Customizing barcode images for particular displays

• US 9,355,344 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Original Assignee: Codebroker, LLC
• Inventors: Slavin, Daniel, Smrzlic, Pero
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Habib, Asifa
• Application Number:
  US14/809,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20150332137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 winch 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 comprising barcode elements in a pixel display belonging to a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in the mobile device, data to be encoded as barcode information;

determining a minimum element size, in pixels, for each barcode element encoding the received data on the pixel display such that an image form of the barcode is readable by a barcode reader when displayed in the pixel display; and

in response to receiving the data to be encoded and the determined minimum element size, causing the image form to be generated and displayed in the pixel display, such that each barcode element in the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum element size for the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode reader can extract the data encoded by the barcode elements as displayed on the display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode,

wherein a minimum length of the barcode is a length such that each barcode element of the barcode is a single pixel wide,

wherein a display length of the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum length of the barcode,

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

wherein the display length for the barcode is at least equal to the minimum display length.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode, and

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum possible width and a minimum possible height in pixels;

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum readable width and a minimum readable height in pixels on the display to be readable by the barcode reader;

wherein the image form has a minimum display size in pixels in which each barcode element has a height which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible height of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable height for the barcode element, and in which each barcode element has a width which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible width of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable width for the barcode element, so as to render the image form readable by the barcode reader.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.

7. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory accessible by the one or more processors; and

a display connected to the one or more processors and the memory;

wherein the memory stores a computer program that when executed configures the mobile device to;

access data from the memory indicating, for the display of the mobile device, a minimum element size, in pixels, for each barcode element of the display such that the barcode element is readable by a barcode reader when displayed on the display;

receive data to be encoded as barcode information; and

in response to receiving the data to be encoded and the data indicating the minimum element size, cause an image to be generated and displayed that includes a readable barcode comprising barcode elements encoding the received data, such that each barcode element in the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum element size for the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode reader can extract the data encoded by the barcode elements as displayed on the display.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein, to cause the image to be generated, the mobile device is further configured to:

transmit, to a server computer, the received data and the data indicative of the minimum element size; and

receive, from the server computer, the image that includes the readable barcode.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is further configured to determine, according to the barcode characteristics and characteristics of the display of the mobile device, sizes of barcode elements on the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the display, each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size, and a display size of the barcode on the display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size.

10. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode,

wherein a minimum length of the barcode is a length such that each barcode element of the barcode is a single pixel wide,

wherein a display length of the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum length of the barcode,

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

wherein the display length for the barcode is at least equal to the minimum display length.

11. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode, and

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum possible width and a minimum possible height in pixels;

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum readable width and a minimum readable height in pixels on the display to be readable by the barcode reader;

wherein the image form has a minimum display size in pixels in which each barcode element has a height which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible height of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable height for the barcode element, and in which each barcode element has a width which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible width of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable width for the barcode element, so as to render the image form readable by the barcode reader.

12. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

14. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.

15. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory accessible by the one or more processors; and

a display connected to the one or more processors and the memory;

wherein the memory stores a computer program that when executed configures the mobile device to;

access data from the memory indicating, for the display of the mobile device, a minimum element size, in pixels, for each barcode element of the display such that the barcode element is readable by a barcode reader when displayed on the display;

receive data to be encoded as barcode information;

in response to receiving the data to be encoded and the data indicating the minimum element size, cause an image to be generated that includes a readable barcode comprising barcode elements encoding the received data, such that each barcode element in the barcode is the minimum element size for the display of the mobile device; and

display the image on the display such that the barcode is displayed with a size in pixels that is an integer multiple of a minimum size of the barcode in pixels and at least equal to a minimum display size of the barcode in pixels that renders each barcode element readable by a barcode reader from the display, such that the barcode reader can extract the data encoded by the barcode elements as displayed on the display.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein, to cause the image to be generated, the mobile device is further configured to:

transmit, over a communication network to a server computer, the received data and the data indicative of the minimum element size; and

receive, over a communication network from the server computer, the image that includes the readable barcode.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the mobile device is further configured to determine, according to the barcode characteristics and characteristics of the display of the mobile device, sizes of barcode elements on the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the display, each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size, and a display size of the barcode on the display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode,

wherein a minimum length of the barcode is a length such that each barcode element of the barcode is a single pixel wide,

wherein a display length of the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum length of the barcode,

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

wherein the display length for the barcode is at least equal to the minimum display length.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode, and

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum possible width and a minimum possible height in pixels;

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum readable width and a minimum readable height in pixels on the display to be readable by the barcode reader;

wherein the image form has a minimum display size in pixels in which each barcode element has a height which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible height of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable height for the barcode element, and in which each barcode element has a width which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible width of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable width for the barcode element, so as to render the image form readable by the barcode reader.

20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.

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

receiving, in the mobile device, data to be encoded as barcode information;

accessing data indicating a minimum element size, in pixels, for each barcode element encoding the received data on the pixel display such that an image form of the barcode is readable by a barcode reader when displayed in the pixel display; and

in response to receiving the data to be encoded and the determined minimum element size, causing the image form to be generated and displayed in the pixel display, such that each barcode element in the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum element size for the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode reader can extract the data encoded by the barcode elements as displayed on the display.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein further comprising determining, according to the barcode characteristics and characteristics of the display of the mobile device, sizes of barcode elements on the display of the mobile device, such that the barcode has a minimum display size in pixels which renders each element of the barcode readable by a barcode reader from the display, each element of the barcode has a minimum element size in the display and the barcode has a minimum size in which every element of the barcode is its minimum element size, and a display size of the barcode on the display is an integer multiple of the minimum size of the barcode and is at least equal to the minimum display size.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the barcode is a one-dimensional barcode,

wherein a minimum length of the barcode is a length such that each barcode element of the barcode is a single pixel wide,

wherein a display length of the barcode is an integer multiple of the minimum length of the barcode,

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

wherein the display length for the barcode is at least equal to the minimum display length.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the barcode is a two-dimensional barcode, and

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum possible width and a minimum possible height in pixels;

wherein each barcode element of the barcode has a minimum readable width and a minimum readable height in pixels on the display to be readable by the barcode reader;

wherein the image form has a minimum display size in pixels in which each barcode element has a height which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible height of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable height for the barcode element, and in which each barcode element has a width which is an integer multiple of the minimum possible width of the barcode element and equal to or greater than the minimum readable width for the barcode element, so as to render the image form readable by the barcode reader.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the image form reduces redundant elements in the barcode.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the image form employs a form of the barcode which has fewer redundant elements.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the image form omits redundant elements of the barcode.