Prior art

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent 5,602,377

As a senior US patent analyst, I have identified and reviewed the most relevant prior art cited during the examination of U.S. Patent 5,602,377. Below is a detailed analysis of each key reference, its relevance, and the specific claims of patent 5,602,377 that it could potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

The following documents were cited by the examiner during the prosecution of the application for U.S. Patent 5,602,377 and are listed on the face of the issued patent.

U.S. Patent 4,874,936

• Full Citation: Allais, D., et al., "Two-Dimensional Bar Code and Method of Encoding and Decoding," U.S. Patent 4,874,936, filed May 13, 1988, and issued October 17, 1989.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a method and apparatus for encoding data into a two-dimensional bar code symbol, which consists of a stacked series of linear bar codes. It describes the structure of the symbol, including start and stop characters and row identifiers, to allow for high-density data storage. The '936 patent is foundational in the area of stacked, or multi-row, bar codes.
• Potential Anticipation: This patent is primarily relevant to the generation and structure of a 2D bar code. While it teaches the encoding of data into a two-dimensional format, it does not explicitly disclose the combination of scanning an existing bar code, retrieving data from a remote source, and then printing a new, modified 2D bar code label. Therefore, it would not, on its own, anticipate the entirety of independent claims 1, 8, or 14. However, it provides strong prior art for the concept of encoding and printing a two-dimensional bar code, which is a key element of these claims.

U.S. Patent 5,243,655

• Full Citation: Wang, Y., "Two-Dimensional Bar Code and the Method for Encoding and Decoding the Same," U.S. Patent 5,243,655, filed July 31, 1991, and issued September 7, 1993.
• Brief Description: This patent, by one of the inventors of US 5,602,377, describes a specific two-dimensional bar code symbology (PDF417). It details a method for encoding large amounts of data into a portable data file that can be printed as a 2D bar code. The technology is designed to be a self-contained data file, carrying significant information beyond a simple identifier.
• Potential Anticipation: Similar to the '936 patent, the '655 patent provides extensive detail on the creation and structure of a 2D bar code. It anticipates the "encoding" and "printing" steps for a two-dimensional bar code as recited in claims 1, 8, and 14. However, it does not describe the initial steps of scanning a first bar code, combining its data with additional data (especially from a remote source), and then generating a new, modified label. Its focus is on the symbology itself, not the workflow of modifying existing product identification.

U.S. Patent 5,286,960

• Full Citation: Longacre, Jr., A., et al., "System for Generating High Density Machine Readable Labels," U.S. Patent 5,286,960, filed October 23, 1992, and issued February 15, 1994.
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a system for generating labels that include high-density, two-dimensional bar codes. The system takes data from a host computer, formats it, and prints it onto a label. It contemplates the inclusion of various types of information into the bar code, making the label a portable data record.
• Potential Anticipation: The '960 patent describes a system that retrieves data from a host computer (which could be considered a remote database) and encodes it into a 2D bar code for printing on a label. This anticipates the elements of retrieving "additional data" and printing a 2D label as found in claims 1, 8, and 14. However, a key distinction is that the '960 patent does not appear to teach the initial step of scanning a pre-existing bar code on a product and incorporating that scanned data into the new label. This omission of the "scan-modify-print" workflow means it would likely not fully anticipate the independent claims.

U.S. Patent 5,304,786

• Full Citation: Pavlidis, T., et al., "Method for Encoding and Decoding Two-Dimensional Bar Code," U.S. Patent 5,304,786, filed December 2, 1992, and issued April 19, 1994.
• Brief Description: This reference describes another method for creating 2D bar codes, focusing on a specific symbology that is robust and can be read even when partially damaged. It details the encoding process to generate the machine-readable symbol.
• Potential Anticipation: Like the other 2D bar code patents ('936 and '655), this reference is strong prior art for the technical steps of encoding data into a two-dimensional format (claims 1(d), 8(g), 14(c)(ii)). It does not, however, disclose the complete method of scanning an initial bar code and combining that data with other information to create a new, modified bar code. Therefore, it does not anticipate the independent claims in their entirety.

U.S. Patent 5,354,977

• Full Citation: Roustaei, A., "Portable Data-File System and Method," U.S. Patent 5,354,977, filed June 24, 1993, and issued October 11, 1994.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a portable data file, such as a 2D bar code, is used to carry information. The system includes a terminal with a scanner and a printer. It describes reading a bar code, processing the data, and potentially creating a new bar code. The context is often for transactions, where a bar code might be updated with new information.
• Potential Anticipation: The '977 patent is arguably the most relevant piece of prior art. It discloses a portable device with a scanner, processor, and printer. It teaches reading a data file (bar code), potentially modifying the information, and creating a new one. This combination of scanning and then printing a new bar code closely aligns with the core process of US 5,602,377. It could be argued to anticipate the general method of claims 1 and 8. It also describes an apparatus similar to that in claim 14. However, a detailed analysis would be required to determine if it explicitly teaches the combination of scanned data with additional data retrieved from a remote source to create the new bar code, which is a specific limitation in the independent claims of patent 5,602,377. The strength of an anticipation argument would depend on how broadly a "host computer" or internal memory in the '977 patent is interpreted relative to the "remote device" and "database" language in patent 5,602,377.

Summary of Prior Art Analysis

The prior art cited against U.S. Patent 5,602,377 establishes that the concept of encoding data into a 2D bar code and printing it on a label was well-known. Patents like '936, '655, and '786 provide a strong foundation for the technical implementation of 2D symbologies. The '960 patent adds the element of retrieving data from a host computer to be included in the bar code. The '977 patent comes closest to describing the full "scan-process-print" workflow with a portable device.

The novelty of U.S. Patent 5,602,377, therefore, resides in the specific, claimed combination of all the steps:

1. Scanning a first bar code on a product.
2. Combining data from that first bar code with additional data.
3. Specifically retrieving at least some of that additional data from a remote database via communication circuitry.
4. Encoding this combined data set into a new 2D bar code.
5. Printing the new 2D bar code onto a label to be affixed to the product.

While the '977 patent is close, the explicit requirement to retrieve data from a remote device to be combined with the initially scanned data appears to be the key distinguishing feature upon which the patent was likely granted. No single reference appears to disclose this complete, integrated workflow as claimed.