Mobile Terminal Bar Code Readability via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication terminals face challenges in displaying decodable indicia, such as bar codes, due to the minimum dimension of the smallest element being too small for adequate readability, especially on high-resolution displays, leading to issues with optical readers struggling to decode the symbols.
Innovation Solution
The mobile communication terminal encodes character strings into bar code symbols with a minimum dimension exceeding a readability threshold value, which can be dynamically determined based on display pixel resolution, battery charge level, and color scheme, and includes features like multi-symbol sequences and user-selectable threshold values to enhance readability, using devices like bar code, RFID, or card reading devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the minimum dimension of the smallest element of bar code symbols is reduced to fit more information, then the quantity of information displayed increases, but the readability of the bar code symbols decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bar code into multiple separate symbols instead of a single continuous code. Each symbol maintains adequate minimum dimension for readability while collectively encoding the complete information string. The system displays multiple bar code symbols in sequence, allowing optical readers to decode each symbol individually while preserving the full information content.
2Reliability
If the bar code symbol dimension is increased to improve readability, then the readability improves, but the quantity of information that can be displayed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of displaying a single large bar code symbol that would limit information quantity, the system segments the information into multiple smaller symbols. Each symbol is sized appropriately for readability (meeting the minimum dimension requirement) while the collective set of symbols contains the complete information string, thus maximizing both readability and information capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the minimum dimension of bar code elements is set to a fixed value, then the encoding process is simplified, but the adaptability to different display resolutions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic minimum dimension calculation that adapts to the specific display resolution and characteristics of the mobile communication terminal. The system determines the appropriate minimum dimension based on the display's pixel density and capabilities, ensuring optimal readability for each specific device rather than using a fixed universal value. This maintains encoding simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication terminal can comprise a housing, a microprocessor disposed within the housing, a display incorporated into the housing, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the microprocessor. The mobile communication terminal can be configured, responsive to receiving a byte sequence representing a character string containing one or more alphanumeric or non-alphanumeric characters, to encode the byte sequence into one or more bar code symbols having a minimum dimension of a smallest element equaling or exceeding a readability threshold value. The mobile communication terminal can be further configured to display the bar code symbols.