EP1379976A1 - Radio communication interface module, and its use in a device reading, processing, transmitting and operating on a bar code - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a two-way radio communication interface module based on a predefined protocol for at least a user application, the module comprising at least a radio circuit for transmitting and receiving digital signals and at least a programmable circuit with a radio microcontroller for managing the radio circuit. The invention is characterised in that the radio microcontroller comprises a software stack consisting of a first part called protocol stack topped by a second part called applicative abstraction stack, the software stack enabling adaptation based on the protocol between the digital signals and the data and instructions of the application, the applicative abstraction stack enabling at least the translation of the data and instructions of the application into data and instructions based on the protocol for processing in the protocol stack, the module being a single hardware component also storing the user application and ensuring its execution in the radio microcontroller. The invention also concerns a use method with a bar-code scanner.

Description

RADIOCOMMUNICATION INTERFACE MODULE, AND ITS APPLICATION TO A BAR CODE READING, PROCESSING, TRANSMITTING AND OPERATING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a radio communication interface module, a device, applications including a method for reading, processing, transmission and exploitation of a bar code such that the method implements the module in a code reader to autonomous radio link bars. The invention can be implemented in a generic way

10 in all hardware and software applications comprising a radio link and, also, implemented more specifically in a particular application in the field of trade promotion, trade and more generally data exchange on a network

15 computer with equipment capable of processing hypermedia data of the text, image, sound and / or video type.

Graphic identification codes of the barcode type are known and widely used due to the robustness of their reading and decoding. Several standards

20 coding have been defined for both one-dimensional and two-dimensional bar codes.

These codes are read by electronic devices comprising an optical reading head. Depending on the barcode scanning method and the type of read head

25 optical implemented, there are two main types of devices: contact reading devices that require physical movement between the optical scanning head and the support on which is placed the bar code and devices that can operate without relative displacement, scanning

30 being obtained by mechanical methods (rotating mirror for example), and / or electronic (matrix detector for example). For these latter devices, various technologies can be implemented but in all cases, they are more complex and costly to produce than the

35 devices of the first type including the pencil which is one of the the simplest devices to realize since it only has a static optical sensor and whose scanning of the bar code for reading is carried out by the user.

The reader pens known from the prior art are generally connected by an electrical cable to an external electronic unit itself connected to the keyboard of a computer. Such an optical pencil is therefore not autonomous and is not easy to handle since a cable attaches it to computer equipment. In addition, this type of pencil is relatively high cost because the optical sensor also includes an optical element of very high hardness, sapphire for example, which can withstand repeated friction on the support comprising the bar code while ensuring an optical adaptation. Furthermore, in known applications, the bar codes which are read are essentially processed locally. For example in applications of the cash register type, the data corresponding to the bar codes are processed either at the cash register level to retrieve the price and, possibly, a description of the item, or in a local server of the commercial site linked to all the cash desks to also ensure inventory management.

The object of the invention is to propose a hardware and software means of radio communication in the form of a module which can be easily adapted to any user application and, in a particular case, to a method in which a computer network connecting equipment. IT capable of running hypermedia applications implements data from barcode reading in order to produce visual, auditory and / or other actions, possibly interactive, on client computer equipment in relation to a barcode reader. The term computer equipment in the context of the invention corresponds to any electronic device which can process hypermedia data and which can be connected to the network computer and, for example, computer, microcomputer, personal assistant, telephone with WAP, GPRS, UMTS functionalities ... Thanks to the particular application of the invention, the user can read a bar code with a reader and can receive almost instantaneously an information page concerning the object carrying the barcode, on any type of computer support connected to the Internet (microcomputer, digital assistant, mobile phone or others). The object can be any consumer object (then carrying an EAN or UPC type barcode) or any other type of object and, for example: business cards, newspaper article, invoice, statement bank account. The term barcode concerns as well a numerical value or a character as several according to a standardized coding or a proprietary coding (proprietary barcode).

The invention therefore relates to a bidirectional radiocommunication interface module according to a predefined protocol for at least one user application having data and instructions to be communicated to an external device, the module comprising at least one radio electronic transmission and reception circuit. digital signals and at least one programmable electronic circuit with a radio microcontroller for managing the radio electronic circuit.

According to the invention, the radio microcontroller comprises hardware means cooperating with software in the form of a software stack formed by a first part called the protocol stack topped by a second part called the application abstraction stack, the software stack allowing the adaptation according to the protocol between, on the one hand, the digital signals and, on the other hand, the data and instructions of the user application, the application abstraction stack allowing at least the translation of the data and instructions of the user application in a proprietary format in data and instructions according to the protocol for processing in the protocol stack, the module being a hardware component unique also storing the user application in the form of a program and ensuring its execution in the radio microcontroller.

In various embodiments of the invention, the following means can be combined according to all the technically possible possibilities are used:

- the module consists of a radio printed circuit grouping an antenna, the radio electronic transmission and reception circuit in the form of a radio and an integrated baseband circuit and the programmable electronic management circuit in the form of a '' a microcontroller with storage means,

the software operation of the module is divided into tasks executed according to priorities, the tasks linked to the management of the radio circuit having a higher priority than the execution tasks, of the user application,

the module also comprises a second printed circuit interconnected to the radio printed circuit with at least one peripheral at least chosen from: - a digital input with possibly a comparator for level or transition detection,

- an analog input with analog-digital converter with possibly an analog amplifier with programmable gain or not, - a digital output,

- an analog output with digital-to-analog converter,

- a controllable voltage regulator or converter,

- an up / down counter, - a real time clock,

- a battery charging circuit,

- a logic circuit,

- a memory,

- a specialized programmable logic circuit chosen in particular from a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor or a dedicated circuit, at least part of the user application in the form of a program then being stored in said specialized programmable logic circuit and said specialized programmable logic circuit then ensuring its execution, the application abstraction stack may also include proprietary software means for processing instructions for retrieving data from the device and / or sending data to the device, - the module includes a reprogrammable memory as well as means allowing the reprogramming of said memory to from data received by radiocommunication,

- the protocol is “Bluetooth®” or IEEE802.15.1,

- the application abstraction stack also ensures and conversely the translation of information from the protocol stack to the application;

- the single component is an integrated circuit _. ;

- The module also comprises at least one bidirectional infrared communication means and the application abstraction stack also comprises software means for processing instructions and data for and from said infrared means;

- the module includes a voltage regulator making it possible to supply it from a 220V / 1 10V electrical outlet, from a battery or from any other current source and the application abstraction battery also comprises software means for process instructions and data for and from said regulator;

- The module further comprises memory intended to store data; - The microcontroller is of a type between 8 and 16 bits, terminals included, with a clock of frequency less than 200 KHz;

the microcontroller includes memory allowing the execution of a user application program, the application program comprising a sequence of instructions and data according to the proprietary format;

- the memory is a preprogrammed read only memory;

- the memory is a loadable memory (reprogrammable); - the loadable memory is loaded by the application program each time the application is started in the module;

- the loadable memory is loaded by the application program once and for all at the manufacturing of the module in said application;

- the loadable memory is loaded by the application program once and for all when the application is first started in the module;

- the application program for loading is in a ROM external to the module;

- the loading takes place by wire connection, preferably series;

- the application program for loading is in a computer means external to the module;

- the loading takes place by the radio link of the module. The invention also relates to a particular application of the module according to one or more of the preceding characteristics in the form of a bidirectional radiocommunication interface device according to a predefined protocol for at least one user software application and comprising a module according to one any of the preceding characteristics, and according to which the device further comprises within a single housing, an electrochemical power source, and at least one connector, the pins of which are connected to at least one interface of the module.

The invention also relates to a particular application of the module as such or in the device according to one or more of the preceding characteristics, possibly combined for the production of an electronic device comprising a user software application. communicating by bidirectional radiocommunication according to a predefined protocol and comprising a module according to any one of the preceding characteristics.

In particular embodiments, the apparatus is: an apparatus which is a barcode reader pencil for a support, the pencil comprising at one end in an optical sensor a light source producing a light beam focused on the support and an optical detector intended to receive and convert the light reflected by the support into electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal electrical power source and the radio communication interface module, with a software stack according to the "Bluetooth" protocol ®, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising means for processing the electrical signals from the optical detector, and interfacing means via the radiocommunication module ensuring at least the transmission of said bar codes according to said protocol to computer equipment, (the transmission of bar codes corresponds to the cara that the user application has read)

- as an alternative to the medium, the bar codes correspond to a successive temporal sequence of dark and light surface on a display screen, - an apparatus which is a reader pen for recognizing alphanumeric characters of a medium, the pencil comprising one end in an optical sensor a light source producing a light beam focused on the support and an optical detector intended to receive and convert the light reflected by the support into electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal power supply source and the radiocommunication interface module, with a software stack according to the “Bluetooth®” protocol, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising means for processing the electrical signals from the optical detector and recognizing said characters, and means for interfacing via the radiocommunication module ensuring at least the transmission of said characters according to said protocol to computer equipment, - an apparatus which is a pencil handwriting recognition reader, the pencil comprising at least two accelerometers along two axes X and Y corresponding to the writing plane and producing electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal power supply and the module d radio interface, with a software stack according to the “Bluetooth®” protocol, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising means for processing the electrical signals of the optical detector and recognizing writing, and means for interfacing via the radio communication module ensuring at least the transmission of said writing according to said protocol to a computer equipment, (the transmission of writing corresponds to the characters that the user application has read)

- the writing recognition recognition pen includes a means of detecting along a Z axis the support of the pencil during writing on a support, - the means of detecting the support is a contactor or an accelerometer,

T an apparatus which is one of the preceding pencils and which does not include a focusing point in hard material,

- a device which is a mains power socket controlled by radio communication,

- the socket includes a voltage step-down for supplying the module, a controlled electronic switch,

- the step-down is chosen from a switching power supply, with static transformer, with step-down capacitor, - the switch is chosen from an electromagnetic relay, a triac, an electronic switch at zero crossing.

The invention also relates to a particular application of the module as such or in the device according to one or more of the preceding characteristics possibly combined in the form of a method of reading, processing, transmission and exploitation of a bar code in which :

- The bar code is read with a reader comprising a radio communication interface module according to one or more of the preceding characteristics and optical reading means of the optical bar code reading head type producing electrical signals according to the bars, - said electrical signals are processed in the interface module to produce digital and / or alphanumeric data,

- said digital and / or alphanumeric data are associated with a reader identifier in order to produce a proprietary data string,

- the proprietary data chain is transmitted in real time to at least one client device comprising at least one client software for execution of an order understandable by said client device, In various modes of declination of the process the following means, possibly combined, are used:

- when a client device is not available for reception, the proprietary data string is stored in a memory of the reader, - in the client device, at least one type of data item d is associated with the proprietary data string customer equipment in order to form an IT address then dependent on the barcode, the reader identifier and the type of equipment data, - a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of client equipment type, the correspondence table being located in a computer server distinct from the equipment customer,

a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one datum of the type of client equipment, the correspondence table being stored in the client equipment,

(we also consider the case where the correspondence table is shared between the client equipment and at least one routing server, and, for example in the case where no correspondence is found in the client equipment table, a server separate routing is used)

the correspondence table is stored in the client equipment by selection according to a: criterion in a global correspondence table located in a computer server separate from the client equipment, the criterion comprising at least the reader identifier,

- a means of transmission by electromagnetic waves in free space between the reader and the client equipment is implemented with a communication protocol making it possible at least to determine which client devices can communicate and, in the case where several devices are operational , said protocol making it possible to select at least one of said operational equipment,

- the digital and / or alphanumeric data are coded according to an encoding algorithm before associating them with the reader identifier,

- the computer address associated with the proprietary data chain is that of a computer server relaying a request for information to another computer server, - the bar code is a proprietary bar code; - the identifier of the reader is a unique 48-bit number of “Bluetooth®” address;

- the reader identifier is a reader number preprogrammed during manufacture or programmed later;

- the internal electrical power source is of the rechargeable battery and / or electrochemical cell type;

- The reader includes a means of establishing its electrical supply by the user gripping member;

- The reader includes a means of cutting its electrical supply by the user gripping member;

the means for establishing the supply is an electromechanical switch of the push button type, the supply is cut off when the user stops pressing said push button;

- The push button is arranged so that the user necessarily positions the reader (or pencil) in a given orientation relative to the bar code; - the orientation given is such that the reader (or pencil) is substantially vertical during reading;

- when the bar code is read without error, the power to the optical sensor is cut off but the radio communication module remains powered; - when the barcode is read without error, the power to the optical sensor shuts off but the radio communication module remains powered, in low consumption mode until all the digital and / or alphanumeric and / or binary data stored in the pen memory is sent to the client IT equipment;

- The reader also includes a sound generator;

- the program allows the decoding of the usual bar codes among which those of type EAN and UPC; - the program also allows the decoding of bar codes according to a proprietary coding.

Finally, the invention relates to a symbol reader pen as well as to a method with their variations possibly combined according to all the technically possible possibilities and corresponding to:

- a symbol reader pen on a support, the pencil comprising at one end in an optical sensor a light source producing a light beam focused on the support and an optical detector intended to receive and convert the light reflected by the support into electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal electrical power source, a bidirectional radiocommunication interface according to a predefined protocol for at least one user application having data and instructions to communicate to an external device as well as optical reading means of the head type reading device producing electrical signals according to the symbols, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising a means of recognizing the symbols and means for processing the electrical signals of the optical detector, means of interfacing by the intermediary of the ra interface diocommunication ensuring at least the transmission of said symbols according to said protocol to equipment, data processing,

- the symbols are bar codes on a support,

- the symbols are characters on a support,

- the symbols correspond to a writing,

- as an alternative to the medium, the symbols are bar codes corresponding to a successive time sequence of dark and light surface on a display screen,

- in the case of a display screen, the light source is omitted,

- a method of reading, processing, transmitting and exploiting a symbol in which: - the symbols are read with a reader which is a symbol reader pencil according to one or more of the preceding characteristics,

said electrical signals are processed in the interface module to produce digital and / or alphanumeric data,

- we associate with said digital and / or alphanumeric data a reader identifier in order to produce a proprietary data string, - the proprietary data string is transmitted in real time to at least one client device comprising at least one client software for execution of '' an order understandable by said customer equipment,

a method according to the preceding characteristic such that when a client equipment is not available for reception, the proprietary data string is stored in a memory of the reader,

a method according to the preceding characteristics such as in client equipment, in addition, is associated with the owner data chain at least one datum of type of client equipment in order to form an IT address then dependent on the symbol, the identifier of equipment type data,

a method according to the preceding characteristics such that a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of type of client equipment, the correspondence table being located in a computer server separate from the client equipment, - a method according to the preceding characteristics such that a correspondence table is implemented to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one data item type of customer equipment, the correspondence table being stored in the customer equipment, a method according to the preceding characteristics such that the correspondence table is stored in the client equipment by selection according to a criterion in a global correspondence table located in a computer server distinct from the client equipment, the criterion comprising at least the reader identifier,

- A method according to the preceding characteristics such as one implements a means of transmission by electromagnetic waves in free space between the reader and the client equipment with a communication protocol allowing at least to determine which client equipment can communicate and, in the case where several pieces of equipment are operational, said protocol making it possible to select at least one of said operational pieces of equipment,

- a method according to the preceding characteristics such that the digital and / or alphanumeric data are coded according to an algorithm for coding before associating them with the reader identifier, - a method according to the preceding characteristics such as the associated computer address to the proprietary data chain is that of a computer server relaying a request for information to another computer server,

- a method according to the preceding characteristics such that the symbols are bar codes on a support,

- a method according to the preceding characteristics such that the symbols are characters on a support,

- A method according to the preceding characteristics such that the symbols are bar codes corresponding to a successive time sequence of dark and light surface on a display screen.

The present invention will be better understood on reading nonlimiting exemplary embodiments in relation to:

- Figure 1 representing the general architecture (hardware and software) of a Smart Module, - Figures 2 and 3 showing a reader pen according to two viewing planes,

- Figure 4 representing the functional diagram of the pencil, - Figure 5 represents the reader pen in its environment,

FIGS. 6 and 7a, 7b, 7c representing the stages of operation of the pencil,

FIG. 8, schematically representing means for implementing the method.

It will be recalled that, in general, the software stack of the radiocommunication interface module comprises a part corresponding to the communication protocol (protocol stack) and a part corresponding to the application abstraction stack (“protocol abstraction API”), the latter allowing the simplified implementation of applications. The application abstraction stack can correspond to one or more software levels. The radio communication interface module, also known as "SmartModule" "Baracoda®" is a generic radio module in the form of a single hardware component which allows software to be embedded for specific user applications.

In general, a “Smart Module”, shown schematically in Figure 1, consists of radio means of the radio component type, integrated baseband circuit, as well as software means on board a radio microcontroller, and according to the case, an antenna and / or peripherals including, for example, analog or digital inputs / outputs, a battery ensuring the autonomy of the module. The "SmartModule" or radiocommunication module is a generic radio module that allows you to embed application software. The “SmartModule” is suitable for all types of radio protocol, proprietary or not and, for example, “Bluetooth®”, GPRS, CDMA2000, WCDMA, “Home RF”, 802.1 1 b, “WLAN”, “Wi- Fi ”, 802.11. a, "Hyperlan", "Zigbee" or solutions at 433MHz.

The microcontroller of the interface module integrates all the software layers of the protocol in the protocol stack, the application abstraction stack, the profiles as well as an embedded software (user application). The application abstraction stack, which can also process proprietary instructions and data, allows, for example, fine management of power and low-consumption modes specified in the “Bluetooth®” standard. In general, it allows the creation of an abstraction layer above the protocol stack corresponding to the protocol in question in order to create a software interface between the software specific to the protocol in question (the Bluetooth protocol stack, for example) and the user software. , on board. This interface allows, vis-à-vis the user application, to simplify the use of the protocol and greatly facilitate the development of on-board applications using a complex and very specific radio interface. This therefore allows customers to speed up development without knowing the subtleties of the protocol used.

The associated peripherals (hardware), as well as their software management (pilot) allow, just like the embedded software, to facilitate the development of the applications and the integration of the module in any type of electronic product.

Several peripherals are offered in a library of components: for example, voltage regulators (3.3V - 5V), analog to digital converters

(ADC), digital analog converters (DAC), counters, comparators (input), voltage converters, battery charging circuit, additional 8-bit microcontroller, basic logic functions as well as inputs / outputs for, for example, control of "LED" (light-emitting diode) or "buzzer" (buzzer) and reading of state of switch or optical reader. These peripherals can be added or removed during the electronic integration phase of the application. Depending on the peripherals retained or not, data processing means and instructions of these peripherals will or may not be inserted into the application abstraction stack. In a particular version, the module includes a voltage regulator allowing it to be powered from a 220V / 1 10V electrical outlet, a battery or any other current source. The advantage of these peripherals is that they do not modify the electronic functionalities of the product in which the “SmartModule” is integrated: the applications introduced do not require modification of the electronic card of the existing product, hence a saving in cost and duration of integration. The choice of different peripherals is made very fast by the use of a “SmartModule” development kit in the form of an electronic card on which all possible peripherals are soldered. In a basic version, the peripherals are not connected but it is possible to position electrical wires or jumpers between the inputs / outputs of each peripheral and the microcontroller. From the position of the electrical wires in the development board, we deduce the electrical diagram of the module. A specific work of routing and wiring of the printed circuit is then necessary. In a more advanced version, peripherals are specifically addressable through programmable logic or analog gates and. the functional configuration of the module is programmable instead of (or in addition to) the wiring phase. In particular, the microcontroller can, for example, include a CAN and a counter. It is understood that the implementation of a particular peripheral relates as well to the electronic hardware circuit as to the associated software means in order to make it function and to recognize and execute proprietary instructions which are specific to it. As we As seen, the module's software resources can be pre-programmed or loaded for use.

In a particular protocol case, "Bluetooth" ® corresponds to a standard short-range radio communication technology between two devices. The term customer equipment means computer equipment (electronic assistant, computer or mobile phone) known to the reader. These are devices whose "Bluetooth ®" address (48 bits) is stored in a memory of the reader. The purpose of the “SmartModule” is to facilitate the integration of “Bluetooth®” technology into all types of electronic products, wired or not.

The radiocommunication module greatly facilitates the integration of said technology into electronic products because conventional “Bluetooth®” devices do not integrate embedded software and are controlled from a computer or processor external to the module (“host”) , which requires the implementation between the device and the “host” of complex instructions and data specific to said technology. However, in a conventional electronic product, the processor of said product does not contain the code which makes it possible to control the “Bluetooth®” device and, moreover, it is very difficult to modify the existing code in an on-board processor for reasons of size. memory and no operating system in most rustic electronics.

The Smart Module therefore consists of a hardware module and a software module. Figure 1 shows the diagram of the Smart Module architecture.

MATERIAL ARCHITECTURE:

The example of “SmartModule” represented consists of 2 printed circuits, soldered one on the other. The first printed circuit is the radio circuit proper, it consists of an antenna, a radio, an integrated band circuit base, a microprocessor or microcontroller ("radio MCU"), a program memory of the FLASH, ROM type and a memory of the RAM type. It is called here radio module (RM). The second printed circuit integrates at least all the peripherals necessary for the proper hardware operation of the radio module in its environment. It is called here hardware connection (Hardware Patch or HWP) said second printed circuit can also include other peripherals as explained previously and which depend on the envisaged application. However, as explained above, one or more interfaces not used in a particular application may be present by default, if only because they are included by default in the electronic circuits used. In practice, for cost reasons, several types of modules are provided, comprising more or less interfaces and / or according to potential applications. For example, a generic module intended for the study and development of applications can comprise a large number of interfaces while the modules intended for mass production will comprise a minimum number or just the interfaces necessary for the application.

In other versions, the radiocommunication module is on a single printed circuit and in a highly integrated version, the radiocommunication module is a single hybrid or, preferably, monolithic integrated circuit.

SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE: The software corresponding to the stack with the protocol stack and the application abstraction stack and to any user applications, is embedded on the microcontroller (s) of the "SmartModule". By default and in the minimum version of the module, there is a microcontroller (microprocessor, FLASH or ROM memory, RAM memory) on the radio circuit and this microcontroller is called the "radio MCU". In more elaborate versions of the module, it is possible to add a second microcontroller (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit or DSP) on the HWP, ie the second printed circuit in the example shown.

The interest of a second microcontroller (external MCU) is to be able to carry out specific processing which would not be possible on the microcontroller of the radio circuit for reasons of real time constraints, of limitation of the computing power of the radio circuit controller. , the need to have additional and / or specific inputs / outputs (not available on the radio circuit microcontroller).

The description which follows gives a particular example of implementation of the radiocommunication module within the framework of the "Bluetooth®" protocol.

The “SmartModule®” facilitates the integration of “Btuetooth®” technology into all types of wired and non-wired electronic products and accelerates the development cycle of a new product. The radio circuit is generic and there are 2 versions for the “Bluetooth®” protocol, a first short distance version with a maximum transmit power of 4dBm (2.5mW) and a second long distance version with a transmit power. maximum 20dBm (100mW).

THE "RADIO MCU"

The "radio MCU" is a microcontroller using the ARM7 TDMI processor. Other 32-bit RISC architectures can however be used. The "radio MCU" has a ROM or FLASH type program memory. This program memory can be integrated on the processor chip or on an external integrated circuit and, in the latter case, the memory is in the radio module (RM). Hybrid architecture can also be implemented. The order of size of the size of this ROM / FLASH memory is from 1 Mbit to 32 Mbit, this parameter being able to be brought to change according to the technological evolutions and / or the needs in memory resource of the application. A RAM memory is also on board the radio module (RM). It has a size of the order of 16KBytes to 128Kbytes, a dependent parameter depending on technological developments and / or the memory resource requirements of the application. An internal memory in the microcontroller and an external memory can be associated in the radio module (RM) in case the memory resource requirements are important, as well for ROM / FLASH as for RAM. Counters ("timer") are also integrated in the "radio MCU".

THE PROTOCOL BATTERY

The part of the software stack corresponding to the management of the Bluetooth protocol, protocol stack, is in this example, the “Bluetooth protocol Stack” (protocol stack “Bluetooth®”), includes the lower layers of the software (below the HCI interface), the upper layers (L2CAP, SDP, RFCOMM) as well as the "profiles", above the upper layers of Bluetooth. The “Bluetooth® profiles” are just below the application translation unit (application abstraction layer), itself below any user applications.

THE APPLICATIVE ABSTRACTION PILE

This application abstraction stack (“protocol abstraction- API”) is arranged functionally above the layers or levels of the protocol stack, allowing a user application to use your services from all your layers of the “Bluetooth®” protocol and to take advantage of the richness of this standard and, as we have seen, of any additional local functionalities (local interface management, specific instructions ...). This part of the software stack is partly common to all “Smart Modules” used in data acquisition tools (bar code reading, magnetic or contactless badge reading, smart card reading, mouse, keyboard , temperature, pressure sensor, motion sensor, handwriting recognition, CCD or CMOS camera, etc.). For other types of use, another type of application abstraction stack is provided. In all cases, said stack makes it possible to develop applications as simply as possible and independently of the instructions and formats of the communication protocol considered. This application abstraction stack allows access to the radio interface without knowing the “Bluetooth®” protocol.

The user has three main commands: - A command to send data which specifies the size of the data to be sent (2 bytes), the “Bluetooth®” address (48-bit MAC address) of the recipient ( 6 bytes), the profit used (1 byte), a quality of service parameter (1 byte) and the data ("payload"). - A request command (“inquiry”) allowing the “Smart Module Manager” application, which is located above the application abstraction stack, to find all the “Bluetooth®” products available in the vicinity and to recognize the services they offer. - Listening of the “Smart Module” with a parameter (1 byte) characterizing the listening mode.

These request (inquiry) and listening mode commands are close to those proposed by the GAP (“General Access Profile”). On the other hand, the first primitive send command is a real abstraction which masks the complexity of the “Bluetooth®” protocol and which saves development time. We will now detail the different parameters used in the send command: - BDADR (“Bluetooth®” address of the recipient of the shipment): This address is provided by the “Smart Module Manager”. Different addresses are stored in the non-volatile memory of the “Smart Module”, they come either from a configuration phase, or from a request phase (“inquiry”). The origin of “Bluetooth®” addresses is not managed by the application abstraction stack, but at an even higher level by the “Smart Module Manager”.

- Profile: one of the specificities of the “Smart Module” is to be able to manage intelligent multi-terminal and multi-profile operation. This aspect will be detailed in the particular case of the use of the “Smart Module” inside the barcode reader pen.

- Quality of service: this parameter defines if there is a need for authentication, if there is a need for your data to be encrypted, what type of use of low consumption modes (level of arbitration between consumption and delay sending data).

"SMART MODULE MANAGER"

This is product-specific software in which the Smart radio module is integrated. This layer is truly the control layer of the “Smart Module”. It is a high level software layer which allows you to get away from the complexity of the radio protocol but also the interconnection difficulties between the “Smart Module” and the product in which it is integrated.

Part of the “Smart Module Manager” manages the sending of data to one or more terminals paired with the module in the configuration phase. It therefore makes it possible to manage a multi-terminal connection and to adapt the connection mode and the type of "profile" used depending on the terminal.

During the configuration phase, several Bluetooth addresses of paired terminals are saved in a non-volatile memory of the Smart Module. This layer is a proprietary overlay developed by Baracoda. It can be used in Smart Modules integrated into all types of data acquisition tools, such as barcode readers; among others. The “Smart Module Manager” uses the services of the HMI software, “Power Manager” (energy management), “10 Manager” (input-output management) or any other specific type of application (barcode decoding, encryption, shape recognition algorithm, encoding / decoding of video, speech, image). This specific application can also be a protocol stack (TCP / IP for example). These vertical applications can operate either on the radio microcontroller or on a specific external microcontroller if necessary. The “Smart Module Manager” uses a certain number of software which are now described:

- HMI ("Human Machine Interface" for human machine interface): This software is specific to the environment in which the "Smart Module" is used. It allows software modification of the man-machine interface induced by the addition of a radio and a battery. The user must in particular be informed during a successful or unsuccessful sending of data and / or when the battery is insufficiently charged and / or when it is in charging mode. The man-machine interface is managed at the HMI layer of the "Smart Module". The hardware implementation of this software can be carried out either by using conventional peripherals of the LED type, "Buzzer", LCD screen or others, or, possibly associated, with new peripherals integrated on the HWP (battery charge circuit) for this purpose or at the terminal (s) with which the product is configured. For example, the battery level of the product in which the “Smart Module” is integrated may appear at the terminal and not at the product level. - energy management ("Power Manager"):

This software allows you to use the Smart Module as a power controller. More specifically, this application makes it possible to control several feeding zones within the same product. This involves software control of several regulators or transistors which make it possible to supply or not power certain electrical zones of the “Smart Module” itself and also of the product in which it is used. These regulators and transistors are positioned on the "Hardware Patch" hardware part. Note that the battery charge management is not taken into account at the level of the “Power Manager” software, but at the level of the HWP (battery charge circuit).

- input / output management (“10 Manager”): This is a layer which manages all the inputs / outputs between the product and the “Smart module”. They are for example of the serial link type (synchronous or asynchronous) or parallel, analog or digital.

In Figures 2 and 3, a pencil 1 is seen in transparency. Inside a plastic housing 10, an optical sensor 2 is disposed towards one end in relation to an optical channel 11 of hard material at the front of said pencil 1. A communication module of the Smart Module type is placed implemented in the form of a printed circuit 8 comprising an on and off means 3, push button, a radioelectric component 4 according to the "Bluetooth" ® protocol, a microcontroller 5 comprising read-only memory and random access memory, the memory being able to be of the ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, RAM, Flash, SRAM type and a power supply source 6 in the form of two rechargeable cells or batteries. The optical pickup 2, the printed circuit 8, the power supply 6 _are held in place by the housing 10. The fastening means claimed pencil is an application interface module claimed. The Smart Module used, integrates a two-way radio component and an integrated circuit baseband, according to the “Bluetooth®” standard, as well as a microcontroller allowing all or part of the “Bluetooth®” protocol stack to be loaded, as well as dedicated applications. An additional microcontroller can be used to carry out the reading phase, corresponding to the measurement of the successive lengths of a bar code. Decoding is carried out either on the external microcontroller or on the microcontroller on board the “Bluetooth®” chip.

In Figure 4, the previous pencil is seen in a plane perpendicular to the previous allowing to observe on the printed circuit 8 a light emitting diode (LED) 9 and an antenna 7 for the radio module 4. The antenna 7 is here an antenna of the “wire” type printed on the printed circuit, but it could also be a “patch” type antenna or any other type of radiating element placed inside the pencil. The two-color LED 9 makes it possible to inform the user about the operating state of the pencil. This LED 9 can be replaced by any other type of alarm (sound generator, vibrator for example). The optical sensor disposed at one end of the reader implements reflection optics with light-emitting diode, for example of wavelength 700 nm, and a photodiode. A bifurcated aspherical lens or, in another embodiment not shown, a fiber optic system, is arranged in front of the light-emitting diode and of the photodiode in order to obtain a single focal point in front of the pencil . The output signal from the optical sensor is a current generated in the photodiode and which is amplified by a transistor or an operational amplifier and which is converted into a binary voltage which can be processed by the microcontroller 5. A black surface absorbs the light emitted by the sensor and, in this case, the output current is low, the output is at a logic level 1. On the other hand, outside a black surface, the light is reflected and the output voltage is at a logic level 0. The reader comprises a housing 10 and the optical sensor is maintained in the housing at a constant distance from the end of the pencil, an optical channel 1 1 being formed between said end and the sensor. Preferably, the optical channel is a light guide (optical fiber for example) or a lens (spherical tip) made of “hard” material.

The pencil type reader of the invention is simple to produce and preferably comprises a molded plastic casing and uses a reduced number of parts. The electronic circuit of the reader includes a program in a read only memory intended to decode bar codes of the type EAN, U PC, codes 128, code 39 and possibly specific bar codes. Preferably, the specific bar codes include error correction means. Preferably, the specific bar codes are coded so as to include redundancies making it possible, on decoding, to correct errors made on reading said bar code. These proprietary bar codes are coded according to the principle of error correcting codes conventionally used in the telecommunications field.

Contrary to the state of the art, the claimed pencil can read new types of bar codes on display screens, for example of television sets, computers or electronic assistants as well as mobile phone screens or any other type of screen using plasma, TFT, liquid crystal (LCD) or scanning (VGA, XVGA ...) technologies. The bar codes used in this case are very different from those of the state of the art: they are not codes having a "spatial extension" but rather a "temporal extension". More specifically, the bar codes claimed in the invention correspond to a successive sequence of dark and light surface on the display screen. Like a traditional bar code, the information is coded in the successive durations of the bars and spaces of the code. The user sees this code as a rapid flashing of the screen. In the case of decoding of this code by the claimed pencil, the user keeps said pencil in contact on the screen; no movement is made on the screen. This characteristic of the pencil is a property of the decoder (software module embedded in the pencil) and of the analog circuit carrying out the conversion of the analog signal leaving the photodiode, into digital signal. The main difficulty of this type of decoding stems on the one hand from the low contrast between a “white” screen and a “black” screen. On the other hand, in scanning type systems, a refresh frequency is used and greatly complicates decoding. This characteristic being specific to the software decoder mainly, it is independent of the reading technology used (CCD, contact reading, CMOS sensor).

This example of a reader in the form of a simplified and autonomous reader pen at a reduced cost allows implementation of the method in everyday life and more particularly in relation to computer means of the hypertext type (hypermedia) on a microcomputer, personal assistant. , mobile phone, access point or others. However, any type of reader comprising the indicated functionalities can be implemented with the method of the invention. The element common to the different reading technologies implemented is the interface module or Smart Module.

In Figure 4 is shown a block diagram of the pencil. This allows among other things to integrate embedded software and therefore allows the use of the Bluetooth component, on the one hand to send and receive data by radio and on the other hand, to perform the decoding of the barcode, the management of the man / machine interface as well as consumption and battery management. This reduces the complexity (memory size, computing power) of the external microcontroller and therefore reduce the material cost of the product. The original architecture (software and hardware) of the Smart Module, claimed in the invention, therefore makes it possible to very significantly reduce the cost of a wireless pencil reader and can therefore accelerate the implementation of the process in everyday life and more particularly in relation to computer resources of the hypertext type (hypermedia)

In a particular embodiment of the reader, for example the pencil described, the push button is arranged so that the user necessarily positions the reader in a given orientation relative to the bar code. The push button is thus arranged so that the user gripping member keeps the reader in a given position so that he can press the button and that reading can be done. This given orientation is such that the reader is substantially vertical, that is to say substantially perpendicular to the support of the bar code, during reading. In the case where the user has to manually scan the bar code, the push button is also arranged to facilitate said scanning and, for example, so that the user's gripping member works according to the scanning habits used during manual writing.

In Figure 5, there is shown a pencil 1 in the process of reading a bar code 14 on an object 13. In the nearby environment which can be reached by the radio waves 18 of the module 4 are arranged several computer equipments which can potentially communicate by electromagnetic waves according to the “Bluetooth” ® protocol with said pencil 1. These devices are a microcomputer 15, a mobile telephone 16, with hypertext functionalities, a personal assistant 17 and one or more access points to a network local.

INITIALIZATION AND CONFIGURATION PHASE A first initialization phase is planned for the configuration of the pen. The purpose of this phase is to specify which peripherals are “paired” with the reader. This initialization process is managed at the level of the processor embedded in the Smart Module, at the level of the Smart Module Manager software. It includes 4 stages:

1 - Download of the client software to one of the user terminals (microcomputer for example). This software is described schematically in Figure 9. 2- The user must then select all the terminals with which he wants to "pair" the pencil.

There are two ways to fill this list: or, the user performs, from the terminal, a

"Inquiry" and selects the terminals found by the inquiry. This requires that the user configures all the terminals in listening mode ("discoverable"). Or the user fills in the list of addresses "by hand"

Bluetooth (48-bit MAC address). Once the list of terminals is assembled, the user must then fill in a field containing the pencil identifier number

(48-bit pen address or any other type of pen identifier). The client software then prompts the user to put the pen in listening mode.

3- Several means are proposed to the user to put the pencil in listening mode ("discoverable mode"). The first is the reading of a specific barcode

(owner code) and the second method corresponds to positioning the pencil in contact with paper

"White" for a period of the order of approximately 1 to 5 s. These listening parameters of the pencil may change and this description is not exhaustive.

At the same time, the client software attempts to connect to the pen and sends it configuration-specific information: list of addresses of paired devices or terminals, description of the “Profile” to be used for each terminal, as well as an order of priority associated with each device. The NULL or BATCH terminal can be part of the list of paired terminals. This involves configuring the reader in asynchronous mode: instead of sending, by radio, a decoded barcode to a remote terminal, the pen stores said barcode in its non-volatile memory.

4- The configuration data are then stored in the non-volatile memory of the pen and can be modified at any time by performing a configuration phase again. At the end of initialization of the reader, the user is informed of the success of the initialization phase via the man-machine interface of the pencil and / or of the user terminal.

Once this initialization phase has been carried out, the pencil can be used as follows:

In Figure 6, only the telephone 17 is functional. The link is then established between the equipment and the pencil, the data read by the pencil is read in the form of digital or alphanumeric or binary data sets are transmitted by electromagnetic waves 20 to the equipment 16 as shown in FIG. 3c. The data is transmitted in real time, the data being transmitted as they are read and decoded or in near real time, establishing communication with the equipment or the equipment in the environment performing before transmission, the data strings being temporarily stored in the pencil 1 during the establishment of said link. Between the reading of 2 consecutive bar codes, the connection is maintained to maintain reduced consumption.

MANAGEMENT OF LOW CONSUMPTION MODES Electricity consumption is a fundamental element in the functioning of the pencil. The “Bluetooth®” protocol has a great intrinsic advantage in terms of consumption compared to other radio standards such as 802.1 1 b. However, the “Bluetooth®” protocol needs to be used in all its complexity, particularly in terms of managing low-consumption modes. The “Bluetooth®” abstraction stack integrates this efficient management of the “Bluetooth®” connection modes. The first time the barcode is read, the connection is created. When the barcode is sent, the radio connection goes into “sniff” mode (search) with an interval of “Sniff” _. short. This allows to keep a limited latency time. After a certain period of time (T1), the "sniff" period is increased in order to further decrease consumption. The downside in this case is an increase in the time it takes to send a barcode. This is not a problem, however, because in such a case, the time between 2 successive readings is long and the delivery time is not essential. After a certain time (T2), the reader switches to parked mode after having performed a master / slave role exchange. After a time T3, the radio connection is cut and the power supply to the Smart Module is switched off. The durations T1, T2, T3 are variable parameters which are adapted to the mode of use of the user. A statistic of the durations between successive readings. For a user

The durations T1, T2, T3 are variable parameters which are adapted to the mode of use of the user. A statistic of the durations between successive readings. For a user reading bar codes at a high average rate, the values of T1, T2 and T3 will be chosen shorter.

MULTI-TERMINAL CONNECTION MANAGEMENT In FIG. 5, a pencil is represented in its environment. The pencil can be configured with different and very varied equipment. This is one of the important elements of the “Bluetooth®” standard: interoperability and multi-terminal connectivity. However, even if these services are offered by the "Bluetooth®" standard, it is still necessary to manage this connectivity intelligently, given that the man-machine interface at the pencil level is very small and therefore does not allow choose to equipment the pencil should connect. This intelligent management is a specific feature of the pen and is integrated into the application layer of the Smart Module.

During the configuration phase, the devices with which the pen can be connected are saved in the pen's non-volatile memory.

If the pen was configured in asynchronous mode (using only the NULL terminal in, the configuration phase), each decoded barcode will be automatically stored in the pen's non-volatile memory (Figure 7a). In order to be able to access the data recorded in the pencil at a later date, the user must proceed to the upload or download phase. This phase is executed by putting the pencil in listening mode (by reading a proprietary code for example) (Figure 7b) while activating the loading function on the client software (microcomputer for example). All the bar codes in memory are then transferred by radio waves to the user terminal (Figure 7c).

In the case of a configuration in real time mode (Figure 6), that is to say that the pen has been configured with at least one non-NULL user equipment (or BATCH), the pen tries to connect to the different devices in memory in order of priority or using the last paired device. This connection establishment is only done at the start of a reading phase. A reading phase being characterized by the fact that between 2 successive readings, the duration is less than T3 (duration of inactivity before the total extinction of the power supply). During the entire reading phase, the connection is maintained in low consumption modes as described in the “management of low consumption modes” section. If none of the paired equipment responds to the establishment of a connection on the part of the pen, that is automatically configured (after one or more unsuccessful attempts) in asynchronous mode during the same reading phase.

The heterogeneity of the terminals paired with a pencil is very important. The connection establishment modes, specified in the “profiles” of the “Bluetooth®” standard, are very different from one type of terminal to another. The software embedded in the Smart Module of the pen is capable of managing several "profiles". More precisely, the application abstraction layer automatically chooses the relevant connection establishment mode according to the equipment with which the pen wants to connect. For example, in the case of an access point, the appropriate “profile” is the “Lan Access Point Profile”, for a computer or digital assistant, it is the “Sériai Port Profile” or “HID profile "And for a phone it will either be the" DialUp Networking Profile ", by sending AT commands to the phone. In this case, the client software is reduced to zero on the terminal: the phone's hypermedia browser is controlled remotely by the pencil using AT commands. Other solutions can be implemented, in particular, it is possible to download client software on the SIM card of the mobile or in the memory of the phone's processor.

BATTERY MANAGEMENT

The pen battery is rechargeable via an electronic circuit, integrated in the Smart Module. Several voltage regulators, voltage-controlled, are used on the Smart Module to control the supply of different independent zones in the pen in software. For example, when the user releases the action button, the zone corresponding to the read head is no longer supplied. On the other hand, the power supply of the radio module remains as long as the on-board software requests it. This allows a finer management of the pencil consumption by separating by functionality the different electronic circuits constituting the pencil.

MAN / MACHINE INTERFACE MANAGEMENT

This interface is managed by software in the Smart Module of the pen. These are light-emitting diodes or a sound generator on the pencil. This interface allows to warn the user of a good reading or a bad reading, of a sending, radio successful or not. It also informs the user when the battery level is too low. Part of this man-machine interface can be relocated to the terminal when that is provided with a richer interface (microcomputer or mobile phone for example)

In its application, the invention is structured around four components: • the barcode reader,

• customer equipment,

• the routing server, the document server, possibly reached via a relay server (proxy). Anyone who wants to access information and services associated with a resource uses the barcode reader to scan the barcode referencing that resource. The reader then decodes the barcode to produce a resource identifier. This is sent with your own identifier from the reader to the client equipment, through a local connection.

The client equipment processes (the identifiers received to determine the address of an appropriate document server. This server makes available hypermedia documents presenting the information and services relating to the designated resource with the reader. The equipment. Client can , to facilitate its address search, obtain additional information from the routing server The identifiers from the reader are then relayed through a remote connection to the document server, whose address has just been determined by client equipment Additional information which the user has authorized may be transmitted at this stage by the same channel.

Optionally, the remote connection to the document server goes through one _. relay or proxy server, which may store the request and / or process it for statistical or other purposes, before transmitting it in full to the document server.

Finally, the document server processes the data sent to it to send the hypermedia document back to the client equipment, which will allow the user to access the information and services he has requested. All of these steps take advantage of the latest technological innovations in the telecommunications field to offer a service in real or near real time: only a few seconds separate the scanning of the barcode from the presentation of the associated hypermedia document.

The barcode reader is a piece of hardware capable of decoding a barcode into electrical signals and then into digital and / or alphanumeric data. This data constitutes an identifier of the resource referenced by the bar code. This resource identifier and another both reader-specific identifiers are sent to the client equipment through a local connection.

The reader is intended for the general public and must therefore be sufficiently inexpensive. However, it can be of modest quality compared to industrial readers since its use is much less intensive.

It is broken down into four main parts:

• an optical transmitter / receiver,

• a power supply, • a local transmitter,

• a housing.

The local connection is a short-range communication link between two devices. The distance between the equipment does not exceed a few tens of meters. Included as an electronic device, the local connection designates a short-range transmitter / receiver controlled via a communication protocol.

Customer equipment is the central element of the system. The client equipment is a user equipment implementing the client software. User equipment is hardware equipment owned by the user. it can be of various characteristics, mobile or not, provided that the following elements are available: • a local connection,

• a remote connection,

• an operating system with a documented programming interface,

• a hypermedia browser. Concretely, a mobile device can be a computer or a digital assistant connected to the Internet, a WAP mobile phone offering programming possibilities, a GPRS, UMTS terminal or any other device satisfying the conditions previously stated. The remote connection is a worldwide communication link between two devices. It almost always implements global networks, of which the Internet is the best representative. In this context, it can be envisaged to pass all the requests through a determined relay server (proxy), so that the latter keeps up to date with global information concerning all the requests. In all cases, the requests are transmitted at least in full. Included as an electronic device, the remote connection designates a network transmitter / receiver, possibly controlled via communication protocols.

The client software is software running on all types of user equipment to fulfill the following functions: • receive the identifiers sent by the barcode reader through the local connection, • present the hypermedia document to the user giving access to information and services relating to the resource designated by the reader. This software is called client because it behaves like a client for the routing server on the one hand and for the document server whose address it must determine the other hand.

It is produced as an application program, for example using an object-oriented programming language such as C ++ or Java. It controls the user equipment via the programming interface specific to this equipment.

Installing this software on user equipment may require downloading the program, inserting an electronic card on which it is installed (smart card for mobile phone, expansion card for laptop or PDA) or any other electronic or computer method.

The client software can be broken down into three modules: • a local receiver, • a router,

• a browser manager.

The local receiver is a program whose role is to listen to the local connection. It reacts to any message from the barcode reader by activating the router and transmitting the identifiers received from the reader.

This program runs all the time the system is activated. On the other hand, when no message from the reader is being processed, it is the only part of the client software in operation, this. which reduces the consumption of user equipment resources.

The router is a program receiving the identifier of the resource and the identifier of the reader from the local receiver. Its role is to apply the address resolution algorithm to these identifiers in an attempt to determine the WEB address of a document server suitable for the referenced resource.

If such an address is obtained, the router appends to it according to a syntax defined the two previous identifiers, as well as certain information that the user could choose to make available on his equipment (for example certain preferences or restrictions). The address thus completed unambiguously locates a hypermedia document presenting information and services relating to the resource identified through the reader. The router then activates the browser manager and transmits the address of the document to it.

The address resolution algorithm is applied to the identifiers of the resource and of the reader. This algorithm first processes the identifier of the reader. If the identifier is known, that is to say if it appears in a routing table (correspondence) stored on the user equipment and managed by the router, then the program extracts from this same table the routing information concerning the reader. The routing table can be produced with various data structures; it constitutes a very simplified database management system.

Routing information can contain: • a history of previous requests with their results, from which we can possibly extract the address of a document server;

• a unique document server address, for example in the case where the reader is exclusively affiliated with this server or a relay server address, through which all requests to a document server must pass;

• any other information specific to the reader and useful for address resolution.

In a second step, the address resolution algorithm processes the resource identifier and the routing information extracted during the first step. In some cases, this data is sufficient: to produce the address of the document server associated with the referenced resource. For example, it may be agreed that an identifier having certain similarities with another identifier processed during a previous request must be associated with the address which was the result of this request.

If it is not possible to conclude with these data alone, the router transmits to the routing server the identifier of the reader and that of the resource, through the remote connection. This server returns to the router the address of the document server it expects, as well as the address of an associated relay server (proxy), and these addresses are stored in the routing table. The address resolution algorithm therefore made it possible to determine the address of the document server with at most remote access to the routing server. Note however that it may be necessary to periodically refresh the routing information, through requests additional data transmitted to the routing server when it is accessed remotely.

In the case where the identifier of the reader is unknown to the router, the behavior of the latter depends on the operating mode in which the user has placed his client equipment. In current mode, the resolution procedure is abandoned and the message from the reader is therefore ignored. This normal situation can for example arise if a message sent by radio by the reader of a user is received by the client equipment of another user, who has nothing to do with the intentions of his neighbor.

If, on the other hand, the user has placed his client equipment in the welcome mode of a new barcode reader, then the new reader identifier is transmitted to the routing server through the remote connection, so that this server returns routing information specific to the new drive to the router. The reception mode therefore allows the registration of a new reader. This information is placed in a new entry in the routing table, and processing of the request by the client software is complete.

The browser manager is a program whose role is to command the hypermedia browser present on the user equipment to present the hypermedia document located by the address received from the router. The user is then free to navigate at will from the document presented to him.

The browser manager only orders the display of a document to the user's usual browser, which remains perfectly free to configure it as it sees fit.

To illustrate the mechanism implemented, we can take the example of a WEB browser to which the browser manager will order the creation of a new window to display an HTML document. The address of this document is provided to the browser in the form of a URL conforming to the HTTP protocol.

Another example consists in the restitution on a mobile telephone connected to the Internet of an audio document, located by an address conforming to the WAP protocol.

The routing server is the auxiliary information source for the “Baracoda®” system (name used for all of the components, processes and services linked to the invention). The routing server is software running on one or more computers equipped with a remote connection to perform the following functions:

• manage and keep up to date the routing information specific to each barcode reader; • manage and keep up to date information enabling the WEB address of a relay server to be associated with the WEB address of a document server;

• manage and keep up to date information enabling the WEB address of a document server to be associated with a resource identifier accompanied by a reader identifier;

• manage and maintain the code of the various programs making up the client software;

• stay tuned to the remote connection in order to react to requests from a client device by transmitting the information it requires.

It therefore behaves like a server for each client device, the clients can be very numerous. It responds to various requests from the router, but also to installation requests from user equipment not yet equipped with client software.

Routing server software can be single software running on a single computer, or distributed over multiple computers. The network organization of these machines can itself implement various architectures: • a hierarchical architecture, according to which the machines located at the lowest nodes hold local information and refer to machines of higher rank to obtain more general information; • a neighborhood architecture, each machine being on the same level as its neighbors and working in cooperation with the latter to access widely distributed information;

• any other architecture deemed effective to distribute the processing load and likely to improve the response time to requests.

Communication between the routing server and a client device can use a proprietary protocol specifically designed for this purpose or a public protocol (HTTP or WAP for example). Different protocols can be chosen depending on the nature of the client equipment

(computer, digital assistant, mobile phone, etc.).

The document server is the last element of the “Baracoda®” system. The document server is software running on one or more computers equipped with a remote connection to perform the following functions:

• manage and maintain a large number of hypermedia documents presenting information and services relating to certain resources;

• stay tuned to the remote connection in order to react to requests from a hypermedia browser by sending it the document it requires.

The routing tables stored on the client equipment or on the routing server include not only the addresses of document servers but also the addresses of relay servers associated with the document servers.

The "router" software component of the "client software" is therefore capable of providing the "browser manager" component with an address composed from that of the server. relay, so that the latter filters all requests to a given document server.

The relay server only retransmits the request to the document server which is the final recipient. But it can in passing memorize that a request has taken place and make a statistical processing of all the requests thus relayed. This additional service offered to certain document servers can be an added value for those who want to know the frequency of consultation from bar codes, the total volume of requests, their hourly distribution, etc.

The document server is the property of a third party wishing to make documents relating to certain resources available. It is implemented and administered at the discretion of the owner. For example it can be the server of an industrial company publishing its catalog of products on the Internet. However, in order to integrate into the “Baracoda®” system, it must be able to interpret the address transmitted to it by the browser manager via the browser.

In order to guarantee compatibility at the lowest cost, the address considered is in most cases compliant with a public protocol. It can be for example an HTTP or WAP URL. In this case, the upgrade of an existing WEB server requires only a minor adaptation, for example the design of a single dynamic redirection page.

The application of the radiocommunication module is not limited to the method of reading bar codes and it is possible to implement the module in other applications.

For example, the “Bluetooth®” -GPRS router is an electronic device consisting of a “SmartModule” and a GSM, GPRS, EDGE or UMTS modem. The said device performs the protocol conversion between the “Bluetooth®” communication protocol and the GPRS, EDGE or UMTS. For example, it allows “Bluetooth®” products to access a remote network (Internet network for example). The applications of this device are numerous in the field of home automation and the field of Internet access (ISP) for the individual or small business.

The device consists of a radiocommunication module and a GSM / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS radio with management of the physical layer of the GSM / GPRS / EDGE / UMTS protocol and the stack of the protocol considered as well as a specific software managing quality of service and sharing of bandwidth between different users. Up to 7 products equipped with the device can use GPRS / UMTS services simultaneously, using the same “Bluetooth®” router -GPRS. More than 7 devices (up to 255) can access these services through the same router, but not simultaneously. These devices can use a token protocol (developed on the router processor) to be able to regularly send or receive data using the GPRS / UMTS connection.

Thanks to the device which integrates the necessary hardware and software, the user does not need to manage the complexity of the routing software stemming from the need to share the bandwidth in the uplink direction (from the access point "Bluetooth®" -GPRS to GPRS base station).

The “Bluetooth®” -GPRS router is also used as a “Hub” when building a “Bluetooth®” local network. We can also implement this router in Home Automation. Refrigerators, alarms, radiators, lights, switches, thermometers and other sensors (water, gas, electricity meters), television, video recorders can be connected to a remote network via a "Bluetooth®" access point - GPRS which is this "Bluetooth®" -GPRS router. In such an application of the router it is for example possible to start the heating of its country house thanks to its remote cell phone. The router can also be applied for Internet access at home with PCs or PDAs (portable electronic assistant) or inside a car.

Claims

1. Bidirectional radio communication interface module according to a predefined protocol for at least one user application having data and instructions to communicate to an external device, the module comprising at least one radio electronic circuit for transmitting and receiving digital signals and at least a programmable electronic circuit with a radio microcontroller for managing the radio electronic circuit, characterized in that the radio microcontroller comprises hardware means cooperating with software in the form of a software stack formed of a first part called protocol stack surmounted by a second part called the application abstraction stack, the software stack allowing the adaptation according to the protocol between, on the one hand, the digital signals and, on the other hand, the data and instructions of the user application, the stack d application abstraction allowing at least the translation of data and instructions of the app User lication in a proprietary format in data and instructions according to the protocol for processing in the protocol stack, the module being a single hardware component also storing the user application in the form of a program and ensuring its execution in the radio microcontroller.

2. Module according to claim 1 characterized in that it consists of a radio printed circuit grouping an antenna, the radio electronic transmission and reception circuit in the form of a radio and an integrated baseband circuit and the programmable electronic management circuit in the form of a microcontroller with storage means.

3. Module according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the software operation of the module is divided into tasks executed according to priorities, the tasks related to the management of the radio circuit having a priority higher than the tasks of execution of the user application .

4. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a second printed circuit interconnected with the radio printed circuit, with at least one peripheral at least chosen from: - a digital input with possibly a comparator for detection level or transition,

- an analog input with analog-digital converter with possibly an analog amplifier with programmable gain or not, - a digital output,

- an analog output with digital-to-analog converter,

- a controllable voltage regulator or converter,

- an up / down counter, - a real time clock,

- a battery charging circuit, - a logic circuit,

- a memory,

a specialized programmable logic circuit notably chosen from a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor or a dedicated circuit, at least part of the user application in the form of a program then being stored in said specialized programmable logic circuit and said specialized programmable logic circuit then ensuring its execution, the application abstraction stack can also include proprietary software means for processing instructions for retrieving data from the device and / or sending data to the device.

5. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a reprogrammable memory as well as means allowing the reprogramming of said memory from data received by radiocommunication.

6. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protocol is "Bluetooth®" or IEEE802.15.1.

7. Bi-directional radiocommunication interface device according to a predefined protocol for at least one user software application and comprising a module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also comprises, within a single housing, a electrochemical power source, and at least one connector, the pins of which are connected to at least one interface of the module.

8. Application of the module to the production of an electronic device comprising a user software application communicating by two-way radio communication according to a predefined protocol, characterized in that it comprises a module according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that it is a pencil (1) barcode reader of a support, the pencil comprising at one end in an optical sensor (2) a light source producing a focused light beam on the support and an optical detector intended to receive and convert the light reflected by the support into electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal electrical power source and the radio communication interface module, with a software stack according to the "Bluetooth®" protocol, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising means for processing the electrical signals from the optical detector, and interfacing means via the radiocommunication module ensuring at least the transmission of said bar codes according to said protocol to computer equipment.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that it is a pencil for recognition of writing, the pencil comprising at least two accelerometers along two axes X and Y corresponding to the writing plane and producing electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal electrical power source and the radio communication interface module, with a software stack according to the “Bluetooth®” protocol, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising means for processing the electrical signals from the optical detector and recognizing writing, and interfacing means by means of the radiocommunication ensuring at least the transmission of said writing according to said protocol to computer equipment.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that it is a mains power outlet controlled by radio communication.

12. Method for reading, processing, transmitting and using a bar code in which:; . ^'

- The bar code is read with a reader comprising a radiocommunication interface module according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 and optical reading means of the optical bar code reading head type producing electrical signals as a function bars,

- said electrical signals are processed. in the interface module to produce digital and / or alphanumeric data,

- said digital and / or alphanumeric data are associated with a reader identifier in order to produce a proprietary data string,

- The proprietary data chain is transmitted in real time to at least one client device comprising at least one client software for execution of an order understandable by said client device.

13. Method according to claim 12 characterized in that when a client equipment is not available for reception, the proprietary data string is stored in a memory of the reader.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13 characterized in that in the client equipment is also associated with the owner data chain at least one datum of the client equipment type in order to form an IT address then dependent on the barcode , the reader identifier and the equipment type data.

15. The method of claim 12, 13 or 14 characterized in that a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of client equipment type, the correspondence table being located in a computer server separate from the client equipment.

16. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14 characterized in that a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of type of equipment. customer, the correspondence table being stored in the customer equipment.

17. Method according to claim 16 characterized in that the correspondence table is stored in the client equipment by selection according to a criterion in a global correspondence table located in a computer server separate from the client equipment, the criterion comprising at least the reader ID.

18. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 17 characterized in that one implements a means of transmission by electromagnetic waves in free space between the reader and the client equipment with a communication protocol allowing at least determine which client devices can communicate and, in the event that several devices are operational, said device protocol for selecting at least one of said operational equipment.

19. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 18 characterized in that one encodes according to an algorithm for coding the digital and / or alphanumeric data before associating them with the reader identifier.

20. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 1 9 characterized in that the computer address associated with the proprietary data chain is that of a computer server relaying a request for information to another computer server.

21. Symbol reader pencil on a support, the pencil comprising at one end in an optical sensor a light source producing a light beam focused on the support and an optical detector intended to receive and convert the light reflected by the support into electrical signals, the pencil being autonomous and comprising an internal power supply, a bidirectional radio interface according to a predefined protocol for at least one user application having data and instructions to communicate, to one _. external device as well as optical reading means of the optical reading head type producing electrical signals according to the symbols, the user application in the form of an operating program comprising a symbol recognition means, means for processing the signals the optical detector and the interfacing means through the radio interface ensuring at least the transmission of said symbols according to said protocol to computer equipment.

22. Method for reading, processing, transmitting and using a symbol in which:

the symbol is read with a reader which is a symbol reader pen according to claim 21, said electrical signals are processed in the interface module to produce digital and / or alphanumeric data,

^• - we associate with said digital and / or alphanumeric data a reader identifier in order to produce a proprietary data string,

- The proprietary data chain is transmitted in real time to at least one client device comprising at least one client software for execution of an order understandable by said client device.

23. The method of claim 22 characterized in that when a client equipment is not available for reception, the proprietary data string is stored in a memory of the reader.

24. The method of claim 22 or 23 characterized in that in the client equipment is also associated with the owner data chain at least one datum of the client equipment type in order to form a computer address then depending on the symbol, the reader identifier and the equipment type data.

25. The method of claim 22, 23 or 24 characterized in that a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of client equipment type, the correspondence table being located in a computer server separate from the client equipment.

26. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 24 characterized in that a correspondence table is used to associate a computer address with the proprietary data chain, possibly associated with at least one piece of data of type of equipment. customer, the correspondence table being stored in the customer equipment.

27. The method of claim 26 characterized in that the correspondence table is stored in the equipment client by selection according to a criterion in a global correspondence table located in a computer server separate from the client equipment, the criterion comprising at least the reader identifier.

28. Method according to any one of claims

22 to 27 characterized in that one implements a means of transmission by electromagnetic waves in free space between the reader and the client equipment with a communication protocol allowing at least to determine which client equipment can communicate and, in the case where several pieces of equipment are operational, said protocol making it possible to select at least one of said operational pieces of equipment.

29. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 28 characterized in that the digital and / or alphanumeric data is coded according to an algorithm for coding before associating them with the reader identifier. ,

30. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 29 characterized in that the computer address associated with the proprietary data chain is that of a computer server relaying a request for information to another computer server.

31. Method according to any one of claims 22 to 30 characterized in that the symbols are bar codes corresponding to a successive time sequence of dark and light surface on a display screen.