Coded visual information system

• US 9,008,432 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: QYOO LLC
• Original Assignee: QYOO LLC
• Inventors: Berthiaume, Jeffrey, Stafira, John Ellis, Stafford, Mark Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): STREGE, JOHN B
• Application Number:
  US12/964,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: 235/494, 382/190
• US Class Current: 382/190
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00

Abstract

Information is arranged within a predetermined shape. The predetermined shape is captured in an image taken by a tangible image-capturing element of a device which captures images at the direction of a user. The device includes a tangible processor that analyzes the image captured by the image-capturing element to determine whether a predetermined shape is present in the image. The tangible processor determines an alignment of the predetermined shape when the predetermined shape is present in the image, and reads data within the predetermined shape in accordance with the determined alignment. The device automatically forwards a request for content over a communications network in accordance with the data read within the predetermined shape. The device receives the content over the network and displays the content.

Claims

1. A tangible mobile communications device, comprising:

a tangible image-capturing element which captures images at the direction of a user of the device;

a tangible processor that analyzes an image captured by the image-capturing element to determine whether a predetermined two-dimensional shape with an outline having a curved component is present in the image;

that determines based on the outline an alignment of the predetermined two-dimensional shape when the predetermined two-dimensional shape is present in the image; and

that reads data within the predetermined two-dimensional shape in accordance with the determined alignment;

a tangible communications transmitter that automatically forwards a request for content over a communications network in accordance with the data read within the predetermined two-dimensional shape; and

a tangible communications receiver that receives the content over the network and displays the content using the tangible mobile communications device,

wherein a grid is imposed within the outline such that presence of information in each of a plurality of components of the grid can be determined.

2. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 1,

wherein the outline of the predetermined two-dimensional shape also has linear components.

3. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 2,

wherein the curved component includes an outline of a circle segment.

4. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 3,

wherein the curved component connects with an outline of an incomplete square.

5. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 2,

wherein the alignment of the predetermined two-dimensional shape is determined from relative placement of the curved and linear components.

6. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 4,

wherein the circle segment is a complete circle and the grid is imposed in the complete circle.

7. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 6,

wherein the grid comprises multiple elements arranged in columns and rows.

8. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 7,

wherein information present in elements arranged in a row is assigned values from most significant value to least significant value.

9. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 8,

wherein the values of information present in elements in a row are summed to provide a value for the row.

10. The tangible mobile communications device of claim 9,

wherein values for multiple rows are determined, and considered together to identify a unique value for the grid.

11. A method for obtaining content, comprising:

capturing, using a tangible image-capturing element of a device, images at the direction of a user of the device;

analyzing, using a processor of the device, an image captured by the image-capturing element to determine whether a predetermined two-dimensional shape with an outline having a curved component is present in the image;

determining, using the processor of the device and based on the outline, an alignment of the predetermined two-dimensional shape when the predetermined two-dimensional shape is present in the image; and

reading, using the processor of the device, data within the predetermined two-dimensional shape in accordance with the determined alignment;

automatically forwarding a request for content over a communications network in accordance with the data read within the predetermined two-dimensional shape; and

receiving the content over the network and displaying the content using the device,

wherein a grid is imposed within the outline such that presence of information in each of a plurality of components of the grid can be determined.

12. The method of claim 11,

wherein the outline of the predetermined two-dimensional shape also has linear components.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the curved component includes an outline of a circle segment.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein the curved component connects with an outline of an incomplete square.

15. The method of claim 12,

wherein the alignment of the predetermined two-dimensional shape is determined from relative placement of the curved and linear components.

16. The method of claim 14,

wherein the circle segment is a complete circle and the grid is imposed in the complete circle.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the grid comprises multiple elements arranged in columns and rows.

18. The method of claim 17,

wherein information present in elements arranged in a row is assigned values from most significant value to least significant value.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the values of information present in elements in a row are summed to provide a value for the row.

20. The method of claim 19,

wherein values for multiple rows are determined, and considered together to identify a unique value for the grid.