Custom functional patterns for optical barcodes

• US 9,659,244 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Anderton, Landon, Gee, Garrett, Hornberger, Ryan, Ouimet, Kirk, Sheffield, Kameron, Turley, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/826,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 235437, 235492, 713155
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06103 the marking being embedded in a human recognizable image, e.g. a company logo with an embedded two-dimensional code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06131 the marking comprising a target pattern, e.g. for indicating the center of the bar code or for helping a bar code reader to properly orient the scanner or to retrieve the bar code inside of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning

Abstract

Systems and methods for custom functional patterns for optical barcodes are provided. In example embodiments, image data of an image is received from a user device. A candidate shape feature of the image is extracted from the image data. A determination is made that the shape feature satisfies a shape feature rule. In response to the candidate shape feature satisfying the shape feature rule, a custom graphic in the image is identified by comparing the candidate shape feature with a reference shape feature of the custom graphic. In response to identifying the custom graphic, data encoded in a portion of the image is decoded.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a hardware processor coupled to a memory, the hardware processor comprising a communication module;

the communication module to receive a request to generate a scannable image from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the scannable image;

an encoder module to render data marks that encodes the specification of data and a bounding shape that contains the data marks and a custom functional pattern, the custom functional pattern does not contain the data marks;

the encoder module further to generate the scannable image to include the data marks, the custom functional pattern and the bounding shape, the custom functional pattern being positioned at a particular location with respect to the data marks and the bounding shape in the scannable image to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the data marks; and

the communication module further to transmit the scannable image to a storage location specified by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the custom functional pattern includes adjusting a scale and an orientation of the custom functional pattern with respect to the data marks in the scannable image, the scale and the orientation of the custom functional pattern used to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the data marks.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the encoder module further to:

reserve a space in the scannable image to place a user-specified image; and

generate the scannable image to include the user-specified image positioned at the reserved space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the machine readable image.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a request to generate a machine-readable image from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the machine-readable image;

rendering an arrangement of marks that encodes the specification of data and a bounding shape that contains the data marks and a custom graphic, the custom graphic does not contain the data marks;

generating the machine-readable image that includes the arrangement of marks, the custom graphic and the bounding shape, the custom graphic being positioned at a particular location with respect to the arrangement of marks and the bounding shape in the machine-readable image to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the arrangement of marks; and

storing the machine-readable image at a storage location specified by the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the positioning of the custom graphic includes adjusting a scale and an orientation of the custom graphic with respect to the arrangement of marks in the machine-readable image, the scale and the orientation of the custom graphic used to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the arrangement of marks.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

reserving a space in the machine-readable image to insert a user-specified image; and

generating the machine-readable image to include the user-specified image positioned at the reserved space.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the machine readable image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the specification of the data includes a member identifier of a social network service corresponding to the user, wherein the action is performed using the member identifier.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the action is performable exclusively by software associated with generating the machine readable-image.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the machine-readable image to a social networking service to be stored in associated with a profile of the user on the social networking service.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the machine-readable image to a device of another user.

13. A machine-readable medium having no transitory signals and storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to generate an optical barcode from a user, the request including a specification of data to encode into the optical barcode;

rendering an arrangement of marks that represent the specification of data and a bounding shape that contains the data marks and a custom symbol, the custom symbol does not contain the data marks;

generating the optical barcode that includes the arrangement of marks, the custom symbol and the bounding shape, the custom symbol being positioned at a particular location with respect to the arrangement of marks and the bounding shape in the optical barcode to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the arrangement of marks; and

storing the optical barcode at a device specified by the user.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the positioning of the custom symbol includes adjusting a scale and an orientation of the custom symbol with respect to the arrangement of marks in the optical barcode, the scale and the orientation of the custom symbol used to facilitate decoding of the specification of data encoded by the arrangement of marks.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

reserving a space in the optical barcode for a user-specified image; and

generating the optical barcode to include the user-specified image positioned at the reserved space.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the specification of the data includes a specification of action, wherein the action to be performed upon decoding of the specification of data encoded in the machine readable image.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the specification of the data includes a member identifier of a social network service corresponding to the user, wherein the action is performed using the member identifier.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the action is performable exclusively by software associated with generating the machine readable-image.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting the optical barcode to a social networking service to be stored in associated with a profile of the user on the social networking service.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting the optical barcode to a device of another user.