Systems and methods for animating barcodes

• US 8,186,572 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barcode Graphics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Barcode Graphics Inc.
• Inventors: Herzig, John
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/497,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20110000958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/462.01, 235/462.05, 23546209- 11, 235/462.45, 235/472
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1093 sensing, after transfer of the image of the data-field to an intermediate store, e.g. storage with cathode ray tube

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for communicating encoded information using barcodes. Symbologies that permit linking of two or more barcodes may be used to create animated linked barcodes, in which successive barcodes in the series that encodes a string of information are displayed within a display area of a dynamic medium. Barcode animations may be displayed in webpages, television broadcasts, video media, favicons, etc.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information, the method comprising:

storing a series of two or more linked barcodes, wherein the information is encoded within the series of two or more linked barcodes; and

displaying each of the barcodes in the series successively at different times within a same defined area in a dynamic media, wherein said displaying step includes the step of indicating a transition between successive barcodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the barcodes are 2-dimensional barcodes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the series of two or more linked barcodes comprise a file containing an image for each barcode, wherein the file is configured to display as an animation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the file comprises an animated GIF.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein each 2-dimensional barcode includes a finder pattern, and wherein the step of indicating a transition between successive barcodes comprises displaying each barcode rotated in orientation relative to the previously displayed barcode.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing step includes storing a first series of two or more linked barcodes of a first symbology and storing a second series of two or more linked barcodes of a second symbology, and the displaying step comprises successively displaying each of the barcodes of the first series and the second series.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of indicating a transition between successive barcodes comprises displaying the first series interleaved with the second series.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic media is a mark-up language document.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic media is a graphical user interface within a mobile phone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic media comprises a television broadcast.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein storing includes storing as an animated favicon and wherein displaying comprises displaying the animated favicon within a web browser.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating a transition between successive barcodes comprises interleaving one of whitespace, black space, and an image between each of the barcodes in the series.

13. A method of providing encoded information, the method comprising:

receiving an information string;

encoding the information string within a series of two or more linked barcodes; and

storing the series of two or more linked barcodes as an animation configured to display each of the barcodes in the series successively at different times, wherein the animation is configured to indicate a transition between successive barcodes in the series.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the barcodes are 2-dimensional barcodes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the animation comprises a file containing an image for each barcode, wherein the file is configured to display as an animation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the file comprises an animated GIF.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each 2-dimensional barcode includes a finder pattern, and wherein the animation is configured to indicate a transition by displaying each barcode rotated in orientation relative to the previously displayed barcode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the encoding step includes encoding the information string as a first series of two or more linked barcodes of a first symbology and encoding the information string as a second series of two or more linked barcodes of a second symbology, and wherein the storing step includes storing the first series and the second series as the animation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the animation is configured to indicate a transition by interleaving the barcodes of the first series with the barcodes of the second series to generate an interleaved series, and wherein the file is configured to successively display each of the barcodes of the interleaved series.

20. The method of claim 13, further including embedding the animation within a television broadcast.

21. The method of claim 13, further including embedding the animation as an animated GIF within a webpage.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the transition between successive barcodes comprises interleaving one of whitespace, black space, and an image between each of the barcodes in the series.

23. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions for configuring a processor, wherein the computer-readable instructions comprise:

instructions defining a series of two or more linked barcodes, wherein information is encoded within the series of two or more linked barcodes; and

instructions for displaying each of the barcodes in the series successively at different times within a same defined area in a dynamic media, wherein said displaying includes indicating a transition between successive barcodes.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein indicating a transition between successive barcodes comprises interleaving one of whitespace, black space, and an image between each of the barcodes in the series.