Method for more efficient collecting of information
First Claim
1. A network for processing and managing information related to graphical bar code data that generates graphical bar codes in video images, wherein the graphical bar codes are QR codes or one dimensional bar codes, and wherein the graphical bar codes can be acquired and decoded optically by a mobile device from a monitor that displays the graphical bar codes in the video images, the graphical bar code data located and decoded by receivers under control of at least one control element, the network including:
- a receiver coupled to a monitor that displays video images to a subscriber, the receiver receiving input from the subscriber as to at least one area of interest as to which the subscriber desires to obtain information, and the receiver including;
one or more graphical bar code data locators, wherein each graphical bar code data locater is coupled to a video source and parses video signals from the video source to locate the graphical bar code data in the video signals;
one or more graphical bar code data decoders, each graphical bar code data decoder coupled to a graphical bar code data locater to decode the graphical bar code data;
wherein the locating and decoding of the graphical bar code data is accomplished without optically acquiring or decoding the graphical bar codes in video images generated by the graphical bar code data;
one or more graphical bar code data processors, each graphical bar code data processor coupled to a graphical bar code data locater; and
at least one client element coupled to at least one of the graphical bar code data processors, wherein the at least one client element;
connects via an external network to at least one control element to receive instructions from the at least one control element as to particular video signals and areas of interest that should be monitored by the receiver that includes the client element;
instructs one or more of the graphical bar code data processors to automatically monitor the particular video signals and areas of interest as to which the client element has received instructions from the control element, in order to locate and decode the graphical bar code data in the video signals; and
reports via an external network at least some information relating to the located and decoded graphical bar code data to the at least one control element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and processes for locating and processing QR codes or other Scannable Icons (SI'"'"'s) in video or television signals. A number of client elements (which may correspond to users) may be in communication of one or more control elements; the client elements may be found in user set top boxes, digital video recorders or other equipment employed to receive video or television signals. The control elements may be found in software in server platforms or such user equipment. The client elements may locate and decode SI'"'"'s according to various areas of interest of users. The control elements may control which client elements monitor various video or television signals; receive information related to decoded SI'"'"'s; and report information to client elements so that (among other things) users can be aware of SI'"'"'s in far more video or television signals than their own client elements are able to monitor.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A network for processing and managing information related to graphical bar code data that generates graphical bar codes in video images, wherein the graphical bar codes are QR codes or one dimensional bar codes, and wherein the graphical bar codes can be acquired and decoded optically by a mobile device from a monitor that displays the graphical bar codes in the video images, the graphical bar code data located and decoded by receivers under control of at least one control element, the network including:
a receiver coupled to a monitor that displays video images to a subscriber, the receiver receiving input from the subscriber as to at least one area of interest as to which the subscriber desires to obtain information, and the receiver including; one or more graphical bar code data locators, wherein each graphical bar code data locater is coupled to a video source and parses video signals from the video source to locate the graphical bar code data in the video signals; one or more graphical bar code data decoders, each graphical bar code data decoder coupled to a graphical bar code data locater to decode the graphical bar code data; wherein the locating and decoding of the graphical bar code data is accomplished without optically acquiring or decoding the graphical bar codes in video images generated by the graphical bar code data; one or more graphical bar code data processors, each graphical bar code data processor coupled to a graphical bar code data locater; and at least one client element coupled to at least one of the graphical bar code data processors, wherein the at least one client element; connects via an external network to at least one control element to receive instructions from the at least one control element as to particular video signals and areas of interest that should be monitored by the receiver that includes the client element; instructs one or more of the graphical bar code data processors to automatically monitor the particular video signals and areas of interest as to which the client element has received instructions from the control element, in order to locate and decode the graphical bar code data in the video signals; and reports via an external network at least some information relating to the located and decoded graphical bar code data to the at least one control element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A receiver for inclusion in a network, the network for processing and managing information related to graphical bar code data that generates graphical bar codes in video images, wherein the graphical bar codes are QR codes or one dimensional bar codes, and wherein the graphical bar codes can be acquired and decoded optically by a mobile device from a monitor that displays the graphical bar codes in the video images,
the receiver coupled to a subscriber monitor that displays video images to a subscriber, the receiver receiving input from the subscriber as to at least one area of interest as to which the subscriber desires to obtain information, the receiver including: -
one or more graphical bar code data locators, wherein each graphical bar code data locater is coupled to a video source and parses video signals from the video source to locate the graphical bar code data in the video signals; one or more graphical bar code data decoders, each graphical bar code data decoder coupled to a graphical bar code data locater to decode the graphical bar code data; wherein the locating and decoding of the graphical bar code data is accomplished without optically acquiring or decoding the graphical bar codes in video images generated by the graphical bar code data; one or more graphical bar code data processors, each graphical bar code data processor coupled to a graphical bar code data locater; and at least one client element coupled to at least one of the graphical bar code data processors, wherein the at least one client element; connects via an external network to at least one control element to receive instructions from the at least one control element as to particular video signals and areas of interest that should be monitored by the receiver that includes the client element; instructs one or more of the graphical bar code data processors to automatically monitor the particular video signals and areas of interest as to which the client element has received instructions from the control element, in order to locate and decode the graphical bar code data in the video signals; and reports via an external network at least some information relating to the located and decoded graphical bar code data to the at least one control element. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for processing and managing information related to graphical bar codes in video images, wherein the graphical bar codes are QR codes or one dimensional bar codes, and wherein the graphical bar codes can be acquired and decoded optically by a mobile device from a monitor that displays the graphical bar codes in the video images, the method including the steps of:
providing a receiver connected to at least one control element, the receiver coupled to a subscriber monitor that displays video images to a subscriber, the receiver receiving input from the subscriber as to at least one area of interest as to which the subscriber desires to obtain information, the receiver including; one or more graphical bar code data locators, wherein each graphical bar code data locater is coupled to a video source and parses video signals from the video source to locate the graphical bar code data in the video signals; one or more graphical bar code data decoders, each graphical bar code data decoder coupled to a graphical bar code data locater to decode the graphical bar code data; wherein the locating and decoding of the graphical bar code data is accomplished without optically acquiring or decoding the graphical bar codes in video images generated by the graphical bar code data; one or more graphical bar code data processors, each graphical bar code data processor coupled to a graphical bar code data locater; and at least one client element coupled to at least one of the graphical bar code data processors, wherein the at least one client element; connects via an external network to at least one control element to receive instructions from the at least one control element as to particular video signals and areas of interest that should be monitored by the receiver that includes the client element; instructs one or more of the graphical bar code data processors to automatically monitor the particular video signals and areas of interest as to which the client element has received instructions from the control element, in order to locate and decode the graphical bar code data in the video signals; and reports via an external network at least some information relating to the located and decoded graphical bar code data to the at least one control element; receiving, by the at least one client element and via an external network, instructions from the at least one control element as to particular video signals and areas of interest that should be monitored by the receiver; instructing, by the at least one client element, one or more of the graphical bar code data processors to automatically monitor the particular video signals and areas of interest as to which the at least one client element has received instructions from the at least one control element, in order to detect and decode graphical bar code data in the video signals; and reporting, by the at least one client element and via an external network, least some information relating to detected graphical bar code data to the at least one control element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
Specification