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US5334825A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and method for monitoring barcode label quality

Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1992-04-27
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2012-04-27
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Abstract

Abstract A system and method for monitoring barcode label quality at a point of sale which alerts an operator of a defective label and stores the number of defective labels for each manufacturer. The system includes an optical scanner, including a controller and a memory, a quality indicator, and a point-of-service terminal. The system may additionally include a central host computer. The method of the present invention puts the scanner in predetermined operating modes which activate the quality monitoring functions listed above.

Inventors

  • 👤 Craig E. Maddox

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 18:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/10861; G06K7/10871; G06K7/14; G06K7/1404; G06K7/146; G06K7/1473; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1017

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 106 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels during the transaction; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; means for indicating the presence of the defective barcode label to an operator; means within the optical scanner for making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for tallying the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels during the transaction; and means within the optical scanner for identifying manufacturers which marked their products with the defective barcode labels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 106 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels during the transaction; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; means for indicating the presence of the defective barcode label to an operator; means within the optical scanner for making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for tallying the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels during the transaction; and means within the optical scanner for identifying manufacturers which marked their products with the defective barcode labels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: memory means within the optical scanner for storing the number of barcode labels read and the number of defective barcode labels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a point-of-service terminal coupled to the optical scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The system as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a host computer coupled to the point-of-service terminal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the indicating means provides a displayed message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the indicating means provides an aural message.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 118 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; means for indicating the presence of the defective barcode label to an operator; means within the optical scanner for making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for tallying the number of barcode labels read and the number of defective barcode labels by type; memory means within the optical scanner for storing the number of barcode labels read and the number of defective barcode labels by type; and a point-of-service terminal coupled between the optical scanner and the indicating means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 118 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; means for indicating the presence of the defective barcode label to an operator; means within the optical scanner for making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; means within the optical scanner for tallying the number of barcode labels read and the number of defective barcode labels by type; memory means within the optical scanner for storing the number of barcode labels read and the number of defective barcode labels by type; and a point-of-service terminal coupled between the optical scanner and the indicating means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 66 words
A method of monitoring barcode label quality comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner; reading the barcode label if it is non-defective; alerting an operator if the barcode label is defective; making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; and storing the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels by type.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 66 words
A method of monitoring barcode label quality comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner; reading the barcode label if it is non-defective; alerting an operator if the barcode label is defective; making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; and storing the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels by type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of: uploading the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcodes by type to a central computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of alerting comprises the substeps of: communicating a visual message to the operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of alerting comprises the substeps of: communicating an aural message to the operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method as recited in claim 8, wherein each type of barcode label is associated with a predetermined manufacture, the method further comprising the step of: identifying a manufacturer which marks its products with defective barcode labels.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for monitoring barcode label quality comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner; reading the barcode label if it is nondefective; alerting an operator if the barcode label is defective; making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; storing the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels by type, each type of barcode label being associated with a predetermined manufacturer; and identifying a manufacturer which marks its products with defective barcode labels.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for monitoring barcode label quality comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner; reading the barcode label if it is nondefective; alerting an operator if the barcode label is defective; making readable a predetermined number of types of defective barcode labels; storing the number of barcodes read and the number of defective barcode labels by type, each type of barcode label being associated with a predetermined manufacturer; and identifying a manufacturer which marks its products with defective barcode labels.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 52 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels during the transaction; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; and means within the optical scanner for identifying a manufacturer associated with the defective barcode label.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 52 words
A system for monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising: an optical scanner for reading barcode labels during the transaction; means within the optical scanner for sensing a defective barcode label during a scanning operation; and means within the optical scanner for identifying a manufacturer associated with the defective barcode label.
Claim 20
Independent Claim 54 words
A method of monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner during the transaction; if the barcode label is decodable, decoding the barcode label; and if the barcode label is defective, identifying a manufacturer associated with the defective barcode label.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 54 words
A method of monitoring barcode label quality during a transaction comprising the steps of: causing a barcode label to be scanned by an optical scanner during the transaction; if the barcode label is decodable, decoding the barcode label; and if the barcode label is defective, identifying a manufacturer associated with the defective barcode label.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4860226A Cited
US5194722A Cited
US5194720A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-08-01 1998-01-31 1998-08-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-08-01 2002-01-31 2002-08-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-08-01 2006-01-31 2006-08-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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