Barcode Printing via Regular Expression Subsystem in Print Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current barcode printing technologies lack the ability to dynamically insert content-based barcodes into print streams effectively, limiting user control over barcode characteristics and formats.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a regular expression subsystem to compute and insert bitmaps of barcodes into EMF or XPS print streams, allowing user control over barcode type, size, and location, and supporting various file formats through a virtual print driver with a dynamically linked library and API.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current barcode printing technologies are used, then barcode printing is possible, but dynamic insertion of content-based barcodes into print streams is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual print driver as an intermediary component between the print stream and the barcode generation system. This virtual driver intercepts print streams, extracts text content using regular expressions, generates barcodes dynamically, and inserts them back into the print stream. This mediator approach enables dynamic barcode insertion without requiring fundamental changes to the existing printing infrastructure, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the barcode printing functionality into separate modular components: text extraction using regular expressions, barcode computation using standardized algorithms, and print stream manipulation. This segmentation allows each component to be developed and maintained independently, enabling dynamic insertion capability while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through clear separation of concerns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If user control over barcode characteristics is added, then flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic barcode generation where barcode characteristics (type, size, format) can be adjusted through user interface parameters. The system dynamically computes barcodes based on extracted text content and user-specified parameters, allowing flexibility in barcode type (ASCII, UNICODE), size, and insertion position without requiring complex manual configuration. The dynamics principle allows the system to adapt to different user needs while maintaining a relatively simple underlying architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple file format support is added, then versatility is improved, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual print driver is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple file formats (PDF, HTML, XML, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, GIF) through a single unified interface. The system extracts text content from various formats using regular expression patterns and generates barcodes that can be inserted into different format-specific print streams. This universal approach allows the system to support multiple formats without requiring separate implementation paths for each format, thus improving versatility while maintaining ease of implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is provided for printing a barcode computed based on content of a printed page data system on a document, the method comprising: using a methodology of regular expression; applying a regular expression subsystem to text contained in a print stream generating data; converting the data to a barcode applying barcode computation, to produce a bitmap barcode representing the barcode; inserting the bitmap barcode into an Enhanced Meta File (EMF) print stream defined by the printing system in the Port Monitor or Print Processor subsystem; inserting the bitmap barcode into an XML Paper Specification (or XPS) print stream defined by the printing system in the Port Monitor or Print Processor subsystem; and combining the barcode with the print stream to contain the barcode in a specific position in the print stream in the Port Monitor or Print Processor subsystem.