Optical barcodes without orientation

• US 10,146,971 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2017
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Cansizoglu, Omer, Ouimet, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D
• Application Number:
  US15/458,670
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 23546211, 23546208, 23546209, 2354621, 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 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore

Abstract

Systems and methods for using optical barcodes without orientation for information access are provided. In example embodiments, a computer accesses an image including data encoded within a geometric shape. The computer decodes, for each of a plurality of orientations of the geometric shape, a first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape. The computer determines that, for one of the plurality of orientations, the first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape decodes to a predefined number. The computer determines that the one of the plurality of orientations is an intended orientation for the geometric shape. The computer decodes, based on the intended orientation of the geometric shape, a second portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape. The computer accesses, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded second portion of the data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

decoding, for each of a plurality of orientations of a geometric shape represented by an image, a corresponding plurality of first portions of data encoded within the geometric shape, each of the first portions located at a constant position relative to a corresponding top left corner of the geometric shape when the geometric shape is at the corresponding orientation;

determining that, for one of the plurality of orientations, the corresponding first portion decodes to a predefined number;

decoding, based on the determined one orientation, a second portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded second portion of the data; and

presenting, at a display device of the computing device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decoding, based on the one orientation of the geometric shape, a third portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape; and

applying error correction to the decoded second portion of the data using the decoded third portion of the data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the data comprises 16 bits, the second portion of the data comprises 128 bits, and the third portion of the data comprises 60 bits.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that, for each and every one of the plurality of orientations, the first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape does not decode to the predefined number; and

presenting, at the display device of the computing device, a graphical output indicating that the geometric shape lacks data corresponding to the resource.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein the plurality of orientations comprise four orientations with an upward direction being parallel or perpendicular to a side of the rectangle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the image comprises:

accessing the image via a camera of the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the data and the second portion of the data are decoded simultaneously.

8. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

decoding, for each of a plurality of orientations of a geometric shape represented by an image, a corresponding plurality of first portions of data encoded within the geometric shape, each of the first portions located at a constant position relative to a corresponding toy left corner of the geometric shave when the geometric shape is at the corresponding orientation;

determining that, for one of the plurality of orientations, the corresponding first portion decodes to a predefined number;

decoding, based on the determined one orientation, a second portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded second portion of the data; and

presenting, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

decoding, based on the one orientation of the geometric shape, a third portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape; and

applying error correction to the decoded second portion of the data using the decoded third portion of the data.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the data comprises 16 bits, the second portion of the data comprises 128 bits, and the third portion of the data comprises 60 bits.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, the operations further comprising:

determining that, for each and every one of the plurality of orientations, the first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape does not decode to the predefined number; and

presenting, at the display device, a graphical output indicating that the geometric shape lacks data corresponding to the resource.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein the plurality of orientations comprise four orientations with an upward direction being parallel or perpendicular to a side of the rectangle.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein accessing the image comprises:

accessing the image via a camera.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the data and the second portion of the data are decoded simultaneously.

15. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

decoding, for each of a plurality of orientations of a geometric shape represented by an image, a corresponding plurality of first portions of data encoded within the geometric shape, each of the first portions located at a constant position relative to a corresponding top left corner of the geometric shape when the geometric shape is at the corresponding orientation;

determining that, for one of the plurality of orientations, the first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape decodes to a predefined number;

decoding, based on the determined one orientation of the geometric shape, a second portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded second portion of the data; and

presenting, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

16. The system of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

decoding, based on the determined one orientation of the geometric shape, a third portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape; and

applying error correction to the decoded second portion of the data using the decoded third portion of the data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the data comprises 16 bits, the second portion of the data comprises 128 bits, and the third portion of the data comprises 60 bits.

18. The system of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

determining that, for each and every one of the plurality of orientations, the first portion of the data encoded within the geometric shape does not decode to the predefined number; and

presenting, at the display device, a graphical output indicating that the geometric shape lacks data corresponding to the resource.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein the plurality of orientations comprise four orientations with an upward direction being parallel or perpendicular to a side of the rectangle.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein accessing the image comprises:

accessing the image via a camera.