# US 6,685,093 B2 · System, method and apparatus for communicating information between a mobile communications device and a bar code reader > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,685,093 B2 - Document ID: US6685093B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/963,218 - Filed: 2001-09-25 - Published: 2003-03-27 - Granted: 2004-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2001-09-25 - Assignees: ecrio, inc. - Inventors: Nagesh Challa; Venkata T. Gobburu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6685093B2 ## CPC - G06Q 20/3274: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device} - G06K 7/1095: {the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like} - G06K 7/14: using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light {(G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence)} - G06K 17/0022: {arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L)} - G06Q 20/322: {Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]} - G06Q 20/343: {Cards including a counter} - G07F 7/02: by keys or other credit registering devices - G07G 1/0045: {with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader} - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - G07G: REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS ## Abstract A system, method, and apparatus for communicating information encoded in a bar code format between a mobile communications device and a bar code scanner. Transmission information data is encoded into a bar code format. A signal is generated from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and the signal is transmitted as light pulses from the mobile communications device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing transmission information to a bar code scanner from a mobile phone comprising: receiving on the mobile phone the transmission information via a wireless transmission; encoding in the mobile phone the transmission information into a bar code format; generating in the mobile phone a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and transmitting the signal as light pulses from the mobile phone. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the mobile phone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising furnishing the transmission information from one or more of the group comprising: a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and an Internet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a scanning beam emitted by a bar code scanner; and determining a scan rate of the scanning beam; wherein the generating step comprises generating the signal to simulate a reflection of the scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format at the scan rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile phone is a GSM phone, a WAP-enabled phone, a Java 2 Micro Edition phone, a personal communication system phone, or a multi-function wireless smart phone. ### Claim 7 A method of providing transmission information to a bar code scanner from a mobile phone comprising: receiving on the mobile phone the transmission information via a wireless transmission; encoding in the mobile phone the transmission information into a bar code format; presenting representative information of the transmission information using a user output facility of the mobile phone; generating in the mobile phone a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and transmitting the signal in an active visual form from the mobile phone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the output facility is a display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via one or more of the group comprising: an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal in a visible light spectrum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal in an infra-red light spectrum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising: a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via turning an LED on and off. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting the signal via activating and deactivating an infrared transmitter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising furnishing the transmission information from one or more of the group comprising: a personal computer, a server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and the Internet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: receiving a scanning beam emitted by a bar code scanner; and determining a scan rate of the scanning beam; wherein the generating step comprises generating the signal to simulate a reflection of the scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format at the scan rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the signal transmitting step comprises transmitting a first color selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, arid a second color selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner. ### Claim 20 A mobile phone comprising: a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission; a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format; a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The mobile phone of claim 20, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The mobile phone of claim 20, further comprising: a display; and a program component for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The mobile phone of claim 20, further comprising: a receiver adapted to receive the scanning beam; and a program component for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam. ### Claim 24 A mobile phone comprising: a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission; a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format; a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; an output facility for presenting representative information of the transmission information; and a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the output facility is a speaker. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the output facility comprises a display, the mobile phone further comprising a program component for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form on the display. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising: an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is a visible light spectrum source. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an infra-red light spectrum source. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is a display, further comprising: a program component for transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising: a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an LED, further comprising: a program component for turning the LED on and off. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The mobile device phone of claim 24, wherein the light source is an infrared transmitter, further comprising: a program component for activating and deactivating the infrared transmitter. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) The mobile phone of claim 24 wherein the light source is a color light source having a first color emission selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, and a second color emission selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner. ### Claim 35 A mobile phone comprising: receiving means for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission; encoding means for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format; generating means for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and transmission means for transmitting the signal as light. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The mobile phone of claim 35, further comprising identification means for identifying a bar code type, wherein the bar code format corresponds to the bar code type. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The mobile phone of claim 35, wherein the presentation means comprises means for displaying the bar code format in a static visual form. ### Claim 38 A system for communicating transmission information comprising: a server for providing the transmission information; a mobile phone comprising: a mobile phone receiver for receiving transmission information via a wireless transmission; a program component for encoding the transmission information into a bar code format; a program component for generating a signal from the bar code format to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the bar code format; and a light source for transmitting the signal as light pulses; a host for providing wireless communications between the server and the mobile phone; and a bar code scanner for receiving the light pulses from the light source. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the bar code format corresponds to a selected bar code type. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group comprising: an LED, an infra-red transmitter, and a display screen. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, further comprising one or more of the group comprising: a personal computer, a second server, a database, a network, a wireless host, a wireless port, and the Internet; wherein the server retrieves the transmission information therefrom. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the mobile phone further comprises: a receiver adapted to receive the scanning beam; and a program component for determining a scan rate of the scanning beam. ### Claim 43 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the transmission information is acquired by the server. ### Claim 44 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the transmission information is generated by the server. ### Claim 45 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the light source transmits the signal in a visible light spectrum. ### Claim 46 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the light source transmits the signal in an infra-red light spectrum. ### Claim 47 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein: the light source is a display; and the mobile phone further comprises a program component for transmitting the signal via altering one or more attributes of the display selected from the group comprising of: a brightness, a backlight, a contrast, a color, and a power. ### Claim 48 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein: the light source is an LED; and the mobile phone further comprises a program component for turning the LED on and off. ### Claim 49 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein: the light source is an infrared transmitter; and the mobile phone further comprises a program component for activating and deactivating the infrared transmitter. ### Claim 50 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the mobile phone further comprises: an output facility; and a program component for presenting representative information of the transmission information with the output facility. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The system of claim 50, wherein: the output facility comprises a display; and the mobile phone further comprises a program component for displaying the bar code format on the display in a static visual form. ### Claim 52 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the light source is a color light source having a first color emission selected to be accepted by the bar code scanner, and a second color emission selected to be rejected by the bar code scanner. ### Claim 53 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein: the light source comprises a display; and the mobile phone further comprises a program component for presenting representative information of the transmission information on the display.