Barcode reader

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication system for identifying the desired destination, comprising: a destination specifying tag with a digital code corresponding to each of the destinations, means for selecting a kind of communication, means for reading out the digital code printed on the tag, means responsive of the reading out of the digital code for converting the digital information included in the digital code to the identification code of the desired destination, apparatus means for communicating to the destination specified by the identification code. In particular, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the digital code is a two-dimensional barcode and the means for reading the digital code is a two-dimensional barcode reader. The communication to be performed includes telephone, facsimile transmission, access to a WWW homepage on the Internet, and E-mail transmission over the Internet.

Abstract: A Hospital Error-Limiting Program (HELP) directed primarily at reduction of hospital errors in the delivery of medications, goods, services or procedures in patient treatment without a requirement to create patient labels and with the ability to verify frequency of dosage and other treatment specifications. The invention includes a patient wrist identification band with preprinted barcode. The barcode should be selected to correspond with the standard used to barcode unit dose medications. The portable computer should be small in size and equipped with a communication link with the host computer or barcode reader. The portable computer should preferably be coupled directly to the host computer means of the hospital for data transmission by a communication link. The portable computer should be loaded with physician's orders for medications, goods, services or procedures for specific patients. Before medications, goods, services or procedures are administered to a patient, hospital personnel will scan the machine readable code on the patient's identification band, and then the machine readable code on the unit dose(s) of the medications, goods, services, or procedures will be scanned. The portable computer will compare these readings with the doctor's orders and other internal files as required and verify that the administration of the identified medications, goods, services or procedures is either correct or not correct.

Abstract: A method for converting a standard, consumer, hand held, cellular telephone into a hand held point of sale (POS) credit card terminal, utilizing an attachment module which plugs into the data port on the bottom or external RS-232 port of the cellular phone is described herein. The Module is comprised of: a reinforced plastic enclosure molded to the contour of the cellular phone; an internal printed circuit board containing a micro-processor unit, a memory chip, an I/R interface chip, I/R diodes; a credit card reader head that has been modified to reduce the size of the reader head thickness; a barcode reader; an electronic fingerprint reader interface and an encryption module chip.

Abstract: Indicia may include security threats that, when scanned by a barcode reader, may cause unwanted actions to be performed by a host device communicatively coupled to the barcode reader. To prevent these security threats from affecting the host device, security software running on a processor in the barcode reader or the host device compares the scanned data with items in a threat-signature library. Scanned data that match, at least part of, the threat signature library are blocked from being transmitted to the host device.