Method for Scanning Multiple Barcodes and System Thereof

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for scanning multiple barcodes and a system thereof, and more particularly to a method capable of scanning multiple barcodes all at once and a system thereof.

Description of the Prior Art

A barcode refers to a patterned identification element that represents a set of information by using multiple black strips and blank spaces of different widths arranged according to a predetermined coding means. Common barcodes include one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional barcodes. A one-dimensional barcode can represent information of tens of characters, and a two-dimensional barcode can even represent information of thousands of characters. With a barcode, information such as the country of production, manufacturer, name of product, date of production, book of classification, origin and destination of mailing, and type and date of an object can be labelled. Therefore, barcodes are extensively applied in many fields including commodity circulation, book management, postal management, and banking systems.

Accompanied by the ever-expanding demand in the amount of information, multiple barcodes are used to represent such information. However, in the presence of multiple barcodes, a user is required to manually determine the sequences of scanning so as to determine the sequences of outputting information, resulting in substantial inconvenience in use and time delay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the present invention provides a method for scanning multiple barcodes and a system thereof, which are capable of obtaining information in multiple barcodes according to user requirements in a most convenient and quick manner.

In one embodiment, a method for scanning multiple barcodes includes: reading a tag template, wherein the tag template records a predetermined number of barcode forms and relative configuration orientations of the barcode forms, and the predetermined number is a positive integer and is greater than 1; photographing a tag to obtain a tag image of the tag, wherein a surface of the tag includes a plurality of barcodes; analyzing the tag image to obtain barcode patterns of the barcodes in the tag image, barcode types of the barcode patterns, and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns; detecting barcode types of the barcode patterns and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns according to the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations to identify from the barcode patterns a predetermined number of barcode patterns to be outputted matching the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations; decoding the barcode patterns to be outputted to obtain information respectively represented by the barcode patterns to be outputted; and outputting the information obtained.

In one embodiment, a system for scanning multiple barcodes includes a storage unit, a photographing unit, a processing unit and a display unit. The storage unit stores a tag template, wherein the tag template records a predetermined number of barcode forms and relative configuration orientations of the barcode forms, and the predetermined number is a positive integer and greater than 1. The photographing unit photographs a tag to capture a tag image of the tag. The processing unit, coupled to the storage unit and the photographing unit, reads the tag template, analyzes the tag image to obtain barcode patterns of the barcodes in the tag image, barcode types of the barcode patterns, and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns, detects the barcode types of the barcode patterns and the relative coordinates of the barcode patterns according to the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations to identify from the barcode patterns a predetermined number of barcode patterns to be outputted matching the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations, and decodes the barcode patterns to be outputted to obtain information respectively represented by the barcode patterns to be outputted. The display unit outputs the information obtained.

In conclusion of the above, in the method for scanning multiple barcodes and the system thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention, instead of having to manually perform scanning in sequence, information required can be obtained by one-time comparison of a single tag image each time when multiple barcodes need to be scanned. In the method for scanning multiple barcodes and the system thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention, the information in multiple barcodes can be sorted and outputted according to requirements. The method for scanning multiple barcodes and the system thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention provide a faster and more convenient scanning means compared to the prior art, and are capable of reducing errors caused by human factors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for scanning multiple barcodes according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for scanning multiple barcodes according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of setting a tag template according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a tag image according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial flowchart of a method for scanning multiple barcodes according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a tag image and coordinates according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial flowchart of a method for scanning multiple barcodes according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of scanning barcode patterns according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 , a system 20 for scanning multiple barcodes includes a photographing unit 21 , a processing unit 22 , a storage unit 23 and a display unit 24 . The photographing unit 21 , the storage unit 23 and the display unit 24 are all coupled to the processing unit 22 .

Refer to FIG. 2 . In an operation process of the system 20 for scanning multiple barcodes, the processing unit 22 first reads a tag template T (step S 100 ).

Refer to FIG. 3 . The storage unit 23 stores the tag template T, which records a predetermined number of barcode form T 01 , barcode form T 02 and barcode T 03 as well as relative configuration orientations thereof, wherein the predetermined number is a positive integer and is greater than 1. In one embodiment, the barcode forms further include barcode types, for example, one-dimensional barcodes or two-dimensional barcodes. A one-dimensional barcode can at a time represent information of tens of characters, and a two-dimensional barcode can even represent information of thousands of characters. In one embodiment, the tag template T further records an output sequence of barcode forms. In one example, when the barcode form T 03 has a sorting sequence 1 , it means that information included in the barcode form T 03 is prioritized to be outputted. In another example, when the barcode form T 03 has a sorting sequence 1 , it means that information included in the barcode form T 03 is prioritized to be read and outputted.

The term “relative configuration orientation” herein refers to an orientation relationship between two different barcode forms, wherein the orientation relationship is obtained by comparison. In one embodiment, the relative configuration orientation can be represented by a relative relationship of coordinates of barcode forms. In one embodiment, the relative configuration orientation can be defined according to coordinate values of barcode forms. In one embodiment, the relative configuration orientation can be defined according to a relationship between the X-coordinate values and the Y-coordinate values of a barcode form. For example, the X-coordinate value of the barcode form T 02 is greater than the X-coordinate value of the barcode form T 01 . In one embodiment, the relative configuration orientation can be defined according to a distance ratio of barcode forms. For example, a ratio of the value of the X-coordinate value of the barcode from T 02 subtracted by the X-coordinate value of the barcode form T 01 to the value of the X-coordinate value of the barcode form T 01 subtracted by the X-coordinate value of the barcode form T 03 is 1:2.

Again refer to FIG. 3 . In one example, the tag templates T records a predetermined number, which is three, of barcode forms T 01 /T 02 /T 03 , and the barcode types of the barcode form T 01 and the barcode form T 02 are one-dimensional barcodes, and barcode type of the barcode form T 03 is a two-dimensional barcode. The X-coordinate of the barcode form T 01 is represented by T 01 X, and the Y-coordinate is represented by T 01 Y; and so forth. At this point, a value sequence of the barcode forms T 01 /T 02 /T 03 according to the X-coordinate values is T 02 X>T 03 X>T 01 , and a value sequence of the barcode forms T 01 /T 02 /T 03 according to the Y-coordinate values is T 01 Y=T 02 Y>T 03 Y, accordingly forming the relative configuration orientations of the barcode forms.

Refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 . The photographing unit 21 photographs a tag to capture a tag image M of the tag (step S 110 ). In one embodiment, the photographing unit 21 can be implemented by a camera, a video camera or other image capturing devices. In one example, the photographing unit 21 photographs the tag to capture the tag image M of the tag. For example, the tag refers to an appearance of a product container, on which a plurality of barcodes representing information of production origins or prices are attached/printed. In the example, the tag image M includes a barcode B 01 and a barcode B 02 that are one-dimensional barcodes, and a barcode B 03 that is a two-dimensional barcode, and the barcodes are distributed on different positions in the tag image M.

Again refer to FIG. 2 . The processing unit 22 analyzes the tag image M to obtain barcode patterns of all the barcodes B 01 /B 02 /B 03 in the tag image M, the barcode types of the barcode patterns, and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns (step S 120 ). In one embodiment, the processing unit 22 determines by means of image recognition whether the tag image M includes barcode patterns, and records the types of the barcode patterns and the coordinates of each barcode pattern.

Next, the processing unit 22 detects the barcode types of the barcode patterns in the tag image M and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns according to the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations included in the tag template T, so as to determine whether the barcode patterns include a predetermined number of barcode patterns to be outputted matching the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations (step S 130 ). In short, the processing unit 22 compares the tag template T with the tag image M; if all or a part of the barcode patterns in the tag image M match the tag template, the processing unit 22 labels the matching barcode patterns as barcode patterns to be outputted.

In one embodiment, if the barcode patterns in the tag image M do not match the tag template, the processing 22 causes the display unit 24 to display a prompt (step S 160 ), for example, displaying prompt information such as “template not matched”. In another embodiment, if the barcode patterns in the tag image M do not match the tag template, step S 110 is iterated (that is, the processing unit 22 drives the photographing unit 21 to again photograph the tag). In one embodiment, if the barcode patterns in the tag image M do not match the tag template, a prompt is first displayed and then step S 110 is iterated. Thus, a situation where step S 130 cannot be successfully performed due to a photographing error of the tag can be avoided.

Refer to FIG. 5 . In step S 130 according to an embodiment, the relative coordinates of a barcode pattern include a first-direction coordinate and a second-direction coordinate, and the processing unit 22 detects the barcode types of the barcode patterns according to the barcode forms so as to identify from the barcode patterns a plurality of selected barcode patterns matching the barcode forms (step S 131 ), and compares a value relationship of the first-direction coordinates of the selected barcode patterns and a value relationship of the second-direction coordinates of the selected barcode patterns to identify from the selected barcode patterns the barcode patterns to be outputted having the value relationship of the first-direction coordinates and the value relationship of the second-direction coordinates matching the relative configuration orientations (step S 132 ).

In one example, the processing unit 22 compares for three conditions during the comparison process of the tag template T and the tag image M. The first condition is that the barcode form needs to be the same as the barcode type of the barcode pattern, the second condition is that the value relationship between the first-direction coordinate of the barcode form and the first-direction coordinate of the barcode pattern is compared to match the tag template T, and the third condition is that the value relationship between the second-direction coordinate of the barcode form and the second-direction coordinate of the barcode pattern is compared to match the tag template T. In the comparison process, all of the three conditions above need to be satisfied; however, the comparison of the three conditions above does not need to be performed according to the above sequence.

Refer to FIG. 6 . In one embodiment, the first-direction coordinate and the second-direction coordinate refer to coordinates of a fixed endpoint in the barcode pattern. For example, when the barcode pattern B 01 is a quadrilateral, the barcode pattern B 01 can use an endpoint B 011 at the upper-left corner as a calculation point for the first-direction coordinate X and the second-direction coordinate Y; that is to say, the first-direction coordinate X of the barcode pattern B 01 is 2 and the second-direction coordinate Y of the barcode pattern B 01 is 9, and the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 01 are represented by (2, 9) herein. The barcode pattern B 02 can use an endpoint B 021 at the upper-left corner as a calculation point for the first-direction coordinate X and the second-direction coordinate Y; that is to say, the first-direction coordinate X of the barcode pattern B 02 is 7 and the second-direction coordinate Y of the barcode pattern B 02 is 9, and the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 02 are represented by (7, 9) herein. The barcode pattern B 03 can use an endpoint B 031 at the upper-left corner as a calculation point for the first-direction coordinate X and the second-direction coordinate Y; that is to say, the first-direction coordinate X of the barcode pattern B 03 is 4 and the second-direction coordinate Y of the barcode pattern B 03 is 7, and the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 03 are represented by (4, 7) herein.

Refer to FIG. 5 . In an example of step S 131 , when the tag template T is activated to detect the tag image M, the processing unit 22 compares whether the barcode pattern B 01 is a one-dimensional barcode, whether the barcode pattern B 02 is a one-dimensional barcode, and whether the barcode pattern B 03 is a two-dimensional barcode; the processing unit 22 further determines that the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 01 are (2, 9), the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 02 are (7, 9), and the coordinates of the barcode pattern B 03 are (7, 6); the processing unit 22 compares the X-coordinates of the barcode patterns B 01 /B 02 /B 03 to obtain that 7>4>2, which satisfies the condition of T 02 X>T 03 X>T 01 X, compares the Y-coordinates of the barcode patterns B 01 /B 02 /B 03 to obtain that 9=9>7, which satisfies the condition of T 01 Y=T 02 Y>T 03 Y, and thus determines the barcode patterns B 01 /B 02 /B 03 as barcode patterns to be outputted.

Again refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 . The processing unit 22 decodes the barcode patterns to be outputted to obtain information respectively represented by the barcode patterns to be outputted (step S 140 ). The processing unit 22 outputs the information obtained (step S 150 ), for example, displaying the information obtained on the display unit 24 .

In step S 140 according to an embodiment, step S 140 includes decoding the barcode patterns to generate the information represented by the barcode patterns (step S 141 ), and identifying from the information generated the information of the barcode patterns to be outputted (step S 142 ). Taking the tag image M in FIG. 4 for example, after obtaining the tag image M, the processing unit 22 can decode all of the barcode pattern B 01 , the barcode pattern B 02 , the barcode pattern B 03 and the barcode pattern B 04 , and store the information obtained from decoding in the storage unit 23 . Because the barcode pattern B 01 , the barcode pattern B 02 and the barcode pattern B 03 are the barcode patterns to be outputted, the processing unit 22 outputs only the information obtained from decoding the barcode pattern B 01 , the barcode pattern B 02 and the barcode pattern B 03 .

In step S 150 according to an embodiment, the processing unit 22 sorts according to an output sequence the information obtained (step S 151 ), and outputs the sorted information (step S 152 ). In continuation of the above example, when the information obtained from decoding the barcode pattern B 01 , the barcode pattern B 02 and the barcode pattern B 03 is to be outputted, the processing unit 22 outputs the information according to a corresponding output sequence in the tag template T in FIG. 3 . For example, the barcode pattern B 03 corresponds to the barcode form T 03 and the barcode form T 03 has an output sequence 1 in the tag template T, and therefore the information obtained from decoding the barcode pattern B 03 is prioritized to be displayed on the display unit 24 .

In one embodiment, the system 20 for scanning multiple barcodes includes an input unit 25 , which is connected to the processing unit 22 . Before step S 110 , the input unit 25 receives a plurality of selection signals, and the processing unit 22 generates the tag template T according to the selection signals. In some embodiments, the display unit 24 can concurrently have an input function. For example, the display unit 24 having an input function can be implemented by a touch screen. In one embodiment, the display unit 24 and the input unit 25 exist as one single element, that is, operations of the display unit 24 and the input unit 25 can be simultaneously achieved by one single element. In one embodiment, the display unit 24 and the input unit 25 exist as separate elements.

Refer to FIG. 8 . For example, the input unit 25 is a touch screen, the system 20 for scanning multiple barcodes has a setting mode, and the tag image M is displayed on a touch panel when the photographing unit 21 photographs the tag and captures the tag image M of the tag under the setting mode. As shown in FIG. 4 , a user sequentially touches and selects the barcode pattern B 03 on the touch screen to generate a first selection signal, touches and selects the barcode pattern B 02 to generate a second selection signal, and touches and selects the barcode pattern B 01 to generate a third selection signal. The processing unit 22 generates a predetermined number, which is 3, of barcode forms T 01 /T 02 /T 03 according to the first selection to the third selection signal, records the relative configuration orientations generated according to the barcode types and relative coordinates of the barcode patterns B 01 to B 03 to generate the tag template T, and stores the tag template T in the storage unit 23 .

In one embodiment, the processing unit 22 further generates an output sequence according to a generation sequence of the first selection signal, the second selection signal and the third selection signal, and forms the tag template T on the basis of the output sequence, the barcode forms and the relative configuration orientations.

In some embodiments, the processing unit 22 can be, for example but not limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a system-on-chip (SoC), a microcontroller unit (MCU), an integrated circuit (IC) or a microprocessor.

In some embodiments, the storage unit 23 can be implemented by one or more storage elements. Each storage element can be a non-volatile memory such as a read-only memory (ROM) or a flash memory, or a volatile memory such as a random-access memory (RAM).

In some embodiments, the system 20 for scanning multiple barcodes can be implemented by a smartphone or a tablet computer. That is to say, the processing unit 22 includes an application (commonly referred to as an App), and performs the method for scanning multiple barcodes by the application.

It should be noted that, although the steps are described in the above sequences, it is to be noted that the sequences are not a limitation to the present invention, and a person skilled in the art can understand that the sequences for performing the steps can be concurrent or swapped under reasonable circumstances.

While the technical contents of the present invention have been disclosed above by way of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Variations and modifications made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit are to be encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of present invention should to be accorded with definitions of the appended claims.