GB2531595A

GB2531595A - Method and arrangement for generating a barcode

Info

Publication number: GB2531595A
Application number: GB1418907.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kia Emilien
Original assignee: Eaton Industries France SAS
Current assignee: Eaton Industries France SAS
Priority date: 2014-10-24
Filing date: 2014-10-24
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Also published as: GB201418907D0

Abstract

A barcode, 1, consists of a number of bits, a proportion of which are reserved to form an area, 4, for displaying human-readable content, 5, for example, an illustration. A data string is extracted from the illustration and an encoded representation of the data string is displayed in the reserved area. The encoded representation of the data string forms the human-understandable content when encoded into a two-dimensional barcode (e.g. a QR code). An area of the barcode is also reserved for computer-readable data, 2. Examples of human-understandable content which may be embedded into a 2D barcode are an image, picture, illustration, logo, alphanumeric character or word. The human-comprehensible material may be in the form of bitmap data. The barcode may be displayed on a dynamic display of an electronic device.

Description

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATING A BARCODE

The present invention refers to a method for generating a barcode, the method comprising: receiving a graphicalillustration; generating a barcode with a predetermined number of bar-code bits, wherein a graphical contingent of the barcode bits is reserved for displaying an im-age of the graphical illustration, and to an arrangement for generating a barcode in accordance with the method.

Barcodes allow, for example, the identification of devices in a setting with a large number of devices, like in a datacentre, where a large number of information technology equipment has to be handled, including servers, network devices and also electrical and mechanical equip- ment like uninterruptible power supplies UPS, power distribution units PDU, cabinets etc. A similar situation appears in electrical rooms, which typically house equipment like electric switchboards, distribution boards, circuit breakers and disconnects, electricity meter, transformers, busbars, backup batteries, fire alarm control panels and distribution frames. Further- more, in large offices, there are a lot of different devices installed, which are often from vari-ous vendors or producers. In order to identify and address exactly the appropriate equipment, if for example, a certain part of the equipment requires maintenance or has to be exchanged, each device is tagged with an identifier barcode, which may be printed on a sticker or displayed on a dynamic display of the device. The barcode is, for example, generated to reflect the current component configuration of the device. However, devices display a barcode, which is, for example, generated from an identifier. Often unique, it may represents a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to a dedicated management page, or a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) or a Uniform Resource Name (URN) resolvable by a dedicated application. Such a URI/GUID representation is only usable with a technical device, like a smartphone or laptop with the dedicated application. A human user cannot directly understand what is represented by the barcode.

Some types of barcodes comprise error correction techniques, which allow to create barcodes that still scan correctly, even if parts of it are covered with human readable content, like a logo. From the publication KR 20110006645 A, a method for designing a logo, a mark, and a trademark using a QR code is known, wherein the QR code is formed and colored and the logo or the mark is inserted to the QR code, using the QR code, for example, as an advertisement. The QR code, which is one kind of a two-dimensional barcode, is generated and the logo, a text, or an image avoids a part of the code to be recognized by a program of a QR code reader. However, the high error correction capability, which is necessary to scan a QR code partly covered by a logo, requires storage capacity of the barcode, i.e. less storage capacity of the barcode is left for information purposes.

It is an objective of the present invention, to generate data from which a barcode is generated in such a way that at least a part of the generated barcode is directly comprehensible for a human user, particularly without causing higher error correction capability demands.

The objective is accomplished by a method according to claim 1 and by an arrangement according to claim 9. Preferred embodiments are subject to the dependent claims.

A method for generating a barcode with a predetermined number of barcode bits is proposed, wherein a graphical contingent of the barcode bits is reserved for displaying an image of a graphical illustration. The method according to the invention is distinguished in that a data string is deducted from the graphical illustration, and that an encoded representation of the data string is displayed in the graphical contingent of the barcode bits, the encoded represen-tation of the data string forming the image of the graphical illustration.

An advantage of the method is, that the generated barcode is not destroyed by the displayed representation in the graphical content. Not even parts of the encoded information are covered by the displayed representation. Thus no additional error correction capability is necessary.

The method is thus as well suitable to generate barcodes without any error correction capabilities. Nevertheless, the created barcode contains an image recognisable by a human user as a graphical illustration. Of course, the graphical contingent, i.e. the barcode bits, which are reserved for displaying the image, are not available for encoding information, but advanta- geously, the storage capacity is only reduced by the number of reserved bits and not by addi-tional capacity demands due to higher error correction capabilities.

The graphical illustration, in the sense of the invention, is the sign, logo or word which shall be recognized by a human user seeing the barcode. The image of the graphical illustration, which is displayed in the barcode, is a reproduction, which may deviate from the original graphical illustration, for example, due to the possible resolution. However, the image is recognizable by a human user who recognizes the original graphical illustration when seeing the image.

To deduct a data string from the graphical illustration, means, in the sense of the invention, that the graphical illustration is treated as if it was a barcode and the result of scanning and reading the graphical illustration is a data string, which is understandably completely illegible and, as such, senseless. However, if this data string is encoded again into a barcode, the ob-tained code will show the image of the graphical illustration as a visible representation of the data string in the graphical contingent of the barcode bits.

According to a preferred embodiment, information data are received, and the data string de-ducted from the graphical illustration are joined with the information data. Subsequently, the joint data is encoded in one single barcode. The advantageous result is a barcode with a graphical contingent showing the image of the graphical representation and with normal bar-code content outside the graphical content. Thus, preferably, a data contingent of the barcode bits is reserved for displaying the encoded representation of the information data.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the graphical illustration is provided in the form of bitmap data. The deduction of the data string is advantageously enhanced if the graphical representation is provided in some kind of grid pattern. If the bitmap resolution is less or equal to the resolution of the generated barcode, advantageously no graphical information will be lost during the translation into the data string and back into a barcode. Even more prefera-bly, the bitmap is adapted to the graphical contingent of the barcode bits.

The encoded representation of the data string forming the image of the graphical illustration preferably comprises a human comprehensible content, particularly in the form of a sentence, a word, a character, a sign, a logo or an icon. Furthermore preferably, the graphical illustra-tion is related to the information data, for example, both comprise identical information content, or both convey identical messages or statements.

According to a furthermore preferred embodiment, the information data and the graphical illustration comprise information on an electronic device in a datacentre, and the generated barcode is displayed on a dynamic display of the electronic device.

A further subject of the invention that solves the objective is an arrangement for generating a barcode in accordance with the method as described above. The arrangement comprises an input for receiving a graphical illustration, a converter application for deducting the data string from the graphical illustration, a barcode generator, and an output for displaying the generated barcode. The output preferably comprises a dynamic display.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following remarks refer to both the method and the arrangement according to the invention. The exemplified description refers to embodiments of the invention and does not limit the scope of the claimed subjects.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows a two-dimensional barcode according to the state of the art; Figures 2A and 2B show two examples of two-dimensional barcodes generated according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration of a barcode generation process of the barcode according to Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a flow diagram illustrating a use of the barcode according to Figure 2 by a user; Figures 5A, 5B and 5C illustration the barcode generation process according to an embodi-ment of the method according to the invention.

In Figure 1, a two-dimensional barcode or matrix code according to the state of the art is de-picted, here in particular an example of a "QR code" according to the European patent EP 0 672 994 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference. The two-dimensional code 1 consists of three positioning symbols 3, a data region 2, and further functional cells, which are not referred to in detail. The shape of the code 1 is a square having the same number of vertical and lateral cells. The positioning symbols 3 are easily detected by executing only one scan-ning operation, irrespective of the scanning direction, even if a rotational angle of the two-dimensional code 1 is not certain. Hence, the coordinates of the centres of the positioning symbols 3 is easily retrieved and the position of the two-dimensional code 1 is quickly identified.

In Figure 2A, an example of a two-dimensional barcode 1 generated according to the invention, and for example, according to the QR code standard, is depicted. The barcode 1 consists of a predetermined number of barcode bits or cells, wherein a graphical contingent 4 of the barcode bits is reserved for displaying an image 5' of a graphical illustration, and of a data region 2, which contains encoded data, the positioning symbols 3 and further data related to format and error correction. The graphical contingent 4 is respectively larger than the data region 2, in this example, but the proportions may be set as desired or as necessary. The image 5' is preferably comprehensible by a human user, like for example, a data centre operator, who reads the display of a device inside the data centre. The image 5' comprises two parts. In the lower half, two characters are displayed, which may represent a room number and a rack identifier, like room No 3, rack "A", where the device, which displays the matrix code 1, is located inside the data centre. The upper half of the image 5' is an icon of the respective rack, with the slot, wherein the device is installed, is indicated by a dark square with a light-colored cell in the middle.

Figure 2B shows a second example of a matrix code 1, which is similar to the one described with respect to Figure 2A. Here, however, a different device is identified by the image 5' in the graphical contingent 4, which is located in room No 2, rack "B'. The device is installed in the middle slot of the upper row of the rack. The information, which the operator receives by reading the image 5' is preferably related to the information encoded in the data contingent 2.

Of course, the data contingent 2 may comprise more information, like details of the device, which might by a model, serial number, IP address, or a running time of the device, etc. In Figure 3, a barcode generation process of the barcode 1 according to Figure 2A is illustrated schematically. A barcode generator 11 is controlled by a data processing device 10, which is illustrated by a first arrow 8. The data processing device 10, a computer, for example, is arranged to output digitized data, in particular a bitmap of the graphical illustration 5, which output is illustrated by a second arrow 6. The graphical illustration 5 has been made available to the computer 10 in any suitable way, for example, by inputting data or by digitizing the graphical illustration 5. The barcode generator 11, however, receives the graphical illustration 5, preferably in a bitmap format, the reception being illustrated by a third arrow 7. The bar-code generator 11 deducts a data string from the graphical illustration 5 and then registers the deducted data string to a database in order to associate the data string to the respective infor-mation data, which is intended to be encoded in the barcode 1. The information data, which is preferably also provided by the computer 10, connected with the data string, is translated into the matrix code 1, particularly including format and error correction bits, the output of the barcode generator 11 being illustrated by a fourth arrow 9. The encoded representation of the data string is displayed in the graphical contingent 4 of the barcode, thereby forming the im-age 5' of the graphical illustration 5.

In Figure 4, a flow diagram is depicted to illustrate a possible use of the barcode 1 according to Figure 2A by a user. The generated barcode 1 is displayed, for example, on a display of a device screen, like a screen of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in a data centre. In step 100, the human operator reads the comprehensible information from the image 5' depicted in the graphical contingent 4 of the barcode 1. In step 101, the operator verifies, whether the information read from the image 5' corresponds to the device displaying the information. In the exemplified case, the operator verifies, whether the device is actually located in room No 3, in the second slot from the right, in the lower row of rack "A". If yes, the operator has veri- fied the information and, in step 102, scans the barcode 1 with a suitable barcode scanner, for example, a smartphone, a laptop etc. In step 103, the barcode 1 is decoded or translated back into a textual but incomprehensible string of characters. To resolve the usable data, which is encoded in the data contingent 2 of the barcode 1, in step 104, the decoded data string is trans-lated once more to extract the information, which had formerly been combined with the graphical data. The usable data is, for example, an identifier of the device, or any other value, like a URI or a GUID, which may then be further processed.

According to a preferred embodiment, the graphical illustration 5 is provided in the form of bitmap data to enhance the deduction of the data string. With reference to Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, the barcode generation process is illustrated in regard of this embodiment. In Figure 5A, a graphical illustration 5 is depicted, which is given in the form of a typical bitmap sample 12.

Preferably, the bitmap 12 is adapted to the graphical contingent 4 of the barcode bits. In Fig- ure 5B, the bitmap sample 12 is inserted in an empty barcode 1', to illustrate that it reserves exactly the cells of the graphical contingent 4. In Figure 5C, the final barcode 1 is depicted, with the image 5' advantageously showing an exact copy of the bitmap 12 in the graphical contingent 4, and with the barcode specific data, format and error correction information en-coded in the bits of the data contingent 2.

Reference numerals 1 Barcode, matrix code Empty barcode 2 Data contingent, data area 3 Positioning symbol 4 Graphical contingent Graphical illustration 5' Image of the graphical illustration 6 First arrow 7 Second arrow 8 Third arrow 9 Fourth arrow Computer 11 Barcode generator 12 Bitmap sample -104 Steps

Claims

Claims 1 Method for generating a barcode (1), the barcode consisting of a predetermined number of barcode bits, wherein a graphical contingent (4) of the barcode bits is reserved for displaying an image (5') of a graphical illustration (5); and wherein a data string is deducted from the graphical illustration, and an encoded representation of the data string is displayed in the graphical contingent of the barcode bits, the encoded representation of the data string forming the image of the graphical illustration.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein information data are received, and wherein the data string deducted from the graphical illustration (5) and the information data are joined together and encoded in one single barcode (1).
3. Method according to claim 2, wherein a data contingent (2) of the barcode bits is re-served for displaying the encoded representation of the information data.
4. Method according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the graphical illustration (5) is related to the information data.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the graphical illustration (5) is provided in the form of bitmap data.
6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the bitmap (12) is adapted to the graphical contingent (4) of the barcode bits.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the encoded representation of the data string forming the image (5') of the graphical illustration (5) comprises human comprehensible content.
8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the information data and the graph-ical illustration (5) comprise information on an electronic device in a datacentre, and the generated barcode (1) is displayed on a dynamic display of the electronic device.
9. Arrangement for generating a barcode in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 8, the arrangement comprising: an input for receiving a graphical illustration (5); a converter application for deducting the data string from the graphical illustration; a barcode generator (11); and an output for displaying the generated barcode (1).
10. Arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the output comprises a dynamic display.