Method and Apparatus for Communicating Information From a Mobile Digital Device to a Bar Code Scanner

Abstract

Techniques are described for facilitating the reliable communication of information to bar code scanners from mobile digital devices, thereby enabling mobile digital devices to easily access the current commercial infrastructure. These techniques may be used to access many other goods and services in addition to conventional commercial services. The core enabling technology is the use of various elements commonly found on mobile digital devices to provide light that simulate a reflection of a scanning beam being moved across a static bar code image, and to confirm completion of the scan. The control system may interpret the light provided by the mobile digital device as merely a conventional identification type bar code, although the control system may be enhanced to identify and receive other types of information, including identity and credit information.

1 . A method of communicating transmission information from a mobile digital device to a bar code scanner, comprising:
 maintaining the transmission information on the mobile digital device;   generating, in the mobile digital device, a signal to simulate a reflection of a bar code scanner scanning beam being moved across a static visual image of the transmission information in a bar code format; and   transmitting light pulses from the mobile digital device in accordance with the signal.   
     
     
         2 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A mobile digital device comprising:
 a light source;   a stored program component for maintaining the transmission information on the mobile digital device;   a stored program component for generating a signal to simulate a reflection of a scanning beam of a bar code scanner being moved across a static visual image of the transmission information in a bar code format; and   a stored program component for transmitting light pulses from the light source in accordance with the signal.   
     
     
         37 - 60 . (canceled)