Abstract:
A method and system for personalizing goods or services by including thereon a visible indication of the person or persons that are intended to utilize the goods and services. In one embodiment, based on computer processing, a series of parameters are calculated that can be used to generate a composite drawing (e.g., a line drawing) of the intended customer. Having created such a series of parameters, those parameters can be sent to the generator of the ticket or other personalized good. The generator can then use that series of parameters to print the composite drawing on the personalized good, either at the same time the good is originally printed or prior to providing the personalized good to the consumer. Alternatively, by receiving a customer number with the transaction confirmation from the credit card company, the merchant can download a full picture of the customer to be included on the personalized good.
Abstract:
The method and system include marking a surgery site (e.g., location of surgical incision) or a site of other medical action with a machine-readable medical marking (e.g., bar code or a dot pattern), which may be used in conjunction with (1) a scanner for reading the machine-readable medical marking and (2) a controller for controlling medical actions in response to the read machine-readable medical marking. The system and method ensure the validation of the surgical procedure, the patient awaiting the surgical procedure, and the site or location on the patient where the surgery is to be performed. Utilizing a scanning device for reading machine-readable medical markings, and a controller, there are additional means to check and double check the medical action before the actual medical action (e.g., surgery) is performed.
Abstract:
Bar code information is printed on a printable surface associated with a product, such as a label or container of the product, or the product itself, during a production run under the control of a printer computer. The bar code information may include two components of a composite bar code symbol, where the first component is either pre-printed or printed during a production run, and the second component is printed during the production run. The first component may identify a product that is carried in the containers, while the second component identifies a lot, batch, expiration date or commodity number. In another aspect, check data is used to confirm the accuracy of information that is used by a printer computer to control a printer. In another aspect, first and second bar code symbols portions are read to recover information, and a database is accessed to determine if the recovered information is consistent.
Abstract:
Bar code infomiation (310, 330) is printed on a printable surface (300) of a product (125), such as a label (300) or container of the product, or the product itself, during a production run. A first component (310) of a composite bar code symbol, which may identify a product carried in the containers, is either pre-printed or printed during a production run, and a second component (330), which may identify a lot, batch, expiration date or commodity number, is printed during the production run. Check data may be used to confirm the accuracy of information that is used by a printer computer (120). A database (188) may be accessed to determine if recovered information from first and second bar code symbols portions (610, 620) is consistent. A standalone printer (146) may supply labels (147) to one or more production lines (100) on an as-needed basis.
Abstract:
Coupons (105) are encoded with an account identifier such as a credit or debit card number of the coupon issuer. The coupon may be a bar-coded coupon, or a coupon card, such as a magnetic stripe card or smart card. The bar-coded coupon may use a compact two-dimensional symbology such as Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) to carry the account identifier and other information such as enhanced consumer demographic data. Coupon information including the account identifier, a product or service identifier, and a discount identifier, are obtained from the coupon (105) at a point of sale location (100). The consumer is credited for the discount. The coupon information, including a merchant identifier are communicated to a processing center (135) using an existing credit card terminal (115) and communication protocol, such as ANSI X9, and processed like a conventional credit or debit card transaction.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for identifying and authenticating goods. A code or checksum based on information or an image relating to a good is derived and associated with a barcode to include on a label. The label is scanned by a recipient to authenticate the goods. Scanable code are provided based on an image by distilling an image into its hue components and using a grid to create a pattern. The pattern is readable by a scanner to obtain a code directly, or by consulting a look-up table. The code, barcode, digital barcode or scanable code can be included on a label or tag, such as an RFID tag.
Abstract:
Methods are described for identifying and authenticating goods. A code or checksum based on information or an image relating to a good is derived and associated with a barcode to include on a label. The label is scanned by a recipient to authenticate the goods. Scanable codes are provided based on an image by distilling an image into its hue components and using a grid to create a pattern. The pattern is readable by a scanner to obtain a code directly, or by consulting a look-up table. The code, barcode, digital barcode or scanable code can be included on a label or tag, such as an RFID tag.
Abstract:
A bar code including a first linear bar code portion, and portions with two-dimensional bar codes at the ends of the first bar code portion. A separation through the first portion. The two-dimensional bar code at each end is inverted from the other end, and in an embodiment is also rotated 180.degree., which enable the two-dimensional bar codes on separated parts of the single bar code to be identical.
Abstract:
A communication system is provided that includes both an electromagnetic (“EM”) communication device and an optical communication device including at least a machine readable symbol where at least a portion of the EM communication device and at least a portion of the machine readable symbol are formed from the same material. This material may be, for example, a conductable ink or a conductable foil. If desired, the EM communication device may include an antenna where at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the machine readable symbol.
Abstract:
Methods are provided for identifying and authenticating goods. A code or checksum based on information or an image relating to a good is derived and associated with a barcode to include on a label. The label is scanned by a recipient to authenticate the goods. Scanable code are provided based on an image by distilling an image into its hue components and using a grid to create a pattern. The pattern is readable by a scanner to obtain a code directly, or by consulting a look-up table. The code, barcode, digital barcode or scanable code can be included on a label or tag, such as an RFID tag.