Apparatus and method for using machine-readable codes

• US 8,646,691 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cok, Ronald Steven, Murray, Thomas Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US13/231,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 235/435, 235/462.11, 235/462.24, 235/462.41, 235/454, 235/462.25
• US Class Current: 235/462.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned

Abstract

A method of using a machine-readable code to extract information includes using an image-capture device to capture a digital image of a machine-readable code encoding information wherein the image-capture device is positioned at any of a plurality of angles relative to the machine-readable code; using a processor to extract the information encoded in the machine-readable code; using the processor to analyze the captured digital image of the machine-readable code and calculate the relative positioned angle at which the image-capture device was positioned when the image-capture device captured the digital image of the machine-readable code; and using the processor and the calculated relative positioned angle to determine information.

Claims

1. A method of using a machine-readable code to extract information, comprising:

capturing, by an image-capture device, a digital image of a machine-readable code that encodes information, wherein the image-capture device is positioned at any of a plurality of angles relative to the machine-readable code;

extracting, by a processor, the information from the machine-readable code, wherein the extracted information includes a web page address;

analyzing, by the processor, the captured digital image of the machine-readable code to calculate an angle at which the image-capture device was positioned with respect to the machine-readable code when the image-capture device captured the digital image of the machine-readable code;

determining, by the processor, information related to the extracted information, wherein the determined information is specific to the calculated angle, and wherein the determined information includes an argument to a web page associated with the web page address; and

modifying, by the processor, the extracted information using the determined information, wherein the modification and the determined information are based upon the calculated angle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined information provides additional information related to the extracted information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined information relates to information found in an external source.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined information provides access to further information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracted information provides access to information stored in an external source.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determined information comprises an action and the extracted information comprises information relevant to the action.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracted information comprises an action and the determined information comprises information relevant to the action.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracted information or the determined information specifies a task, and further comprising performing the task.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the angle includes one or more of a normal angle, a left angle, a right angle, an above angle, and a below angle.

10. An apparatus for a machine-readable code to extract information, comprising:

an image capture device configured to capture, at any of a plurality of angles, a digital image of a machine-readable code that encodes information; and

a processor operatively coupled to the image capture device, wherein the processor is configured to;

extract the encoded information from the captured digital image, wherein the extracted information includes a web page address;

analyze the captured digital image to calculate an angle at which the machine-readable code was positioned relative to the image-capture device when the image-capture device captured the digital image of the machine-readable code;

determine information related to the extracted information, wherein the determined information is specific to the calculated angle, and wherein the determined information includes an argument to a web page associated with the web page address; and

modify the extracted information using the determined information, wherein the modification and the determined information are based upon the calculated angle.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to perform a task specified by the extracted information and to use the determined information to perform the task.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to perform a task specified by the determined information and to use the extracted information to perform the task.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to perform a task selected from a group of tasks, and wherein the task is performed based at least in part on the determined information.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to access external information using the extracted information and the determined information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the angle includes one or more of a normal angle, a left angle, a right angle, an above angle, and a below angle.