GB2460683A - Requesting a webpage in relation to a two-dimensional barcode from a mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of identifying a webpage request as originating from a two-dimensional (2D) barcode (e.g. matrix code) in which as webpage request associated with a 2D barcode has an identifier inserted (e.g. within a query string associated with the webpage request) or a webpage address associated with a 2D barcode is embedded in them a webpage request relating to a predetermined remote server. The 2D barcode can thus be identified as the source of the request. In particular a mobile phone having camera may obtain an image of a 2D barcode. The mobile phone may decode the 2D barcode to obtain a webpage address (URL). The mobile phone may then either automatically or through user request access the corresponding webpage. A webpage request containing the additional identifier may be rooted through a proxy server. The proxy server may strip out the identifier so as to record the use of the barcode in association with a particular user. Alternatively a webpage request for a predetermined remote server may be made incorporating the corresponding webpage. The remote server may record the use of the barcode and forward the request for the webpage corresponding to the barcode.

Description

TWO DIMENSIONAL BARCODES AND MOBILE TERMINALS

Technica Field

The present invention relates to two dimensional (2D) harcodes, and more particularly to a method of processing 210 harcodes using a mobile telecommunications terminal. The present invention thrther relates to a mobile terminal and an application program oo a mobile terminal for processing 2D hareodes. Still further, the present invention relates to a remote server for processing data relating to web page requests initiated using 2D harcodes

Background to the Invention

Two dimensional (21)) harcodes are a compact form of holding information. 20 barcodes contain more information than conventional one dimensional linear hareodes in a given area. As a comparison, conventional linear harcode.s get wider as more data is encoded, since data*'is encoded in the widths and spacing between printed parallel lines, whereas 2.0 codes make use of the vertical dimension to incorporate more data. There are various forms of 2D codes, including Data Matrix codes, QR (Quick Response) codes, MaxiCodes and SemaCodes All use the same two dimensional principles. although using different encoding algorithms and different syrnboiogies involving patterns of symbols such as squares, lines, dots, concentric circles, text codes hidden within images. and combinations thereof. The present invention is considered to apply to any such 2D machine readable codes.

As an example of how a 21) code is created, a [)ata Matrix code is a two dimensional matrix barcode consisting of black and white square cells arranged in either a square or rectangular pattern. A white cell may he a binary "0" and a hlack cell a binary "II". or vice versa. The Matrix also includes "handles" and "synes" which are perpendicular lines used to allow machine readers to recognise the pattern so that they can he decoded correctly. Figures lb illustrate an example of such a machincreadabIe matrix code. whjle Figure Ia illustrates an example of a QR code.

The encoding for data matrices is covered by an 1St) standard iSO/IEC International Symbology Specification. Data Matrix, and is in the public domain.

21) codes have found a particular utility in the mobile telecommunications field, especially in convenienceorientcd applications aimed at mobile phone uscrs. En this regard, 2.D codes, such as the ones shown in Figures 1 a and lb, can be used to store information such as contact inIbrmation and/or URI. addresses, and may appear in various media, such as magazines, on signs, business cards or any other printed or displayed trirm in relation to which a user may want further information.

In this regard., the matrix codes in. Figures Ia and ib, with an appropriate optcai reader, can he decoded to the IJRI The Figure Ia code is a QR. code, and that of Figure lb is a Data Matrix barcode.

In the mobile communication arena, mobile terminals are now capable of, or can be adapted to, read matrix codes. For example, mobile terminals with a camera associated with appropriate reader software can scan the image of a 2D code and extract the information contained therein. Where the 2D code contains a URL address, the software can cause the nohil.e terminaPs browser to launch and redirect to the programmed URI. in this way users arc able to effectively "click' on a barcode of interest with their mobile terminal and seatniessly connect to relevant online content.

This is particularly useful for users, as they can transfer to a relevant Internet site without having to manually type the tifli address \5r can he particularly cumbersome when the address is long, and even more so using a condensed mobile phone keyboard.

There are generally considered to be two types of URL address transfer approaches with mobile terminals, a direct approach and an indirect approach.

In the direct approach, when a user operates their mobile terminal to capture a 2D barcode image, and the phone's software translates the code into a URL, the translated URL directs the terminal's browser straight to the website at the URL address (e.g. svw.Nike.com), with no interaction with third parties.

Whilst this approach achieves the desired result for the user, from a marketing point of view, valuable information about the user and their interests is available but not taken advantage of. In this regard advertisers are always interested in how a us&r arrived, at their site.

To address this, an "indirect" approach has been developed, whereby the 2D barcode, for instance, specifies a network service provider site relating to a particular topic (e.g. www. vodafone.conilNke offer). The Phones software translating the 2D barcode therefore directs the user to this address on the network operator's server, where user infonnation can be obtained, before that server redirects the user to a relevant site that is associated. with the initially designated one, such as www.nike.com/ Vodafone offer.

Ibis approac.h allows the network operator to determine which of their subscribers are interested in which topics/products and the like, and from there put together valuable marketing information based upon location, demographics etc. However, the value of the indirect approach in gathering the information lies in cooperation between the different entities (e.g. Vodafone and Nike). That is, for the 21) barcode to be directly translatable as www.vodafone.com/Nike offer, it is necessary for a cooperation agreement to be in place, and for manufacturers, such as Nike, to place such a 2D code on their products and/or in their advertising.

Further, the indirect method requires specific look-up servers for resolving mobile codes to be installed in the telecommunication operator's network. When a terminal sends the decoded information from an indirect code to these servers, they perform a look-up and redirect the user to the correct destination When a network operator's look-up servers do not have knowledge of a specitc indirect code, this requires code arbitration to he implemented in a eentralised way to ensure that all codes can be resolved.

The indirect approach therefore has its limitations, as obviously agreements cannot he made with the entire marketplace, and also the "indirect" 21) barcode will only be usable as long as the look-up server remains up-to-date in operation.

There is therefore a need. for an improved approach for utilising 21) harcodes in relation to mobile telecommunications networks.

Summanoftyggtjpn According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of processing a two dimensional (2D) barcode using a mobile telecommunications terminal having an image scanning means, the method including: obtaining a scanned image of the 21) barcode from the image scanning means; decoding the image to obtain data, the data including a web addiess; and associating an identifier with the decoded web address, such that the identifier is identifiable by a remote server in order to obtain information relating to the use of the 2D barcode.

in a aaothe: acpect. the present mvention provides a mobile telecommunicat ions network. an application for use on a mithile termmal. the appiicatit�ii eontgured for decoding tv 0 dimensional (2D barcode images and comprising: Input means LOnf1ured to receive k scanned image of a 21) hrteode decoduig, means coniwured Li' decode the eanneci image ann obtain data therefrom: and processine means. when the data includes a weli address, eontu&ured 10 insert an tdeilU lieu into aweb page request, such that the identifier is identthahle b a remote server.

in order to obtain information relatng to the use of he2D barcode.

Preferably the remote server is a remote proxy server.

In a tixrthcr aspect. the prcent in'. enUon pro'. ides a method of a network elcinent in a mobile telecomrnunicattons network idcntthing a veb page request as onemating from a two dimensional 2D barcode, the method inciudinr ieceivin a w:.h pace request: identit\ing an insered identifier in the web papo request as indicating a 2D barcode source and sa'. in a record in relation to the use of the 21) bin code.

III a still further aspet. the pvseni invention provides a mobile teleeouwuuncaiiun; nets ork, a server conhgureo' lu idcntjfv a web page request as onginaung irom a two dhnensionai CD I aicode the server including: recen cc fUr ieceiving a oh hag_c request from a mobile tecinwah procescmg mcans conijeured to:icientit\ an msei ted idenuiiei in the won page rccuesr as indtcating a 21) barcode source: and save a record in i latiun li' thr u' e oi the 2D barcode.

Preferably the sa.ved record further includes an identifier of the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal and fhe web page address.

In this way, through appropriate processing. the user of 2D harcodes can be monitored and tracked by a network operator without imposition on users or advertisers.

Importantly, this approach is preferably transparent to the user and does not redirect the user away from the U RI. contained in the 21) barcode that the user chose to view. Instead this embodiment of the invention provides a mechanism via which a remote server may determine when a website request is initiated via a 21) barcode, where prevousiy it had been impossible using the "direct" approach.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invenflon xviii now be described in relation to the Figures in which: Figure Ia illustrates an example of a QR code; Figure lb illustrates an exampie of a matrix code; Figure 2 illustrates mobile telecommunications network including an access point in addition to a conventional base station, in which the embodiments of the present invention may he implemented.; and Figure 3 illustrates a schematic of a mobile terminal and some of its components accordmg to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Key elements of a mobile telecommunications network, and its operation, will now briefly be described with reference to Figure 2.

Each base station (BS) (10. 14) corresponds to a respective cell of its cellular or mobile telecommunications network and receives calls/data from and transmits calls/data to a mobile terminal in its cell by wireless radio communication in one or both of the circuit switched or packet switched domains. Such a subscriberts mobile terminal (or User Equipment7Uh) is shown at 1. The mobile terminal may he any portable communications device, including a handheld mobile telephone, a personal digital assistance (FDA), a laptop computer equipped with a datacard, and a laptop computer with an embedded chipset containing the functionality of a mobile telephone.

in a OSM (20) mobile telecommunications network, each base station subsystem (1 0, 14) comprises a base station controller (BSC) controlling at least one base transceiver station (BTS). The BTSs and BSCs comprise the radio access network.

In a UMTS (30) mobile telecommunications network, a corresponding base station subsystem (1 0, 14) comprises a radio network controller (RNC) controlling at least one node B The node B's and RNC's comprise the radio access network (RAN).

In the proposed, but not yet implemented. LIE mobile telecommunications network, a corresponding base station subsystem (10, 1$) will comprise an eNodeB (evolved Node B), \vhldh effectively combines the Node B and RNC functionality into a single entity.

Conventionally, base stations are arranged in groups and each group of base stations is controlled by a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) II which supports communications in the circuit switched domain, typically voice calls, and a corresponding Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 12 which supports communications in the packet switched domain such as GPRS data transmissions and Internet communIcations. Gateway (PRS Support Node (GGSN) 1 3 provides IP connectivity, in that it provides an interface to Packet Data Networks (PI)N) 16 ttbr example, the Internet) via Proxy Server 1 5.

it. is in relation to a network of any such construction that a first embodiment of the invention will now he described.

With reference to Figure 3, to effect this first embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminal I includes an image scanning means 30, which is in communicaton with a decoding application 31. When the user of the mobile tenninal wishes to decode a 2D barcode they firstly scan the image using the image scanning means 30. The image scanning means is preferably an tn-built camera with a close focus or macro mode. The camera is preferably capable of operating as a normal camera, and as an image scanning device when utilised in cofljunction with the decoding application 31 The decoding application 31 may he downioadcd by the user on.to the mobile terminal or preloaded. The application 31 is configured to read the scanned 21) barcode and decode usable infbrmation. therefrom, The actual decoding technique utilised is not essential to thc invention, in fact, various application programs have been developed to decode QR codes and/or Data Matrix codes, in particular, such as the Kaywa reader (www.kaywa.com), QuickMark rcader (www.guickmark.com) and i -.nigma reader (.wy.yJ:pigma.com). Further, many of the current Nokia handsets, such as the N93 and N95 also have a preinstalled 2D barcode reader application.

To illustrate the result of the decoding process by a given application program, the embedded code that can he obtained by decoding the Figure 1 a QR barcode is: <1mg-sie==Thttp: encode 1nTgma.com QRCodc irng.php d URL° o$.\w \VW vodat-one.co.uk&e' &4" ah:='" .> U This shows that the barcode ws encoded by an 1-Nigma encoder using the QR code methodoiog, and that the mtoimation encoded is a URL address wwwvodafone.co..uk.

Similarly, the embedded code of the Figure lb Data Matrix barcode is: <img re== hRpi encode lunnuacom DMtrx.irng ph; d URL°c3Awwv.

odIhne eo.uk&c &s 4" all 5> (2 This shows that the embedded code was encoded h\ an UNtpma encoder uiim tIle Data Main x code Plcthodologv, and that the mionnation encode d is a I RL address w* s vodafonee Luk.

Upon decoding this information, where the application program finds the encoded miormatton indudes a URL addrc.s the application program ma then actt ate an Internet browser 32, also associated with mobile terminal 1, to launch the. webpage uvw sodalonc conk Altcrnatnd\ the appheation program 31 maY pieselU (he URL address on a screen of the mobile terminal for the user to manually activate, as and when required.

\ecording to thts first embodirnetit of the tnt emton. heiv e the I:R L IS passed on to the browser. tue apphead'n p ocrani s configured to add intimation tot' use liv a TCnlCfte sercer reAp(V!ISIhk lo telavirig the page req'iest to fiie web page d'cinti'd 1w the i_NI. or obtatning a cac bed t ei 5100 oF the requested web page.

The remote en er is tvpeaUv a prtnv c'ner I the deeodintz application m IV add any intormation. More paiticularly. howe ci, it IS preftraIlc that the decodina apnlication:nids information that allows a rerniie son cc. pa ucularly a proxy server, to ideritit'v that the \Veb pae has been accessed using a 2 D barcode. in this regard. the decoding applicanon may bc configured.

upon iniug thu" the decoded mwrinauon COfitUlUS a barcode ado an idenu her to the IJRL URI information to be transmitted. such as: V� wv,vodaIone,cu uLhaniaharcodc' ii tie (I I In I I'I'ML, the USe 01 ? Serves to debmit the boundary between the U RI and a uuer's string in i elation to the TJRL in the present enthodiment of the nwention. it is i-icing used to provide a proxy ser or with mterinanon on (be soun-e ot the I JRL addrc'ss.

The add'ess at (3) is forwarded by the mc'hi le terminal s nan sex throu'1b the network ot t-"iure ton ards the proxy sjr cr in the usual manner. The comniunication will he a web paee reque 1, and neludc the address at (3), as yell as an identifier of the mobile ternunaliterininal user (ce MSiSDN, PvISl etc as is usual. so that the requested web page can be touted to the equest irig hrminaL zU the State-a\\ are orox \Ci\ i 1 5, upon receipt o the non \ oh page tequest horn the browser, the er vet n ill geneiate and matrmun a sen ci-de data record that includes user attribute information for the user cs sion ricing et up with the web bron ser. in the veh addi ess the server will recognise the added text and sa C a record relating to this web page request in a pennanent area of memory. In this regard the sen er n dl P pically store detak relating to the requeted eb address.

t x.'h as an Jentitei of the mobil t?i-minal lerminal rtser an de.rui her of tw mobile terminal s loe,tion (e.n cell IL ci a bPS loeaton i and an indication that thc I' KL was tnuiatcd horn a bar code. .ueh as the added ext itsel 1.

the proxy sen ci will also preferably strip oft the added miormaton ifl order to ensure that no external signallin is affected hs the added field, hefbre rcl&ing the web pae request to its intended destination.

hi thjs av. by the decoding apphcation on the terminal betng contgwed to cooperate s 1th the prxv server, s aluahie data regarding the use. ot2 F) codes may be obtuned using the dtreef' transmIssion mode without requiting -pe i1ie daia to he encoded tnto the D codes. as p:r the "indirect'' approach Not onk may such data he obtained to determine an ads erttsing source hut d ma at so fUr data-ruining purposes. to determine user interests, and at so jil relation to udit trails so as to log a reconl c t which customers are using wine ii servees.

A further use fix the intonration is iii 12!ation to ehargine. in that it enables a ner''ork o'emauu to charge its uscrsaprerniurn for using their mobile icimina 1 to be directed to a particular site designated In a barcode. since the source ot the webcate request can be contirmed. Similarly, it enables a net% ork operator to ?Iarge its advertisers a premium for each eustomet that uses a ha code to s'isit the ad e User's sue. Tue present illS critLoil tncmetorc pros ides an enhanced and non-intrusive rnec-hauisni for obtaminc this source data, with only a less changes to nctwoi k c'perahhtv being rcqu iced, speci heath' in relation to the proxy ers'er s operation and that of the decoding application. A Niflicul at' advantage is that the emhodiment of the ins ention arc functionally independent of the coding metnod used.

Further. the a serhon ot tiie identifier by the decodriu application 3 1 is invsihle to the-user and also ins isihie to txternai web aft" ss here the identifler is stripp al turn the web pace request.

-\ thither advantage is that since this technique s pert&nied by the tekeonnnumcauons net\Vodc operator. the users Pri\'tc Is not widerinined, since the user has already separatel\ pros ided the set vice pros icier with their icienutv details, so all the ser ice provider is collecting Via this technique is data relatme to the users usace ef 21) barcodes. In fact this approach has security benefits for rh usa. 5111Cc the iniormUiun \ ill not be free!' obtainable k unauthonsed third parties.

ftc embodiments of the mcntion herem dcscnhed are to be consdcied as illustrative of the invention, as changes and additions are possible.

For instance, the use of the query strin to incorporate additional uitormanon is just one appoach rn H [Mi. of conveun.g information to a remote poY' Sen or.

and other methods are possible.

in an alternatn e einhodmnicnt of the invention the teiminal client has a ureuetern'incd de'dmation server to \% hmch it is contiuured to send all scanned codes. hat is. the terminal client w ill not only forward threcm.-tianst'cr barcode web addtesses but also:ndirect-transfOr has'ode addresses. The address of the prederramined destination server could be, lbr example , Yflthb)°-ni baicodes. Lb s destination adthess instruction ma> be iareloaded in the terminal client. om the terminal diem may be confiriured vii an or er -the air I VIA) instruction download.

It is to be appiwated that this technique is ad intagcously distinct horn th..

indirect barcode transfer approach in that the transfer destination address is not embedded in tht barcode itself, but inserted by the terminal client. This' embodiment therefore has greater fiexihi hty than the indirect approach, as the terminal client can be updated by an OTA download as necessary, whereas the barcode itself cannot without being physically replaced.

Upon the 2D barcode being scanned, and the directiindirect web address being extracted, the terminal client would then send the extracted address to the predetermined barcode resolution server, by altering the address to include the predetermined destination server address, for example.

www.vodafonc.com/barcodes? www.nike.com/iatestqfi age.

The barcode server page would then compare the scanned parameter (in this example www.ni.ke.com/latest otTepa.g) against its look up table of known business arrangements, white lists, black lists etc and perform an appropriate step.

such as: i) redirecting to the scanned code directly-e.g. www. nke. comJatestpfterpgç; ii) performing a redirection to the indirect destination, perhaps with some added or altered information. For examplc. where it is able to be determined that the subscriber of the terminal is male or interested in men's app arel, the web page as scanned, namely y may be amended to :ymkccnvmay2OO8offcrsmak; or iii) block the transaction e.g. iw y.çfcxiccorrilcoment controL A further advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the network operator can have a single new server making decisions, and riced not reuse the proxy server. Also, enhanced efficiencies result from the direct and indirect codes are all being sent to the same server,