System for scanable icon detection and management

• US 8,667,539 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ted Elliott Hartson
• Original Assignee: Symbol Shifters LLC
• Inventors: Hartson, Ted Elliott, Brown, Elijah Ethan, Ciciora, Walter Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/555,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088

Abstract

This invention enables Scanable Icons, which may be predetermined graphical images, and similar encoded information to be applied to video systems in a manner that is user-friendly and brings many of the advantages of easy information access and management to the video environment. The optical path normally required when using such encoded information is avoided. Supplementary information, including more details for advertisements, is provided in a non-invasive manner, allowing the user to access the supplementary information at convenient times and locations. The Scanable Icon adds a symbol to the existing advertisement without increasing its duration. Advertising is made substantially more effective for the advertiser and more useful for the consumer.

Claims

1. A system for managing information relating to scannable icon data, the scannable icon data included in analog video signals or digital video signals, the scannable icon data generated by and received from a source provider, the system comprising:

a. a data stream processor configured to receive and process one or more of the analog video signals or digital video signals and, in the case of analog video signals, to convert portions of the analog video signals to digital format and to provide a first digital video data stream corresponding to at least some converted portions of the analog video signals;

b. a video decoder coupled to the data stream processor configured to decode digital video signals received from the data stream processor in order to provide a second digital video data stream;

c. a graphical image detector coupled to the data stream processor and to the video decoder and configured to receive the first digital video data stream from the data stream processor or the second digital video data stream from the video decoder, and to automatically and autonomously detect, in the first digital video data stream or second digital video data stream, scannable icon data corresponding to a scannable icon, the scannable icon data configured for generation of a scannable icon for presentation on a video display, the scannable icon including at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor, the scannable icon capable of being scanned from the video display by a mobile device to produce at least an address configured to allow the mobile device automatically to access content on the internet;

the graphical image detector configured to detect the scannable icon data by comparing pixels in a bitmap in recognition-aid precursor data in the scannable icon data, the recognition-aid precursor data corresponding to the at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor in scannable icon;

d. a graphical image decoder configured to receive scannable icon data from the graphical image detector and to decode the scannable icon data to decoded data that includes at least (1) an address configured to allow access to content on the internet; and

(2) collateral information that includes at least one of channel source, unique identifier and timestamp; and

e. a first library configured to receive, from the graphical image decoder, the decoded data and to store the decoded data, the first library also configured to receive ancillary information, the ancillary information relevant to the analog or digital video signal that includes the scannable icon data.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the video decoder is configured to demodulate portions of the analog video signals from the data stream processor.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary information includes information relating to the analog video signal or digital video signal in which the scannable icon data is included;

the time that the scannable icon data occurred in the signal; and

a program identification relating to a program within which the scannable icon data occurred.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the lookup table is configured to receive from a multiple channel video provider information relating to detection parameters for one or more different types of graphical images that include coded data sequences.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the scannable icon is a two dimensional coded image.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the scannable icon is a one dimensional coded image.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the scannable icon is a quick response code.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the graphical image detector is configured to conduct error correction on a coded data sequence included in the scannable icon data, and to provide information related to the error correction in order to indicate figure of goodness for a transmission path of the scannable icon data.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is included in a subscriber unit and the data stream processor is configured to receive and process one or more analog or digital video signals from a video provider.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is included in a processing facility of a video provider.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes a video replacement generator that is configured to receive signals from the video decoder and information contained in the first library, and to provide signals that contain a replacement scannable icon data.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes a video replacement generator that is configured to receive signals from the video decoder and to provide signals that do not contain scannable icon data.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes a video replacement generator that is configured to receive signals from the video decoder and to provide signals that contain indicia to indicate that scannable icon data has been provided to the first library.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is configured to provide a video data stream that replicates at least some signals provided by a video provider.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is configured to provide at least some of the scannable icon data via wired or wireless connection.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is included in a user unit and is configured to provide coupon information in the scannable icon data for output to a printer, smartphone, wireless device, or privilege fob.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system is included in a user unit and the first library is configured to provide at least some of the scannable icon data and ancillary information relating to the scannable icon data to a user device for searching and use by a user.

18. A system for managing information relating to scannable icon data, the scannable icon data included in analog video signals or digital video signals, the scannable icon data generated by and received from a source provider, the system comprising:

a. a data stream processor configured to receive and process one or more of the analog video signals or digital video signals and, in the case of analog video signals, to convert portions of the analog video signals to digital format and to provide a first digital video data stream corresponding to at least some converted portions of the analog video signals;

b. a video decoder coupled to the data stream processor configured to decode digital video signals received from the data stream processor in order to provide a second digital video data stream;

c. a graphical image detector coupled to the data stream processor and to the video decoder and configured to receive a the first digital video data stream from the data stream processor or the second digital video data stream from the video decoder, and to automatically and autonomously detect, in the first digital video data stream or second digital video data stream, scannable icon data corresponding to a scannable icon, the scannable icon data configured for generation of a scannable icon for presentation on a video display, the scannable icon including at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor, the scannable icon capable of being scanned from the video display by a mobile device to produce at least an address configured to allow the mobile device automatically to access content on the internet;

the graphical image detector configured to detect the scannable icon data by comparing pixels in a bitmap in recognition-aid precursor data in the scannable icon data, the recognition-aid precursor data corresponding to the at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor in scannable icon;

d. a graphical image decoder configured to receive information scannable icon data from the graphical image detector and to decode the scannable icon data to produce decoded data that includes at least (1) an address configured to allow access to content on the internet; and

(2) collateral information that includes at least one of channel source, unique identifier and timestamp;

f. a first library configured to receive, from the graphical image decoder, the decoded data and to store the decoded data, the first library also configured to receive ancillary information, the ancillary information relevant to the analog or digital video signal that includes the scannable icon data; and

g. a second library configured to receive at least some of the information in the first library and control instructions, and to output information relating to the scannable icon data and the ancillary information relevant to the analog or digital video data signal that includes the scannable icon data, to at least one media insertion functionality.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the second library is configured to output information relating to first scannable image data and ancillary information relevant to the first scannable image data, to a first media insertion functionality, and to output information relating to second scannable image data and ancillary information relevant to the second scannable image data, to a second media insertion functionality.

20. A method for managing information relating to scannable icon data, the scannable icon data included in an analog video signal or digital video signal, the scannable icon data generated by a source provider, the method comprising:

a. in a data stream processor, receiving from the source provider and processing one or more analog video signals or digital video signals and in the case of analog video signals, converting portions of the analog video signals to digital format and providing a first digital video data stream corresponding to at least some converted portions of the analog video signals;

b. in a video decoder coupled to the data stream processor, decoding at least one of the digital video signals received from the data stream processor and providing a second digital video data stream;

c. in a graphical image detector coupled to the data stream processor and to the video decoder, receiving the first digital video data stream from the data stream processor or the second digital video data stream from the video decoder, and automatically and autonomously detecting, in the first digital video data stream or second digital video data stream, scannable icon data corresponding to a scannable icon, the scannable icon data configured for generation of a scannable icon for presentation on a video display, the scannable icon including at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor, the scannable icon capable of being scanned from the video display by a mobile device to produce at least an address configured to allow the mobile device automatically to access content on the internet;

wherein the detecting is accomplished by comparing pixels in a bitmap in recognition-aid precursor data in the scannable icon data, the recognition-aid precursor data corresponding to the at least one built-in recognition-aid precursor in scannable icon;

d. in a graphical image decoder, receiving scannable icon data from the graphical image detector and decoding the scannable icon data to produce decoded data that includes at least (1) an address configured to allow access to content on the internet; and

(2) collateral information that includes at least one of channel source, unique identifier and timestamp; and

e. in a first library, receiving from the graphical image decoder the decoded data and storing the decoded data, and receiving ancillary information, the ancillary information relevant to the analog or digital video signal that includes the scannable icon data.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the method is practiced by a user.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the method is practiced by a video provider.