Barcode-reading system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016104017-A1
Application number	US-201514923120-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 26, 2015
Priority date	Oct 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This patent specification describes operations of a mobile device with barcode-reading capabilities and an application and license server. A mobile device may include a barcode-reading application downloaded from an application server. The barcode-reading application may operate in a base mode or an enhanced mode. In the base mode, the barcode-reading application may establish a network connection to a licensing server to obtain a license code, and determine at least one operating permission authorized by the license code. In the enhanced mode, the barcode-reading application may implement at least one enhanced barcode-reading function which corresponds to the at least one 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, comprising:
a barcode-reading enhancement accessory secured to the mobile device, the barcode-reading enhancement accessory comprising at least one optic system that is positioned either within a field of illumination of a light source of the mobile device for modifying the field of illumination projected by the light source or within a field of view of a camera of the mobile device for modifying illumination reflected from objects within the field of view of the camera; and a barcode-reading application stored in a memory of the mobile device and executable by a processor of the mobile device, wherein the barcode-reading application is configured to operate in a base mode or an enhanced mode, wherein in the base mode of operation, the barcode-reading application is configured to:
control a network interface of the mobile device to establish a network connection to a licensing server and obtain a license code from the licensing server;
subject the license code to a predetermined algorithm and determine at least one operating permission authorized by the license code; and
enable an enhanced mode of operation,
wherein in the enhanced mode of operation, the barcode-reading application is configured to implement at least one enhanced barcode-reading function which corresponds to the at least one operating permission authorized by the license code.

2 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enhanced barcode-reading function comprises a function of decoding a barcode symbology that the decoder is restricted from decoding in the base mode of operation.

3 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enhanced barcode-reading function comprises a function of decoding multiple barcodes in sequence at a rate that is faster than a rate at which the barcode-reading application can decode multiple barcodes in sequence in the base mode of operation.

4 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enhanced barcode-reading function comprises a function of decoding a quantity of barcodes of a particular symbology that exceeds a restricted quantity of barcodes of the particular symbology that the barcode-reading application can decode in the base mode of operation.

5 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enhanced barcode-reading function comprises removing a demonstration restriction function under which the barcode-reading application functions in the base mode of operation,
wherein the demonstration restriction function is at least one of: i) a function that scrambles decoded data from a barcode of at least one symbology; ii) a function that restricts the decoded data or scrambled decoded data from a barcode of at least one symbology from being made available for further processing; or iii) a function that restricts the decoded data or the scrambled decoded data from a barcode of at least one symbology from being displayed on a display screen of the mobile device.

6 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one enhanced barcode-reading function comprises enabling at least one enhanced image processing function that improves an ability to decode an image of a barcode and is not operable when the decoder operates in the base mode of operation.

7 . The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the base mode of operation comprises a base decoding mode of operation and a demonstration mode of operation,
wherein the barcode-reading application, in the base decoding mode of operation, is configured to:
drive a camera assembly to capture an image of a barcode;
apply base decoder functions to the image to identify a barcode symbology;
if the barcode symbology is a base symbology, decode the barcode and make decoded data available for further processing; and
if the barcode symbology is not the base symbology, enter the demonstration mode of operation, and
wherein the barcode-reading application, in the demonstration mode of operation, is configured to:
apply at least one enhanced barcode-reading function to decode the barcode; and
perform at least one of:
outputting an indication of successful decoding of the barcode; or
implementing a restriction function, the restriction function being 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.

8 . The barcode-reading system of claim 7 , wherein the barcode-reading application is further configured to perform an upgrade function in the demonstration mode of operation, wherein the upgrade function enables a user selection to obtain the license code, obtains the license code based on the user selection, establishes a network connection to the licensing server, and obtains the license code from the licensing server.

9 . The barcode-reading system of claim 8 , wherein in order to obtain the license code from the licensing server, the barcode-reading application is further configured to communicate to the licensing server one of: i) a unique identification code of the mobile device; or ii) a user identification code identifying a controller of the mobile device.

10 . A barcode-reading system for a mobile device, comprising:
a barcode-reading enhancement accessory secured to the mobile device, the barcode-reading enhancement accessory comprising at least one optic system that is positioned either within a field of illumination of a white light source of the mobile device for modifying the field of illumination projected by the white light source or within a field of view of a camera of the mobile device for modifying illumination reflected from objects within the field of view of the camera; and a barcode-reading application stored in a memory of the mobile device and executable by a 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 an image of a barcode, the image of the barcode being affected by the at least one optic system;
a base decoder function for decoding a barcode in a base mode of operation if an enhanced decoder mode has not been authorized; and
an enhanced decoder function for decoding a barcode in an enhanced mode of operation if the enhanced decoder mode has been authorized.

11 . The barcode-reading system of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced decoder function comprises a function of decoding a barcode that the barcode-reading application is restricted from decoding in the base mode of operation.

12 . The barcode-reading system of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced decoder function comprises a function of decoding multiple barcodes in sequence at a rate that is faster than a restricted rate at which the barcode-reading application can decode a sequence of multiple barcodes when in the base mode of operation.

13 . The barcode-reading system of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced decoder function comprises a function of decoding a quantity of barcodes of a particular symbology that exceeds a restricted quantity of barcodes of the particular symbology which the barcode-reading application can decode when in the base mode of operation.

14 . The barcode-reading system of claim 10 , wherein the enhanced decoder function comprises removing a demon

Assignees

• Code Corp

Inventors

• Deal John
• Powell George
• Russell Garrett

Classifications

• H02J7/751

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

• G06K7/0004

  Hybrid readers · CPC title

• G06K7/10821 Primary

  further details of bar or optical code scanning devices · CPC title

• G06K7/10732

  Light sources · CPC title

• G06F21/105

  Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level · CPC title