Hybrid synthetic barcode and rfid system and method

An optical management system for an article, said system comprising:

• a first synthetic barcode module associated with a first article;
• and
• a scanner having an emitter configured to emit light, a sensor configured for receiving light and a scanner communications interface configured for communicating scan signals corresponding to the received light;
• and
• a computer system having a processor, a data storage subsystem, a data communication subsystem, and a system communications interface, said computer system
• communicating a first code corresponding to a first data field to the first synthetic barcode module, and
• storing the first data field on the data storage subsystem, and
• receiving scan signals from a scanner via the system communications interface, and
• determining if the received scan signals indicate that the scanner scanned the first synthetic barcode module;
• and
• the first synthetic barcode module being programmable and including:
• a light management module that produces output signals corresponding to received light pulses, emits light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode in scan mode, and emits light pulses that enable optical bidirectional communication in programming mode, said light management module comprising an LED operating as both an optical receiver and an optical emitter, wherein the LED receives light pulses, produces output signals corresponding to the received light pulses, and emits light pulses;
• and
• a controller module that receives and stores at least one code corresponding to at least one data field, receives said output signals corresponding to received light pulses, determines if the received light pulses correspond to scan mode or programming mode, and outputs driver signals to cause the light management module to emit the light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode to communicate the at least one code optically in scan mode, and to emit light pulses that enable optical bidirectional half-duplex communication in programming mode.

An optical management method for articles comprising steps of:

• providing a first programmable synthetic barcode module, said programmable synthetic barcode module including:
• a light management module that produces output signals corresponding to received light pulses, emits light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode in scan mode, and emits light pulses that enable optical bidirectional communication in programming mode, said light management module comprising an LED operating as both an optical receiver and an optical emitter, wherein the LED receives light pulses, produces output signals corresponding to the received light pulses, and emits light pulses;
• and
• a controller module that receives and stores at least one code corresponding to at least one data field, receives said output signals corresponding to received light pulses, determines if the received light pulses correspond to scan mode or programming mode, and outputs driver signals to cause the light management module to emit the light pulses that emulate light reflected from a scanned barcode to communicate the at least one code optically in scan mode, and to emit light pulses that enable optical bidirectional half-duplex communication in programming mode;
• receiving light from an external light source using a first LED;
• generating a signal from the light received from the external light source using the first LED;
• conditioning the signal from the light received from the external light source using the first LED to improve signal to noise ratio;
• determining if the signal corresponds to light received from a compatible device from the group consisting of a barcode scanner and an optical programming device;
• if the signal corresponds to light received from a compatible device from the group consisting of a barcode scanner and a optical programming device, determining whether the signal corresponds to light received from a barcode scanner or an optical programming device based upon stimulus timing;
• if the signal corresponds to light received from a barcode scanner, determining output optical signals to emit from the first LED and emitting the output optical signals from the first LED;
• and
• if the signal corresponds to light received from an optical programming device, engaging in bidirectional optical half-duplex communication between the optical programming device and the first programmable synthetic barcode module to receive programming data on the first programmable synthetic barcode module.