Method and system for providing a barcode image over a network

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a barcode image. A client is operable to create a request for a barcode image and send the request to a server. The request comprises data to be converted to a barcode. The server is operable to receive the request from the client via a network, generate a barcode image from the data, and encode the barcode image. Thereafter, the server provides the encoded image to the client.

1 . A method for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 receiving, at a server, a request for a barcode image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode;    generating a barcode image from the data;    encoding the barcode image; and    providing the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 displaying the encoded image on a display associated with the client.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 printing the encoded image at the client.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the printed image is scanned by a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request further comprises barcode format information.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client receives the data from a user of the client.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the client retrieves the data from memory.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 instantiating a barcode generating object;    sending the data to the barcode generating object; and    converting the data to the barcode image.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on barcode format information from the request.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on default format information.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein encoding the barcode image comprises: 
 converting a format of the barcode image to a second format that facilitates printing by the client.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second format is GIF.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file;    downloading a web page to the client, the web page including an indication of a location of the file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 selecting a format for the barcode image; and    converting the data to the barcode image, wherein the barcode image has the selected format.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       17 . A method for providing a dynamic image, comprising: 
 receiving, at a server, a request for a dynamic image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to the dynamic image;    generating the dynamic image from the data;    encoding the dynamic image;    providing the encoded image to the client;    displaying the encoded image using a network browser program; and    printing the encoded image using the network browser program.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 means for receiving, at a server, a request for a barcode image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode;    means for generating a barcode image from the data;    means for encoding the barcode image; and    means for providing the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 means for displaying the encoded image on a display associated with the client.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 means for printing the encoded image at the client.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the printed image is scanned by a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the request further comprises barcode format information.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the client receives the data from a user of the client.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the client retrieves the data from memory.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for generating a barcode image comprises: 
 means for instantiating a barcode generating object;    means for sending the data to the barcode generating object; and    means for converting the data to the barcode image.    
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on barcode format information from the request.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on default format information.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for encoding the barcode image comprises: 
 means for converting a format of the barcode image to a second format that facilitates printing by the client.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the second format is GIF.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for providing the encoded image comprises: 
 means for saving the encoded image to a file; and    means for downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for providing the encoded image comprises: 
 means for saving the encoded image to a file;    means for downloading a web page to the client, the web page including an indication of a location of the file; and    means for downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the means for generating a barcode image comprises: 
 means for selecting a format for the barcode image; and    means for converting the data to the barcode image, wherein the barcode image has the selected format.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       35 . An apparatus for providing a dynamic image, comprising: 
 means for receiving, at a server, a request for a dynamic image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to the dynamic image;    means for generating the dynamic image from the data;    means for encoding the dynamic image;    means for providing the encoded image to the client;    means for displaying the encoded image using a network browser program; and    means for printing the encoded image using the network browser program.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       37 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for providing a barcode image, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a server, a request for a barcode image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode;    generating a barcode image from the data;    encoding the barcode image; and    providing the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 displaying the encoded image on a display associated with the client.    
   
   
       39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 printing the encoded image at the client.    
   
   
       40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 39 , wherein the printed image is scanned by a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the request further comprises barcode format information.  
   
   
       42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the client receives the data from a user of the client.  
   
   
       43 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the client retrieves the data from memory.  
   
   
       44 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 instantiating a barcode generating object;    sending the data to the barcode generating object; and    converting the data to the barcode image.    
   
   
       45 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on barcode format information from the request.  
   
   
       46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on default format information.  
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein encoding the barcode image comprises: 
 converting a format of the barcode image to a second format that facilitates printing by the client.    
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , wherein the second format is GIF.  
   
   
       49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file;    downloading a web page to the client, the web page including an indication of a location of the file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 selecting a format for the barcode image; and    converting the data to the barcode image, wherein the barcode image has the selected format.    
   
   
       52 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       53 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for providing a dynamic image, the method comprising: 
 receiving, at a server, a request for a dynamic image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to the dynamic image;    generating the dynamic image from the data;    encoding the dynamic image;    providing the encoded image to the client;    displaying the encoded image using a network browser program; and    printing the encoded image using the network browser program.    
   
   
       54 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 53 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       55 . A server for providing a barcode image to a client, comprising: 
 a memory having a program that: receives a request for a barcode image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode; generates a barcode image from the data; encodes the barcode image; and provides the encoded image to the client; and    a processor that runs the program.    
   
   
       56 . The server of  claim 55 , the encoded image is displayed on a display associated with the client.  
   
   
       57 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein the encoded image is printed at the client.  
   
   
       58 . The server of  claim 57 , wherein the printed image is scanned by a barcode scanner.  
   
   
       59 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein the request further comprises barcode format information.  
   
   
       60 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein the client receives the data from a user of the client.  
   
   
       61 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein the client retrieves the data from memory.  
   
   
       62 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 instantiating a barcode generating object;    sending the data to the barcode generating object; and    converting the data to the barcode image.    
   
   
       63 . The server of  claim 62 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on barcode format information from the request.  
   
   
       64 . The server of  claim 62 , wherein the barcode generating object is selected based on default format information.  
   
   
       65 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein encoding the barcode image comprises: 
 converting a format of the barcode image to a second format that facilitates printing by the client.    
   
   
       66 . The server of  claim 65 , wherein the second format is GIF.  
   
   
       67 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       68 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein providing the encoded image comprises: 
 saving the encoded image to a file;    downloading a web page to the client, the web page including an indication of a location of the file; and    downloading the file to the client.    
   
   
       69 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein generating a barcode image comprises: 
 selecting a format for the barcode image; and    converting the data to the barcode image, wherein the barcode image has the selected format.    
   
   
       70 . The server of  claim 55 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       71 . A server for providing a dynamic image to a client, comprising: 
 a memory having a program that: receives a request for a dynamic image from a client, the request comprising data to be converted to the dynamic image; generates the dynamic image from the data; encodes the dynamic image; and provides the encoded image to the client; and    a processor that runs the program,    wherein the client displays and prints the encoded image using a network browser program.    
   
   
       72 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a string of data.  
   
   
       73 . A system for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 a network;    a client operable to create a request for a barcode image, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode; and    a server operable to receive the request from the client via the network, generate a barcode image from the data, encode the barcode image, and provide the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       74 . A system for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 a network;    a client operable to receive address information, convert the address information to a delivery code, and create a request for a barcode image, the request including the delivery code as data to be converted to a barcode; and    a server operable to receive the request from the client via the network, generate a barcode image from the data, encode the barcode image, and provide the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       75 . A client for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 a memory having a program that: creates a request for a barcode image, the request comprising data to be converted to a barcode; and provides the request to a server; and    a processor that runs the program,    wherein the server receives the request, generates a barcode image from the data, encodes the barcode image, and provides the encoded image to the client.    
   
   
       76 . A client for providing a barcode image, comprising: 
 a memory having a program that: receives address information; converts the address information to a delivery code; creates a request for a barcode image, the request including the delivery code as data to be converted to a barcode; and provides the request to a server; and    a processor that runs the program,    wherein the server receives the request, generates a barcode image from the data, encodes the barcode image, and provides the encoded image to the client.