Multi-Mode Barcode Resolution System

• US 20120325902A1
• Filed: 08/19/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VeriSign, Inc.
• Inventors: Goyal, Neel, Kelly, Patricia, Schonfeld, Daniel, Kumar Dash, Pranab
• Granted Patent: US 9,022,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1404 Methods for optical code recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating and resolving multi-mode barcodes comprise: inputting graphical data representing a barcode pattern into memory; translating the graphical data into barcode information according to a standard for translating a particular type of barcode pattern into barcode information; detecting the presence of multiple, distinct data items of different types in the barcode information, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by the scanning device; identifying a data item in the barcode information for which the scanning device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item; and performing the action specified by the data item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a multi-mode barcode, the barcode comprising:

inputting a plurality of data items into memory, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by a scanning device;

generating barcode information comprising the plurality of data items, wherein the barcode information includes a multi-mode identifier indicating that the barcode information includes more than one type of data item; and

generating a barcode pattern, wherein the barcode pattern represents a machine-readable, graphical representation of the barcode information according to a standard for translating barcode information to barcode patterns associated with a particular type of barcode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the barcode information further comprises one or more preference order identifiers indicating an order in which the scanning device should perform the actions associated with the plurality of data items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of data items comprises at least a first data item having a first type and a second data item having a second type;

the first type and/or the second type is one of a web address, plain text, an email address, a text message, an image, a sound, an SMS text message, or an MMS text message; and

the first type differs from the second type.

4. A system for generating a multi-mode barcode, the system comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the computer-readable media store instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

inputting a plurality of data items into memory, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by a scanning device;

generating barcode information comprising the plurality of data items, wherein the barcode information includes a multi-mode identifier indicating that the barcode information includes more than one type of data item; and

generating a barcode pattern, wherein the barcode pattern represents a machine-readable, graphical representation of the barcode information according to a standard for translating barcode information to barcode patterns associated with a particular type of barcode.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the barcode information further comprises one or more preference order identifiers indicating an order in which the scanning device should perform the actions associated with the plurality of data items.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of data items comprises at least a first data item having a first type and a second data item having a second type;

the first type and/or the second type is one of a web address, plain text, an email address, a text message, an image, a sound, an SMS text message, or an MMS text message; and

the first type differs from the second type.

7. A computer-implemented method performed at least in part by a scanning device comprising an optical scanner, a processor system, and a memory, the method comprising:

inputting graphical data representing a barcode pattern into memory;

translating the graphical data into barcode information according to a standard for translating a particular type of barcode pattern into barcode information;

detecting the presence of multiple, distinct data items of different types in the barcode information, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by the scanning device;

identifying a data item in the barcode information for which the scanning device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item; and

performing the action specified by the data item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the barcode information further comprises one or more preference order identifiers indicating an order in which the scanning device should perform the actions associated with the plurality of data items.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

accessing a preference order from memory, the preference order indicating an order in which actions are to be taken by the scanning device according to a ranking of data item types; and

performing the action specified by a data item in the plurality of data items having a type corresponding to a highest ranking in the preference order.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

prompting a user to select an action to take from among the actions specified by the plurality of data items;

receiving an indication of a user selection of a particular action; and

performing the particular action selected by the user.

11. A scanning device comprising:

an optical scanning component configured to detect graphical barcode information;

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the computer-readable media store instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

inputting graphical data representing a barcode pattern into memory;

translating the graphical data into barcode information according to a standard for translating a particular type of barcode pattern into barcode information;

detecting the presence of multiple, distinct data items of different types in the barcode information, wherein each data item specifies an action to be taken by the scanning device;

identifying a data item in the barcode information for which the scanning device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item; and

performing the action specified by the data item.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the barcode information further comprises one or more preference order identifiers indicating an order in which the scanning device should perform the actions associated with the plurality of data items.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations specified by the computer-readable media further comprise:

accessing a preference order from memory, the preference order indicating an order in which actions are to be taken by the scanning device according to a ranking of data item types; and

performing the action specified by a data item in the plurality of data items having a type corresponding to a highest ranking in the preference order.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations specified by the computer-readable media further comprise:

prompting a user to select an action to take from among the actions specified by the plurality of data items;

receiving an indication of a user selection of a particular action; and

performing the particular action selected by the user.

15. A computer-implemented method performed at least in part by a processor, the method comprising:

receiving a communication from a scanning device specifying at least part of the contents of a barcode;

based on the contents of the barcode, determining one or more actions associated with the barcode;

transmitting the one or more actions associated with the barcode to the scanning device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving information from the scanning device reflecting capabilities of the scanning device; and

transmitting to the scanning device only actions associated with the barcode that are consistent with the capabilities of the scanning device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting the one or more actions associated with the barcode to the scanning device in a manner that allows the scanning device or a user associated with the scanning device to select an action to take.

18. A system for resolving a multi-mode barcode, the system comprising:

a processing system comprising one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more computer-readable media, wherein the computer-readable media store instructions that, when executed by the processing system, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

receiving a communication from a scanning device specifying at least part of the contents of a barcode;

based on the contents of the barcode, determining one or more actions associated with the barcode;

transmitting the one or more actions associated with the barcode to the scanning device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the operations specified by the computer-readable media further comprise:

receiving information from the scanning device reflecting capabilities of the scanning device; and

transmitting to the scanning device only actions associated with the barcode that are consistent with the capabilities of the scanning device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the operations specified by the computer-readable media further comprise:

transmitting the one or more actions associated with the barcode to the scanning device in a manner that allows the scanning device or a user associated with the scanning device to select an action to take.