111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008157173B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Melick et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`*Apr. 17, 2012
`
`(52) U.S. Cl .
`
`................... 235/462.01; 235/451; 235/383:
`235/487; 235/494; 705/26.1; 705/23
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............. 235/462.01 ,
`235/451 ' 383, 487, 494; 705110, 23, 26.1
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,175,693 A
`l l/ 1979 Nakanisbietal.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`406089362
`3/ 1994
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLJCATJONS
`
`(54) METHOD FOR TAGGED BAR CODE DATA
`INTERCHANGE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Bruce 0 . Melick. Cedar Rapids, lA
`(US); David M. Snyde r, Cedar Rapids,
`lA (US); Leslie 0. Baych, Cedar Rapids,
`IA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Roelesis Wireless LLC, Dover. DE (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted tmder 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 623 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`JP
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/833,588
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 3, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0017714 AI
`
`Jan. 24, 2008
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation of application No. 10/847,994, filed on
`May 18, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,267,279, which is a
`continuation of application No. I 0/ 158,718, filed on
`May 30. 2002, now Pat. No. 6,764,009.
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 60/294,375, filed on May
`30, 200 1.
`
`(51)
`
`Int.Cl.
`GfJ6.K 7110
`GfJ6.K 7108
`G06K 15/00
`G06K 19100
`G06K 19106
`GfJ6.Q 30100
`GfJ6Q 20100
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2012.01)
`(2012.01)
`
`"PSC Momentum Scanner and Handspring Visor." http://www.psnet.
`com/momenvsr.hlm, pp. 1-2 [accessed on Dec. 27, 2000].
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Daniel Walsh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Perkins Coie LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A method of tagged bar code data interchange includes cre(cid:173)
`ating electronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar
`coded infonmtion, capturing and decoding the tagged bar
`coded infonuation, caching the tagged bar coded infomla(cid:173)
`tion, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping the data tags,
`and inputting/storing the bar coded information. Business can
`be conducted on-line using e-mail transmissions of video
`displayed tagged bar coded information. Such tagged bar
`coded information can be stored and/or input into style sheets
`that are in common or company-specific formats. Further,
`companies can receive consumer information in a format that
`is easily accessible by any portion, affiliate, subsidiary, or
`related entity ofthe company, no matter what software system
`is mnning.
`
`30 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`Page 1
`
`RMI EXHIBIT 2046
`CBM2014-00116
`
`

`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`Page2
`
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`
`Page 2
`
`

`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`Page3
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`JP
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`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17,2012
`
`Sheet 1 of9
`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`
`NO
`
`\2\
`
`OPEN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT t - - - - - - - - ,
`"A" WITH BAR CODES
`
`OPEN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT
`"B" TO RECEIVE BAR CODED DATA
`
`STYLE SHEET FILE
`LOADED INTO PARSER
`
`SCAN TAGGED BAR CODES
`IN DOCUMENT "A"
`
`\2~
`
`\2~
`
`PARSER IDENTIFlES DATA BY TAG,
`MATCHES TO APPROPRlA.TE FJELD IN
`DOCUMENT ·s·. STRIPS TAG, INPUTS DATA
`
`\21
`
`YES
`
`Ajl
`
`Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of9
`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`
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`

`
`II TO... Ill RECEIVER oF oocu~ENT ·s·
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`II sec... II
`SUBJECT: I STYLE SHEET TO EXCHANGE CUSTOMERS AND AGE DEMOGRAPHICS
`
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`
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`
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`I
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`
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`F02 = LAST NAME
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`II BCC ... II
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`
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`
`

`
`II TO... Ill RECEIVER OF Docu~ENT "s"
`II CC ...
`II
`II BCC .•. II
`SUBJECT: I SlYLE SHEET FOR 2-D BAR CODE TAGS TO EXCHANGE CUSTOMER DEMOGRAPHICS
`
`STYLE SHEET ID ANSI 6360180181 DL 28 4DL
`
`FO 1 = DAB = LAST NAME
`F02 = DAC = FIRST NAME
`F03 = DAD = MIDDLE NAME
`F04 = DAN = CITY
`F05 = DAO = STATE
`F06 = DAP = ZIP
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`Page 8
`
`

`
`ADDRESS
`
`I
`
`F03
`SENDER'S DATA TAGS ------
`RECEIVER'S DATA TAGS -----
`F01
`FIELD NAMES ------------ FIRST NAME
`
`F02
`F02
`LAST NAME
`
`BAR CODffi DATA CACHE --- ••-••n 111-·11
`DECODED DATA CACHE -----
`I
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`RECEIVER'S DATA TAGS -----
`FIELD NAMES ------------
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`DECODED DATA CACHE -----
`
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`SENDER'S STYLE SHEET ID = 12345
`RECEIVER'S SlYLE SHEET ID = 45678
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 8,157,173 B2
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 17, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of9
`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`
`ANSI 6360180101DL 28 4DL
`DAB SMITH
`DACJOHN
`DAD DARRELL
`DANCEDAR RAPIDS
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`Page 11
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`

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`FIELD NAMES ------------ LAST NAME
`BAR COOED DATA CACHE ---
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`

`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`
`1
`METHOD FOR TAGGED BAR CODE DATA
`INTERCHANGE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`1bis application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/847,
`994 filed May 18, 2004 which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.
`No.10/158,718 filed May 30,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,
`009, which claims benefit of Provisional Ser. No. 60/294,375
`filed May 30. 2001. herein incorporated by reference in its
`entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to bar code tech(cid:173)
`nology, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a
`method and apparatus for creating electronic and/or printed
`documents with tagged bar coded iufom1ation. capturing and 20
`decoding the tagged bar coded information from a variety of
`video displays and/or printed media, caching the tagged bar
`coded infonuation, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping
`the data tags, aud inputting the bar coded infonuation into a
`variety of applications.
`2. Problems in the Art
`The explosion of electronic commerce has driven compa(cid:173)
`nies to seek new methods and means by which to reach
`businesses and consumers. While the .COM frenzy has faded,
`companies continue to view the Internet as an under utilized 30
`resource for business. Not only does this raise issues concern(cid:173)
`ing disparate systems, but current methodologies for Internet
`and 1!1tn1net trade require getting connected, costly adminis(cid:173)
`trators, and sophisticated fi.Jlfillment and processing tech(cid:173)
`niques.
`Currently, electronic data interchange (EDJ) has a rela(cid:173)
`tively low adoption level, and is limited mainly to large com(cid:173)
`panies. Standards for ED! are still under discussion and are
`expected to evolve slowly. As a result, users must have appli(cid:173)
`cations that can extract data from internal systems. format this 40
`data into EDJ transaction sets, and partners must be capable of
`accepting these formats. Accomplishing this generally
`requires negotiation to detennine the level of interaction
`between the parties exchanging infom1ation, security, and
`issues like timing of communications.
`Ct1stom EDI applications use sophisticated computer soft(cid:173)
`ware such as IBM DB2, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or
`other programs, conunonly referred to as middleware, in
`computer to computer data interchange applications. This
`middleware is expensive and requires a trained computer 50
`programmer to establish and maintain the data transfer links.
`Furthem10re, middleware is not flexible. As business trading
`partners and suppliers change, ancVor the fonnat of data stor(cid:173)
`age is modified in a host computer, the service of a trained
`computer prograntmer is required to maintain the data inter- 55
`change capabilities. It is therefore desirable to minimize the
`amount of middleware software required.
`Major retailers such as Sears, Wal-Mart, and Dayton 1-lud(cid:173)
`son have all but excluded small suppliers due to their EDI
`requirements. Small companies not possessing the infrastntc- 60
`ture and/or volume to justify EDJ investments have beeu
`excluded by major companies. 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.
`In addition, mauy different [onus of Extensible Markup
`Language (XML) are currently used by many firms as a
`
`2
`means to format transaction sets. When XML is used to
`transmit tagged electronic data, systems on both ends of the
`transaction must support the import and export ofXML docu(cid:173)
`ments. XML is not a transport mechanism, but rather a for-
`5 matting tool. Most users would agree that XML is neither
`easy nor cheap to implement. To use XML efficiently, most
`software processes will require re-engineering, not simply
`adding XML to the existing process. ln addition, more band(cid:173)
`width is required to interact with XML-enabled documents.
`10 Many large businesses have positioned themselves to con-
`duct business online, but due to the costs and complexity
`associated with electronic commerce, the ir vendors have not
`been quick to follow. However, given the cost savings benefits
`15 of on-line businesses, these companies will be more willing to
`find new suppliers and trading partners online rather than by
`traditional means.
`During the past decade, acquisitions and mergers have also
`escalated at a rapid pace as more and more companies posture
`for a piece of intemational tr<~de. As econom.ies continue to
`open, companies will continue to aggressively pursue strate-
`gic alliances to capitalize on these opport11nities. To date, an
`overriding consideration in such alliances has been complex
`conversion and infom1ation exchange issues. While the lnter-
`25 net has done much to free the infom1ation flow, the compat(cid:173)
`ibility of legacy hardware and software remains paramount.
`Video Bar Codes (VBC) were developed as a new method
`to captt1re, store, and exchange bar coded informatiou from
`video displays. Video Bar Codes are described in further
`detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/753,863, entitled
`METHOD AND APPAR.A..TUS FOR BAR CODE DATA
`INTERCHANGE, to Melick, et al, incorporated herein by
`reference.
`Even though VBCs offer a new business method tl1at utilize
`35 the historical benefits of bar codes to address shortcomings
`associated with digital data, a specific method has not been
`described for use as a means for "EDJ/XML type" transac(cid:173)
`tions.
`There is therefore an unfilled need for a met11od and appa(cid:173)
`rattJS which solves these and other problems.
`
`FEATURES OF THE INVENTION
`
`A general feature of the present invention is the provision
`45 of a method and apparatus for tagged bar code data inter(cid:173)
`change which overcomes the problems found in the prior art.
`A further feat ureofthe present invention is the provision of
`a method of bar code data interchange which minimizes the
`need for custom and/or sophisticated middleware.
`Another feature of the present invention is the provision a
`method of bar code data interchange which allows for data to
`be exchanged between computers using different operating
`systems.
`A f11rther featt1re of the present invention is the provision of
`a method of bar code data interchange in which data may be
`exchanged between di:ITerent computer software applica(cid:173)
`tions.
`A11other feature oft be present invention is a method of bar
`code data interchange which uses tagged bar codes within a
`video displayed document.
`Another feature oft he present invention is a method of bar
`code data interchange which uses tagged bar codes within a
`printed document.
`Another featttre of the present invention is the provision of
`65 a method and apparatt1s for bar code data interchange which
`allows business-consumer transactions via video displayed
`barcodes.
`
`Page 13
`
`

`
`US 8, 157,173 B2
`
`3
`Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
`a method and apparatus for bar code data interchange which
`allows business-consumer transactions via printed bar codes.
`Another feat11re of the present iuvention is the provision of
`a method and apparatus for bar code data interchange which 5
`a llows business-bus iness transactions via video displayed bar
`codes.
`Another feature of the present invention is the provision of
`a method and apparants for bar code data interchange which
`allows business-business transactions via printed bar codes. 10
`These. as well as other features and advantages of the
`present invention. will become apparent from the following
`specification and claims.
`
`SUMMARY OF TilE INVENTION
`
`4
`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.
`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.
`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.
`FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of a data cache.
`FIG. 7 is a pictorial repri..'Sentation of the "receiving com(cid:173)
`pany's" software application which receives data from the
`data cache depicted in FIG. 6.
`FIG. 8 is an example of oota and data tags contained in a
`15 two-dimensional bar code.
`FIG . 9 is a pictorial representation of a data cache which
`has received the two-dimens ional, tagged bar coded data
`represented in FIG. 8 .
`
`DETAI LED DESCRIPTION OF T1 IE INVE NTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a method and apparat11s
`for bar code data interchange. Generally, the present inven(cid:173)
`tion includes creating electronic and/or printed documents
`with tagged bar coded information, capturing and decoding 20
`the tagged bar coded information from a variety of video
`displays and/or printed media. caching the tagged bar coded
`information_ parsing the bar coded data tags. stripping the
`data tags. and inputting the bar coded information into a
`variety of applications.
`This method and apparatus for iuterchanging tagged and/or
`un-tagged bar coded data can be used iu a variety of computer
`platforms, such as, but no1 limited to, a stand-alone software
`package. integrated in operating systems such as Windows, M,
`Unix, Linux, etc., integrated into custom software applica- 30
`tions such as QuickBooks Pro 200 l by Inntit, as a web-based
`system, or as a web-based system which is a comb illation of
`Extensible Markup Language (XML) and tagged video bar
`coded data.
`In a preferred embodiment. a business user or consumer
`will use an integrated software system to create electronic
`generated documents which include tagged bar coded infor(cid:173)
`mation. create specific s tyle sheets to define bar coded data
`tags. publish documents with tagged bar coded infom1ation.
`scan video displayed or printed documents with a high scan 40
`rate LED bar code reader to capture tagged bar coded infor(cid:173)
`mation, cache tagged bar coded iu1ormation, parse the tagged
`bar coded iufom1ation and applicable software applications.
`strip the bar coded data tags, input stripped bar coded data into
`the applicable software application.
`This scanned information is not formatted specifically for
`any business/consumer software and therefore is easily trans(cid:173)
`ferable between business1..'S/consumers which may use differ-
`ent software applications to manipulate the same data to suit
`their needs. This minimizes the need for many of the conver- 50
`sion programs or iuterpretation programs. commonly known
`as middleware, and provides data interchange across a wide
`variety o f settings for a myriad of purposes.
`A more complete understanding of the method and appa(cid:173)
`rat11S for bar code data interchange will be afforded to those 55
`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.
`
`The present invention is generally comprised of a method
`and apparatus for a progran1mable data interchange medium
`for integrated software applications. 'Tbis method and appa-
`25 ratus of the present invention for interchanging tagged and/or
`un-tagged bar coded data can be used iu a variety of computer
`platforms, such as, but not limited to, a stand-alone software
`package, integrated in operating systems such as Windows'fM,
`Unix, Linux, etc., integrated into custom software applica(cid:173)
`tions such as QuickBooks Pro 2001 by Intuit. as a web-based
`system. or as a web-based system which is a combination of
`Extensible Markup Language (XML) and tagged video bar
`coded da ta. TI1ese bar codes may be either standardi7_ed or
`proprietary bar code fom1ats. C'ot1llnon standardized I D and
`35 2D bar code formats iuclude Code 39. Code 128.Interleaved
`2 of5. or PDF 417.
`In a preferred embodiment a business user or consumer
`will create electronic genera ted documents which include
`one-dimensional, tagged bar coded info rmation, create spe(cid:173)
`cific style sheets to define bar coded data tags. publish docu(cid:173)
`ments with tagged bar coded in formation, scan video dis-
`played or printed documents with a hig,h scan rate LED bar
`code reader to capture tagged bar coded information , cache
`tagged bar coded infom1ation, parse the tagged bar coded
`45 information and applicable software applications. strip the
`bar coded data tags. and iuput stripped bar coded data into the
`applicable software application as shown in FIG. 1.
`Initially. a user of the present invention will make a deci(cid:173)
`sion 101 to tag or not tag bar codes iu an electronic document.
`lf the tagged bar codes are rcq u ired. the user wi 11 create a style
`sheet file 102. An example of a sty le sheet used by a sender is
`shown in FIG. 3. The style sheet wil I be capable of automati(cid:173)
`cally generating an identiller, 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 docm11ent
`"A" 103, to decode tagged bar coded data.
`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
`60 store this file. Optionally. style sheet file 102 may bee-mailed
`to a selected user 112.
`A style sheet file 102 is used to create an electronic docu(cid:173)
`ment "A" 103 w ith tagged bar codes. An example of docu(cid:173)
`ment "A" 103 is depicted in FIG. 2 using software such as
`65 MICROSOFT EXCEL or WORD on a PC to create an elec(cid:173)
`tronic document. 1 n the present invention, such software cre(cid:173)
`ates docmnents that contain electronic representations o f bar
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPT ION OF TilE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of the preferred method
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a docmnent contain(cid:173)
`ing tagged bar codes.
`
`Page 14
`
`

`
`US 8,157,173 B2
`
`5
`
`5
`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.
`If the decisionl 01 does not require data tagging and pars-
`iug an electrOtlic document "A" 103 is created with tul·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-m ailed to
`a selected user 112.
`A receiver 121 opens electronic document ''A" 103 in a
`window on their computer. The receiver 121 also opens elec(cid:173)
`tronic docm11ent "B" (as shown in FIG. 7) 122, in a separate
`window on U1eir computer in order to receive bar coded data
`contained in electronic document "A" 103.
`A decision 123 is made to determine if electronic docu(cid:173)
`ments "A" 103 and "B" 122 use a style sheet file 102. Inte(cid:173)
`grated software, such as Intuit's Quicken, QuickBooks,
`QuickBooksPro, 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.ln fue first method, a conu110n style sheet
`is used by both sender and receiver. When a coum1on style
`sheet is used, the style sheet identifier is scaaned 124 in
`document "A" 104 in orderto launch fue hyper! illk to open the
`style sheet file 102, stored in library 110.
`In fue 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 appl