Facial patterns for optical barcodes

• US 9,911,073 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Inventors: Spiegel, Evan, Ouimet, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Amir
• Application Number:
  US15/074,629
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• 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: G06T 7/33 using feature-based methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for using facial patterns for information access via optical barcodes are provided. In example embodiments, a computer accesses an image, the image including a geometric shape. The computer determines, using a facial recognition module, that the accessed image includes a face inside the geometric shape. The computer determines, using the face inside the geometric shape, an orientation of the geometric shape. The computer decodes, based on the determined orientation of the geometric shape, data encoded within the geometric shape. The computer accesses, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded data. The computer presents, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing, at a computing device, an image, the image including a geometric shape;

determining, using a facial recognition module, that the accessed image includes a face inside the geometric shape;

determining, using the face inside the geometric shape, an orientation of the geometric shape;

decoding, based on the determined orientation of the geometric shape, data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded data; and

presenting, at a display device of the computing device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein determining the orientation of the geometric shape comprises:

determining an upward direction of the face; and

setting an upward direction of the geometric shape based on the upward direction of the face and based on a direction of at least one side of the rectangle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the set upward direction of the geometric shape is perpendicular or parallel to the at least one side of the rectangle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a ray corresponding to the set upward direction of the geometric shape and a ray corresponding to the determined upward direction of the face make an angle of less than 45 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the image comprises:

accessing the image via a camera of the computing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the image comprises:

receiving the image via a web browser, a social networking application, or a messaging service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the face inside the geometric shape comprises an avatar or a drawing of a face.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the face inside the geometric shape comprises a photograph of a human face.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

accessing an image, the image including a geometric shape;

determining, using a facial recognition module, that the accessed image includes a face inside the geometric shape;

determining, using the face inside the geometric shape, an orientation of the geometric shape;

decoding, based on the determined orientation of the geometric shape, data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded data; and

presenting, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein determining the orientation of the geometric shape comprises:

determining an upward direction of the face; and

setting an upward direction of the geometric shape based on the upward direction of the face and based on a direction of at least one side of the rectangle.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the set upward direction of the geometric shape is perpendicular or parallel to the at least one side of the rectangle.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein a ray corresponding to the set upward direction of the geometric shape and a ray corresponding to the determined upward direction of the face make an angle of less than 45 degrees.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein accessing the image comprises:

accessing the image via a camera.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein accessing the image comprises:

receiving the image via a web browser, a social networking application, or a messaging service.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the face inside the geometric shape comprises an avatar or a drawing of a face.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the face inside the geometric shape comprises a photograph of a human face.

17. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

accessing an image, the image including a geometric shape;

determining that the accessed image includes an item inside the geometric shape, wherein the item has an orientation;

determining, using the orientation of the item inside the geometric shape, an orientation of the geometric shape;

decoding, based on the determined orientation of the geometric shape, data encoded within the geometric shape;

accessing, via a network, a resource that corresponds to the decoded data; and

presenting, at a display device, a graphical output corresponding to the accessed resource.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle with rounded corners, and wherein determining the orientation of the geometric shape comprises:

determining an upward direction of the item; and

setting an upward direction of the geometric shape based on the upward direction of the item and based on a direction of at least one side of the rectangle.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the item comprises a face.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the item comprises a human body.