Customizing barcode images for particular displays

• US 8,736,615 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Inventors: Slavin, Dan, Smrzlic, Pero
• Primary Examiner(s): Merouan, Abderrahim
• Application Number:
  US12/296,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20100149187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/462.01, 235/435, 235/379, 235/462.04, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/462.11, 382/276, 382/305, 382/306, 382/312, 382/321, 345/156, 345/55, 345/87, 345/30, 345/84, 345/441
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06112 the marking being simulated using a light source, e.g. a barcode shown on a display or a laser beam with time-varying intensity profile
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3274 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/60 Rotation of whole images or parts thereof

Abstract

Techniques for ensuring maximum readability of barcodes displayed in pixel displays. The techniques use the characteristics of the pixel display to determine the form of the barcode in the pixel display. Determination of the form includes determining a size of the barcode which renders the barcode'"'"'s elements easily readable by a barcode reader and a shape, and or orientation of the barcode in the display which permits the entire barcode to be displayed in the display. Additionally, in a barcode with redundant information, the amount of redundant information may be reduced in the displayed barcode. The techniques may be applied to both one-dimensional and two-dimensional barcodes.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an image of a barcode in a pixel display belonging to a device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving data indicative of characteristics of a pixel display belonging to a device;

identifying, based on the received data indicative of the characteristics of the pixel display, a plurality of possible image forms of a barcode for the pixel display, wherein in at least one of the possible image forms includes a barcode wherein;

i. the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display;

ii. each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the pixel display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size,

iii. a display size of the barcode on the pixel display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size;

selecting and generating an image form from the plurality of possible image forms of the barcode, the selected and generated image form being readable as a barcode, when displayed in the pixel display and read from the pixel display by a barcode reader such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the image form as displayed in the pixel display of the device; and

causing the selected image form to be displayed in the pixel display.

2. The method of displaying an image of a barcode in a pixel display of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms differ in orientation in the display.

3. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 2 wherein:

the orientation of the selected image form is diagonal with regard to the pixel display.

4. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 3 wherein:

the barcode is a 1-dimensional barcode; and

the elements of the barcode in the selected image form are truncated as required for the diagonal orientation.

5. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a possible image form has a minimum display height in pixels and a minimum display length in pixels which render the possible image form readable by the barcode reader.

6. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the selected image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

7. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the selected image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

8. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 6 wherein:

the selected image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.

9. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms differ in their shapes.

10. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 9 wherein:

the shapes include a shape in which redundant elements of the barcode are omitted.

11. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode which may have different shapes.

12. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the steps of the method are performed in the device to which the pixel display belongs.

13. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the device to which the pixel display device belongs is connected to a server via a network and the method further comprises the step of:

receiving a value to be represented by the barcode from the server.

14. A device which has a pixel display and is characterized in that:

the device performs the steps set forth in the method of claim 1.

15. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the steps of the method are performed in a server which has access to the device to which the pixel display belongs via a network.

16. The method set forth in claim 15 wherein:

in the step of causing the selected image form to be displayed, the server provides the selected image form to the device.

17. A server, the server being characterized in that:

the server performs the steps set forth in the method of claim 1.

18. A method of displaying an image of a barcode in a pixel display belonging to a device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving data indicative of characteristics of a pixel display belonging to a device;

identifying, based on the received data indicative of the characteristics of the pixel display, a plurality of possible image forms of a barcode for the pixel display;

selecting and generating an image form from the plurality of possible image forms of the barcode, the selected and generated image form being readable as a barcode, when displayed in the pixel display and read from the pixel display by a barcode reader such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the image form as displayed in the pixel display of the device; and

causing the selected image form to be displayed in the pixel display;

wherein a possible image form has a minimum display height in pixels and a minimum display length in pixels which render the possible image form readable by the barcode reader;

wherein the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode; and

a display length of the barcode is an integer multiple of a minimum length of the barcode, the minimum length being a length such that every element of the barcode is a single pixel wide, and the display length is at least equal to the minimum display length.

19. The method of displaying an image of a barcode set forth in claim 18 wherein:

an element of a barcode which is readable by a barcode reader has a minimum element width; and

the minimum display length is an integer multiple of the minimum length such that the width in pixels of each element of the barcode in the possible image form is at least equal to the minimum element width.

20. A method of making a pixel representation of a one-dimensional barcode for a pixel display such that when the pixel representation is displayed in the pixel display, the barcode is readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a minimum length of a one-dimensional barcode to be displayed on a pixel display for reading by a barcode reader, wherein each element of the one-dimensional barcode has a width of 1 pixel in the pixel display;

determining a minimum element width which each element of the one-dimensional barcode must have when displayed on the pixel display to be readable by the barcode reader; and

generating the pixel representation by multiplying the minimum length by an integer amount such that the width in pixels of each element of the barcode in the pixel representation results in an element width of the element as displayed in the pixel display which is at least equal to the minimum element width, wherein the generated pixel representation is readable by the barcode reader as a barcode when displayed on the pixel display such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the generated pixel representation as displayed on the pixel display.

21. A method of making a pixel representation of a two-dimensional barcode for a pixel display such that when the pixel representation is displayed in the pixel display, the barcode is readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a minimum size of a two-dimensional barcode in which each element of the two-dimensional barcode has a minimum size in pixels;

determining a minimum display size which each element of the two-dimensional barcode must have when displayed on the pixel display to be readable by the barcode reader; and

generating the pixel representation by scaling the minimum size by an integer amount such that the size in pixels of each element of the barcode in the pixel representation results in an element size of the element as displayed in the pixel display which is at least equal to the minimum display size, wherein the generated pixel representation is capable of being read by the barcode reader as a barcode when displayed on the pixel display such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the generated pixel representation as displayed on the pixel display.

22. A device for displaying a barcode for reading by a barcode reader, comprising:

a pixel display; and

a processor in communication with the pixel display configured to;

receive data indicative of characteristics of a pixel display belonging to a device;

identify, based on the received data indicative of the characteristics of the pixel display, a plurality of possible image forms for displaying a barcode on the pixel display, wherein at least one of the possible image forms has a barcode wherein;

i. the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display;

ii. each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the pixel display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size,

iii. a display size of the barcode on the pixel display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size; and

select and generate an image form from the plurality of possible image forms of the barcode, the selected image form being readable as a barcode, when displayed in the pixel display and read from the pixel display by a barcode reader such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the image form as displayed in the pixel display of the device;

wherein the pixel display displays the selected image form.

23. The device set forth in claim 22 wherein:

the displayed image form has an orientation in the pixel display such that the displayed image form is readable by the barcode reader.

24. The device set forth in claim 23 wherein:

the orientation of the displayed image form is diagonal.

25. The device set forth in claim 22 wherein:

the barcode includes redundant information; and

the displayed image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

26. The device set forth in claim 22 wherein:

the barcode includes redundant information;

and the displayed image form omits at least part of the redundant information.

27. The device set forth in claim 22 wherein:

the plurality of possible image forms have different shapes; and

the shape of the displayed image form is such that the displayed image is readable by the barcode reader.

28. The device set forth in claim 27 wherein:

the shape of the displayed image form is such that redundant information in the barcode is omitted from the displayed image form.

29. A device which includes a pixel display in which an image of a barcode is displayed for reading by a barcode reader, the device being characterized in that:

the image of the barcode is generated as a valid barcode for display on the pixel display when oriented along a diagonal of the pixel display, wherein;

i. the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display;

ii. each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the pixel display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size,

iii. a display size of the barcode as displayed on the pixel display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode, and is at least equal to the minimum display size, and the display size of the barcode is larger than the width and larger than the length of the pixel display and less than the diagonal of the pixel display;

the image of the barcode is displayed diagonally in the pixel display, the image being readable from the pixel display as a barcode by a barcode reader such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the image as displayed diagonally on the pixel display.

30. A device which includes a pixel display in which an image of a barcode is displayed for reading by a barcode reader, the device being characterized in that:

the image of the barcode is generated as a valid barcode for display on the pixel display and includes redundant information, wherein;

i. the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels, without redundant information, which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display;

ii. each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the pixel display and the barcode has a minimum size in which redundant information is excluded and every element of the barcode is its minimum element size,

iii. a display size of the barcode on the pixel display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode without the redundant information and is at least equal to the minimum display size; and

the image of the barcode as displayed in the display device does not include at least a part of the redundant information, the image being readable from the pixel display by a barcode reader as a barcode such that the barcode reader can extract barcode information from the image as displayed on the pixel display without the part of the redundant information.

31. A computer system for generating readable barcodes for display on different mobile devices, comprising:

storage in which data is stored, such data indicating characteristics of displays of different mobile devices, such characteristics including at least size of the displays;

a processor configured to;

receive an indication of a mobile device having a display;

receive data to be encoded as barcode information according to barcode characteristics;

determine, according to the barcode characteristics and characteristics of the display of the indicated mobile device, sizes of barcode elements on the display of the indicated mobile device, wherein;

i. the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the pixel display;

ii. each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the pixel display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size,

iii. a display size of the barcode on the pixel display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size; and

generate an image that includes the readable barcode with elements of barcode information of the determined size, such that when the image is displayed on the pixel display and read from the pixel display by a barcode reader, the barcode reader can extract the barcode information from the image as displayed on the pixel display.

32. The computer system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate the image such that the barcode is oriented diagonally with respect to edges of the pixel display.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the barcode is oriented at a forty-five degree angle with respect to edges of the pixel display.