Apparatus and method for data-tag based object-to-object applications

• US 20150082329A1
• Filed: 08/17/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lidong Qu
• Original Assignee: Lidong Qu
• Inventors: Qu, Lidong
• Granted Patent: US 9,560,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/237 Communication with additional data server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for data tagging in the field of computer technologies. In this method, a user terminal acquires tag data, obtains information about services and functions associated with the tag data, then interacts with target servers to exchange service and function information, and fulfills appropriate services and functions to complete the business application. The disclosed data tagging method and system allow user terminal to interact with directly target servers that are associated with relevant services and functions, which allows functions to be realized in distributed target servers, which simplifies the implementations of tag data, reducing the cost to setting servers. The disclosed data tagging methods allow more extensive applications of data tagging, improved user experiences, simplified processes, and lower costs.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A computer-implemented method for providing services using data tags, comprising:

acquiring an image of a data tag by a user terminal in communication with a data-tag server;

obtaining service and function information related to an application service from the data tag by the data-tag server, wherein the service and function information defines tasks required to fulfill the application service as well as target servers to conduct the respective tasks;

enabling the user terminal to directly communicate with a group of distributed target servers about the application service; and

enabling the group of distributed target servers to conduct the tasks defined in the service and function information to fulfill the application service.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the data tag comprises a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, a two-dimensional barcode, a data matrix code, a QR code, or a three-dimensional code.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the step of obtaining comprises decoding the data tag to obtain the service and function information related to application services.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the data-tag server is configured to generate the data tag that encodes the service and function information to specify the application service.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user terminal receives the service and function information and information about the group of target servers from the data-tag server.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the information about the group of target servers comprises application programming interface (API), parameters, and protocol associated with the group of target servers.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the information about the group of target servers is defined in a Software Development Kit.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing the user terminal to select at least a portion of the service and function information, wherein the group of distributed target servers conducts the tasks based on the selected portion of the service and function information.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing the user terminal to select to communicate with the group of distributed target servers in sequential order or parallel order, wherein the user terminal directly communicates with the group of distributed target servers in the selected sequential order or the selected parallel order.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the group of distributed target servers includes at least one of a location server, a purchase-method selection server, or an order server, the method further comprising:

determining a location of the user terminal;

allowing the user terminal to select a purchase method by the purchase-method selection server;

providing different pricing information from the purchase-method selection server to the user terminal based on the selected purchase method; and

processing, by the order server, an order submitted from the user terminal, wherein the order is fulfilled based in part on the location of the user terminal.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the group of target servers comprises an authentication server, a permission server, or a payment server, the method further comprising:

allowing the data tag to be displayed on a television device controlled by a TV set-top box;

authenticating an identification associated the TV set-top box by the authentication server; and

based on the step of authentication, permitting a TV service to be provided to the TV set-top box by the permission server.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving payment from the user terminal by the payment server, wherein the TV service is permitted to be provided to the TV set-top box by the permission server after the payment is received.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user terminal includes a mobile phone or a tablet computer.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the decoding step is conducted by the data-tag server.

26. A computer system for providing services using data tags, comprising:

a data-tag server in communication with a user terminal, wherein the user terminal is configured to acquire an image of a data tag, wherein the data-tag server is configured to obtain service and function information related to an application service from the data tag,

wherein the service and function information defines tasks required to fulfill the application service as well as target servers to conduct the respective tasks,

wherein the user terminal is configured to directly communicates with a group of distributed target servers about the application service,

wherein the group of distributed target servers are configured to conduct the tasks defined in the service and function information to fulfill the application service.

27. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the data tag comprises a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, a two-dimensional barcode, a data matrix code, a QR code, or a three-dimensional code.

28. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the data-tag server is configured to generate the data tag that encodes the service and function information to specify the application service.

29. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the data-tag server is configured to send the service and function information and information about the group of target servers to the user terminal, wherein the information about the group of target servers comprises application programming interface (API), parameters, and protocol associated with the group of target servers.

30. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the group of distributed target servers includes at least one of a location server, a purchase-method selection server, or an order server, wherein the location server is configured to determine a location of the user terminal, wherein the purchase-method selection server is configured to allow the user terminal to select a purchase method by the purchase-method selection server and to provide different pricing information from the purchase-method selection server to the user terminal based on the selected purchase method, wherein the order server is configured to process an order submitted from the user terminal, wherein the order is fulfilled based in part on the location of the user terminal.

31. The computer system of claim 26, wherein the group of target servers comprises an authentication server, a permission server, or a payment server, wherein the data tag is displayed on a television device controlled by a TV set-top box, wherein the authentication server is configured to authenticate an identification associated the TV set-top box, wherein the permission server is configured to permit a TV service to be provided to the TV set-top box based on the authentication, wherein the payment server is configured to receive payment from the user terminal, wherein the TV service is permitted to be provided to the TV set-top box by the permission server after the payment is received.

32. A computer apparatus for providing services using data tags, comprising:

a tag data acquisition module configured to acquire an image of a data tag by a user terminal in communication with a data-tag server;

a tag data parsing module configured to parse data tag, wherein service and function information related to an application service is obtained from the data tag by the data-tag server, wherein the service and function information defines tasks required to fulfill the application service as well as target servers to conduct the respective tasks;

an interaction control module to directly communicate with a group of distributed target servers about the application service, which enables the group of distributed target servers to conduct the tasks defined in the service and function information to fulfill the application service.

33. The computer apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a selection control module configured to select at least a portion of the service and function information, wherein the group of distributed target servers conducts the tasks based on the selected portion of the service and function information.

34. The computer apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a sequence control module configured to select whether to directly communicate with the group of distributed target servers in sequential order or parallel order, wherein the user terminal directly communicates with the group of distributed target servers in the selected sequential order or the selected parallel order.

35. The computer apparatus of claim 32, wherein the interaction control module is configured to receive the service and function information and information about the group of target servers from the data-tag server, wherein the information about the group of target servers comprises application programming interface (API), parameters, and protocol associated with the group of target servers.

37. The computer apparatus of claim 32, wherein the group of distributed target servers includes at least one of a location server, a purchase-method selection server, or an order server, wherein the location server is configured to determine a location of the user terminal, wherein the purchase-method selection server is configured to allow the user terminal to select a purchase method by the purchase-method selection server and to provide different pricing information from the purchase-method selection server to the user terminal based on the selected purchase method, wherein the order server is configured to process an order submitted from the user terminal, wherein the order is fulfilled based in part on the location of the user terminal.

38. The computer apparatus of claim 32, wherein the group of target servers comprises an authentication server, a permission server, or a payment server, wherein the data tag is displayed on a television device controlled by a TV set-top box, wherein the authentication server is configured to authenticate an identification associated the TV set-top box, wherein the permission server is configured to permit a TV service to be provided to the TV set-top box based on the authentication, wherein the user terminal is configured to send a payment to the payment server, wherein the TV service is permitted to be provided to the TV set-top box by the permission server after the payment is received.