Patent EA-004418-B1 (EA)
Title: Automatic barcode creation for data transfer and retrieval
Inventor: ZIMMERMAN ISRAEL
IPC: B41J21/00
Filed: 2000-06-11
Abstract: 1. A system for automatically printing a barcode onto a printable substrate, the barcode featuring a pattern of a plurality of marks, the system comprising: (i) an output device for receiving a plurality of printing commands and for printing a printable substrate according to said plurality of printing commands; (ii) a computational device for receiving data to be printed; and (iii) a printer driver module for being operated by said computational device and or automatically translating into the at least two dimensional barcode at least a portion of said data to be printed including at least one selected from a group including: substantially all text and substantially all graphical images, and for automatically determining at least one command for printing the barcode onto said printable substrate to form a printed barcode, said printer driver module passing said at least one command to said output device so that said output device is enabled to print the barcode in addition to said data to be printed. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said printer driver module further comprises: (i) a barcode driver for receiving said data to be printed, for analyzing said data and for translating at least a portion of said data into the pattern of the plurality of marks for determining the barcode; (ii) a driver for receiving at least the pattern of the plurality of marks and for determining a plurality of printer commands for printing the pattern of the plurality of marks; and (iii) a spooler for receiving said plurality of printer commands and for translating said plurality of printer commands into instructions for said output device for printing. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said output device is a printer for printing onto a material selected from the group consisting of paper, metal and plastic. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said printer driver module is implemented as a hardware device for connecting said computational device to said output device. 5. The system of claim 3, wherein said printer driver module is implemented as a hardware device for connecting only to said computational device. 6. The system of claim 3, wherein said printer driver module is implemented as a software module. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: (d) a scanning system for reading said printed barcode and for retrieving said at least a portion of said data to be printed from said printed barcode. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said scanning system further comprises: (i) a laser light source for reflecting a laser beam onto said printed barcode: (ii) a light detector for detecting reflected light from said printed barcode; and (iii) a signal analysis module for being operated by said computational device and for determining said at least a portion of said data to be printed from said printed barcode. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said substantially all text further includes information regarding a visual appearance of said substantially all text. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said substantially all graphical images further includes information regarding a visual appearance of said substantially all graphical images. 11. A method for printing a barcode onto a printable substrate, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving data; (b) translating at least a portion of said data including at least one selected from a group including: substantially all text and substantially all graphical images into a pattern of a plurality of marks corresponding to the at least two dimensional barcode; (c) determining at least one printing command for printing said pattern of said plurality of marks; and (d) printing said pattern of said plurality of marks onto the printable substrate to form the barcode. 12. The method of claim 11. wherein said data features text, such that step(b) comprises the steps of: (i) dividing said text into a plurality of words: and (ii) translating each word into a word pattern of a plurality of marks. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said data further features at least one graphical image, a boundary of said at least one graphical image being determined according to said plurality of words and step (b) further comprises the step of: (iii) translating said at least one graphical image into a pattern of a plurality of marks. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said printable substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, metal and plastic, and step (d) is performed by printing a visible marking substance to said printable substrate. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said printable substrate is a document and the barcode contains information for authenticating a source of said document. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said substantially all text further includes information regarding a visual appearance of said substantially all text. 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said substantially all graphical images further includes information regarding a visual appearance of said substantially all graphical images.