Automatically identifying possible causes of decoding problems in a barcode-reading system
Uloženo v:
| Název: | Automatically identifying possible causes of decoding problems in a barcode-reading system |
|---|---|
| Patent Number: | 12001,916 |
| Datum vydání: | June 04, 2024 |
| Appl. No: | 18/311828 |
| Application Filed: | May 03, 2023 |
| Abstrakt: | A barcode-reading device can transmit data to a remote server when a decoding problem is detected. The data transmitted to the remote server can include captured images, barcode-reading device settings, and decoding metadata. The remote server can process the data and determine one or more potential causes of the decoding problem based at least in part on the results of processing the data. The processing performed by the remote server can involve the use of machine learning models that have been trained to identify image characteristics corresponding to decoding problems. Once a potential cause for a decoding problem has been determined, the remote server can perform at least one action to address the decoding problem. For example, the remote server can send one or more messages to notify certain individuals about the decoding problem and the potential cause that has been identified. |
| Inventors: | The Code Corporation (Murray, UT, US) |
| Assignees: | THE CODE CORPORATION (Murray, UT, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A barcode-reading system comprising: a plurality of barcode-reading devices that are each configured to transmit data to a remote server based at least in part on detecting a decoding problem; a plurality of machine learning models that have been trained to identify image characteristics corresponding to decoding problems; and instructions on the remote server that are executable by at least one processor to: provide at least some of the data received from the plurality of barcode-reading devices to one or more machine learning models for processing; receive processing results from the one or more machine learning models; determine a possible cause of the decoding problem based at least in part on the processing results; and perform at least one action to address the decoding problem. |
| Claim: | 2. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the data received from the plurality of barcode-reading devices comprises barcode-reading device settings, decoding metadata, and captured images. |
| Claim: | 3. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of barcode-reading devices are configured to: transmit a basic amount of data to the remote server before the decoding problem is detected; and transmit an enhanced amount of data to the remote server after the decoding problem is detected. |
| Claim: | 4. The barcode-reading system of claim 3 , wherein: the basic amount of data does not include any captured images; and the enhanced amount of data includes at least some captured images. |
| Claim: | 5. The barcode-reading system of claim 3 , wherein the enhanced amount of data includes more barcode-reading device settings than the basic amount of data. |
| Claim: | 6. The barcode-reading system of claim 3 , wherein the enhanced amount of data includes more decoding metadata than the basic amount of data. |
| Claim: | 7. The barcode-reading system of claim 3 , wherein a barcode-reading device decreases the amount of data being transmitted to the remote server in response to receiving an instruction from the remote server. |
| Claim: | 8. The barcode-reading system of claim 7 , wherein the remote server is configured to send the instruction to the barcode-reading device when a process for addressing the decoding problem has been completed. |
| Claim: | 9. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: before the decoding problem is detected the barcode-reading devices operate in a mode in which the barcode-reading devices do not transmit any data to the remote server; and the barcode-reading devices begin transmitting the data to the remote server after the decoding problem is detected. |
| Claim: | 10. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication of the possible cause of the decoding problem. |
| Claim: | 11. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: the plurality of barcode-reading devices are each configured to determine a decoding success metric; and detecting the decoding problem is based at least in part on the decoding success metric. |
| Claim: | 12. The barcode-reading system of claim 11 , wherein: the decoding problem is detected by the remote server; and detecting the decoding problem comprises determining that the decoding success metric for a barcode-reading device differs from an average decoding success metric for the plurality of barcode-reading devices by more than a threshold amount. |
| Claim: | 13. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: the data received from a barcode-reading device comprises barcode-reading device settings; and the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to: compare the barcode-reading device settings with a set of standard barcode-reading device settings; and determine, based at least in part on the comparison, that the barcode-reading device is configured differently from other barcode-reading devices. |
| Claim: | 14. The barcode-reading system of claim 13 , wherein performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending one or more commands to the barcode-reading device that cause the barcode-reading device settings to be changed. |
| Claim: | 15. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: the data received from a barcode-reading device comprises barcode-reading device settings and captured images; and the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to: compare the barcode-reading device settings with a set of standard barcode-reading device settings; determine, based at least in part on the comparison, that the barcode-reading device is configured similarly to other barcode-reading devices; provide the captured images to a damaged optics machine learning model; determine, based on processing results obtained from the damaged optics machine learning model, that the captured images include a characteristic that is indicative of a damaged optical component; and send a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication that the barcode-reading device could comprise a damaged optical component. |
| Claim: | 16. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: the data received from a barcode-reading device comprises captured images; the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to provide the captured images to a damaged barcode machine learning model and determine, based on processing results obtained from the damaged barcode machine learning model, that a percentage of the captured images that include an image of a damaged barcode exceeds a threshold value; and performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication that a feature of the barcode-reading system could be damaging the barcodes. |
| Claim: | 17. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: the data comprises captured images and decoding metadata; the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to: provide the captured images to a low contrast machine learning model; determine, based at least in part on processing results obtained from the low contrast machine learning model, that a percentage of the captured images that include a low contrast barcode image exceeds a threshold value; and use the decoding metadata to determine a most likely cause of the decoding problem from among a plurality of possible causes for low contrast barcode images. |
| Claim: | 18. The barcode-reading system of claim 17 , wherein: the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to: determine, based at least in part on the decoding metadata, that a camera shutter speed being utilized by most of the plurality of barcode-reading devices is within a normal range; and infer, based at least in part on the determination about the camera shutter speed, that at least one printing device is low on ink; and performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication that at least one printing device is low on ink. |
| Claim: | 19. The barcode-reading system of claim 17 , wherein: the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to: determine, based at least in part on the decoding metadata, that a camera shutter speed being utilized by most of the plurality of barcode-reading devices is slower than a normal range for the camera shutter speed; and infer, based at least in part on the determination about the camera shutter speed, that the barcode-reading system has poor lighting; and performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication related to the lighting of the barcode-reading system. |
| Claim: | 20. The barcode-reading system of claim 1 , wherein: determining the possible cause of the decoding problem comprises inferring that a printing device is low on ink; the instructions on the remote server are also executable by the at least one processor to identify the printing device based at least in part on detecting a printer identifier corresponding to the printing device in at least one low contrast barcode image; and performing the at least one action to address the decoding problem comprises sending a notification message to at least one user device, the notification message comprising an indication that the printing device could be low on ink. |
| Patent References Cited: | 11875259 January 2024 Li 20160328660 November 2016 Huang |
| Primary Examiner: | Hess, Daniel A |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Hardman, Thomas M. |
| Přístupové číslo: | edspgr.12001916 |
| Databáze: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Abstrakt: | A barcode-reading device can transmit data to a remote server when a decoding problem is detected. The data transmitted to the remote server can include captured images, barcode-reading device settings, and decoding metadata. The remote server can process the data and determine one or more potential causes of the decoding problem based at least in part on the results of processing the data. The processing performed by the remote server can involve the use of machine learning models that have been trained to identify image characteristics corresponding to decoding problems. Once a potential cause for a decoding problem has been determined, the remote server can perform at least one action to address the decoding problem. For example, the remote server can send one or more messages to notify certain individuals about the decoding problem and the potential cause that has been identified. |
|---|