Systems and methods for changing an electronic display that contains a barcode

• US 9,294,542 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wesley Boudville
• Original Assignee: Wesley Boudville
• Inventors: Boudville, Wesley John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US14/117,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20140115102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/224, 709/220
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

A cellphone with a camera takes a photo of a barcode in a screen that can show different images. The barcode is decoded into a URL, and the cellphone uses wireless Internet access to visit the website of the URL. The website then makes a different image that also has a barcode of a URL, and sends it to the screen for display. This can increase the interactivity of the screen and its value to advertisers. Several users with cellphones might simultaneously interact with the screen in this manner.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller adapted to retrieve images from a website; and

at least one monitor adapted to display images from the website and one or more barcodes according to instructions received from the controller, the one or more barcodes comprising encoded uniform resource locators (URLs),

wherein the one or more barcodes are adapted to be scanned by at least one electronic computing device having Internet access, the at least one electronic computing device performing the scan via a camera,

wherein the at least one electronic computing device is distinct from the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to update the images to be displayed on the at least one monitor,

wherein the one or more barcodes are adapted to be decoded by a software associated with the at least one electronic computing device, the software configured to retrieve information from a website directed by the URL in the barcode, and

wherein the retrieved website is displayed on a screen associated with the at least one electronic computing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic computing device is configured to receive inputs from a user, and configured to send information to the website according to inputs from the user.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the website is configured to receive and process information from a plurality of the at least one or more electronic computing device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellphone, a smartphone, a digital camera, a laptop, a netbook, an electronic book reader, and a tablet.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more barcodes corresponds to a different URL or response.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor is a plurality of monitors, each monitor of the plurality of monitors displaying a different image from each other.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the website pre-records optimal resolutions, sizes and locations of the at least one monitor adapted to be determined by information pertaining to preferred locations of the electronic computing devices.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor is located such that the at least one monitor is physically untouchable and/or unreachable by a user of the electronic computing device.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor is an electronic billboard or an overhead screen.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the website is configured to accept the input from a particular network address of the electronic computing device.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor displays advertisements.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor is configured for a single player game or a multiplayer game.

13. An interactive method comprising:

providing a controller adapted to retrieve images from a website; and

providing a monitor for displaying the images from the website and one or more barcodes according to instructions received from the controller, the one or more barcodes comprising an encoded uniform resource locator (URL),

wherein

the one or more barcodes on the monitor are configured to be scanned and decoded by a decoding software associated with an electronic computing device having an Internet access,

the electronic computing device is distinct from the controller,

the one or more barcodes correspond to a website to be accessed via the decoded URL,

the website is configured to receive inputs from the electronic computing device, and

the controller is configured to update the images on the monitor corresponding to inputs the website receives from the electronic computing device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the electronic computing device is selected from the group consisting of:

a cellphone, a smartphone, a digital camera, a laptop, a netbook, an electronic book reader, and a tablet.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein each of the one or more barcodes corresponds to a different URL or response.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the website is configured to receive and process information from a plurality of electronic computing devices.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the monitor is located such that the monitor is physically untouchable and/or unreachable by a user of the electronic computing device.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the monitor is an electronic billboard or an overhead screen.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the website is configured to accept the input from a particular network address of the electronic computing device.