Barcode-reading system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10452880-B2
Application number	US-201615265775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

This patent specification describes operations of a mobile device with barcode-reading capabilities and a barcode-reading enhancement accessory securable to the mobile device. A mobile device may include a barcode-reading application downloaded from an application server. At least one function of the barcode-reading application may not be operative if the mobile device is not coupled to the barcode-reading enhancement accessory. The barcode-reading application may operate in a base mode or an enhanced mode. In the base mode, the barcode-reading application may obtain a license code from a license server or from the barcode-reading enhancement accessory. In the enhanced mode, the barcode-reading application may implement at least one enhanced barcode-reading function which corresponds to the operating permission authorized by the license code. For example, the enhanced barcode-reading function may be a function of decoding a barcode symbology that the decoder is restricted from decoding in the base mode of operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A barcode-reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a camera for capturing an image of a barcode in a field of view of the camera, a white light source for projecting a field of illumination into the field of view of the camera, a memory, and a processor for executing an operating system and applications stored in the memory, the barcode-reading system comprising:
a barcode-reading enhancement accessory securable to the mobile device, the barcode-reading enhancement accessory comprising at least one optic system, the at least one optic system being within at least one of the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source and modifying the at least one of the field of view of the camera or the field of illumination of the white light source; and
a barcode-reading application stored in the memory of the mobile device and executable by the processor of the mobile device, the barcode-reading application including:
an image capture function for controlling the white light source and the camera to capture the image of the barcode, the image of the barcode being affected by the at least one optic system of the barcode-reading enhancement accessory; and
a decoder function for receiving the image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode,

wherein the decoder function is operative on a condition that the barcode-reading enhancement accessory is coupled to the mobile device.

2. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further includes:
a memory for storing a license key code; and
a communication system configured to communicate with the mobile device when the barcode-reading enhancement accessory is secured to the mobile device, and

the barcode-reading application further includes a license key code retrieval system configured to:
communicate with the barcode-reading enhancement accessory and obtain the license key code; and
determine whether the obtained license key code is authentic,

wherein the decoder function is operative on a condition that the obtained license key code is authentic.

3. The barcode-reading system of claim 2 , wherein:
the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further includes a connector for coupling the communication system to the mobile device; and
the decoder function communicates with the barcode-reading enhancement accessory via the connector.

4. The barcode-reading system of claim 3 , wherein the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further comprises a battery for providing both operating power to the communication system, and power to the mobile device via the connector.

5. The barcode-reading system of claim 4 , wherein the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further comprises a trigger button,
wherein the communication system is further configured to provide a trigger signal to the barcode-reading application in response to activation of the trigger button via a communication interface, and the barcode-reading application is configured to initiate reading of the barcode in response to receipt of the trigger signal.

6. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein:
the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further includes an authentication system configured to perform an authentication procedure to establish a mutual authentication with the mobile device; and
the decoder function of the barcode-reading application is operative on a condition that the mutual authentication is established between the barcode-reading enhancement accessory and the mobile device.

7. The barcode-reading system of claim 6 , wherein the barcode-reading application is configured to:
query an operating system of the mobile device for an accessory identifier of the barcode-reading enhancement accessory to which the mobile device is coupled; and
operate the decoder function on a condition that the accessory identifier returned by the operating system identifies the barcode-reading enhancement accessory.

8. The barcode-reading system of claim 7 , wherein:
the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further includes a connector for coupling a communication system to the mobile device; and
the operating system communicates with the barcode-reading enhancement accessory via the connector.

9. The barcode-reading system of claim 8 , wherein the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further comprises a battery for providing both operating power to the communication system and power to the mobile device via the connector.

10. The barcode-reading system of claim 9 , wherein the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further comprises a trigger button,
wherein the communication system is further configured to provide a trigger signal to the barcode-reading application in response to activation of the trigger button via a communication interface, and the barcode-reading application is configured to initiate reading of the barcode in response to receipt of the trigger signal.

11. A barcode-reading system for a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a camera for capturing an image of a barcode in a field of view of the camera, a white light source for projecting a field of illumination into the field of view of the camera, a memory, and a processor for executing an operating system and applications stored in the memory, the barcode-reading system comprising:
a barcode-reading enhancement accessory securable to the mobile device, wherein the barcode-reading enhancement accessory comprises at least one optic system, and the at least one optic system is within at least one of the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source and is configured to modify the at least one of the field of view of the camera and the field of illumination of the white light source; and
a barcode-reading application stored in the memory of the mobile device and executable by the processor of the mobile device, the barcode-reading application including:
an image capture function for controlling the white light source and the camera to capture the image of the barcode, the image of the barcode being affected by the at least one optic system of the barcode-reading enhancement accessory; and
a decoder function for receiving the image of the barcode and generating decoded data representing data encoded in the barcode, wherein the decoder function is operative in an enhanced mode on a condition that the barcode-reading enhancement accessory is coupled to the mobile device and in a restricted mode on a condition that the barcode-reading enhancement accessory is not coupled to the mobile device,

wherein a restriction function is implemented in the restricted mode, and the restriction function is at least one of i) a function that scrambles decoded data; ii) a function that restricts the decoded data or scrambled decoded data from being made available for further processing by at least one application executing on the mobile device; or iii) a function that restricts the decoded data or the scrambled decoded data from being displayed on a display screen of the mobile device,
wherein the restriction function is not implemented in the enhanced mode.

12. The barcode-reading system of claim 11 , wherein:
the barcode-reading enhancement accessory further includes:
a memory for storing a license key code; and

a communication system configured to communicate with the mobile device when the barcode-reading enhancement accessory is secured to the mobile device; and
the barcode-reading application further includes a license key code retrieval system configured to:
communicate with th

Assignees

• Code Corp

Inventors

• Powell George
• Deal John

Classifications

• H02J7/751

  concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries · CPC title

• G06K7/10732

  Light sources · CPC title

• G06K19/06028

  using bar codes · CPC title

• G06K7/10881

  constructional details of hand-held scanners · CPC title

• G06K7/10742 Primary

  including a diffuser for diffusing the light from the light source to create substantially uniform illumination of the target record carrier · CPC title