Abstract:
The present invention generates and places a Quick Response (QR) matrix barcode on a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and/or label placed on a gas cylinder at a vendor&#39;s facility. The gas cylinder is then delivered to a customer. The customer can download onto his/her mobile device an Application from the vendor, by way of a communications network. Using the Application, the QR code can be scanned, decoded, and viewed by the customer. The customer can also download the decoded information into a database, or upload the same information to a third party&#39;s database. The information remains accurate, starting at the vendor&#39;s facility, arriving at the customer&#39;s facility and, finally, reaching the third party&#39;s facility. The information is securely transferred, without any possibility of making a mistake in the information transfer.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/050,433 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING AND TRANSFERRING INFORMATION ONTO A GAS CYLINDER USING A QR CODE filed on Sep. 15, 2014, the contents of which is incorporated fully herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to generating and decoding two dimensional (2D) barcodes, or matrix barcodes. More specifically, the present invention relates to generating and placing a Quick Response (QR) matrix barcode by a vendor on a gas cylinder, in which the QR code can be scanned, viewed and transferred by a customer to record accurate information on the gas mixture in the cylinder. The information is securely transferred, without the possibility of making a mistake in the data transfer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Barcodes provide a convenient way to convey electronic information through a variety of electronic devices. A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data which, for example, shows data about the object to which it is attached. Traditionally, barcodes have represented data by varying the widths and spacing of parallel dark lines; these barcodes are often referred to as linear or one-dimensional (1D) barcodes. One-dimensional barcodes are scanned in a one-dimensional fashion by special-purpose optical scanning devices that are able to decode the information encoded in the barcodes; decoding of the information may be performed by measuring the widths and spacing of the parallel barcode lines through reflective light feedback. 
     One-dimensional barcodes, however, are very limited in the amount of information that can be encoded in the widths and spacing of the parallel barcode lines. Because of this limitation, there has been growth in the usage of two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, or matrix barcodes. One example of the type of matrix barcode that has enjoyed popular usage is the Quick Response (QR) code. Various versions of QR codes are capable of storing many bytes of data, when encoding binary data. 
     Once common use of QR codes has been to encode Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), such as website addresses. Such QR codes are often placed on billboards or mailers to provide consumers with a quick and easy way to visit a company&#39;s website, without having to memorize, write down, or manually type a URL into a smartphone or other mobile device. Consumers who see a QR code displayed may take a picture of the QR code, using a camera embedded in the smartphone, and may utilize a smartphone Application to automatically translate the QR code into a URL; the smartphone Application may then launch a browser pointed to the URL. 
     Turning now to gas cylinders, a tag or label is typically placed on the cylinder to identify the gas product in the cylinder. The tag or label, generally, includes much information, such as the gas cylinder product identification number, the date the gas cylinder was filled, the type of gas and mixture ratios in the cylinder, the quality of gas in the cylinder, the date the gas cylinder was tested, and so on. Customers, typically, request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that includes information that satisfies regulatory requirements, such as EPA protocol standards. Since the COA includes a variety of data, errors are often made by customers, upon receiving the gas cylinders, as they transcribe the variety of data into various reporting systems, or databases. In general, transcribing and re-keying the cylinder data prompts errors, and causes excessive administrative time for simply shifting data from one program, or storage location to another. 
     As will be described, the present invention provides a system and method to capture and transfer pertinent information onto a gas cylinder using a QR code. In addition, the present invention provides a system and method to shift the pertinent information to a customer&#39;s database, or to a third party, without any transcription errors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. Included in the drawing are the following figures: 
         FIG. 1A  is an example of a Certificate of Analysis including a QR code, placed on a gas cylinder by a vendor. 
         FIG. 1B  is an example of a label including a QR code, placed on a gas cylinder by a vendor. 
         FIG. 2A  is an example of a screen shot on a mobile device, depicting a first feature, namely, a scanning feature provided by an Application downloaded into the mobile device by a customer. The scanning feature allows the customer to image the QR code. 
         FIG. 2B  is an example of a screen shot on a mobile device, depicting a second feature, namely, a recoding feature provided by the Application downloaded into the mobile device by the customer. The recording feature allows the customer to record the information into the customer&#39;s own database after decoding the QR code. 
         FIG. 2C  is an example of a screen shot on a mobile device, depicting a third feature, namely, a viewing feature provided by the Application downloaded into the mobile device by the customer. The viewing feature allows the customer to view the recorded information in a tabular and comprehensive format. 
         FIG. 2D  is an example of a screen shot on a mobile device, depicting a fourth feature, namely, a sending feature provided by the Application downloaded into the mobile device by the customer. The sending feature allows the customer to send the recorded information to another party by email, for example. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of a mobile device communicating with a server and a vendor. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram depicting an example of the present invention placing a QR coded matrix onto a gas cylinder and moving the gas cylinder to a customer, wherein the customer can scan, decode, view, store and transfer the information on the QR coded matrix to a third party, without transcription errors. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting high level features of the Application downloaded from the vendor to the customer. 
         FIG. 6  is an example of 2 digit codes used by the present invention to represent various definitions relevant to gas mixtures that may be inserted into a cylinder shipped to the customer. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram, somewhat different from  FIG. 4 , depicting an example of the present invention placing a QR coded matrix onto a gas cylinder and moving the gas cylinder to a customer, wherein the customer can scan, decode, view, store and transfer the information on the QR coded matrix to a third party, without transcription errors. Since the data is compressed with bits representing information, much data can be placed into the QR code and the data can only be read by a customer that has the specific Application for decompressing and translating the coded data. 
     
    
    
     It is understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, but are not restrictive, of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for coding gas cylinder information onto a QR coded matrix barcode. The QR code is printed on the bottom right of a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and a cylinder label, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 1A  shows an example of a COA  10  with a QR code  11  printed on the bottom right.  FIG. 1B  shows another example of a cylinder label  12  with another QR code  13  printed on the bottom right. 
     The QR code includes relevant gas cylinder information. Such information encompasses regulatory requirements, such as an EPA Protocol Standard, Traceability Standard, CEM, Certified, Primary, Precision blend, Nuclear Counter and ECD/Nuclear Counter mixes containing up to 13 components. The embedded data in the QR code can be scanned, viewed and emailed via CSV/Excel, RTF/Word or PDF platforms. Customers can simply transfer all data in order to satisfy requirements for programs, such as PGVP (Protocol Gas Verification Program), and local record archives. 
     Below is an example of a listing of data embedded into a QR code from a Certificate of Analysis. Embedded categories are determined by Grade of Product. (For example, a certified mix does not contain an A2LA Certification Number, because this is associated with EPA mixes only.)
     Grade of Product   Reference Number   Part Number   Cylinder Number   Laboratory   PGVP Number   A2LA Certification Number   Gas Code   Cylinder Volume   Cylinder Pressure   Valve Outlet   Certification Date   Expiration Date   Components(s)   Requested Concentration(s)   Actual Concentration(s)   Protocol Method   Total Relative Uncertainty   

     The present invention provides QR codes on a Certificate of Analysis and a cylinder label, which is placed by a vendor; and allows a customer receiving the gas cylinder to scan the code using an Application that may be downloaded for use on the customer&#39;s mobile device. 
     As will be described, the customer may scan, record, view and then transfer all data embedded in the QR code via the aforementioned CSV/Excel, RTF/Word or PDF platforms. The Application only scans the QR code prepared and coded by the vendor of the gas cylinder, and no other QR reader can scan the QR code. In this manner, security of the information contained in the QR code is maintained. 
     The next set of figures depict views of the Application&#39;s functional features provided to a customer on his/her mobile device. As shown,  FIG. 2A  provides a first function of the Application to the customer to begin scanning of the QR code placed upon the COA or the gas cylinder label. The customer taps the screen of the mobile device and the mobile device begins scanning and digitizing the QR code. When the scanning and digitizing of the QR code is completed, a second function of the Application is provided to the customer, as shown in  FIG. 2B . The screen shot shown in  FIG. 2B  alerts the customer that scanning of the QR code has been completed and the digitized code is now recorded in a memory of the mobile device. A third function of the Application allows the customer to view all the data decoded from the QR code in a tabular format that is presented on the screen of the mobile device, as shown in  FIG. 2C . A fourth function of the Application is shown in  FIG. 2D , which allows the customer to send as an email the decoded information from the QR code to a third party, or to another database for storage. The Application may be configured to enable the customer to decode the encoded description and send the decoded description to the storage system without modification. In this manner, the customer has complete control of the data and can securely and accurately transmit the data as an attachment to an email message. There is no need to grant additional access or provide permission to a third party for data entry. 
     The present invention, by way of the Application, provides a system and method to successfully process and decode barcodes acquired via digital imaging techniques. The Application allows a customer to use a reader, e.g., a mobile device equipped with a digital camera as a scanner of barcodes (one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes) or any other similar machine-readable code. In one embodiment, the mobile device is a cellular phone having a digital camera. In another embodiment, the mobile device is a tablet having a digital camera. In yet a further embodiment, the mobile device is a laptop computer having a digital camera. The Application seamlessly integrates the barcode scanning technology with the digital camera of the mobile device. 
     To utilize the Application software, a customer (or user) downloads the Application onto his/her mobile device through wired, or wireless access protocol. Once the customer has downloaded the Application, the customer launches the Application on his/her mobile device, e.g., a cellular phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, etc. This causes the software of the Application to properly initialize the digital camera coupled to the mobile device, and to accept digitized signals formed by the imager of the mobile device. The Application enables the digital camera, when the customer taps the screen of the mobile device. 
     The customer then takes an image of the barcode using the digital camera. As soon as the barcode is captured, the software of the Application decodes the barcode utilizing a decoding engine in the software. It will be appreciated that the location of the decoding process depends upon the processing capabilities of the mobile device. Thus, it is assumed that the Application software is operating on a smart mobile device, e.g., a cellular phone, a tablet, a laptop computer, etc., with adequate system capabilities. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a block diagram of a system configuration is shown which may include the present invention. As shown, a customer scans the QR code  30 , by using a reader, e.g., a mobile device  31  with attached or embedded digital camera  34 . The customer launches the Application on mobile device  31 . If the Application software has not yet been loaded into the reader, e.g., mobile device  31 , a customer may do so by downloading the Application via a network, such as a wired, or wireless network  32 . The Application may be downloaded to the reader to enable the reader to decode the encoded description. Once an image of QR code  30  has been taken by the reader, e.g., acquired by mobile device  31 , the Application software loaded on the reader decodes the barcode directly utilizing the mobile device&#39;s internal circuitry. The Application may be configured to enable the reader to send the decoded description to a customer&#39;s storage system without modification. In one embodiment, the Application is configured to be downloaded to the reader to decode the encoded description and configured to send the decoded description to the storage system without modification. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a process or method of the present invention is shown, that starts with step  41  and concludes with step  56 . As shown, in step  41  a vendor receives an order of the gas mixture according to a specification provided by the customer. In step  42  the vendor sets the gas filling scheme, in accordance with the vendor&#39;s gas mixing procedures and at least one parameter set in the customer&#39;s specification. In step  43 , the mixture is completed and sent to the laboratory for analysis and verification that the gas mixture in the cylinder is properly filled. In an automatic process performed in the laboratory, step  44  analyzes the mixture. The result of the analyses is uploaded directly from the automatic process, as shown by step  45 . The result of the analysis is reviewed in step  46  to determine whether the gas mixture result passes or fails. The process then enters decision box  47 . If the gas mixture is correctly and appropriately filled, then the process branches to step  48 . If decision box  47  determines that the gas mixture is not correct and/or fails to satisfy the at least one parameter set in the customer&#39;s specification, on the other hand, then decision box  47  branches back to step  42  and again sets up the gas filling scheme. 
     Once the mixture in the gas cylinder is approved, step  48  in the process moves the cylinder to staging. At staging, step  49  prints the exact mixture onto the cylinder label and the Certificate of Analysis. All the information, noted previously, is also automatically coded into a QR code by step  49   a . The QR coded matrix is placed on the COA and the cylinder label. The QR code is formed using compact digital representation of the data. By mapping all necessary words comprising the data onto the QR code, the present invention is able to print the entire code for a gas mixture with multiple component gases as a graphic image of only a 1.5″ by 1.5″ matrix; whereas the graphic image could be 3″ by 3″ or greater using conventional techniques. Step  50  of the process delivers the gas cylinder to the customer. 
     Step  51  of the process shows the customer receiving the gas cylinder. In step  52 , the customer scans the QR code using his Application on the mobile device. The customer uses the Application, downloaded in step  52   a , to scan the QR code in step  52 . Due to the Application, the customer receives a perfect set of information including analysis data of the gas mixture that is sent from the vendor to the customer, as shown in step  53 . The customer may now review the data as displayed on the mobile device using step  54 . The customer may also transmit and transfer the same data to different collection points, as desired by step  55 . The data may be sent as a WORD document, an EXCEL document, or a PDF document, as shown in step  55   a . The customer can now upload the data from the mobile device to other locations by using step  56 . The data now exists in the customer&#39;s database, or at a third party&#39;s database, without ever being touched by human hands, as shown in step  56   a . For example, in one embodiment, the steps of developing the description by analyzing the gas, encoding the description, producing a two-dimensional code, decoding the encoded description, and storing the decoded description are performed without human intervention. 
     Turning next to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a block diagram depicting the architecture of the Application software. The software is composed of three main modules: the Application Program Interface (API)  61 , decoding engine  62 , and camera control module  63 . The API  61  is the interface with which the customer utilizes to interact with the software. The API  61  guides the customer through the steps required to decode and process the QR code  30 . The API first directs camera control module  63  to initialize the application for digital camera  34 . This initializes digital camera  34  to accept input signals. Next, API  61  causes a viewfinder window to open on the mobile device display. This allows the customer to make sure that QR code  30  is in proper focus and sufficiently illuminated. 
     The customer is then directed to tap the display on mobile device  31  to take an image of QR code  30 . Once the image of the QR code has been acquired and stored in memory, the image undergoes exposure control to compensate for the illumination. 
     At this point in the acquisition process, the acquired image is displayed to the customer for review. The processed image is then passed to decoding engine  62  for decoding of the QR code. If the decoding is not successful, API  61  alerts the customer so that a new image can be acquired by the imager. However, if decoding is successful, API  61  closes the shutter of the camera and clears the camera&#39;s memory. 
     Decoding engine  62  is able to decode the two-dimensional barcode  30  with a CIF (352×288) imager, or a VGA (640×480) imager. Increasing the imager resolution generally improves the decoding speed, and accuracy provided to the decoded image. 
     Once the image is properly decoded, the customer can download the decoded information to his/her own database or upload the decoded information to a third party&#39;s database. This is all accomplished without the customer having to spent time transcribing the information and without the customer possibly making any errors in the transcription. 
     It will be appreciated that a great deal of information, or data is coded in the QR coded matrix. This is accomplished by using text compression techniques. A master symbol dictionary is maintained by the vendor&#39;s database infrastructure. The symbol dictionary includes multiple 4 character symbols representing respective words. Each word represents an extended length translation text, referred to herein as a definition. An example of the words and their respective definitions is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this example, there are 12 words which are each represented by 4 characters (for example {01}), with each word corresponding to a respective definition. 
     The words and definitions are integrated into the vendor&#39;s Application, which is downloaded by the customer. This permits the string of words, or characters that have been stored in the QR coded matrix to be converted into readable English translation of the words. In this manner, the customer can generate an English text of the compressed QR coded matrix. The vendor places the coded data onto the QR coded matrix and the customer can scan, decode, read and view the decoded matrix in English. The customer can then email, or send the decoded data to any third party. All this is performed without any possibility of making transcription errors between the vendor, the customer and any third party. 
     The text stored in the QR code is also secure. When the text is generated by the vendor&#39;s proprietary gas production system (also referred to as PPM), the data is stored in long strings containing a series of words, as shown for example in  FIG. 6 . This string of words is followed by an alphanumeric string of actual data. The actual data is recorded by the vendor in the PPM, checked and verified, prior to coding the information onto the QR matrix. This actual data includes, but is not limited to, part number data, order preparation data, analytical data, various calendar dates, order notes, customer information, etc. 
     The Application downloaded by the customer only scans the QR codes that begin with a dictionary word, shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, {01}, {02}, {12}, etc. If someone other than the customer were to scan the QR matrix with a conventional QR scanner, the result would be worthless information that does not satisfy the numerous industry and government requirements for data compliance. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a process or method of the present invention is shown, that starts with step  41  and concludes with step  80 . It will be appreciated that steps  41  through  48  are described above with reference to  FIG. 4  and a detailed description is not repeated here. The vendor prepares the mixtures based on various specifications ( 41   a ) residing in the PPM system ( 41   b ), various operating procedures ( 42   a ) defined in standard operation procedures ( 42   b ), and various analyzes of the mixtures ( 44   a ) defined in standard operating procedures ( 44   b ). 
     After the mixture has been approved, the gas cylinder moves to staging (step  48 ). The detailed information of the gas mixture and its associated analytical data is stored in the vendor&#39;s PPM database (step  71 ). The information is extracted from the PPM database (step  72 ) and compressed into a string of 2 digit codes (step  73 ). The system then parses the actual data according to the 2 digit codes (step  74 ), as described previously. This generates the QR code, which includes the 2 digit codes and the corresponding actual data (step  75 ). The QR code is placed on the label of the gas cylinder and the gas cylinder is shipped to the customer. 
     After the customer downloads the Application provided by the vendor, the customer scans and decodes the QR matrix. The data scanning and decoding software in the Application converts the 2 digit codes into multi-letter words that include the definitions established by the vendor (step  76 ). The QR code compression, thus, allows for much more English words and text that would normally be allowed in a conventional QR matrix (step  77 ). The Application reformats the data, so that the data is readily understood by the customer (step  78 ). The data is displayed on the reader, e.g., a mobile device, by the Application (step  79 ) and the customer may review the data, and send the same data to a third party (step  80 ). This may be done in PDF format, DOC format, or XLS format. Examples of displayed data and emailed data are shown in  FIGS. 2C and 2D . 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.