Diagnostic data reporting from point-of-sale scanner
AssigneeDigimarc Corporation
InventorScott M. Long
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Debug information is output from a point-of-scale scanner by disguising it as one or more product identifiers (e.g., Global Trade Item Numbers, or GTINs). Generation of such “faux GTINs” to convey the debug information can be activated by presenting a special machine readable code to the scanner. Repetitive patterns in the debug information are desirably varied to avoid triggering duplicate detection logic in the scanner, which might otherwise suppress outputting of such repetitive information.
Claims21
1-13. (canceled)
A method comprising the following acts, performed in the order stated:
- receiving first image data captured by a camera;
- recognizing first information from the first image data;
- sending the recognized first information to an output port;
- receiving second image data captured by the camera;
- recognizing second information from the second image data;
- sending information from a memory to said output port instead of the recognized second information.
An apparatus comprising:
- a memory;
- a camera;
- an output port;
- one or more processors configured to process image frames captured by the camera to generate identification data for physical items depicted in said captured frames, and send the identification data through said output port;
- and
- means for sending configuration or diagnostic data from the memory to said output port through which the identification data is also sent.
A method employing a camera-equipped apparatus that is configured for (a) capturing image frames depicting physical items, (b) processing the captured image frames to generate identification data for the physical items;
- and (c) sending the identification data through an output port for delivery to an item tallying component, the method comprising the acts:
- sensing a triggering item presented to the camera of the apparatus;
- and
- in response, sending configuration or diagnostic data from a memory of the apparatus to said output port through which the identification data is also sent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.