Barcode Reader Optical Signaling for Surveillance Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera-based surveillance systems at self-checkout systems fail to accurately detect issues such as unsuccessful barcode decoding or incorrect barcode scanning, leading to inaccuracies in monitoring the scanning process.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a barcode reader captures images and attempts to decode indicia, transmitting optical signals to an external imaging system indicating successful or unsuccessful decoding, and the presence of objects within its scanning region, using an optical signal assembly like infrared or Bluetooth, to improve monitoring accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If camera-based surveillance systems are used to monitor self-checkout systems, then the ability to monitor scanning activities is improved, but the accuracy of detecting decoding issues and incorrect barcode scanning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical communication intermediary between the barcode reader and surveillance system. The barcode reader uses an optical signal assembly (LED-based transmitter) to send decoded information directly to the surveillance system, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the scanning device and monitoring system, enabling accurate transmission of decoding status without relying solely on visual surveillance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the barcode reader continuously transmit decoding status information back to the surveillance system. The surveillance system receives real-time feedback about successful or unsuccessful decoding attempts, allowing it to accurately identify issues such as incorrect barcode scanning or failed decoding, thereby resolving the detection accuracy problem
2Productivity
If barcode reader attempts to decode indicia in real-time, then the speed of item processing is improved, but the complexity of the barcode reader system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the image decoding function from the barcode reader and places it in the surveillance system or a separate processing unit. The barcode reader only needs to capture images and transmit them, while the complex decoding algorithm resides elsewhere, reducing the computational burden and complexity of the barcode reader itself while maintaining real-time processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The surveillance system is given multiple functions: it serves both as a general monitoring system and as the image decoding processor. By making the surveillance system universal, it can handle both security monitoring tasks and barcode decoding tasks, eliminating the need for dedicated decoding hardware in the barcode reader and simplifying its design
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and barcode reader for transmitting barcode scan information from a barcode reader to an external imaging system including one or more image capturing devices when the barcode reader is within a field of view of the external imaging system. Responsive to successfully decoding an indicia, the barcode reader transmits, to the external imaging system via an optical signal assembly, a first optical signal based at least in part on the indicia. Responsive to detecting an object within a product scanning region of the barcode reader and no successful decode of an indicia, the barcode reader transmits, to the external imaging system via the optical signal assembly, a second optical signal indicating the object being passed within the product scanning region with no successful decode.