Apparatus and method of encoding and decoding barcodes

A method for entering information into a processor using a barcode, wherein the barcode includes bars and spaces comprising the elements of the barcode and each bar and space has a width and wherein the barcode contains a pre-printed form composed of a digit code having digit bars and digit spaces, the method comprising the steps of:

• modifying a digit bar of the digit code to represent a portion of the information to be entered;
• reading the barcode with the modified digit bar using a barcode reader to capture data for forming a complete image timing sample of the barcode;
• generating in a barcode processor the complete image timing sample from the data captured by the barcode reader, the complete image timing sample representing the read barcode including the number of elements in the barcode, whether the element is a space or a bar, and the width of each element;
• determining in the barcode processor a total number of elements in the complete image timing sample;
• comparing in the barcode processor the total number of elements in the complete image timing sample with a desired number of elements for the barcode;
• processing the complete image timing sample in the barcode processor to detect the modified digit bar and decode the information contained in the elements of the complete image timing sample if the number of elements in the complete image timing sample equals the desired number;
• and
• processing the complete image timing sample in the barcode processor if the number of elements in the complete image timing sample is greater than the desired number, the processing step including the substeps of
• identifying false elements in the complete image timing sample,
• filtering the false elements from the complete image timing sample, and
• processing the filtered complete image timing sample to detect the modified digit bar and decode the information contained in the elements of the filtered complete image timing sample.

A method for reading an encoded string of characters from a plurality of barcodes arranged in a regular order, each barcode including encoded information representing an encoded character in the string of characters, the method comprising the steps of:

• reading with a barcode reader each of the plurality of barcodes;
• transmitting the read barcodes to a barcode processor;
• extracting encoded position information from each read barcode using the barcode processor, the encoded position information representing a position within the string of characters being decoded of the character encoded in the corresponding barcode;
• extracting encoded character information from each read barcode using the barcode processor and decoding a character from the encoded character information;
• and
• generating, using the barcode processor, a decoded string of characters from the extracted position information and decoded characters of the read barcodes.

A barcode label for encoding a multi-character string readable by a barcode reader, the label comprising:

• a plurality of data lines;
• barcode readable start and stop codes unique to each data line;
• and
• a barcode readable digit form located between the start code and the stop code of each data line.

A system for entering into a processor a character marked by hand, the system comprising:

• a pre-printed barcode form containing a plurality of bars and spaces representing the elements of a character code, of which at least one of the bars is designed to be modified by hand to represent the character;
• barcode reader means for scanning the barcode form with the at least one modified bar and capturing data for forming a complete image timing sample representing the bars, spaces, and at least one modified bar, wherein the complete image timing sample includes the number and width of the bars, spaces, and at least one modified bar;
• and
• means, coupled to the barcode reader means, for generating from data captured by the barcode reader means the complete image timing sample representing the scanned barcode, as modified, and for processing it to distinguish modified bars from unmodified bars and for decoding the modified bars into corresponding characters.