Systems and methods for interfacing multiple types of object identifiers and object identifier readers to multiple types of applications

Abstract

A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application is disclosed. The method may include receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader. The object identifier data may include information and formatting characters. The method may then involve identifying the information in the object identifier data. At least one application may then be identified to receive the information. Finally, the information may be sent to the at least one application.

1 . A method for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application, comprising:
 receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters;   identifying the information in the object identifier data;   identifying the at least one application to receive the information; and   sending the information to the at least one application.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the information comprises:
 matching the object identifier data with a pattern, the pattern being associated with one or more instructions for deleting the formatting characters from the object identifier data; and   carrying out the instructions.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are predefined. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a database. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a file. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are downloaded over a network. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method is implemented by a first instance of a software module, and wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are shared between the first instance of the software module and a second instance of the software module. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object identifier data is generated from an object identifier, and further comprising receiving supplemental information about the object identifier. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein identifying the information comprises carrying out instructions associated with the supplemental information. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one application comprises determining a characteristic of the information, and wherein the at least one application is associated with the characteristic. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising formatting the information so that the at least one application can process the information. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein formatting the information comprises:
 determining a characteristic of the information;   determining an object identifier format associated with the application;   identifying formatting instructions associated with the characteristic and the object identifier format; and   formatting the information according to the formatting instructions.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the information to the at least one application comprises sending the information to a communication interface associated with the at least one application. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the object identifier data further comprises unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising discarding the unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising alerting a user that the unidentifiable data has been discarded. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the object identifier data is received at a communication interface, and further comprising sending the unidentifiable data back to the communication interface unmodified. 
   
   
       18 . A system for interfacing an object identifier reader to at least one application, comprising:
 the object identifier reader; and   a computing device comprising:
 a communication interface in electronic communication with the object identifier reader; 
 a processor; 
 memory in electronic communication with the processor; 
 the at least one application stored in the memory; 
 a software module stored in the memory, the software module being configured to implement a method comprising:
 receiving object identifier data from the object identifier reader, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters; 
 identifying the information in the object identifier data; 
 identifying the at least one application to receive the information; and 
 sending the information to the at least one application. 
 
   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein identifying the information comprises:
 matching the object identifier data with a pattern, the pattern being associated with one or more instructions for deleting the formatting characters from the object identifier data; and   carrying out the instructions.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are predefined. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a database. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a file. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are downloaded over a network. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a first instance of the software module implements the method, and wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are shared between the first instance of the software module and a second instance of the software module. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the object identifier data is generated from an object identifier, and further comprising receiving supplemental information about the object identifier. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein identifying the information comprises carrying out instructions associated with the supplemental information. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein identifying the at least one application comprises determining a characteristic of the information, and wherein the at least one application is associated with the characteristic. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises formatting the information so that the at least one application can process the information. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein formatting the information comprises:
 determining a characteristic of the information;   determining an object identifier format associated with the application;   identifying formatting instructions associated with the characteristic and the object identifier format; and   formatting the information according to the formatting instructions.   
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein sending the information to the at least one application comprises sending the information to the communication interface. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the object identifier data further comprises unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the method further comprises discarding the unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the method further comprises alerting a user that the unidentifiable data has been discarded. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the object identifier data is received at the communication interface, and further comprising sending the unidentifiable data back to the communication interface unmodified. 
   
   
       35 . A computer-readable medium for storing program data, wherein the program data comprises executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:
 receiving object identifier data from an object identifier reader, the object identifier data comprising information and formatting characters;   identifying the information in the object identifier data;   identifying at least one application to receive the information; and   sending the information to the at least one application.   
   
   
       36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein identifying the information comprises:
 matching the object identifier data with a pattern, the pattern being associated with one or more instructions for deleting the formatting characters from the object identifier data; and   carrying out the instructions.   
   
   
       37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are predefined. 
   
   
       38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a database. 
   
   
       39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are read from a file. 
   
   
       40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are downloaded over a network. 
   
   
       41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the method is implemented by a first instance of the executable instructions, and wherein the pattern and the one or more instructions are shared between the first instance of the executable instructions and a second instance of the executable instructions. 
   
   
       42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the object identifier data is generated from an object identifier, and wherein the method further comprises receiving supplemental information about the object identifier. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein identifying the information comprises carrying out instructions associated with the supplemental information. 
   
   
       44 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein identifying the at least one application comprises determining a characteristic of the information, and wherein the at least one application is associated with the characteristic. 
   
   
       45 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises formatting the information so that the at least one application can process the information. 
   
   
       46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , wherein formatting the information comprises:
 determining a characteristic of the information;   determining an object identifier format associated with the application;   identifying formatting instructions associated with the characteristic and the object identifier format; and   formatting the information according to the formatting instructions.   
   
   
       47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein sending the information to the at least one application comprises sending the information to a communication interface associated with the at least one application. 
   
   
       48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the object identifier data further comprises unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 48 , wherein the method further comprises discarding the unidentifiable data. 
   
   
       50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 49 , wherein the method further comprises alerting a user that the unidentifiable data has been discarded. 
   
   
       51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 48 , wherein the object identifier data is received at a communication interface, and further comprising sending the unidentifiable data back to the communication interface unmodified.