Custom functional patterns for optical barcodes

• US 10,068,117 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderton, Landon, Gee, Garrett, Hornberger, Ryan, Ouimet, Kirk, Sheffield, Kameron, Turley, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/491,842
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 235494
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06103 the marking being embedded in a human recognizable image, e.g. a company logo with an embedded two-dimensional code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06131 the marking comprising a target pattern, e.g. for indicating the center of the bar code or for helping a bar code reader to properly orient the scanner or to retrieve the bar code inside of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning

Abstract

Systems and methods for custom functional patterns for optical barcodes are provided. In example embodiments, image data of an image is received from a user device. A candidate shape feature of the image is extracted from the image data. A determination is made that the shape feature satisfies a shape feature rule. In response to the candidate shape feature satisfying the shape feature rule, a custom graphic in the image is identified by comparing the candidate shape feature with a reference shape feature of the custom graphic. In response to identifying the custom graphic, data encoded in a portion of the image is decoded.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a hardware processor coupled to a memory, the hardware processor comprising a communication module;

the communication module to receive a request to generate a scannable image from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the scannable image;

an encoder module to render data marks that encodes the specification of data for detection between a bounding shape that surrounds the data marks and an encircled portion of the scannable image, the encircled portion of the scannable image does not contain the data marks;

the encoder module further to generate the scannable image to include the data marks such that they surround the encircled portion of the scannable image; and

the communication module further to transmit the scannable image to a storage location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the encoder module further to:

identify content associated with the user; and

generate the scannable image to include the content positioned at the encircled portion of the scannable image.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the content includes at least one of:

an image, an animation, or an annotation.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the content is selected by the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the specification of data includes an identifier of the user on a social networking service.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the identifier is a user name of the user on the social networking service.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action is to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the scannable image.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the action is an action performed on a social networking service.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the action performed on the social networking service includes sending a message to the user.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the action is performed locally on a client device without connecting to a server.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors of a machine, a request to generate a scannable image from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the scannable image;

rendering data marks that encode the specification of data for detection between a bounding shape that surrounds the data marks and an encircled portion of the scannable image, the encircled portion of the scannable image does not contain the data marks;

generating the scannable image to include the data marks such that they surround the encircled portion of the scannable image; and

transmitting the scannable image to a storage location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying content associated with the user; and

generating the scannable image to include the content positioned at the encircled portion of the scannable image.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the content includes at least one of:

an image, an animation, or an annotation.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the content is selected by the user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the specification of data includes an identifier of the user on a social networking service.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identifier is a user name of the user on the social networking service.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action is to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the scannable image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the action is an action performed on a social networking service.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the action performed on the social networking service includes sending a message to the user.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the action is performed locally on a client device without connecting to a server.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable storage device embodying instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors of a machine, a request to generate a scannable image from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the scannable image;

rendering data marks that encode the specification of data for detection between a bounding shape that surrounds the data marks and an encircled portion of the scannable image, the encircled portion of the scannable image does not contain the data marks;

generating the scannable image to include the data marks such that they surround the encircled portion of the scannable image; and

transmitting the scannable image to a storage location.

22. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 21, the operations further comprising:

identifying content associated with the user; and

generating the scannable image to include the content positioned at the encircled portion of the scannable image.

23. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 22, wherein the content includes at least one of:

an image, an animation, or an annotation.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 22, wherein the content is selected by the user.

25. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the specification of data includes an identifier of the user on a social networking service.

26. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 25, wherein the identifier is a user name of the user on the social networking service.

27. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 21, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action is to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the scannable image.

28. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the action is an action performed on a social networking service.

29. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 28, wherein the action performed on the social networking service includes sending a message to the user.

30. The non-transitory machine-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein the action is performed locally on a client device without connecting to a server.