Claims:We Claim:
1. A method of transmitting data from a first software application to a second software application, the method comprising:
a. receiving a displayed portion of an electronic document associated with the first software application;
b. reading the bar code into bar coded data;
c. decoding the bar-coded data into information; and
d. using the information to populate a data field associated with the second software application executing on a second computing system.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first computing system and the second computing system are part of the same computing device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a displayed portion of an electronic document comprising a bar code includes the bar code incorporated into the electronic document as one or more images.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein decoding the bar-coded data into information comprises decoding the bar-coded data into data tags.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, subsequent to decoding the bar-coded data into information, adding data tags to the information.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes mark up language data.
, Description:Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to data interchange technology, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to a method and apparatus for inputting tagged or un-tagged data into electronic documents (e-forms), summing up data in the electronic document, or in a linked and separate document or file as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for use in data interchange.
Background of the Invention
Barcode technology allows almost any data to be collected rapidly and with almost perfect accuracy. Bar code technology provides a simple and easy method of data col lection by encoding text information that is easily read by many different stationary, and/or inexpensive handheld electronic devices. Bar codes have become the standard method of identification, processing, and management used univer Sally throughout the manufacturing, retail, and distribution industries. While the utilization of this technology has been limited to printed media, similar needs exist for capturing, storing, and interchanging data using a digital medium. The age of the Internet, along with an increasing dependence on external business partners for sales and marketing, distribution and processing have given rise to complex issues Surrounding information storage, retrieval, and exchange. These issues are compounded by the lack of an efficient, universal means by which to exchange data across disparate platforms and operating systems used in business today. While there are obvious reasons to maintain a closed network/system (virtual private network) for operational and proprietary purposes, these same systems limit flexibility in the universal exchange of data. Further complicating this issue is the integration of new Suppliers, customers, service providers and distributors into these networks, where the convergence of data is critical.
One of the largest challenges companies face today is addressing their technology needs to enable business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) initiatives. Traditional electronic data interchange (EDI) methods have been largely unaffordable and have left most companies on the sidelines due to the costs associated with Such systems. Yet, according to a recent Jupiter Research Report, 70% of companies rank “moving online' as their top priority going forward. System Integrators (SIs) have been aggressively developing commercial applications to address these needs, however research analysts agree that most of these efforts are too expensive and lack the flexibility necessary to enable broad based alternatives to Web EDI.
Optical character recognition (OCR) was one of the earliest Auto ID technologies used in retail applications in the mid-1980s. Today, OCR is currently part of resurgence because of improved reading equipment that is much more accurate and recognizes a wider range of type styles than earlier equipment.
Wireless devices in the form of cellular phones, PDA's, pagers, etc. have equipped consumers with additional functionality; however, barriers have become more complex between Such devices and their various operating platforms and Software applications. In addition, these devices do not provide for an easy-to-use, two-way interactive means by which to access and interchange data.
Object of the Invention
The present object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus for tagged bar code data interchange which overcomes the problems found in the prior art.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards means and methods for the interchange of data. This includes the interchange of data from one electronic system to another electronic system either directly or through an intermediary physical form Such as a printed bar code, a video displayed bar code, an RFID tag, or other physical mechanism. The interchange of data is performed in a meaningful way so that it is readily usable. In particular, embedded tags can be used to facilitate the proper identification of the data. According to one aspect of the invention, a 3-step method and apparatus provides for 1) inputting tagged or un-tagged data into electronic documents (e-forms), 2) Summing up data in the electronic document as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for interchange using data tags, and 3) outputting tagged data. In the first step, tagged or un-tagged input data can come from a variety of data sources, including, but not limited to, 1D and/or 2D bar codes displayed on driver's licenses, national identification cards, social security cards, military identification cards, company identification cards, business cards, financial transaction cards including, but not limited to, credit cards, check cards, and ATM cards, health plan identification cards, purchase receipts, warranties, bills of lading, purchase orders, invoices, sales orders, insurance cards, statements of account, work orders, drawings, photographs, blue prints, packing lists, UCC forms, contracts, redemption coupons, newspapers, magazines, products, product packaging, vehicles, shipping containers, pallets, etc. In addition, tagged or un-tagged sources for data input into an electronic document can come from Sources, such as, but not limited to, 3D bumpy bar codes, RFID tags, magnetic stripes, optically recognizable characters (OCR), characters recognizable via magnetic ink technology (MICR), intelligently recognized characters (ICR), Voice, Voice recognition technology, computer-telephone interfaces, keyboards, touch screens, PC, laptop, PDA, mouse, pager, text messaging device, WiFi enabled cell phones, cell phone-PC merged devices, etc. Un-tagged input data is semi-automatically input into an electronic document. In step two, source data and/or electronic form fields contained in the electronic document are Summed up as one or more 1D and/or 2D tagged barcode(s), which is the means for data interchange via bar code scanning technology in the present invention. Alternatively, the data may be summed up by the remote server and returned to the original electronic document, or other electronic documents as one or more 1D and/or 2D tagged bar codes for data interchange via bar code scanning technology. The electronic document may use the data tags contained in the source data, and/or strip the Source data tags and/or re-tag the source data in order to facilitate data interchange. Additionally, the electronic document can add data tags to un-tagged input source data in order to facilitate interchange into an information system. In step three, tagged information Summed up on an electronic document in the form of one or more 10 and/or 2D bar codes are captured from either a printed version of the electronic document, or a video displayed version of the electronic document. The video bar code may come from either a local, or remotely viewed source. The captured tagged data string is parsed; the data tags are used to route and/or input and/or exchange data into a variety of Software applications, Such as but not limited to, a database, a spreadsheet, a web page, a word processor, another electronic document, etc. The tags may remain with the output data, or alternatively may be stripped from the data.
Brief Description of Drawings
FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of the preferred method of the present invention.
Detailed Description of Invention
One aspect of the present invention includes a 3-step method and apparatus for 1) inputting tagged or un-tagged data into electronic documents (e-forms), 2) Summing up data in the electronic document as one or more 1D and/or 2D bar codes ready for interchange using data tags, and 3) outputting tagged data. In the first step of the present invention, tagged or untagged input data can come from a variety of data sources, including, but not limited to, 1D and/or 2D bar codes dis played on driver's licenses, national identification cards, Social security cards, military identification cards, company identification cards, business cards, financial transaction cards including, but not limited to, credit cards, check cards, and ATM cards, health plan identification cards, purchase receipts, warranties, bills of lading, purchase orders, invoices, sales orders, insurance cards, statements of account, work orders, drawings, photographs, blueprints, packing lists, UCC forms, contracts, redemption coupons, newspapers, magazines, products, product packaging. Vehicles, shipping containers, pallets, etc. In addition, tagged or un-tagged Sources for data input into an electronic document can come from various sources, such as, but not limited to, 3D bumpy bar codes, RFID tags, magnetic stripes, optically recognizable characters (OCR), characters recognizable via magnetic ink technology (MICR), intelligently recognized characters (ICR), Voice, Voice recognition technology, computer-tele phone interfaces, keyboards, touchscreens, PC, laptop, PDA, mouse, pager, text messaging device, etc. Electronic document file types for viewing, sharing, and exchanging data on the Internet have previously been created using a very limited number of file formats, specifically, HTML and XML in order to make them universally available for viewing in a browser, and as PDFs using the Adobe Reader plug-in. In a quantum leap forward the present invention makes virtually any electronic document file format available for viewing and as a mechanism to sum-up data for exchange as one or more tagged or un-tagged bar codes. As an example, additional electronic document file types that would be made available in the present invention using a viewer, such as, but not limited to the Kamel Fastlook browser plug-in include, but are not limited to the following:
Video displayed bar codes can only be captured success fully for decoding using CCD Scanners, Imagers, or Camera Readers. Any type of bar code scanner can be connected to a device Such as a computer, or cash register, etc. via a hard-wire or RF connection. The tagged data captured from one or more 1D and/or 2D bar code(s) in an electronic document, either directly off a Video display or from a printed version of the document, can be output to a data target that is capable of receiving and/or use tagged data, such as but not limited to, an RFID tag, Smart Card, magnetic stripe, barcode printer, OCR encoder, MICR encoder, ICR encoder, cell phone, television set-top box, telecommunication network router, telecommunication network switch, telecommunication network hub, ATM machine, laptop computer, PC, PDA, pager, text messaging device, touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc.