagged input source
data in order to facilitate interchange into an information
system.
[0195] In step three, tagged information summed up on an electronic
document in the form of one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes are
captured from either a printed version of the electronic document,
or a video displayed version of the electronic document. The video
bar code may come from either a local, or remotely viewed source.
The captured tagged data string is parsed; the data tags are used
to route and/or input and/or exchange data into a variety of
software applications, such as but not limited to, a database, a
spreadsheet, a web page, a word processor, another electronic
document, etc. The tags may remain with the output data, or
alternatively may be stripped from the data.
[0196] The tagged data captured from one or more 1D and/or 2D bar
code(s) in an electronic document, either directly off a video
display or from a printed version of the document, can be output to
a data target that is capable of receiving and/or use tagged data,
such as but not limited to, an RFID tag, Smart Card, magnetic
stripe, bar code printer, OCR encoder, MICR encoder, ICR encoder,
cell phone, television set-top box, telecommunication network
router, telecommunication network switch, telecommunication network
hub, ATM machine, laptop computer, PC, PDA, pager, text messaging
device, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.
[0197] In a preferred embodiment, a business user or consumer uses
an integrated software system to create electronic generated
documents which include integrally or in a separate software
application tagged bar coded information, create specific style
sheets to define bar coded data tags, publish documents with tagged
bar coded information, scan video displayed documents using a high
scan rate CCD or linear imager, or scan printed documents using any
type of applicable bar code reader to capture tagged bar coded
information, cache tagged bar coded information, parse the tagged
bar coded information and applicable software applications, strip
the bar coded data tags, input stripped bar coded data into the
applicable software application.
[0198] This scanned information is not formatted specifically for
any business/consumer software and therefore is easily transferable
between businesses/consumers which may use different software
applications to manipulate the same data to suit their needs. This
minimizes the need for many of the conversion programs or
interpretation programs, commonly known as middleware, and provides
data interchange across a wide variety of settings for a myriad of
purposes.
[0199] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange is provided. The method includes
providing a first document having at least one data field. Then
inputted information is received into the at least one data field.
A bar code is generated based on the at least one data field and
the information inputted into the at least one data field. The at
least one data field and the information inputted into the at least
one data field is stored within the first document or
otherwise.
[0200] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange includes opening a document having
tagged bar coded information including data tags and data. Then the
data is updated. A bar code defined by the tagged bar code
information is also updated. The tagged bar coded information is
then transmitted. The transmitting can occur in electronic or paper
form.
[0201] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange includes opening a document having
embedded tagged or un-tagged bar coded information, updating data
within data field of the document, updating the embedded bar coded
information based on the data, and generating a bar code based on
the embedded bar coded information. The embedded bar coded
information can then be transmitted in either electronic or paper
form, or a combination of electronic and paper forms.
[0202] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange includes opening a document that is
linked to tagged or un-tagged bar coded information represented in
a separate software application, updating data within the data
field of the document, updating the bar coded information in the
linked and separate software application based on the data, and
generating a bar code based on the bar coded information in the
linked and separate software application. The combination of the
document and bar coded information in a linked and separate
software application can then be transmitted in either electronic
or paper form, or combination of electronic and paper forms.
[0203] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange includes summing up data associated
with an electronic document to provide summed up data, representing
the summed up data as one or more bar codes, and returning the one
or more bar codes for display and data capture via a bar code scan
from either a video display or a printed version of the one or more
bar codes. The summing up may include taking data from multiple
information fields to create the summed up data. The data may
include data tags. The method may include adding data tags to the
data to assist in data interchange. The steps of summing up,
representing, and returning are performed by a software application
running on a first computer. The method may include sending the
data associated with the electronic document to a remote computing
device for performing the steps of summing up, representing, and
returning. The step of returning may be returning an image. The
electronic document may include data from a source associated with
the electronic document. The data source may be a physical device.
The one or more bar codes may be maintained by incorporating the
one or more bar codes into the electronic document as one or more
images. The method may include representing the electronic document
and the one or more bar codes on microfilm or microfiche for
archival purposes.
[0204] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for data interchange includes receiving a number from a user
representing a location of a web resource, accessing the web
resource using the number, receiving from the web resource a bar
code summing up data associated with the web resource. The number
may be a phone number or other number which may be easily entered
by a user, such as using a dial pact of a phone. The number may
include other characters associated with a dial pad of a phone. The
data may data tags.
[0205] A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus
for tagged bar code data interchange will be afforded to those
skilled in the art, as well as a realization of the additional
features and advantages thereof, by a consideration of the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
Reference will be made to the appended drawings which will first be
described briefly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0206] FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of the preferred method
of the present invention.
[0207] FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a document
containing tagged bar codes.
[0208] FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet used
by the "sending company" to identify the fields and tags for the
bar codes shown in FIG. 2.
[0209] FIG. 4 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet used
by the "receiving company" to identify the fields and tags to
receive the bar codes shown in FIG. 2.
[0210] FIG. 5 is pictorial representation of a style sheet used to
identify the fields and tags for the tagged two-dimensional bar
coded data shown in FIG. 8.
[0211] FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a data cache.
[0212] FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of the "receiving
company's" software application which receives data from the data
cache depicted in FIG. 6.
[0213] FIG. 8 is an example of data and data tags contained in a
two-dimensional bar code.
[0214] FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of a data cache which
has received the two-dimensional, tagged bar coded data represented
in FIG. 8.
[0215] FIG. 10 is a general block diagram of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0216] One aspect of the present invention includes a 3-step method
and apparatus for 1) inputting tagged or un-tagged data into
electronic documents (e-forms), 2) summing up data in the
electronic document as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for
interchange using data tags, and 3) outputting tagged data.
[0217] In the first step of the present invention, tagged or
un-tagged input data can come from a variety of data sources,
including, but not limited to, 1D and/or 2D bar codes displayed on
driver's licenses, national identification cards, social security
cards, military identification cards, company identification cards,
business cards, financial transaction cards including, but not
limited to, credit cards, check cards, and ATM cards, health plan
identification cards, purchase receipts, warranties, bills of
lading, purchase orders, invoices, sales orders, insurance cards,
statements of account, work orders, drawings, photographs,
blueprints, packing lists, UCC forms, contracts, redemption
coupons, newspapers, magazines, products, product packaging,
vehicles, shipping containers, pallets, etc. In addition, tagged or
un-tagged sources for data input into an electronic document can
come from various sources, such as, but not limited to, 3D bumpy
bar codes, RFID tags, magnetic stripes, optically recognizable
characters (OCR), characters recognizable via magnetic ink
technology (MICR), intelligently recognized characters (ICR),
voice, voice recognition technology, computer-telephone interfaces,
keyboards, touch screens, PC, laptop, PDA, mouse, pager, text
messaging device, etc.
[0218] Electronic document file types for viewing, sharing, and
exchanging data on the Internet have previously been created using
a very limited number of file formats, specifically, HTML and XML
in order to make them universally available for viewing in a
browser, and as PDFs using the Adobe Reader plug-in. In a quantum
leap forward the present invention makes virtually any electronic
document file format available for viewing and as a mechanism to
sum-up data for exchange as one or more tagged or un-tagged bar
codes. As an example, additional electronic document file types
that would be made available in the present invention using a
viewer, such as, but not limited to the Kamel Fastlook browser
plug-in include, but are not limited to the following:
TABLE-US-00002 300 - Enable WP 3.0 BAK - AutoCAD backup files BMP -
Windows bitmap CAL - SuperCalc 5 CDR - Corel Draw (Header only) CGM
- Computer Graphic Metafiles CH3 - Harvard Graphics 3.0 CHP -
Legacy files CHT - Harvard Graphics 2.0 CUR - Windows Cursor DB -
Paradox Database DB - Smart Database DBA - DataEase 4.x DBF - DBase
III, IV, V DCX - Multipage PCX DGN - Intergraph/MicroStation files*
DIB - Windows bitmap DIF - Navy DIF DLL - Windows DLL file DOC -
First Choice 3 WP DOC - IBM DisplayWrite 4/5 DOC - Microsoft Word
4.0-6.0 DOC - Microsoft WordPad DOC - MultiMate 3.6 DOC - SmartWare
II DOC - Wang IWP files DOC - Word for Windows 1.0, 7.0, 97 DOX -
MultiMate 4.0 DRW - Micrografx Draw DTF - Q&A Database DWF -
AutoCAD DWF 2.0 DWG - AutoCAD Drawing files DX3 - DEC DX files DXF
- Drawing Interchange files EPS - EPS (TIFF header) EXE -
DOS/Windows Executable EXE - Self Extracting ZIP FAX - CCITT Group3
Fax FAX - CCITT Group3/4 Fax FFT - IBM FFT files First Choice Word
Processor FNT - MultiMate Advantage 2 FNX - MultiMate Note FOL -
First Choice DB FWK - Framework III GEM - GEM Image Generic WKS GIF
- Rendered Image files GP4 - CALS Group4 images HPGL/2 -
Hewlet-Packard Graphics Language HTML - Internet-WWW IBM Writing
Assistant ICO - Windows Icon IDW - Autodesk Inventor IMG - GEM
Image file JFIF JPEG - Compressed Color JW - JustWrite 1.0/2.0
Lotus Manuscript 1.0-2.0 Lotus PIC LTR - PC File 5.0 Doc LZA
Compress LZH Compress Mac WordPerfect 2.0 Mac WordPerfect 3.0 Mac
WordPerfect 1.x Mac Works 2.0 Database Mac Works 2.0 Spreadsheet
Mac Works 2.0 Word Processor Macintosh PICT/PICT2 MacPaint MacWrite
II MASS 11 MDB - Microsoft Access MI - ME10/30 Microsoft Office
Binder Multiplan 4 Novell PerfectWorks 2.0 Word Processor Novell
PerfectWorks 2.0 Draw Novell PerfectWorks 2.0 Spreadsheet Novell
Presentations 3.0 OS/2 Bitmap OS/2 Warp Bitmap PCX - Zsoft
Corporation files PFB - PFS Write PL - PFS: Plan PPT - PowerPoint
3.0-4.0PPT - Powerpoint 7.0 PR2 - Freelance files Professional
Write 1-2 PRT - CADKey design file PWP - Professional Write Plus
Q&A Write Q&A Write 3 R2D - Reflex files RBF - R: Base
SystemV/5000 RFT - IBM DCA/RFT files RLC - CAD Overlay files RLE -
Windows bitmap RTF - Rich Text Format SAM - Ami Pro files SAM -
Samna files SDW - Ami Draw Signature SLDDRW - SolidWorks SNP -
Lotus Snapshot SPR - Sprint files SS - First Choice Spreadsheet SSF
- Enable Spreadsheet SY1 - Smart PIC files SYM - Lotus Symphony TAR
- UNIX Tar files TAZ - UNIX Compress files TGA - Rendered Image
files TIF - TIFF Group3/4, LZW Color TW - Total Word files TXT -
IBM DisplayWrite 2/3 TXT - Text Files VW4 - Volkswriter files WB1 -
Quattro Pro for Windows WDB - MS Works Database WG1 - Lotus 123 for
OS2 Windows Works Database Windows Works Spreadsheet WK1 - Lotus
123 v1.0-2.0 WK3 - Lotus 123 v3.0-5.0 WKS - MS Works Spreadsheet
WKS - VP-Planner WKU - Mosaic Twin files WMC - WordMarc files WMF -
Windows Metafiles Word for Macintosh 4.0-5.0 WP - WordPerfect 4.2
WP - OfficeWriter WPD - WordPerfect 5.x WPD - WordPerfect 6.0-7.0
WPF - Enable WP 4.x WPG - WordPerfect Graphic 1.0-2.0 WPG -
WordPerfect Presentations WPS - MS Works Wordprocessor WQ1 -
Quattro Pro DOS WRI - Windows Write WS - WordStar 3.0-7.0 WS -
Smart Spreadsheet WS - Wordstar for Windows WS2 - WordStar 2000 XLC
- Microsoft Excel Chart XLS - Microsoft Excel XyWrite/Nota Bene ZIP
- PkZip file
[0219] Also, by using other viewers in the present invention, such
as, but not limited to, DjVu, DiJu files that include data summed
up as one or more tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes can be
read).
[0220] In addition, by using other viewers in the present
invention, such as, but not limited to, PureEdge Viewer, PureEdge
files that include data summed up as one or more tagged and/or
un-tagged bar codes can be read.
[0221] Tagged input data is automatically input into an electronic
document. Input data tags may be useful to facilitate data input to
an electronic document, and subsequently re-tagged by the
electronic document in order to facilitate interchange into an
information system. Alternatively, input data tags may be useful to
facilitate data input into an electronic document, and subsequently
remain with the input data without alteration in order to
facilitate interchange into an information system. Un-tagged input
data is semi-automatically input into an electronic document.
[0222] In step two, source data and/or electronic form fields
contained in the electronic document are summed up as one or more
1D and/or 2D tagged bar code(s), which is the means for data
interchange via bar code scanning technology in the present
invention. Alternatively, the data may be summed up by the remote
server and returned to the original electronic document or other
electronic documents as one or more 1D and/or 2D tagged bar codes
for data interchange via bar code scanning technology. The
electronic document may use the data tags contained in the source
data, and/or strip the source data tags and/or re-tag the source
data in order to facilitate data interchange. Additionally, the
electronic document can add data tags to un-tagged input source
data in order to facilitate interchange into an information
system.
[0223] In step three, tagged information summed up on an electronic
document in the form of one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes can be
captured from either a printed version of the electronic document,
or a video displayed version of the electronic document. The video
bar code may come from either a local, or remotely viewed source.
The captured tagged data string is parsed; the data tags are used
to route and/or input and/or exchange data into a variety of
software applications, such as but not limited to, a database, a
spreadsheet, a web page, a word processor, another electronic
document, etc. The tags may remain with the output data, or
alternatively may be stripped from the data.
[0224] A preferred embodiment of the present invention describes a
scenario in which the electronic document has the intelligence
necessary to sum up, and tag data for interchange. In the following
example, data designated for interchange is summed up by software,
firmware, or hardware and not the electronic document itself.
[0225] The tagged data in the following example may be sent to a
remote compute device such as, but not limited to a server running
a software application that sums up the data, tags it for
interchange as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes, and returns it
to the originating electronic document for display and data capture
via a bar code scan from either a video display or printed as a
hard-copy. Alternatively, the tagged data in the form of one or
more 1D and/or 2D bar codes, may be returned to another software
window open on the same computing device where the originating
electronic document is resident, or may be returned to a different
hardware device for display and data capture via a bar code scan
from a video display or printed as a hard-copy.
[0226] As an example, a purchasing agent would use an Internet
browser, such as but not limited to, Internet Explorer, Firefox,
Opera, etc. to perform an Internet search for a product using an
Internet search engine such as, but not limited to, Google, Yahoo!,
MSN, Acoona, Lycos, Alta Vista, Teoma, Excite, Northern Light, NBC
i/Snap, Go/Infoseek, Overture, Kanoodle, InfoSpace, Switchboard,
WhoWhere?, Orbitz, etc. The purchasing agent would go to a relevant
web-page, and use a button on their Internet browser to request
tagged data in the form of one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes be
returned to them. The Internet search engine, or an Application
Service Provider (ASP), would process the request to sum up
relevant demographic data, product data, etc., in the form of one
or more 1D and/or 2D tagged data bar codes ready for data
interchange into the purchasing agent's business system software as
a purchase order, purchase order request, etc.
[0227] Alternatively, the purchasing agent could use their Internet
browser to contact Thomas Register to perform an Internet search
for a product using their search engine. The purchasing agent would
go to a relevant web-page, use a button on the Thomas Register
web-page to request tagged data in the form of one of more 1D
and/or 2D bar codes be returned to them. Thomas Register would
process the request to sum up relevant demographic data, product
data, etc. in the form of one or more 1D and/or 2D tagged data bar
codes that would be used to facilitate data interchange into the
purchasing agent's business system software as a purchase order,
purchase order request, etc.
[0228] In these examples, XML is very powerful when
industry-specific XML standards are used. The following chart
details some industry-specific or application-specific XML
standards that are designed to facilitate data interchange.
Industry-specific XML standards can be applied in the present
invention as tags for input data, tags for data summed up in the
form of one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes, or tags for output
data.
TABLE-US-00003 STANDARDS AND INDUSTRY RELATED ITEMS DESCRIPTION
Financial Services RIXML, finXML, FIXML, Used to facilitate
electronic data FpML, OFX, MISMO, exchange in specific financial
segments, GLXML, VISA XML such Capital Markets, Mortgage, and
Securities. Insurance ACCORD Suite of XML specifications designed
to facilitate the electronic exchange of Life and Annuity, Property
and Casualty, and Reinsurance information Criminal Justice/Legal
Legal Justice XML, Specifications for electronic court filing,
LegalXML court documents, legal citations, transcripts, criminal
justice intelligence systems, and others Banking BIPS, IFX Used by
the banking industry to exploit electronic delivery channels to
rapidly deliver applications and products to consumers Business
Reporting XBRL Enables dynamic and interactive publishing,
exchange, and analysis of complex financial information in
corporate business reports EDI X12, XML/EDI, tranXML Used to
facilitate inter-industry electronic interchange of business
transactions Human Resources HR-XML Suite of XML specifications
designed to enable e-business and the automation of human
resources-related data exchanges Customer Information CPExchange,
xNAL, xCIL, Used to represent customer information xCRL in a
standard way to achieve interoperability between different systems,
processes, and platforms Aerospace/Defense eAIP Used for the
publication and exchange of the Aeronautical Information
Publication in electronic format Automotive SAE J2008 Designed to
provide easy access to emission-related automotive service
information E-commerce BPML, ebXML, cXML, Used to facilitate
Internet commerce xCBL, BRML, IOTP ERP OAGIS Used to provide a
common horizontal message architecture Manufacturing MDSI-XML
Facilitate electronic exchange of manufacturing data
Telecommunications MAXML, WAP-WML Used in development of
telecommunications applications Transportation tranXML, MTML, tXML
Used in development of telecommunications applications News RSS
Used in news feeds, and can be used to feed pertinent data and news
inside an organization Building and Construction bcXML Used in the
building and construction industry to facilitate exchange of
information Other NavXML, GXML Geographic based XML Internet Search
XML Go XML Internet Search XML
[0229] The information encoded in printed bar codes can be captured
using a variety of scanning equipment that can configured as either
hand-held devices or bulk scanning equipment. Printed bar code
readers can be Charge Coupled Device (CCD) scanners with short or
long depths of field. CCD Scanners with longer "laser-like" depths
of field are called Imagers. CCD Scanners have no moving parts and
use an LED array with hundreds or thousands of CCD light detectors
to measure the ambient light from an illuminated bar code image.
CCD Scanners capture the entire bar code image and form a signal
pattern that can be decoded. The decoder may be integrated into the
scanner, or operate on a separate device.
[0230] Also, CCD camera and decoder combinations can be used to
scan and decode video or printed bar codes. Scanbuy and NeoMedia
provide bar code decoder technology that enables CCD cameras in
cell phones or web cams to serve as bar code readers.
[0231] The information encoded in printed bar codes can also be
captured using Laser Scanners. Laser Scanners have a very precise
beam of light which can be reflected accurately in a range of
several inches to several feet to dozens of feet. Laser Scanners
capture data encoded in a bar code by measuring reflected light of
a specific frequency originating from the scanner itself.
Typically, Laser Scanners have a moving beam which sweeps back and
forth; some older Laser Scanners required the user to move the beam
across the bar code.
[0232] Printed bar codes can also be read with a Pen Wand, which is
the simplest bar code reader. It contains no moving parts and is a
durable and low cost. However, a Pen Wand can present a challenge
to the user, because it has to remain in direct contact with the
bar code, must be held at a certain angle, and has to be moved over
the bar code at a certain speed.
[0233] A printed bar code can also be read with a Slot Scanner,
which remains stationary and the item with the bar code on it is
pulled by hand through the slot. Slot Scanners are typically used
to scan bar codes on identification cards.
[0234] A printed bar code can also be read with a Camera Reader
that uses a small video camera to capture an image of a bar code.
The reader uses a sophisticated digital image processing technique
to decode the bar code. Camera Readers use the same CCD technology
as in a CCD bar code reader except that instead of having a single
row of sensors, a video camera has hundreds of rows of sensors
arranged in a two dimensional array so they can generate an image
of a bar code suitable for decoding.
[0235] Video displayed bar codes can only be captured successfully
for decoding using CCD Scanners, Imagers, or Camera Readers.
[0236] Any type of bar code scanner can be connected to a device
such as a computer, or cash register, etc. via a hard-wire or RF
connection.
[0237] The tagged data captured from one or more 1D and/or 2D bar
code(s) in an electronic document, either directly off a video
display or from a printed version of the document, can be output to
a data target that is capable of receiving and/or use tagged data,
such as but not limited to, an RFID tag, Smart Card, magnetic
stripe, bar code printer, OCR encoder, MICR encoder, ICR encoder,
cell phone, television set-top box, telecommunication network
router, telecommunication network switch, telecommunication network
hub, ATM machine, laptop computer, PC, PDA, pager, text messaging
device, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.
[0238] FIG. 10 is a general block diagram of one embodiment of the
present invention. E-form 1010 is capable of receiving input from a
variety of tagged or un-tagged data sources, including but not
limited to, an un-tagged bar code 1000, bar code 1000 can be a 1
Dimension (1D), 2 Dimension (2D), or 3D bar code bumpy bar
code.
[0239] Alternatively, E-form 1010 is capable of receiving input
form tagged bar codes 1001, bar code 1001 can be a 1D, 2D, or 3D
bar code. These tagged or un-tagged 1D or 2D input bar codes can be
displayed as printed and/or local or remote video bar codes.
[0240] Also, E-form 1010 can receive input from tagged or un-tagged
data contained in the form of MICR 1012, ICR 1003, OCR 1004, or
contained in magnetic stripes 1005 or RFID tags 1006.
[0241] Also, E-form 1010 is capable of receiving tagged or
un-tagged data from sources such as, but not limited to, voice
input 1007, computer-telephone interfaces 1008, keyboards 1009,
etc.
[0242] E-Form 1010 sums up information ready for interchange as one
or more tagged 1D bar codes 1012 and/or tagged 2D bar codes 1011.
The data contained in the 1D 1012 and/or 2D bar codes 1011 is
tagged to facilitate data interchange with various data
targets.
[0243] E-form 1010 can be displayed as a video document 1021 and/or
as a printed document 1022 in order for the tagged data summed up
as one or more tagged 1D bar codes 1012 and/or tagged 2D bar codes
1011 to be captured by bar code scanner 1030. Video document 1021
can be a local document or remote viewed document,
[0244] Bar code scanner 1030 is capable of outputting tagged and/or
un-tagged data captured represented as 1D bar codes 1012 and/or 2D
bar codes 1011 to software applications such as, but not limited
to, other E-forms 1010', a database 1041, etc. Also, the data being
output by scanner 1030 captured from E-form 1010 represented in
either a video document 1021 and/or printed document 1022 may be
output to devices such as, but not limited to, a set-top box 1042,
cell phone 1043, compute device 1044 such as, but not limited to a
PC, laptop, server, micro-processor, PDA, etc., telecom equipment
1045 such as but not limited to a router, hub, switch, etc.,
Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) 1046, or a pager or text messenger
1046, etc. Bar code scanner 1030 is also capable of outputting
un-tagged bar codes 1000 and/or tagged bar codes 1001. Un-tagged
bar codes 1000 and tagged bar codes 1001 may be 1D, and/or 2D, and
or 3D.
Bar Codes
[0245] In the present invention, bar codes are used for summing up
data which is tagged to facilitate data interchange. The bar codes
used the present invention to facilitate data interchange can be
displayed in a printed and/or video format. Additionally bar codes
can serve as sources of data for input into an electronic document,
and can also be the form of target data output by the present
invention
Printed Bar Codes
[0246] Printed bar codes are well known in the art, and are a
proven, efficient means for data collection. A bar code is a coded
image of bars and spaces, which can be used to represent numbers
and other symbols. A printed bar code can be 1 Dimension (1D), or 2
Dimension (2D). Common standardized 1D bar code formats include,
but are not limited to, Code 39, Code 128, and Interleaved 2 of 5.
A common standardized 2D bar code format includes, but is not
limited to, PDF 417. There are also various proprietary 1D and 2D
bar code formats. A bar code reader is used to read the code, and
translates the image of the bar code into digital data.
[0247] Following is a more complete list of various 1D and 2D
printed bar codes used in the world today. This list includes, but
is not limited to, Code 39, Code 39 extended, Danish PTT 39 Bar
code, French Postal 39 A/R, German Postal Bar code Identcode 11,
German Postal Bar code Leitcode 13, 2 of 5 Interleaved, 2 of 5
Industrial, 2 of 5 Matrix Plessey, Codabar, MSI Plessey, MSI
Plessey+CHK10, MSI Plessey+CHK10+CHK10, MSI Plessey+CHK11+CHK10, 2
of 5 IATA, 2 of 5 Datalogic, Code 39 Reduced, USPS tray label, USPS
sack label, Code32, Codabar Rationalised, MSI Plessey+CHK11, OMR,
Code 93, Code 93 extended, 128 A, 128 B, 128 C, UCC-128, EAN/JAN-8,
EAN/JAN-8 +2, EAN/JAN-8 +5, EAN/JAN-13, EAN/JAN-13 +2, EAN/JAN-13
+5, UPC-A, UPC-A +2, UPC-A +5, UPC-E, UPC-E +2, UPC-E +5, Oce
UNICODE, 128 utoswitch, EAN 128, ISBN, ISSN, Swiss Postal, Code11,
UPS Standard (18 digits), UPS 18 digits, UPS Standard (11 digits),
UPS 11 digits, 128.times. (Free Type), Telepen, PDF-417, PDF-417
(HP Mode), MicroPDF417, Royal Mail 4-State Customer Code, Dutch
4-State Postal, Singapore Post 4-State Postal Code, Australia Post
4-State Postal Code, Japan Post 4-State Postal Code, Australia Post
4-State Postal Code 37,52,67, Australia 4-state postal 37-GUST (HP
Mode), Australia 4-state postal 52-FF-MET (HP Mode), Australia
4-state postal 67-FF-MET (HP Mode), Australia 4-state postal FCC-45
REPLY (HP Mode), Singapore Post 4-State Postal Code (HP Mode),
DataMatrix, MaxiCode, MaxiCode (HP Mode), USPS FIM, POSTNET 5
ZIP+4, POSTNET 9 ZIP+4, POSTNET 11 DPC, PLANET, Aztec, Aztec Mesas,
QR Code, Code 49, Channel Code, Code One, SuperCode, RSS, EAN/UCC
Composite Symbology, Codablock F, Dot Code A, Code16K.
Bar Code Security Features (Printed Bar Codes)
[0248] For certain applications it may be a requirement to add a
level of security in order to prevent the reading and/or scanning
of sensitive or proprietary information that may be contained in a
tagged bar code in an electronic document.
[0249] One method of providing an additional layer of security
against someone attempting to read the human readable portion that
often accompanies a tagged bar code, particularly a 1D tagged bar
code, is by the elimination of the human readable portion of a bar
code. Another method would be to deliberately change the human
readable portion of a bar code to be irrelevant and unrelated to
what is actually contained in the tagged bar code.
[0250] A tagged bar code that is readable by a bar code scanner can
typically be printed using a wide variety of standard inks on a
wide variety of label materials and/or paper types. One method to
prevent fraudulent photocopying of a tagged printed bar code that
is to be applied to an asset is to print the tagged bar code on
self-destructing material that comes apart if an attempt is made to
peel it off the asset that has been affixed to.
[0251] A tagged printed bar code can be made more secure if it is
printed with a thermochromic ink, available from companies such as,
but not limited to, Standard Register. Thermochromic ink changes
color or disappears when warmed and returns back to the original
color upon cooling, thus making it impossible to copy using
photocopiers. They are also difficult to counterfeit. A tagged
printed bar code can be printed using a standard ink and a
disappearing thermochromic ink in order to cause the tagged printed
bar code to morph into another image. The morphed bar code would
translate into a different identification number and would alert a
back-end database of a fraudulently tagged printed bar code.
Thermochromic inks are an effective deterrent to fraud.
[0252] Another kind of tagged printed bar code can be presented
using the aforementioned 3D bumpy bar code technology. One
advantage of using a 3D tagged bumpy bar code to represent tagged
data is that it cannot be fraudulently photocopied. Also, 3D bumpy
bar code readers are currently not as ubiquitous as standard bar
code readers designed to read tagged printed and/or tagged video
bar codes.
[0253] A further security measure for tagged printed bar codes is
the printing of the tagged bar code using invisible inks. As an
example, PhotoSecure, Inc. manufactures photoluminescent inks
(SmartDYE.TM.) and related scanners. Fluorescing inks are invisible
to the naked eye and provide a moderate amount of protection
against copying. By mixing SmartDYE.TM. components, PhotoSecure can
customize each ink batch, if necessary, to have unique fluorescing
characteristics. These include the specific frequency of light
needed to activate them, the manner in which their fluorescence
fades when the photo stimulus is removed, the exact color of the
fluorescence, and other properties which can be detected and
measured by their scanners. PhotoSecure's scanners are equipped
with a strobe light source, a CCD image sensor, and solid-state
memory for recording both the response profile of each authentic
secure tagged bar code.
[0254] Additionally, a tagged bar code may also include a digital
watermark. Digimarc Corporation's digital watermark technology
embeds a special message in an image by making subtle,
imperceptible changes to the original data content of an image. A
digital watermark that has been fraudulently copied can be detected
using a proprietary scanner.
[0255] Another form of security for a tagged bar code is the
intentional visual encryption of the tagged bar code by applying an
algorithm to the tagged data to scramble the position of the
characters being displayed. The visual encryption algorithm could
use a PIN or other unique identifier as a variable to drive the
encryption algorithm.
[0256] Another form of security for tagged and or un-tagged bar
codes is the creation of a single PDF-417 2D bar code, and then
subsequently the division of the original 2D bar code into at least
two parts. All the sub-divided parts would need to be present in
order to be scanned and decoded. The original PDF 417 2D bar code
could also be hashed and/or PIN protected in addition. Some of the
sub-divided parts could be printed, and others could be presented
on video displays.
[0257] Any combination or all of these technologies may be employed
to add security to a tagged bar code of the present invention and
insure authenticity.
Video Bar Codes
[0258] In addition to the tagging of bar codes as described in the
present invention, the inventors have greatly extended the utility
of bar codes by creating another format for their use, video
displays. Tagged video bar codes give rise to a tremendous
opportunity to introduce new applications for bar codes, such as in
prepackaged software, custom software, television, digital radio,
the Internet, and ATM machines.
[0259] Tagged video bar codes are an efficient means for data
collection and can be 1 Dimension (1D), or 2 Dimension (2D). Common
standardized 1D bar code formats that have been successfully read
off a video display include, but are not limited to, Code 39, Code
128, and Interleaved 2 of 5. A common standardized 2D bar code
format that has been successfully read off a video display
includes, but is not limited to, PDF 417. There are also various
proprietary 1D and 2D bar code formats. A high scan rate CCD or
linear imager bar code reader is used to read the tagged video bar
code, and translates the image of the bar code into digital
data.
[0260] Tagged video bar codes possess several inherent qualities
that offer significant advancements in this digital age. First, the
use of tagged video bar codes can allow for a two-way interchange
of data.
[0261] Secondly, the use of tagged video bar codes is not
constrained by operating systems, software, hardware, or the
compatibility of such systems. Any data represented by a tagged
video bar code may be universally interchanged across disparate
systems without expensive and rigid middle-ware requirements. By
simply scanning a video-displayed bar code in a similar manner as
performed at the grocery store, data is instantaneously
transferred.
[0262] Tagged 1D or 2D bar codes are a unique and simple way for
two or more parties to exchange information, using HTML, SGML, XML,
proprietary data tags, etc. Tagged bar codes allow for an ad-hoc or
standardized medium to exchange data between parties, applications,
businesses, and industries. As information is captured and decoded,
data tags are used to delineate and identify data for input into a
standardized form, database, application, etc. Tagged bar codes
greatly expand the application for bar codes. Tagged bar codes can
be one or two-dimensional bar codes, which can be presented for
scanning in either printed or video formats.
[0263] Electronic documents with tagged video bar codes are easily
created using existing software, and may be viewed with a variety
of different video displays. Tagged video bar coded data is then
captured and interchanged with any software application running on
any operating system without using middle-ware. This is an
easy-to-implement, inexpensive system. As an example, small vendors
currently cannot afford the extensive monetary investment required
for special middle-ware to do business with companies such as
Wal-Mart, Sears, Dayton-Hudson, General Motors, etc. Tagged video
bar coded electronic documents such as, purchase orders, advance
ship notices, invoices, medical prescriptions, insurance
applications, etc. create a new, easy-to-implement form of EDI in
order to interact with a business information system.
[0264] Tagged video bar codes have broad application and may be
transmitted over any video medium. Televisions, PDA's, cell phones,
and/or computer monitors displaying a tagged video bar code may be
scanned to exchange data into another format or application. This
will prove beneficial in B2B and B2C transactions where the style,
format, and content of data transmission needs to be re-formatted
for processing or proprietary purposes. In this application, medium
to small size companies will be empowered to exchange data across
disparate systems and fulfill transactions immediately, without
middle-ware or third-party administrators typically required to
execute an electronic transaction.
[0265] Tagged video bar codes provide a new format of presenting
bar codes, which extends their application to general business
environments and provide the following benefits: 1) universal data
interchange across any operating system and software platform at
point of use without middle-ware, 2) enhances the functionality of
B2B and B2C transactions without the need to re-key data, 3)
reduces the need for complex integration in management information
systems, 4) an easy-to-use, interactive two-way electronic data
interchange. Tagged video bar codes may be available locally on a
device, such as a computer, or may be obtained remotely and viewed
as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,863 to
Melick, et al, herein incorporated in its entirety by
referenced.
[0266] As an example, enhanced electronic documents can display and
transmit tagged video bar codes on-line using an Internet web page,
or email. Once the bar code reader has captured the bar coded data
from a computer monitor, laptop, television, cell phone, PDA, etc.
it can be input into any software application on any operating
system without the use of middle-ware. Optionally, in a facility
that has wireless access points on its wide area network (WAN), or
local area network (LAN), these enhanced electronic documents with
tagged video bar codes may be accessed anywhere.
Data Tags
[0267] In the present invention, data tags can be used to
facilitate data interchange. Data tags may be an integral part of
the source data, which can be used to facilitate the input of data
into an electronic document. Primarily in the present invention,
data tags are an integral part of the data that has been summed up
as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes by an electronic document or
related software, firmware, or hardware application, in order to
facilitate data interchange to target software applications and/or
devices. Also, data tags may be used by the target software
application and/or target device to facilitate various activities
by target software application and/or target device.
Proprietary Tags
[0268] As an example of proprietary data tags, Chart 1 contains the
actual tagged demographic information contained in a 2D bar code
displayed on the back of an Iowa driver's license.
TABLE-US-00004 CHART 1 Tagged Data From A State Of Iowa Driver's
License 2D Bar Code Scan Tagged Data Tag Data Element DABSMITH DAB
SMITH DACJOHN DAC JOHN DADDAVID DAD DAVID DAL101 MAIN STREET DAL
101 MAIN STREET DANCEDAR RAPIDS DAN CEDAR RAPIDS DAOIA DAO IA
DAP52401 DAP 52401
[0269] The proprietary tags in the above table provide the key to
decoding the tagged data contained in a string.
XML Tags
[0270] XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is an open standard that is
a subset of SGML (Standardized General Markup Language). The term
"XML" has come to mean a whole family of related standards.
[0271] XML was developed to overcome the shortcomings of HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language) which much of the data on the Internet
is tagged in. HTML describes how data is structured on a Web page.
To view content created in HTML, you must generally load an entire
Web page, even if you just want one little piece of information on
the page. XML allows people to chop data into smaller pieces, label
them, and make them available on the network. That way, an
intelligent software program can reach over the Internet and
retrieve just the information wanted--say, movie times or item
numbers--without having to load an entire Web page. That should
also make data more accessible from devices such as handheld
computers and cell phones, which tend to have slower Internet
connections and smaller screens.
[0272] The elements of an XML document can be formally specified
using a DTD (Document Type definition) just as SGML documents are
specified. If a DTD exists for an XML document, XML parsers with
the appropriate extensions can test the XML document against the
DTD. A document that passes such a consistency and validation test
is said to be valid. The Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 parser will
validate an XML document.
[0273] Unlike SGML, an XML document does not have to have a
companion DTD document. An XML document that does not have a DTD
can be tested for conformance with the general requirements of XML.
A document that passes this lesser standard is said to be "well
formed". All XML parsers test to see that an XML document is well
formed. The W3 Consortium requires parsers to verify that a
document is well formed and to fail to render an XML document that
fails that test.
[0274] XML is a hierarchical set of entities. An entity is one or
more elements. Elements can contain one or more attributes and
text. XML provides a formal syntax that defines elements,
attributes and text. At the syntax description level XML is
deceptively simple when compared with a tag language like HTML. XML
simply provides the container used to create a language like HTML.
In and of itself it really does very little. For that reason it is
easy to define and specify.
Data Sources For Electronic Documents
[0275] Electronic forms can receive tagged or untagged data input
from sources, including, but not limited to keyboards, touch
screens, voice, voice recognition technology, computer-telephone
interfaces, magnetic stripe, RFID tags, Smart Cards, electronic
sensors, 3D bumpy bar codes, remotely viewed or local 1D and/or 2D
bar codes displayed on driver's licenses, national identification
cards, social security cards, military identification cards,
company identification cards, business cards, financial transaction
cards including, but not limited to, credit cards, check cards, and
ATM cards, health plan identification cards, purchase receipts,
warranties, bills of lading, purchase orders, invoices, sales
orders, insurance cards, statements of account, work orders,
drawings, photographs, blueprints, packing lists, UCC forms,
contracts, redemption coupons, newspapers, magazines, products,
product packaging, vehicles, shipping containers, pallets, etc.
RFID
[0276] A source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an electronic
form may be radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. RFID is
well known in the art and is an automatic data capture (ADC)
technology comprised of tags, which are microprocessors, and fixed
or mobile scanners known as readers, or interrogators. RFID chips
consist of three basic types; read-only, write-only, or read-write.
Interrogators read and/or write data from RFID chips via low power
radio frequency (RF) signals. The data captured by an interrogator
can be transferred to a host computer via wire or wireless
communication links. An RFID tag may be either an active or passive
type. Active type RFID chips are powered by a battery, whereas
passive type RFID chips are powered by RF energy generated by an
interrogator. RFID systems may operate on one of several
frequencies, which include, but are not limited to 125-134 kHz,
13.56 MHz, 420-450 MHz, 868-915 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz. RFID
tags, which include tagged data, used in the present invention can
be of an open standard type, or a proprietary standard.
[0277] To add a level of security, an RFID circuit may be printed
directly on a tag using technology developed by a company, such as
Cypak. Such an RFID tag printed on a self-destructing material
would destroy the RFID circuitry and render the tag useless.
Magnetic Stripe
[0278] Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an
electronic form may be via a magnetic stripe. Currently, most
financial transaction cards use magnetic stripes to capture, store,
and access information relevant to a particular financial
transaction card. The American National Standards Institute
standard, ANSI X4.16, "American National Standard for Financial
Services-Financial Transaction Cards-Magnetic Stripe Encoding",
defines the physical, chemical, and magnetic characteristics of the
magnetic stripe on the card. The standard defines a minimum and
maximum size for the stripe, and the location of the three defined
encoding tracks. (Some cards have a fourth, proprietary track.)
Track 1 is encoded at 210 bits per inch, and uses a 6-bit coding of
a 64-element character set of numerics, alphabet (one case only),
and some special characters. Track 1 can hold up to 79 characters,
six of which are reserved control characters. Included in these six
characters is a Longitudinal Redundancy Check (LRC) character, in
order that a card reader can detect most read failures. Data
encoded on track 1 includes personal account number (PAN), country
code, full name, expiration date, and "discretionary data". Of
course, the discretionary data is anything the issuer wants it to
be and can be tagged for use with the present invention. Track 1
was originally intended for use by airlines, but many Automatic
Teller Machines (ATMs) are now using it to personalize prompts with
a user's name and a user's language of choice. Some credit
authorization applications are starting to use track 1 as well.
[0279] Track 2 is encoded at 75 bits per inch, and uses a 4-bit
coding of the ten digits. Three of the remaining characters are
reserved as delimiters, two are reserved for device control, and
one is left undefined. In practice, the device control characters
are seldom used. Track 2 can hold up to 40 characters, including an
LRC. Data encoded on track 2 includes personal account number
(PAN), country code (optional), expiration date, and discretionary
data. Again, on this track the discretionary data could be tagged
for use with the present invention. In practice, the country code
is seldom used by United States issuers. Later revisions of this
standard added a qualification code that defines the type of the
card (debit, credit, etc.) and limitations on its use. As an
example, American Express (AMEX) includes an issue date in the
discretionary data. Track 2 was originally intended for credit
authorization applications. However, track 2 is commonly used by
ATMs and has a personal identification number (PIN) offset encoded
in the discretionary data. The PIN offset is usually derived by
running the PIN through an encryption algorithm with a secret key.
This allows ATMs to verify a PIN when the host is offline,
generally allowing restricted account access.
[0280] Track 3 uses the same density and coding scheme as track 1.
The contents of track 3 are defined in ANSI X9.1, "American
National Standard--Magnetic Stripe Data Content for Track 3". There
is a slight contradiction in this standard, in that it allows up to
107 characters to be encoded on track 3, while X4.16 only gives
enough physical room for 105 characters. Actually, there is over a
quarter of an inch on each end of the magnetic stripe that is
unused, so therefore there is sufficient room for the data. In
practice, that many characters are seldom used. The original intent
was for track 3 to be a read/write track (tracks 1 and 2 are
intended to be read-only) for use by ATMs. It contains information
needed to maintain account balances on the card itself. Track 3 is
rarely used for this purpose, because it is easy to defraud. Track
3 could be used to contain tagged data which could be used by the
present invention.
[0281] Other standards for magnetic stripe include, but are not
limited to, ISO Magnetic Stripe Card Standards 7810, 7811-1,
7811-2, 7811-3, 78-11-4, 7811-5, 7811-6, and 7813.
MICR
[0282] Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an
electronic form may be via magnetic ink character recognition
(MICR) technology. Magnetic ink character recognition is a
character recognition system that uses special ink and characters.
A document that contains magnetic ink is read by passing it through
a MICR reader, which magnetizes the ink and then translates the
magnetic information into characters.
[0283] MICR technology is most widely used by banks to read the
numbers encoded at the bottom of a check.
OCR
[0284] Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an
electronic form may be via optical character recognition (OCR)
technology.
[0285] OCR has been employed to speed the collection of human
readable data, in the form of special optical character fonts, from
scanned paper forms. Even though OCR speeds the data collection
process, it is still an expensive method due to the error-checking
required to insure that correct data has been captured and
input.
[0286] Optical character recognition (OCR) was one of the earliest
Auto ID technologies used in retail applications in the mid-1980's.
Today, OCR is currently part of resurgence because of improved
reading equipment that is much more accurate, and recognizes a
wider range of type styles than earlier equipment.
[0287] OCR is typically used to read selected areas of text (as
opposed to text recognition software that process full pages of
text). OCR is both human- and machine-readable and suited for use
with account numbers or short data strings.
[0288] OCR readers scan the data in much the same way bar code
scanners do: either by moving the document past the scanner or
moving the scanner over the document. The scan produces a "picture"
of the text that is then analyzed for characteristic features.
Features are then matched to specific letters or numbers for
output.
ICR
[0289] Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an
electronic form may be via intelligent character recognition (ICR)
technology.
[0290] ICR has been employed to speed the collection of human
readable data, in the form of handwriting and machine printed or
typed characters, from scanned paper forms. Even though ICR speeds
the data collection process, it is still an expensive method due to
the error-checking required to insure that correct data has been
captured and input.
3D Bumpy Bar Codes
[0291] The present invention previously described the use of 1D and
2D tagged printed or video bar codes as a means for interchanging
data efficiently. Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input
to an electronic form may be via what is commonly known as a bumpy
bar code. Bumpy bar code technology uses 3D marks, which can be
placed on virtually any metal, plastic, rubber, or composite
surface. These marks are expressed by highs and lows in surface
height, rather than variations in black and white, as is the case
with traditional bar coding. To read the mark, a bumpy bar code
reader illuminates the bar code with a laser, captures the
reflected image in a two-dimensional Charge-coupled Device (CCD). A
Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is used to analyze the angular
displacement between the laser and CCD array, and allows detection
of the differences in height across the bumpy bar code.
Data Obtained Via Voice Recognition Technology
[0292] Another source of tagged or un-tagged data input to an
electronic form may be via voice recognition technology. Tagged
voice data may be input via XML tagged voice recognition technology
known as XVR, or XML Voice Response. XVR applications use recorded
audio prompts and voice recognition to convey and gather
information. XVR is the integration of traditional voice phone
calls, automated Interactive Voice Response applications, voice
recognition, with XML technology, which include specific languages
for this application, which include, but are not limited to, Voice
XML and CCXML. XVR provides comfortable, anytime, anywhere access
to information from any telephone.
Data Obtained Via Microfilm And Microfiche
[0293] Microfilm is an analog storage medium for books,
periodicals, legal documents and engineering drawings. Its most
standard form is a roll of black and white 35 mm photographic film.
Another form, more common for engineering drawings, is a Hollerith
punch card that mounts a single exposure. Most microfilm media have
a digital indexing system exposed on the edge of each image, but
these data are not required to use the microfilm, but rather to
support automated retrieval systems. Microfilm is not the most
compact analog microform in wide use.
[0294] The microfilm medium has numerous advantages: [0295] First,
it is compact, with far smaller storage costs than paper documents.
Generally, a year of a periodical in microfilm form takes 10% of
the space and 3% of the weight of its paper version. [0296] Second,
it is lower cost than a standard subscription. Most microfilm
services get a bulk discount on reproduction rights, and have lower
reproduction costs than a comparable amount of printed paper.
[0297] Third, it is a stable archival form. Most library microfilms
use polyester with silver-halide dyes in hard gelatin, with an
estimated life of 500 years in air-conditioning. In tropical
climates with high humidity, fungus eats the gelatin used to hold
silver-halide. In the tropics, diazo-based systems with shorter
archival lives (20 years) are preferable, because they have
polyester or epoxy surfaces. [0298] Fourth, since it is analog (an
actual image of the original data), it is easy to view. Unlike
digital media, the data format is instantly comprehensible to
persons literate in the language; the only additional equipment
that is needed is a simple magnifying glass. This reduces the
possibility of obsolescence.
[0299] The medium has numerous disadvantages: [0300] The principal
disadvantage of microfilm is that the image is too small to read
with the naked eye. Special readers are required to project
full-size images on a ground-glass screen or a flat reading
surface. [0301] Hard-copy reproduction: A conventional photocopier
cannot reproduce the images and a special combined scanner/printer
is required. Libraries using microfilm often have a very limited
number of these viewers that can produce a photocopy of an image,
for a nominal fee. [0302] Storage space: Shelf space is required to
maintain an efficient archive as well as a safe and secure storage
environment. [0303] Actual reproduction: the microfilm itself can
only be reproduced a limited number of times, while digital media
regenerate and often include error detection and correction
schemes.
Microfilm And Microfiche Uses
[0304] Systems that mount microfilm images in punch cards have been
widely used for archival storage of engineering information.
[0305] For example, when airlines demand archival engineering
drawings to support purchased equipment (in case the vendor goes
out of business), (as of 1999) they normally specified
punch-card-mounted microfilm with an industry-standard indexing
system punched into the card. This permits automated reproduction,
as well as permitting mechanical card-sorting equipment to sort and
select microfilm drawings.
[0306] Hollerith-mounted microfilm is roughly 3% of the size and
space of conventional paper or vellum engineering drawings. Some
military contracts around 1980 began to specify digital storage of
engineering and maintenance data because the expenses were even
lower than microfilm, but these programs are now finding it
difficult to purchase new readers for the old formats.
[0307] Microfiche is more compact than microfilm it is normally
used to provide a comprehensive research library in institutions
(such as small college libraries) that could not otherwise afford
the floor space. It was invented in 1961 by Carl O. Carlson an
employee of the National Cash Register Co. The patent was issued in
1965.
[0308] Each microfiche card holds about 100-130 pages depending on
the size of the original. A library of 20,000 microfiche,
10,000-20,000 books, fits in a cabinet about 1.5.times.0.5.times.2
meters. Some companies specialize in providing such libraries to
institutions.
[0309] Microfiche is normally used to keep copies of books, and
sometimes for periodicals and newspapers. Its most standard form is
a clear plastic card, about 10 cm (4 in) by 15 cm (6 in). Usually
the title of the work is in visible lettering along one edge. The
most common reduction ratio is 24.times., with 7 rows of 14 page
images each fitting on a single microfiche. Some microfiche have a
digital indexing system exposed on the edge of the card, or each
image. This data is not required to use the microfiche, but rather
to support automated retrieval systems. Microfiche is not as widely
used as microfilm.
[0310] The medium has numerous advantages: [0311] It is compact,
with far smaller storage costs than paper documents. Generally, a
book or a year of a periodical fits on one fiche and takes 0.05% of
the space and weight of the paper work. [0312] It is lower cost
than a paper copy. Most microfiche services get a bulk discount on
reproduction rights, and have lower reproduction costs than a
comparable amount of printed paper ($5 per fiche in 2003). [0313]
It is a stable archival form. Most library microfiche use polyester
with silver-halide dyes in hard gelatin, with an estimated life of
500 years in air-conditioning. In tropical climates with high
humidity, fungus eats the gelatin used to bind the silver-halide.
In the tropics, diazo-based systems with lower archival lives (20
years) are preferable, because they have polyester or epoxy
surfaces. [0314] Since it is analog (an actual image of the
original data), it is easy to view. Unlike digital media, the data
format is instantly comprehensible to persons literate in the
language; the only additional equipment that is needed is a simple
magnifying glass. This reduces the possibility of obsolescence.
[0315] There are also some disadvantages of the medium: [0316] The
principal disadvantage of microfiche is that the image is too small
to read with the naked eye. Libraries must use special readers that
project full-size images on a ground-glass screen. [0317] A
significant disadvantage is that when stored in the highest-density
drawers, it is easy to misfile a fiche, which is thereafter
unavailable. Some libraries therefore keep the microfiche cabinet
in a restricted area, and fetch fiches on demand. Some fiche
services use lower-density drawers with labeled pockets for each
card. [0318] Another disadvantage is that a conventional
photocopier cannot reproduce the images. Libraries using microfiche
often have a few viewers that can produce a photocopy of an image,
for a nominal fee. [0319] The final disadvantage is that microfiche
can only be reproduced a limited number of times, while data stored
on digital media does not degenerate and control software often
include error detection and correction schemes. [0320] The present
invention's documents can be stored as analog documents on
microfilm and/or microfiche. The analog data being preserved can
also be represented as digital information in the form of one or
more tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes. Thus the present invention
can use microfilmed and/or microfiched bar coded documents as
sources of data to feed into an e-Form, or become the targeted
storage medium of the present invention's forms that summarize data
as one or more tagged and/or un-tagged bar codes.
Devices
[0321] Bar code readers of one of the following types: CCD,
imagers, laser scanners may be hand-held devices, or incorporated
into SDIO cards that can be connected to a cell phone or PDA, or
integrated into devices such as, but not limited to, a cell phone,
PDA, smart phone, etc. In addition, bar code scanners can be
incorporated into replaceable battery packs for a cell phone, PDA,
smart phone, etc. Also, a bar code scanner can be incorporated into
a sled that is meant to be used with a cell phone, PDA, smart
phone, etc. This list is meant to be representative, but not
exhaustive.
Data Targets For Electronic Documents
[0322] Data targets that can receive the tagged information summed
up on an electronic document in the form of one or more 1D and/or
2D bar codes can be captured from either a printed version of the
electronic document, or a video displayed version of the electronic
document. The video bar code may come from either a local, or
remotely viewed source. The captured tagged data string is parsed;
the data tags are used to route and/or input and/or exchange data
into a variety of data targets including software applications,
such as, but not limited to, a database, a spreadsheet, a web page,
a word processor, another electronic document, etc. The tags may
remain with the output data, or alternatively may be stripped from
the data by the target application.
[0323] The tagged data captured from one or more 1D and/or 2D bar
code(s) in an electronic document, either directly off a video
display or from a printed version of the document, can be output to
a data target device that is capable of receiving and/or using
tagged data, such as but not limited to, an RFID tag, Smart Card,
magnetic stripe, bar code printer, OCR encoder, MICR encoder, ICR
encoder, cell phone, television set-top box, telecommunication
network router, telecommunication network switch, telecommunication
network hub, ATM machine, laptop computer, PC, PDA, pager, text
messaging device, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.
[0324] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
business user or consumer will create electronic generated
documents which include one-dimensional, tagged bar coded
information, create specific style sheets to define bar coded data
tags, publish documents with tagged bar coded information, scan
video displayed documents using a high scan rate CCD or linear
imager, or scan printed documents using any type of applicable bar
code reader to capture tagged bar coded information, cache tagged
bar coded information, parse the tagged bar coded information and
applicable software applications, strip the bar coded data tags,
and input stripped bar coded data into the applicable software
application as shown in FIG. 1.
[0325] Initially, a user of the present invention will make a
decision 101 to tag or not tag bar codes in an electronic document.
If the tagged bar codes are required, the user will create a style
sheet file 102. An example of a style sheet used by a sender is
shown in FIG. 3. The style sheet will be capable of automatically
generating an identifier, such as the number 12345 as shown in FIG.
3, or the sender may choose to manually assign a specific
identifier. The style sheet identifier is a hyperlink to the style
sheet file 102, which is used by electronic document "A" 103, to
decode tagged bar coded data.
[0326] Style sheet file 102, is stored in a library 110. Library
110 may use a local hard drive 111, or network hard drive 113 to
store this file. Optionally, style sheet file 102 may be e-mailed
to a selected user 112.
[0327] A style sheet file 102 is used to create an electronic
document "A" 103 with tagged bar codes. An example of document "A"
103 is depicted in FIG. 2 using software such as MICROSOFT EXCEL or
WORD on a PC to create an electronic document. In the present
invention, such software creates documents that contain electronic
representations of bar coded information through the use of bar
code fonts which reside on the local computer and are commonly
available today from companies such as Azalea, TAL Technologies and
Wasp Bar Code.
[0328] If the decision 101 does not require data tagging and
parsing, an electronic document "A" 103 is created with un-tagged
bar codes. Electronic document "A" 103 is posted 104, to a library
110. Library 110 may use a local hard drive 111, or network hard
drive 113 to store electronic document "A" 103. Optionally,
electronic document "A" 103 may be e-mailed to a selected user
112.
[0329] A receiver 121 opens electronic document "A" 103 in a window
on their computer. The receiver 121 also opens electronic document
"B" (as shown in FIG. 7) 122, in a separate window on their
computer in order to receive bar coded data contained in electronic
document "A" 103.
[0330] A decision 123 is made to determine if electronic documents
"A" 103 and "B" 122 uses a style sheet file 102. Integrated
software, such as Intuit's Quicken, QuickBooks, QuickBooks Pro,
etc. would incorporate parsing software, such as SAX commonly
available from companies such as Stellent and, according to the
present invention, and use style sheets in two ways. In the first
method, a common style sheet is used by both sender and receiver.
When a common style sheet is used, the style sheet identifier is
scanned 124 in document "A" 104 in order to launch the hyperlink to
open the style sheet file 102, stored in library 110.
[0331] In the second method, two style sheets each using different
"function key tags" to represent the same data fields can be used.
When two different style sheets are used in step 124, the parsing
and data cache application will allow the user to scan the sender's
style sheet identifier and also the receiver's style sheet
identifier (as shown in FIG. 4) and cross-correlate them as shown
in FIG. 6.
[0332] In step 125, the style sheet file is loaded into the parsing
and data cache application of the integrated software.
[0333] In step 126, the receiver scans tagged bar codes in
electronic document "A" 103. The scanned tagged bar coded data is
parsed and sent to a data cache, as shown in FIG. 6. In step 127,
the parsing and data cache application use logic and computer
routines to identify the scanned bar coded data by "function key
tag", match the scanned bar coded data to the appropriate field in
electronic document "B" 122, strip the "function key tag", and
input the stripped bar coded data into the appropriate field in
electronic document "B" 122.
[0334] In step 123, if the decision is made that electronic
documents "A" 103 and "B" 122 do not require a style sheet, the
receiver in step 129, scans the un-tagged bar coded information and
manually chooses the appropriate field to input the data into
electronic document "B" 122.
[0335] In step 128, the receiver makes a decision to scan another
document bar coded electronic document, or to end the bar code data
interchange.
[0336] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a
business user or consumer will create electronic generated
documents which include two-dimensional, tagged bar coded
information, create specific style sheets to define bar coded data
tags, publish documents with tagged bar coded information, scan
video displayed or printed documents with a high scan rate LED bar
code reader to capture tagged bar coded information, cache tagged
bar coded information, parse the tagged bar coded information,
strip the bar coded data tags, and input stripped bar coded data
into the applicable software application as shown in FIG. 1.
[0337] All the steps described in the preferred embodiment of the
present invention apply to the alternate embodiment of the present
invention. The difference between the two embodiments is the type
of data tagging used to identify data. For instance, 2D bar codes
may use the General Motors common shipping label format, GM 1724-A,
or another industry specific format for tagged information.
[0338] The sender's field tags can be identified using tags such as
XML tags or "function key tags" F01, F02, F03, etc., which relate
to "F1, F2, F3" respectively on a standard computer keyboard, or
proprietary data such as, but not limited to those encoded in the
2D bar code on a state issued drivers license, like the State of
Iowa. As an example, two companies might agree to exchange data for
various customers contained in their respective databases: first
name, last name, and age. Using the appropriate "function key tag"
in the style sheet to identify particular data elements, the two
companies would agree the "function key tag" for first name data is
F01, the "function key tag" for last name data is F02, and the
"function key tag" for age data is F03. The style sheet would be
programmable on-the-fly using the style sheet to tag data fields
with the appropriate "function key tag". The style sheet would also
automatically tag the data elements from the database with the
appropriate "function key tag".
[0339] This embodiment of the present invention greatly reduces the
number of transaction errors and greatly increases the speed of
data interchange.
[0340] Data elements not identified by the same "function keys"
could be used by multiple users, but this adds another step in the
transaction process, and introduces the possibility of more input
errors.
[0341] FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a style sheet with
data tags and field names contained in a two-dimensional bar code,
such as that commonly found on a driver's license.
[0342] FIG. 8 is an example of two-dimensional bar code data tags
from a driver's license in which the last name "Smith" is tagged
with the letters "DAB", the data tag for the first name "John" is
the letters "DAC", etc.
[0343] FIG. 9 is a pictorial representation of the parsed and
cached data, as shown in FIG. 8, ready for input into electronic
document "B", step 127.
[0344] The present invention provides for numerous uses of tagged
bar codes, including numerous uses of style sheets used with tagged
bar codes. For example, the present invention contemplates that the
IRS and state governments can use tagged bar codes and style sheets
in exchanging information with taxpayers and each other.
[0345] An electronic document, such as a PDF tax form, is created
with a number of fillable forms to be used by a taxpayer or his or
her tax preparer or other user. The user enters information into
the fillable form fields and a bar code is generated based on the
information contained in the fillable form fields. The bar code is
a part of the document so that when the document is printed, the
bar code is printed and the bar code can be scanned from the paper
document. This is useful because information acquired through
scanning a bar code is generally more reliable and less costly than
manual data entry or OCR.
[0346] The present invention allows the bar code to be represented
in the electronic document through use of tags. The tags can, for
example, be XML tags that specify field names and field values.
Software for using the electronic document interprets the tags to
display the bar codes, and preferably allows for updating the form
fields and then updating the bar codes.
[0347] Preferably, the entire electronic document or the form field
information can be stored or sent so that the information contained
within the form fields can be extracted. It should be appreciated
that because of the tagged bar codes, the document allows for
improved data interchange regardless of whether the document is in
an electronic form or paper form. Thus, in the case of a tax form,
the data in the form fields can be electronically sent when filing
electronically. Alternatively, a paper tax form can be submitted.
The bar code on the paper tax form is scanned to acquire the data
from the form fields.
[0348] Because the use of tagged bar codes allows for XML and style
sheets to be used, the present invention contemplates numerous
variations. For example, a tagged bar code placed on a document
does not need to correspond to data fields on the same document.
Instead, the tagged bar code can correspond to data fields on a
separate document. Thus, for example, when preparing a federal
income tax return there can be multiple forms involved, including
various schedules. The present invention would allow for a tagged
bar code representing data in form fields of one document to be
placed on a different document. Thus, for example, a 1040 type tax
form could include bar codes for each schedule used. Thus,
information from attached and supporting documents can be
consolidated to a single document. Such a practice can be
advantageous for a variety of reasons. For example, where the data
is extracted from the document by scanning and decoding one or more
bar codes, such a practice can reduce the number of pages that must
be scanned and alleviate paper handling issues such as lost or
mismatched documents which can occur if a number of related
documents are submitted together.
[0349] The use of style sheets also allows for information
associated with one form to be easily interchanged with information
associated with another type of form. For example, information on a
federal tax form can be interchanged with information on a state
tax form even though the federal government and the state
government choose to use different field names. The process
described in FIG. 1 illustrates the methodology used. It should be
apparent that because information from document A can be placed in
document B, that a bar code representing data fields from document
A can be placed in document B. Such a bar code may also include
additional data fields not present in document A.
Video Bar Code Used for Data Interchange Examples
[0350] A system utilizing tagged video bar codes and the present
invention's technology may be used to show real-time product
inventory, place orders, route the order through an accounting
system, make shipping arrangements, and forward the user a report.
The process of executing an order online requires a sequence of
events to take place. A customer may wish to replenish his/her
inventory, without passing through several systems. Retailers may
utilize tagged video bar codes in web sites, WebTV, television or
over other mediums to index products and services in the form of an
online catalog. Suppliers, who have traditionally been dependent on
middleware and/or third party administrators to access and/or
execute orders, will be empowered to access such requests. Tagged
video bar codes also allow various enabled devices to execute order
placement, processing, and fulfillment simply by using this
universal medium.
[0351] When used in conjunction with a bar coded financial card, as
disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/276,203 to Melick,
et al, the transaction becomes instantaneous. Currently, most
companies rely on expensive administrators to process electronic
transactions, due in part to the complex systems necessary to
manage this process and the varying degree of sophistication
between trading partners. Tagged video bar codes are not
constrained by these considerations, and offer universal access by
simply including them in any digital transmission.
[0352] Data entry continues to challenge companies as smaller
suppliers and venders continue to use paper-based systems. These
companies, when equipped with tagged video bar codes may engage in
collaborative commerce while data entry and interface
considerations are minimized in host company systems. HTML
transmissions, when wrapped in e-mail offer easy-to-use, familiar,
professional invoicing and order processing capabilities for every
user.
[0353] Companies, such as UPS, offer online document exchange
services with various encryption techniques requiring a higher
degree of security in transmission will now have a multitude of
options available to them. Last year, UPS executed over 10 billion
online document exchanges at a fraction of the cost associated with
paper transactions.
[0354] Applications within the medical industry are numerous, from
electronic commerce between insurance carriers, HMO's, and medical
practitioners to demographic data relating to patients, etc. all
requiring a unique tag or identifier. Currently, medical
practitioners are overwhelmed with reports, regulations, files,
drug prescriptions, and other patient information that requires
great care in management. Not too dissimilar from a retailer who is
managing thousands of stock keeping units, the consequences of
mismanagement in the medical industry is significant.
[0355] Medical practitioners frequently find it necessary to
exchange critical patient data with other practitioners,
pharmacies, and hospitals in a timely and accurate fashion. While
not an issue within networked systems, the medical industry has not
made investments in infrastructure necessary to enable electronic
commerce. Currently, physicians predominately use e-Mail as their
primary means of communication (55%), while only 6% use e-Mail and
the Internet to transport clinical information. The primary issue,
according to a Harris Interactive study, has been the lack of this
infrastructure investment, which has left the industry years behind
other sectors. TVBC technology offers to leverage off the existing
infrastructure maintained in these practices, and enable them with
electronic data interchange.
[0356] As an example, in this application Document "A" 103 would be
an electronic patient's chart containing bar coded information.
Document "A" 103 would be available on any computer display in the
hospital. As a doctor makes his daily rounds, he would use an
enabled device to capture applicable bar coded information
displayed on the patient's electronic chart for billing and record
updates, and download the tagged bar coded information to Document
"B" 122 on his disparate computer information system located in his
office.
[0357] Office visits that result in a prescription to be filled are
currently phoned to a pharmacy or the patient is given an order
form. This entire process may be streamlined electronically with
tagged video bar codes containing basic demographic data from order
placement to the label that appears on a prescription. In doing so,
the error rate associated with fulfilling orders would be
eliminated, greater controls would exist in the distribution of
drugs, and reorders may be triggered without data entry.
[0358] As an example, in this application Document "A" 103 would be
an electronic prescription containing bar coded information.
Document "A" 103 would be e-mailed to the pharmacy with bar coded
information relating to the patient information and medication
required. The pharmacist would use an enabled device to capture
applicable bar coded information displayed on the patient's
electronic prescription for input into Document "B" 122 on their
disparate computer information system.
[0359] In financial, insurance, engineering, and law firms, there
are large amounts of paper and electronic documents being passed
around daily. The user would benefit from the availability of these
documents in a free-flowing system that could more effectively
catalog and manage documents across local networks. A document
management system would use tagged video bar codes as a dynamic
hyper-link to access various forms of data.
[0360] As an example, in a complicated legal preceding Document "A"
103 would be various evidence or exhibits in graphic form which are
bar coded in order to launch the court overhead projection system.
Document "B" 122, which are a lawyer's electronic trial notes,
operate on a disparate computer system would contain tagged video
bar codes which are linked to the appropriate Document "A" 103.
[0361] Law enforcement agencies and our legal system are burdened
with populating numerous standardized forms and reports, requiring
unique identifiers to tag and track evidentiary materials. This
industry is moving rapidly to bar coding documents, which is
currently printed, tagged, and then filed. Tagged video bar codes
offer to streamline this process from automatic ticket generation
to a free-flow of information to courtrooms, law offices, police
stations, and other agencies.
[0362] Currently, county and metro law enforcement agencies are
unable to exchange information due to disparate systems and
universal identifiers.
[0363] As an example, a city policeman would make an arrest.
Document "A" 103 would be the arrest report. The suspect is then
taken to a county jail which operates on a disparate computer
system. Electronic document "B" 122 which is the prisoner's record
would be completed with the aid of tagged video bar coded
information contained in Document "A" 103. From here the suspect
would appear in court, and information contained on Document's "A"
103 and "B" 122 would be captured and entered into yet another
disparate information system.
[0364] The financial industry relies on information generated from
a wide spectrum of sources to analyze, record, process, and report
transactions. Some of these sources include transaction clearing
houses, financial exchanges, news services, and research companies.
Such systems include The Dow Jones Telequote, Bloomberg, the
Associated Press, Value Line, and others electronic systems that
transmit data across a video monitor. Investment and financial
professionals utilize these services to retrieve, process, and
manipulate this data in proprietary applications for analysis. All
of these systems utilize a one-way means of data transmission,
serving as a reporting service verses an interactive two-way
system.
[0365] As an example, Document "A" 103 would be a financial report
from a company such as Dow Jones Telequote or Bloomberg, which
included tagged video bar codes. Document "B" 122 would be an order
placement form running on a disparate information system. An
enabled device would capture tagged video bar coded information
from Document "A" 103 and input the information into Document "B"
122.
[0366] While many larger institutions have customized their
accounting and general ledger systems, a majority of their trading
partners remain on disparate systems. In addition, small-to-medium
size companies rely almost exclusively on outsourcing the
accounting function or acquire various prepackaged systems. Intuit
the maker of Quicken and QuickBooks dominate the prepackaged
accounting software market with an estimated 80% share. By
utilizing tagged video bar codes with any e-mail system, basic
demographic data and billing information becomes a collaborative
commerce process, without the errors associated with data entry. By
using tagged video bar codes vendors will be able to reduce their
costs associated with traditional paper-based systems by converting
to electronic forms using tagged video bar codes, develop
E-commerce capabilities, and speed up the payment process. Using
QuickBooks or a similar accounting system with tagged video bar
codes, allow the user to get one step closer to a paperless office,
reduces the time-to-process routine procedural tasks in an error
free manner, and minimizes the uncertainties associated with
outstanding un-entered bills and invoices. Tagged video bar codes
offer accounting department managers a new method to streamline the
entire accounting process. As an example, ABC Company would use
electronic document "A" 103, which would be an electronic invoice
containing bar coded information. This document could be posted
electronically for payment by XYZ Company. XYZ Company would use an
enabled device to capture the pertinent bar coded data from
Document "A" 103 and input into their Document "B" 122 which is a
check writing form on their disparate computer system.
[0367] The insurance industry relies on sophisticated hardware and
software systems for claims processing, billing, and information
retrieval to conduct their day-to-day business. Processing centers,
and the costs associated therewith represent a significant
investment on the part of these companies and lack flexibility as
it relates to capturing, processing, storing, and interchanging
information. Insurance companies engage in large volumes of data
entry, and spend millions of dollars every year on interfaces,
populating forms, applications, etc. Applications within this
industry are not unlike other applications discussed above.
[0368] The United States federal government, state governments, and
various other public agencies maintain large databases of
information that are frequently accessed by various departments,
other government agencies, and the private sector. One example
relates to the property tax assessment and collection division of
county governments. Most frequently the assessment and collection
divisions rely on the same information for different purposes in
disparate information systems. Consequently, this requires
information to be entered and re-entered by each division. Tagged
video bar codes would allow relevant information to be easily
exchanged between divisions without the need for middleware or
manual re-entry. Also, tagging such documents with bar codes
provide a unique tag for management control purposes, and allow
various agencies dependent on such data to share these public
documents as described in other applications above.
[0369] As companies rely more and more on the Internet for
marketing and e-commerce transactions, it becomes increasingly
difficult to add or delete information and make changes to on-line
catalogs, databases, and Internet commerce forms. The use of tagged
video bar codes virtually eliminates input errors, is less time
consuming, requires fewer personnel, and reduces the complexity of
integrating various aspects of a company's web site.
[0370] As newer software systems replace older ones, legacy systems
are increasingly a problem within organizations. Companies have a
difficult time getting their mainframe to "talk" with their DOS
system, and in turn have trouble getting that data to "talk" with
their new Windows.TM. systems. Video bar coding information in
legacy systems would save a lot of time and expense coding systems
to convert legacy data.
[0371] Tagged video bar codes offer users a multitude of options
that are easy-to-use and understand, bring new functionality to
existing practices, and offer the first universal means by which to
communicate, through a multitude of devices.
[0372] For example, an image of a printed or video bar code can be
captured at a remote location using a web cam, security cam, phone
cam, etc. The image is then transmitted over a network, such as,
but not limited to, the Internet. The image is received and viewed
at a remote location using a device, such as, but not limited to, a
PC or TV screen. The bar code being viewed is captured by either
printing the bar code for decoding by a bar code scanner, or
capturing the bar coded data off the video display using a bar code
scanner capable of reading a VBC. This method of viewing a remote
bar code combined with the present invention's use of tagged bar
codes is useful
[0373] One skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure
will recognize that all the above tagged video bar code examples
could also be accomplished using tagged printed bar codes to
accomplish the same goals described in the present invention.
[0374] It is important to note that electronic documents may be
intelligent and capable of tagging data suitable for data
interchange. Alternatively, electronic documents may interact with
another software application and/or hardware device in order to tag
data in the form of one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes suitable for
data interchange.
[0375] It is also important to note that the electronic document
that data is input to may be the same document that displays one or
more 1D and/or 2D bar codes suitable for facilitating data
interchange. Alternatively, another electronic document or hardware
device may display one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes suitable for
facilitating data interchange.
Target Devices that can Receive Tagged Data
[0376] The previous disclosure of the present invention has focused
on PCs and back-end servers as the primary target devices that can
receive, decode, and use tagged bar coded data. To one skilled in
the art it is obvious that other target devices could be configured
to receive and use tagged bar coded data, which includes, but is
not limited to, tablets, PDAs, cell phones, TV set-top boxes, RFID
readers, RFID interrogators, bar code readers, microfilmers,
microfichers, bar code printers, cell phones, touch screens,
magnetic stripe readers, OCR readers, MICR readers, bar code
readers integrated in devices such as, but not limited to digital
cameras, cell phones, a computer mouse, keyboards, ATM machines,
intelligent routers, switches, and hubs (Formerly Sarvega now
Cisco) that can use XML to route and switch data packets that can
represent 2D tagged bar coded eForms described in the present
invention.
Uses of Various Embodiments of the Present Invention
[0377] Google Ads may be enhanced using one or more tagged and/or
un-tagged bar codes included in the advertisement, which would
facilitate an easy transfer of data.
[0378] A simple check may be enhanced using one or more tagged
and/or un-tagged bar codes to encode additional information that
MICR is not capable of.
[0379] The present invention's bar codes can be used as a chit, or
bar coded money, to pay for a subscription for a publication such
as the Wall Street Journal, which is honored at any location for
the home-delivery price.
[0380] Another feature of the present invention is the use of
"Dial-A-Web Page" as a shortcut method to access web pages that may
or may not include tagged and/or un-tagged data summed up as a bar
code. The "Dial-A-Web Page" method uses a web-based server
containing a database that is accessed using a telephone number,
then the database is queried using either the telephone number of a
company or individual that are linked with a website that contains
one or more web-pages. The cellphone or wireless VoIP user can more
easily surf the web using their device by using a telephone number,
and then subsequently navigating a website using a number-based
menu. Also, a specific web page within a website can be accessed
using its own telephone number and number-based navigation menu. In
addition to accessing website and/or specific web pages using a
telephone number, numerical aids such a street addresses and/or zip
codes can be used as an aid in the access of websites and/or
specific web-pages. Also, the "Dial-A-Web-Page" database can be
accessed using an icon provided by a cellphone service provider. In
addition, the "Dial-A-Web-Page" database can be accessed using
voice commands. Also, the "Dial-A-Web-Page" database can be
accessed through the cellphone or wireless VoIP device's browser.
See FIG. 22A for a representation of the current situation. See
FIGS. 22B and 22C for a graphic description of the
"Dial-A-Web-Page" feature of the present invention. In addition to
using telephone numbers to access web sites, 9 to 19 digit zip
codes, which offer more granularity for location, which can be used
to access a website. In addition, NAC codes can be used as an alpha
numeric physical addressing scheme to web page cross-reference. A
further series of features related to ANI, telephone numbers, and
cross-referenced addressing that can be added to the
"Dial-A-Web-Page" is the information contained in U.S. Pat. No.
6,981,023 to Hamilton, et al, which is hereby incorporated in
entirety by reference.
[0381] Another use of the present invention is as a HIPPA Compliant
Fax System.
[0382] Another use of the present invention is the distribution of
coupons, tickets, chits, e-money, etc, as one or more bar codes,
which may or may not be tagged. These bar codes may be read using
CCD or imager type bar code scanners to capture bar coded
information directly off a video display or printed medium. A laser
type bar code scanner can be used to capture barcoded information
off printed medium. In addition, cell phones may include a bar code
scanner that is capable of reading a video and or printed bar code,
or only a printed bar code. In addition, several companies have
enabled cell phone cameras to capture and decode bar codes.
[0383] Even though the Internet continues to shape the way in which
order for goods and services and related financial transactions
occur between parties, with the likes of eForms and using checking
and savings accounts, and debit and credit cards, there is a
persistence of individuals or businesses that continue to pay for
goods and services by writing paper checks. The following is a
short description of how the present invention can be used to
enable the capture of order information from a bar code enabled
order form that has been completed as an eForm, encoded with one or
more tagged and/or un-tagged 1D and/or 2D bar codes, and snail
mailed with a check or cash. It should be understood that the
various aspects of the present invention described herein can be
combined in various ways, as would be apparent to one skilled in
the art having the benefit of this disclosure. It should also be
appreciated that various modifications, adaptations, and
alternatives may be made. It is of course not possible to describe
every conceivable combination of components for purposes of
describing the present invention. All such possible modifications
are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present
invention which is to be limited only by the following claims.
[0384] All references cited herein and all applications from which
priority is claimed are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
* * * * *