NL2007984C2 - PROCESSING DATA ELEMENTS OF OBJECTS. - Google Patents

Description

Processing data elements of objects

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for processing a plurality of respective data elements originating from a plurality of respective objects in one transaction, wherein the respective data element is read from each object.

The invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out this method, as well as to an associated computer program object.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Processing object data, for example product prices at the counter in a restaurant or store or for stock management within a company, is of crucial importance. To be able to do this effectively, products from large to small are provided with product codes that can be read out and linked to information in databases.

The most commonly used product code is the Universal Product Code (UPC), which is often included on the product in bar codes (for example via EAN-13).

20 In addition to the UPC, there is also the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). One of the oldest bar code coding systems is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,612,994. Product codes that can be read out via RFID tags and the like are also common.

In this way, products are provided with a product code, with which a cash register, stock management system or comparable system can process transactions or other actions with these products. These systems are of course faster than manually searching the product code, or even just typing the product code into an automated search system. Yet they regularly appear to cause significant obstacles.

For example, a cash register can use a bar code reader to read out the bar code for each product to be billed, and use the data elements thus obtained one by one to look up the price and other relevant information, in order to find a total price for the customer. Many products that need to be processed at once require a significant time to scan each of the bar codes.

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A stock management system can read the tags of a collection of products with an RFID scanner and then register the products as being received, sold or added or removed from the stock for other reasons. However, adding RFID tags to products is often laborious, since this usually has to be done manually per product.

Solutions are also known in which a device such as a smartphone scans barcodes of products, extracts the relevant product codes and sends them via data communication (such as Bluetooth or an SMS message) to the processing unit. However, these solutions have the disadvantage that setting up the data communication channel takes time, significantly more than scanning a two-dimensional bar code. With Bluetooth, for example, it is often necessary to "pair" the smartphone with the processing unit. Text messages can sometimes be delayed for many minutes, which is undesirable, particularly in the case of cash register transactions.

US patent application US2007084919A1 describes an identification scheme for a communication device. A barcode or comparable 'data form' is read by a portable device that is suitable for mobile commerce (m-commerce). Information from this data form is retrieved via a network and displayed on the device. In one embodiment, information is transferred to a "point of activity" terminal by displaying it as a two-dimensional symbol. US patent application US2010179857A1 describes a system in which information about an object is collected via a user's mobile device. This allows the object to be added to a wish list and / or shopping list.

US patent application US2005085188A1 describes optical bidirectional communication between devices, where data can be graphically displayed on one device and the other device can read it.

US patent application US2006071077A1 describes how a series of visually encoded images such as bar code can be generated and displayed in series and processed in one continuous process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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The invention has for its object to reduce the time it takes for a processor to process multiple data elements in one transaction with a limited increase in technical complexity.

The invention achieves this object by a method as described in claim 1, as well as by an apparatus as claimed in claim 6. By combining the read data elements into a combined data element and coding the combined data element into a two-dimensional bar code, it can be printed on paper or another surface, after which this surface can be presented to the processing unit. This can then process the multiple data elements in one transaction as desired. The surface can be self-adhesive, so that the printed two-dimensional barcode can be applied to a collection of products, for example as a price sticker.

The time saving is achieved because only one two-dimensional barcode needs to be scanned by the processing unit. This is generally faster than Bluetooth or SMS messages, and certainly faster than scanning multiple individual bar codes or other data elements from multiple individual products. Products can now also be packaged without additional measures being required to keep their individual bar codes visible at, for example, a checkout moment. The surface with the two-dimensional bar code is sufficient as a substitute.

Preferably, the respective data element of each product is read out via respective one-dimensional bar codes, which bar codes again preferably use the EAN-13 coding system. A further advantage is thereby obtained that reading one-dimensional bar codes is a simple and known technique per se. In the context of the invention it is now possible to scan a series of products in advance, for example by means of a smartphone by the customer in the store, and to process the combination of the products in one go at the cash register by scanning the two-dimensional bar code with the read-out data elements encoded therein, combined into one data element.

The data elements preferably relate to product codes in accordance with the Universal Product Code (UPC) but may also be other codes. The processing unit is, for example, a cash register that receives the multiple data elements with the one 4 two-dimensional bar code and processes it as one payment transaction.

In an alternative embodiment, the respective data element of each product is obtained from a database. For example, a smartphone can display an overview of products based on the data in the database, and allow the user to make a choice via a touch interface or via the buttons on the smartphone.

The product codes of the selected products are then retrieved and combined into the one data element that is offered as a two-dimensional bar code.

In one embodiment, the two-dimensional bar code is coded according to the ISO / IEC 18004: 2006 ("QR-code") coding system. Decoding and processing the QR code is generally known and therefore an economical choice for the two-dimensional bar code. Many QR variants are available, such as the micro QR code and the Design QR code. Alternatives to the QR code can also be used, such as the Aztec Code as described in US patent 5,591,956, the Data Matrix code as described in US patent 5,612,524 and the MaxiCode as defined in ISO / IEC 16023: 2000. Various color alternatives offer even more options for storing information. See for example the High Capacity Color Barcode Technology as developed by Microsoft Corporation, <http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/hccb/>, or the Color C Code 20 developed by Computech Ine, <http: / /colorccode.net>.

In a further embodiment, the combining of the data is performed by recording the obtained data in an XML-based file format. In addition to XML, various formats developed for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) are also suitable. From the article 'Effective Document Information 25 Retrieval System for Both Paper and Electronic Documents' by C.-T. Wong and C.-M. Pun in Proceeding (523) Computational Intelligence 2006 is known that information can be coded in XML format and subsequently included in a two-dimensional barcode, the QR code. However, it is not known from this article how the information is obtained in the manner as applied according to the present invention.

In the device according to the invention, the presentation means are preferably embodied as a screen integrated into the device, on which screen the two-dimensional bar code is shown by way of presentation. An image of a two-dimensional bar code can be easily scanned by bar code readers known from the prior art, so that no modifications are necessary to enable the presentation of the two-dimensional bar code.

The device according to the invention can be combined with a processing unit provided with scanning means for reading a two-dimensional bar code from the presentation means. The processing unit, such as a cash register, is then provided with transaction means for processing the multiple data elements in one transaction. An integrated solution according to the invention is thus obtained.

In an embodiment of this integrated solution, the processing unit is provided with conversion means which captures the multiple data elements and passes them on to the transaction means one by one. For example, the transaction module does not have to be adjusted. Seen from the transaction means, the conversion means cannot be distinguished from a traditional bar code scanner, which after all always also supplies one product code or other data element.

The method according to the invention can be realized as a computer program product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement with a scanning device and a processing unit; and FIG. 2 provides a schematic representation of a smartphone provided with a read-out module and a screen on which a two-dimensional bar code is visible.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 30

FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement with a scanning apparatus 100 and a processing unit 150. The arrangement is, as will be seen below, configured to process multiple respective data elements from multiple respective objects in one transaction. For the sake of clarity, 6 'products' that are provided with one-dimensional bar codes will be mentioned below, but other objects and other data resources are of course also conceivable.

The scanning apparatus 100 is provided with a read-out module 101, in this case a bar code reader, in order to extract from each of a number of products 130a, ..., 130n 5 shown the respective data element, the barcodes 131a, ..., 13nn. read. The reading of bar codes in order to obtain data elements such as the UPC of a product is per se well-known and will not be further elaborated. A barcode does not have to be applied to the product to which the code relates. A bar code could be applied to an advertisement for that product, for example. In addition to the UPC or other product code, other unique identification codes, such as article numbers, container numbers, part numbers (partnumbers), patient numbers, employee numbers, social security numbers, flight numbers, order numbers, etc. can also be used within the context of the invention.

As an alternative to a bar code reader or comparable code reading module, the read-out module 101 can also be designed as a module that obtains the respective data element for each product from a database (not shown). An embodiment of this relates to a smartphone with an internal or network-accessible product database with data from all kinds of products, from which the user can choose. The choices made are passed on to the read-out module 101. Thus, thanks to the invention, the user can select products on his smartphone which are then processed in one transaction, for example by passing them on as an order at a cash register.

According to the invention, the scanning apparatus is provided with combining module 105 for combining the multiple data elements as read by read module 101 into a combined data element 106. Many ways are conceivable in which the multiple data elements can be combined. A first simple way is simply to place the relevant data elements one after the other into one long data element. If data elements can have mutually different lengths, a separator (such as a space, tab or the 1 character) can be used. If data elements are all the same length, this is not necessary.

When the data elements contain a lot of information and / or more advanced options for processing are conceivable, it is preferable to code the 7 data elements in an XML format. This can then be processed in a structured manner in the processing unit 150.

An option when using XML is to enrich the product codes to be coded with extra information, such as a description or price. This information can be retrieved from a database in the scanning apparatus 100 or from an external database. Thus, this information also becomes available in the processing unit 150. When the scanning device 100 is in the form of a smartphone, it can, for example, consult the internet to find the additional information. The processing unit 150 can now use this information.

The alternative is that the processing unit 150 itself retrieves the coded product codes and then consults an internal or external database to consult this additional information. This can lead to a delay at the processing unit 150.

The combined data element 106 is then supplied to coding module 110, which codes the element 106 into a two-dimensional bar code 111. As stated, the QR code is an advantageous choice, but other codes are also possible. The two-dimensional bar code 111 is presented via processing means 120 to the processing unit 150 in order for the multiple data elements to be processed by this processing unit. The processing unit 150 is for this purpose provided with a two-dimensional bar code scanner 155 and has transaction module 157 for processing the multiple data elements in one transaction. The processing unit 150 is, for example, a cash register where the products in question are settled.

Processing such a transaction, such as paying for a series of purchases, is simple in itself and will not be further elaborated. An additional component will sometimes be required, such as conversion module 156, which converts the output of the two-dimensional bar code scanner 155 to the correct format for transaction module 157. Indeed, often one scan with the bar code scanner will only yield one product code or other data element, while according to the invention one 30 scan now yields multiple data elements.

In other embodiments, the transaction module 157 itself is configured to process multiple data elements in one transaction. Thus, the conversion module 156 is not necessary. This is useful, for example, if the transaction module 8 157 works with XML-based transactions, because the XML data supplied by the scanning device 100 can then be used as input.

The transaction can be deployed in an environment where a customer scans products himself, without the intervention of an employee of the seller. The customer 5 then scans each product with the scanning device 100 and places it in a basket or shopping cart. At the exit is a processing unit 150, such as a cash register, to which the customer presents the two-dimensional bar code. This processing unit 150 then processes all scanned products in one transaction. The processing unit 150 may be provided with an option to give a signal for a random manual check by an employee.

In a first example, data elements are encoded in an XML format as follows: <PR0DUCT> <DESCRIPTION> Bureau Sorensen 15 Black </ DESCRIPTION> <ARTICLE NUMBER> 9 43 453 </ARTICLE NUMBER> <L0KATIE> 3rd aisle, 2nd rack, 2nd shelf </LOKATIE> <PRICE> 11.30 </PRICE> 20 </PRODUCT> <PRODUCT> <DESCRIPTION> Tafeitje Dave Witc / DESCRIPTION> <ARTICLE NUMBER> 12133 7 </Article NUMBER> <LOKATIE> 4th aisle, 2nd rack, 6th 25 shelf </L0KATIE> <PRICE> 9.30 </PRICE> </PRODUCT>

The fields defined in this XML format provide information per product regarding a description, article number, location in a warehouse or retail space and the price. This can be used in a situation where products are shown in a first location and later have to be collected (and / or paid for) at a second location, such as the well-known IKEA furniture chain. The visitor scans any furniture that interests him with scanning apparatus 100, and the two-dimensional bar code can be scanned at the processing unit 150. This could be done at a cash register 9 so as to make the payment, or at a terminal in the self-service warehouse which offers the visitor a customized map for the products in question.

A second example of coded data elements in an XML-5 format is as follows: <ORDER> <ARTICLE> cOMSCHRI JVINOCD "Bruce Springsteen" </DESCRIPTION> 10 <ARTICLE NUMBER> 4444231 </ARTICLE NUMBER> <LOKATIE> 10.12.1 </ L0KATIE > </ARTICLE> <Article> <OMSCHRI JVINOCD "Micheal

Jackson "/ OMSCHRI JVINO

<ARTICLE NUMBER> 4421231 </ARTICLE NUMBER> <LOKATIE> 7.1.9 </LOKATIE> </ARTICLE> <ARTICLE> 20 <DESCRIPTIONINOBOOK "Then luck was still there

just "</ OMSCHRI JVINO

<ARTICLE NUMBER> 412314231 </ARTICLE NUMBER> <L0KATIE> 1.2.1 </L0KATIE> </ARTICLE> 25 <ARTICLE> cOMSCHRI JVINODVD "Moonwalker" </ OMSCHRI JVINO <ARTICLE NUMBER> 4446 531C / ARTICLE NUMBER> lOC.clc> l.12.c. / LOCATION> </ARTICLE> 30 </0RDER>

In this example, different items are bundled into an order, each item of information containing a description, item number, and coded location. A store employee can now scan barcodes of products to be replenished, after which he offers the 2D barcode to a processing unit operated by a warehouse employee who can thereby retrieve the complete order in a warehouse in one go.

The conversion module 156 can be designed as a buffer that receives the multiple data elements and passes them on one by one to the transaction module 157 so that the transaction module 157 does not have to be adapted. Seen from the transaction module 157, the conversion module 156 cannot be distinguished from a bar code scanner, which after all always also supplies one product code or other data element.

For example, a processing unit such as a cash register can be adapted for the invention by only adding the combination of scanning module 155 and conversion module 156, for example as an external device connected to the cash register via a serial, parallel, USB or other port . The conversion module 156 can be implemented wholly or partially in software and / or dedicated hardware circuit which can be placed in the processing unit 150.

FIG. 2 provides a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention, designed as a smartphone 200 provided with read-out module 101 and a screen 220 on which two-dimensional bar code 111 is visible. In this embodiment, the display 220 is responsible for presenting the two-dimensional bar code 111, namely by visibly displaying it in visual form 20 so that a two-dimensional bar code scanner or other scanning means coupled to the processing unit 150 can read it.

In addition to the ones shown in FIG. 2 as a smartphone 200, the scanning device 100 can also be embodied as a specific device designed to realize the functionality of the invention. The device then basically requires nothing more than a bar code reader or other read-out module 101 and a screen such as screen 220 to display the two-dimensional bar code, as well as (embedded) software for carrying out the method of the invention. A starting point for this embodiment is provided by the Proline PPL-DPF 151 digital photo keychain, a device which is provided with a memory and embedded software and a screen 30 which is very suitable for displaying two-dimensional bar codes.

Instead of a screen 220, a printer can also be used which prints the two-dimensional barcode 111 on paper or other surface. This surface can then be presented to the two-dimensional bar code scanner 155. The surface can be self-adhesive, so that the printed 11 two-dimensional bar code 111 can be applied to a collection of products as a price sticker. For example, a gift packaging where the individual products in the packaging are not visible, so that the bar code on the products themselves can no longer be scanned. By employing the invention, one two-dimensional bar code on the gift package will suffice instead of a long, difficult and aesthetically undesirable list of copies of individual bar codes.

An application in warehouses can also be envisaged in which a pallet or other large collection of products is provided with one two-dimensional bar code on the outer package. The one two-dimensional bar code can then be translated into the individual product codes of the products in the collection.

The above describes various advantageous embodiments within the scope of the invention. The description is not intended as an exhaustive list of all possible embodiments and variants. Those skilled in the art will realize that various variants or alternatives are possible within the invention as presented in the claims. Known techniques and components speak for themselves and are therefore not explained further.

The invention is preferably implemented as a computer program product, a set of machine-readable instructions for a computer stored on a medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory. These instructions can be an independent program or part of another program. Where different devices are shown in the above, the described functionality can be executed in different computer programs that work together.

In the claims, the word "includes" is intended as a non-limiting list of elements or steps. An element mentioned in the singular can also be used in plural.

Claims (11)

1. A method for processing a plurality of respective data elements originating from a plurality of respective objects in one transaction, wherein the respective data element is read from each object, characterized by combining the read data elements into a combined data element, coding the combined data element up to a two-dimensional bar code, printing the two-dimensional bar code on paper or another surface and presenting the surface with the two-dimensional bar code to a processing unit in order for the multiple data elements to be processed by this processing unit in one transaction. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is self-adhesive. 15 A method according to claim 1, wherein the respective data element of each object is read out via respective one-dimensional bar codes. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional bar code 20 is coded according to the ISO / IEC 18004: 2006 ("QR code") coding system. The method of claim 1, wherein the combining of the data is performed by recording the obtained data in an XML-based file format. 25 6. An apparatus for processing a plurality of respective data elements from a plurality of respective objects in one transaction, provided with read-out means for reading the respective data element from each object, which apparatus is characterized by combining means for combining the plurality of data elements into a combined data element, coding means for coding the combined data element into a two-dimensional bar code, printing means for printing the two-dimensional bar code on paper or another surface and presenting means for presenting the surface with the two-dimensional bar code to an external processing unit in order to receive the multiple data elements to be processed by this processing unit. The device of claim 6, wherein the surface is self-adhesive. 5 An assembly of an apparatus according to claim 6 and a processing unit provided with scanning means for reading a two-dimensional bar code from the presentation means, the processing unit being provided with transaction means for processing the multiple data elements in one transaction. 10 The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the processing unit is provided with conversion means which captures the multiple data elements and passes them on one by one to the transaction means. 10. A computer program product provided with machine-readable instructions which are suitable for a programmable device to process multiple respective data elements in one transaction that originate from reading out several respective objects, characterized by instructions for combining the read data elements into a combined data element , for coding the combined data element into a two-dimensional bar code, printing the two-dimensional bar code on paper or another surface and for having the surface with the two-dimensional bar code provided to a processing unit by means of presentation means such as a display in order to obtain the multiple data elements in one transaction to be processed by this processing unit. A data carrier containing the computer program product of the preceding claim.