Method and apparatus for reading optical indicia using a plurality of data sources

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9355294-B2
Application number	US-201514707492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2011
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A system for decoding an encoded symbol character associated with a product is provided. The system includes a scanning apparatus comprising a first scan source disposed within a housing, and a second scan source disposed within the housing. The second scan source comprises an operating technology distinct from an operating technology of the first scan source. The first scan source is adapted to output a first scan data set, and the second scan source is adapted to output a second scan data set. At least one of the first scan data set and the second scan data set comprises product bar code scan data.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
memory for storing data;
a laser scanner for outputting a first data set comprising barcode data;
a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a second data set comprising an electronic product code; and
a central processing unit for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set and the second data set.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decoding process executed by the central processing unit comprises stitching the first data set and the second data set.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central processing unit is configured for converting the electronic product code into a barcode.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;
the second data set comprises an electronic product code associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the electronic product code associated with the product.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a weight scale module for outputting a third data set comprising a weight associated with the product, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the third data set with product weights associated with the first scan data set in the memory.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising an image sensor for outputting a third data set, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the third data set with the first data set.

7. The system of claim 1 , comprising an image sensor for outputting a third data set, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

8. A system comprising:
a weight scale module for outputting a first data set;
an image sensor for outputting a second data set; and
a central processing unit for:
decoding the second data set;
identifying from memory a stored data set corresponding to the decoded second data set; and
comparing the first data set to a stored data set.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first data set comprises the weight of a product;
the second data set comprises alphanumeric characters associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for executing optical character recognition software and for comparing the weight of the product barcode with the alphanumeric characters associated with the product.

10. The system of claim 8 , comprising a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a third data set.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the third data set comprises an electronic product code; and
the central processing unit is configured for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first data set comprises the weight of a product;
the second data set comprises color images associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the weight of the product with the color images associated with the product.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the first data set comprises the weight of a product;
the second data set comprises pattern images associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the weight of the product with the pattern images associated with the product.

14. A system comprising:
a laser scanner for outputting a first data set;
an image sensor for outputting a second data set;
a central processing unit for:
executing optical character recognition software on images captured by the image sensor to output a third data set; and
executing a decoding process comprising stitching the first data set, the second data set, and the third data set.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first data set comprises barcode data from a product barcode;
the second data set comprises alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product barcode with the alphanumeric characters associated with the product barcode.

16. The system of claim 14 , comprising a radio frequency identification reader for outputting a fourth data set.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein:
the fourth data set comprises an electronic product code; and
the central processing unit is configured for executing a decoding process by combining the first data set, the second data set, and the fourth data set.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;
the second data set comprises color images associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the color images associated with the product.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein:
the first data set comprises barcode data from a product;
the second data set comprises pattern images associated with the product; and
the central processing unit is configured for comparing the barcode data from the product with the pattern images associated with the product.

20. The system of claim 14 , comprising a weight scale module for outputting a fourth data set comprising a weight associated with the product, wherein the central processing unit is configured for comparing the fourth data set with product weights associated with the first scan data set in a memory.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Smith Taylor
• Hernandez Mark

Classifications

• G06K7/10722

  Photodetector array or CCD scanning · CPC title

• G06K7/1491 Primary

  the method including a reconstruction step, e.g. stitching two pieces of bar code together to derive the full bar code · CPC title

• G06K7/0004

  Hybrid readers · CPC title

• G06K7/10554 Primary

  Moving beam scanning · CPC title

• G07G1/0045

  with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader · CPC title