Device and method for encoding data in multiple media

A system and related device for converting encoded data from one format into one or more formats, including barcode and radio frequency identification tag formats, the system including a programmer configured to read a barcode and using the barcode data encoded thereon automatically write the data to a radio frequency (RF) tag and to read the contents of a RF tag and automatically generate a barcode with the information contained in the tag or information related thereto, preferably without decoding the encoded data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to the reading and storing of data on machine-readable labels and, more particularly, to a device and method for reading, converting, and programming data in multiple media, including radio frequency identification tags and barcode labels.

2. Description of the Related Art

Various methods and systems exist for encoding data in machine-readable form, including devices that produce barcodes and related optical devices for reading barcodes, as well as radio devices such as transponders and radio frequency identification devices (RFID) or tags. These devices store information regarding an associated object that is tagged or labeled to permit machines to read the data associated with the object.

Barcodes generally consist of strips of dark and light indicia containing data that is optically read, and as such they provide a link between production, manufacturing, sales, and distribution of materials and the information associated with these materials. Printed data can be easily and automatically read by means of reading devices or scanners.

A barcode symbol consists of a barcode formed of colored bars and spaces. Barcode symbology can take many forms, such as normal code 39 shown inFIG. 1, which is a variable length symbology that can encode up to forty-four characters; extended 3 of 9 code that is a general purpose code capable of storing any ASCII character, code 93, which was designed to complement code 39 but has the advantage of being smaller; interleaved 2 of 5 used in the distribution industry for carton labeling where every interleaved 2 of 5 characters actually encodes two digits, one in the bars and one in the white spaces; code 128 that can handle any ASCII character and has eleven modules that may be either black or white with each character using three bars and three spaces; Codabar that is a general purpose barcode used primarily for numeric data and character symbols; the Zip+4 barcode used by the post office for sorting letters that is made up of tall and short bars with even spacing between the bars; UPC-A and UPC-E code that uses numeric symbology in retail applications for medium to small packages; and PDF417 that is a high density two-dimensional barcode symbology capable of encoding the entire ASCII set, the PDF standing for “portable data file” because it can encode as many as 2,725 data characters.

Barcode hardware typically consists of devices for producing and printing barcodes on labels, packages, and objects, and devices for reading and decoding the information encoded in the barcode, referred to as readers. Readers commonly take the form of wands that are a contact device dragged across the barcode in order to read and decode it. These are the least expensive of the barcode readers, and typically have a look and feel of a pen or pencil. Another reader is a charged coupled device (CCD) that utilizes solid-state technology to provide contact and non-contact scanning capabilities. While this device has an increased range and larger barcode reading capability than wands, the limitation is that the CCD technology can only scan as wide as the scan head. Laser technology provides high speed and longer focal length reading capabilities, but at the expense of utilizing moving parts, such as a mirror system. Focal ranges vary from three inches to thirty inches in most laser-configured readers.

While barcodes are a relatively recent technology and remain in continuous evolution and increasing use, such as on moving objects, delivery notes, warehouse schedules, labels, it is essential that the barcode be legible and that visual access to the barcode be available to enable reading. Barcodes cannot be read through adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, rain, and other impediments to optical access.

A more recent technology is remote communication utilizing wireless equipment that typically relies on radio frequency (RF) technology, which is employed in many industries. One application of RF technology is in locating, identifying, and tracking objects, such as animals, inventory, and vehicles.

RF identification (RFID) tag systems have been developed that facilitate monitoring of remote objects. As shown inFIG. 2, a basic RFID system10includes two components: an interrogator or reader12, and a transponder (commonly called an RF tag)14. The interrogator12and RF tag14include respective antennas16,18. In operation, the interrogator12transmits through its antenna16a radio frequency interrogation signal20to the antenna18of the RF tag14. In response to receiving the interrogation signal20, the RF tag14produces an amplitude-modulated response signal22that is modulated back to the interrogator12through the tag antenna18by a process known as backscatter.

The conventional RF tag14includes an amplitude modulator24with a switch26, such as a MOS transistor, connected between the tag antenna18and ground. When the RF tag14is activated by the interrogation signal20, a driver (not shown) creates a modulating on/off signal27based on an information code, typically an identification code, stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) of the RF tag14. The modulating signal27is applied to a control terminal of the switch26, which causes the switch26to alternately open and close. When the switch26is open, the tag antenna18reflects a portion of the interrogation signal20back to the interrogator12as a portion28of the response signal22. When the switch26is closed, the interrogation signal20travels through the switch26to ground, without being reflected, thereby creating a null portion29of the response signal22. In other words, the interrogation signal20is amplitude-modulated to produce the response signal22by alternately reflecting and absorbing the interrogation signal20according to the modulating signal27, which is characteristic of the stored information code. The RF tag14could also be modified so that the interrogation signal is reflected when the switch26is closed and absorbed when the switch26is open. Upon receiving the response signal22, the interrogator12demodulates the response signal22to decode the information code represented by the response signal. The conventional RFID systems thus operate with an oscillator or clock in which the RF tag14modulates a RF carrier frequency to provide an indication to the interrogator12that the RF tag14is present.

The substantial advantage of RFID systems is the non-contact, non-line-of-sight capability of the technology. The interrogator12emits the interrogation signal20with a range from one inch to one hundred feet or more, depending upon its power output and the radio frequency used. Tags can be read through a variety of substances such as odor, fog, ice, paint, dirt, and other visually and environmentally challenging conditions where bar codes or other optically-read technologies would be useless. RF tags can also be read at remarkable speeds, in most cases responding in less than one hundred milliseconds.

A typical RF tag system10often contains a number of RF tags14and the interrogator12. RF tags are divided into three main categories. These categories are beam-powered passive tags, battery-powered semi-passive tags, and active tags. Each operates in fundamentally different ways.

The beam-powered RF tag is often referred to as a passive device because it derives the energy needed for its operation from the interrogation signal beamed at it. The tag rectifies the field and changes the reflective characteristics of the tag itself, creating a change in reflectivity that is seen at the interrogator. A battery-powered semi-passive RF tag operates in a similar fashion, modulating its RF cross-section in order to reflect a delta to the interrogator to develop a communication link. Here, the battery is the source of the tag's operational power. Finally, in the active RF tag, a transmitter is used to create its own radio frequency energy powered by the battery.

The range of communication for such tags varies according to the transmission power of the interrogator12and the RF tag14. Battery-powered tags operating at 2,450 MHz have traditionally been limited to less than ten meters in range. However, devices with sufficient power can reach up to 200 meters in range, depending on the frequency and environmental characteristics.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed embodiments of the invention are directed to a device and method that, in one embodiment, reads data from one medium and outputs encoded data in one or more other media. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the device reads data encoded in one form and converts the data to an at least one other form without decoding the data. For example, a reader is configured to scan a barcode and convert the barcode into a radio frequency signal encoded with the barcode data and to transmit the signal to an RFID tag that then stores the encoded data for later reading. The tag can be associated with the same object with which the barcode is associated.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a device for reading RFID tags and producing a barcode encoded with data read from the tag is provided. Ideally the device is portable, handheld, and self-contained, i.e., it does not require access to another computer, communication network, or other device except the device from which the encoded data is read and the device to which the converted data is written.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an RFID programmer is provided that is configured to read a barcode and to automatically program via radio frequency an associated RFID tag with the same information or with information related to the scanned barcode or to both.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a programmer is provided that can read RFID data and automatically produce a barcode related to the information contained within the RFID tag from which the RFID data is read. In accordance with another aspect of this embodiment of the invention, a barcode programmer is configured to read the contents of an RFID tag and automatically produce a barcode with either the same information or information related to that contained within the RFID tag.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a device for converting encoded data in multiple media is provided. The device is configured to read a barcode and to program an associated RFID tag with information that is the same or related to that encoded in the barcode or both. It is further configured to read the contents of an RFID tag and produce a barcode with either the same information or information related to that contained within the RFID tag or both.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for converting encoded data from one media to another media is provided. The method includes reading the encode data from a first media, converting the encoded data into a second encoded form, and writing the data encoded in the second form to a second media. Ideally, the data is not decoded when it is converted.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to convert encoded data from one media to another in a convenient, rapid, and inexpensive fashion. A user can exploit the advantages of each media by maximizing their use, the environments where they perform the best, and providing quick and efficient conversion of encoded data, ideally without requiring decoding of this data. This enhances security by not providing access to the underlying information as it moves from one media to another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIG. 3, shown therein is a system50for converting encoded data in multiple media. The system50shown in this embodiment of the invention includes a programmer52configured to interrogate an RFID tag54with radio frequency signals56, preferably in the range of 800 MHz to 2,500 MHz, and to receive modulated backscatter signals58from the tag54. The tag54is configured to store information or data regarding an object64associated with the tag, such as the identity of the object, the origination of the object, the date the object was created, the destination of the object, operational information regarding the object, cost and sales information, manufacturer information, and the like. In one embodiment this information is stored in binary format in the tag54and retrieved upon receipt of the interrogation signal from the programmer52for modulation of the interrogation signal56.

The programmer52is structured to process the returned modulated signal58and convert it to another format or medium, preferably a barcode60printed on a label62. More particularly, the programmer52recovers the binary code from the returned signal and generates a barcode signal therefrom. The bar code signal is further processed to create a barcode in a particular format, such as the normal code39. Ideally, this conversion takes place without the binary code being decoded into the raw data by the programmer52. As such, the circuitry is greatly simplified and the process takes place at a high speed as compared to a system that decodes the data and then encodes it into another format.

The returned modulated signal58can be decoded for use by other systems if desired. However, this decoding would preferably take place outside the conversion process. The barcode signal is processed to cause a label with the barcode thereon to be generated for application to the object or packaging associated with the object.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the system66includes an interrogator68with an antenna70configured to send RF signals72to a tag74and to receive return signals76therefrom. In addition, the interrogator68includes a barcode head78configured to read a barcode80on a label82applied to an item84. In this embodiment, the barcode head78reads the barcode80, such as with an optical signal86, and retrieves data stored in the barcode80. In this example, the data can be in hexadecimal format. The interrogator68is configured to process the data in hexadecimal format and convert the same to RF signals for transmission to the tag74, where the signals are received and processed for writing to a memory (not shown) in hexadecimal format. Alternatively, the data read from the barcode80can be converted from hexadecimal into binary or other format before being written to the tag74. Once the data is stored in the tag74, the tag74can be applied to the item84or to a container or package (not shown) in which the item is packed for storage or shipping.

FIG. 5represents another embodiment of the invention wherein a multimedia system90is shown that is configured similar to the system66ofFIG. 4in that a programmer station92is provided for converting RFID data to barcode format. The station92has an RF interrogator94as a component thereof for RF communication with a tag96that in this aspect of the invention is attached to a shipping container98. The station92also includes a microprocessor100for converting data read from the tag to barcode format and a printer102for generating a label104with the barcode106thereon.

In use, the shipping container98arrives in warehouse or other receiving facility with the tag96associated with it, such as attached to the container98or packaged inside the container98. As items108in the container98are unpacked and removed, the interrogator94communicates with the tag to recover data regarding the items108stored therein. The microprocessor100converts the data to barcode format and a label104is printed for application to each item108. The barcode106may be unique to each item108or common as to all items108as required.

It is to be understood that the process described above can be reversed. That is, as items108are prepared for packaging, a scan head110on the station92can scan the barcode106, and the data recovered from the barcode is converted to a format for RF transmission and writing to the tag96. In this manner, the contents of the container98can be inventoried at the time of packing and the data is stored on the tag96to accompany the container. The data may also be transmitted from the station92to other stations or facilities for further processing.

Hence, as shown inFIG. 6, the method in accordance with another embodiment of the invention generally involves a first step112of reading encoded data, such as a barcode or interrogating an RFID tag and storing114the same in a first format, such as a binary format. It is to be understood that other formats may be used if desired, although the binary format is typically used in most low-cost RFID tags. The step of storing the data114may be skipped, and the data immediately converted to another format. In either case, the data is preferably not decoded to a usable format, such as into text or Arabic numbers. In this embodiment, a decision box116indicates an evaluation of the source of the encoded data, such as in this case whether it came from a barcode format. If so, then the process moves to a step of transmitting118the data via RF signals to a tag for a step of writing120to a memory in the tag. In the alternative, if the original format was not a barcode, then the process moves to the step of generating a barcode122on a label with the data encoded thereon.