US4645916A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Encoding method and related system and product
Assignee: Eltrax Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1983-09-09
•
Granted: 1987-02-24
•
Expires: 2003-09-09
Abstract
Abstract Methods for variably encoding recorded information in accordance with the type of information which is recorded. The information is organized into types of numeric data, alpha data, alphanumeric data and ASCII character data. Numeric data is encoded in 4-bit code; alpha data is encoded in 5-bit code; alphanumeric data is encoded in 6-bit code; and ASCII character data is encoded in 7-bit code. The fields of the individual data code groups are variable in length to fit the length of the individual data code group stored therein. Each individual field is terminated by a field separator encoded in the same type code as the data type contained in that field. A type separator at the end of each data type signifies transition to data of the next type. This encoding method is particularly adapted to the recording of information in a limited recording area, such as a credit card. A card of that type having one or more magnetic stripes recorded in accordance with the encoding method is described, together with methods of reading and displaying the encoded information in predetermined patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Raisleger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium in discrete storage areas segregated by type and in a predetermined order.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium in discrete storage areas segregated by type and in a predetermined order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the recording step comprises recording the data by types in sequence in the order of the number of bits in a code set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said discrete storage areas are variable in extent, depending upon the number of fields in the type, the length of field, and the number of bits in the code set for that type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the extent of the discrete storage area for a type is dependent upon the lengths of the individual fields within the type, which field lengths are variable in accordance with the data contained therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the recording step comprises recording data in fields of varying length, the length of an individual field corresponding to the data stored therein.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
149 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoding data on the magnetic medium; further including the step of assigning at least one selected code in each code set to designate a fied separator and recording a field separator code for a particular type at the end of each field of that type.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
149 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoding data on the magnetic medium; further including the step of assigning at least one selected code in each code set to designate a fied separator and recording a field separator code for a particular type at the end of each field of that type.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the assigning step comprises assigning discrete field separator and type separator codes for each type.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in bindary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; further comprising the step of assigning one unique code in each code set to designate a type separator and recording a type separator code following the last field in a type.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in bindary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; further comprising the step of assigning one unique code in each code set to designate a type separator and recording a type separator code following the last field in a type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a different type separator code is recorded in each different type.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data types comprise numeric data, alpha data, alphanumeric data, and ASCII character data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data types comprise numeric data, alpha data, alphanumeric data, and ASCII character data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the magnetic medium comprises at least one magnetic stripe on a pocket card.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the sequence of data types recorded on the magnetic stripe comprises a common section having data which is to be used in common by a plurality of different facilities reading the magnetic stripe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the sequence of different data types in the common section is repeated in a subsequent section containing data which is different from the data in the first section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the first field in order in the first type recorded on the magnetic stripe comprises a prefix field containing information for identifying the recording.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the prefix field is of the same code type as the code for the first type on the recorded stripe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of displaying a predetermined pattern of information on a video screen, which pattern includes data of different information types located at different predetermined points in said pattern; and selecting data from said predetermined points for recording in fields in a predetermined sequence corresponding to the positions of the points in said pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 further including encoding the numeric data in 4-bit code, the alpha data in 5-bit code, the alphanumeric data in 6-bit code and the ASCII character data in 7-bit code.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 further including recording the data in sequence as 4-bit encoded data, 5-bit encoded data, 6-bit encoded data, and 7-bit encoded data.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
137 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data are recorded in respective individual fields, each field having a length which is one code longer than the extent of the data recorded therein.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
137 words
The method of encoding information for recording on a magnetic medium comprising the steps of: organizing data by type of information content into data types, the data types differing from each other in the minimum number of bits required to uniquely represent the data of a given type; encoding the data in each type in binary code by assigning codes thereto having a number of bits corresponding to said minimum number for that type, there being at least two different types of data encoded with two sets of codes differing from each other in the number of bits for each set; and recording the encoded data on the magnetic medium; wherein the data are recorded in respective individual fields, each field having a length which is one code longer than the extent of the data recorded therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 wherein each individual field includes the data recorded therein followed by a field separator code.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of reading a magnetic stripe having data organized in different types successively recorded thereon and displaying the recorded data at predetermined points within a predetermined pattern presented on a display screen, said types being organized according to the type of data therein, the characters for the data in each different type being encoded in binary codes of different bit length for the different types, said method comprising the steps of: causing said predetermined pattern to be displayed on the screen; reading the magnetic stripe; displaying at predetermined points in said pattern adapted for data of a first type the data from the first type which is read; and displaying at other predetermined points in said pattern data from succeeding types which are read.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of reading a magnetic stripe having data organized in different types successively recorded thereon and displaying the recorded data at predetermined points within a predetermined pattern presented on a display screen, said types being organized according to the type of data therein, the characters for the data in each different type being encoded in binary codes of different bit length for the different types, said method comprising the steps of: causing said predetermined pattern to be displayed on the screen; reading the magnetic stripe; displaying at predetermined points in said pattern adapted for data of a first type the data from the first type which is read; and displaying at other predetermined points in said pattern data from succeeding types which are read.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the position of the displayed data is dependent upon the order in which the data is read from the magnetic stripe.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the order of the types read from the magnetic stripe is numeric, alpha, alphanumeric, and ASCII.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the termination of each group of data displayed at a particular point in the display is identified by a field separator code.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the termination of data of a given type is identified by a type separator code.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the type separator code and the field separator code are different for each different type of data.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the field separator code for a given data type is different from the type separator code of that type.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the bit length for each type is equal to the minimum number of bits needed to uniquely encode the data of that type.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the data is read by fields, each field corresponding in length to the extent of data contained therein, and wherein the end of a field is identified by a field separator code which is unique to the type of data in the field.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the first field to be read from the magnetic stripe comprises a card prefix for defining the information on the magnetic stripe.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the card prefix is encoded in the same format as the data of the first type being read.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the data of the first type are encoded in a 4-bit code, the data of the second type are encoded in a 5-bit code, and the data of succeeding type are encoded in 6-bit and 7-bit codes, respectively.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
58 words
An item bearing a recording medium in the form of a magnetic stripe having data recorded thereon encoded in a selected binary code format, wherein the magnetic stripe comprises: discrete regions of recorded data organized by types in accordance with the type of data recorded, each different type being encoded with a different length code from other types.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
An item bearing a recording medium in the form of a magnetic stripe having data recorded thereon encoded in a selected binary code format, wherein the magnetic stripe comprises: discrete regions of recorded data organized by types in accordance with the type of data recorded, each different type being encoded with a different length code from other types.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The item of claim 33 wherein the data recorded in one of said regions is numeric type data encoded in 4-bit code.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The item of claim 34 wherein another region contains alpha type data encoded in 5-bit code.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The item of claim 34 wherein another region contains alphanumeic type data encoded in 6-bit code.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The item of claim 34 wherein another region contains ASCII character type data encoded in 7-bit code.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
The item of claim 34 wherein different discrete regions following said one region contain, respectively, alpha type data encoded in 5-bit code, alphanumeric type date encoded in 6-bit code, and ASCII character type data encoded in 7-bit code.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
31 words
The item of claim 38 wherein said discrete regions are arrayed in succession next to each other in the order of numeric type, alpha type, alphanumeric type and ASCII character type.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
32 words
The item of claim 33 wherein the data of the respective types are recorded in individual fields, each field being terminated by a field separator following the data recorded in that field.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The item of claim 40 wherein the fields within a type vary in length in accordance with the extent of the data stored in an individual field.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
The item of claim 40 wherein each discrete region of recorded data for a different type is terminated by a type separator following the last field for that type.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The item of claim 42 wherein the separators are encoded in different length codes, depending upon the type in which the separators are located.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
The item of claim 34 wherein the numeric type data is recorded in fields and wherein the first field of said type is a prefix field for defining the recorded information on the item.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
42 words
The item of claim 33 wherein the data of different types are recorded in fields of variable length, the field length being variable from type to type in accordance with the number of bits selected for encoding data for a given type.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3753245A
Cited
US3778774A
Cited
US4055746A
Cited
US3624615A
Cited
US3653000A
Cited
US3727190A
Cited
US3848112A
Cited
US4130881A
Cited
US3829844A
Cited
US3839708A
Cited
US3790754A
Cited
US3869700A
Cited
US3831006A
Cited
US3970996A
Cited
US3918047A
Cited
US4085446A
Cited
US4164320A
Cited
US3996450A
Cited
US4013894A
Cited
US4181251A
Cited
US4108362A
Cited
US4177456A
Cited
US4219151A
Cited
US4242730A
Cited
US4268744A
Cited
US4304990A
Cited
US4359630A
Cited
US4357529A
Cited
US4340810A
Cited
US4358672A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-23 | 1990-08-25 | 1991-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-23 | 1994-08-25 | 1995-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-23 | 1998-08-25 | 1999-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |