US 5243655

Analysis of U.S. Patent 5,243,655

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

Overview

This report provides a summary of United States Patent 5,243,655, titled "System for encoding and decoding data in machine readable graphic form." The analysis is based on the full text of the patent as filed and issued.

Key Patent Information

• Title: System for encoding and decoding data in machine readable graphic form
• Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
• Inventor: Ynjiun P. Wang
• Filing Date: March 16, 1992
• Issue Date: September 7, 1993
• Abstract: The patent describes a system for representing and recognizing data in a machine-readable graphic image format. Data is encoded into a two-dimensional bar code symbol, which is then printed on a carrier like a card or paper. A recognition device scans the image, converting it into electrical signals. A low-level decoder processes these signals to reconstruct the data by identifying and organizing codewords within the two-dimensional symbol into a matrix. A high-level decoder then translates these codeword values back into the original data, which can be used by various applications.

Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 5,243,655 contains several independent claims that define the core of the invention. Below is a simplified explanation of each:

Claim 1: This claim describes a comprehensive system for handling machine-readable data. The system has two main parts: an "encoding means" and a "recognition means."

• The encoding means takes data, converts it into a two-dimensional graphic pattern (like a 2D barcode), and then prints this pattern onto a physical object, such as a card or a document. This process involves a processor that generates the correct signals for a printer or a similar device to create the image.
• The recognition means is responsible for reading this printed pattern. It uses a scanner to capture the image and turn it into electrical signals. A decoder then interprets these signals to retrieve the original data.

Claim 16: This claim focuses on the "recognition means" part of the system, specifically for decoding a two-dimensional bar code symbol. The process it outlines is as follows:

• First, a scanner reads the bar code, producing lines of data.
• A "low-level decoder" then takes a line of scanned data and identifies the individual "codewords" (the small, distinct parts of the barcode that represent pieces of data). It also identifies a special "row indicator" codeword that contains information about the row's position in the overall symbol.
• Using the information from the row indicator and the unique characteristics of the codewords in that row (their "cluster"), the system assigns a row number to each codeword.
• Finally, it places these identified codewords into a two-dimensional grid or matrix, effectively reconstructing the original data structure of the symbol.

Claim 26: This claim details a method for decoding a two-dimensional bar code. It's essentially the process described in Claim 16, but framed as a series of steps:

1. Scan the 2D barcode to get a line of data.
2. Decode this line of data to extract the values of the individual codewords, including at least one row indicator.
3. Assign a row number to each codeword based on the row indicator and the codeword's "cluster."
4. Organize the decoded codewords into a two-dimensional matrix according to their assigned row numbers.

Claim 35: This claim describes a specific type of data carrier created by the system. This carrier, which could be a card, a label, or a document, has two types of information on it:

• A two-dimensional pattern of machine-readable symbols that encode a first set of data.
• Human-readable text or graphics that represent a second set of data.

Both the machine-readable pattern and the human-readable information are generated by the same system and transferred onto the carrier.

Litigation Status

A search of the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) dockets for the year 2026 was conducted for any cases involving U.S. Patent 5,243,655. No relevant litigation was found within the available data for this period. However, it is noted that this patent has been involved in litigation in the past, as indicated by historical records.

Disclaimer: This summary is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation of patent claims can be complex and may require consultation with a qualified patent attorney.