NZ744514A - System and method for placing scannable QR codes on small diameter cylindrical surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for overcoming the limitations of placing QR code into smaller diameter assemblies including convex, concave or cylindrical surfaces where the 2D code to be scannable by a smartphone camera is proposed to be designed big enough to cover the substantial proportion of the screen, so that depending on the size of the QR code, the distance to the camera lens, the magnification factor, and the camera sensor resolution, small QR codes should be made efficient by average smartphones tion of the screen, so that depending on the size of the QR code, the distance to the camera lens, the magnification factor, and the camera sensor resolution, small QR codes should be made efficient by average smartphones

Description

NON PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION TITLE System and method for placing ble QR codes on small diameter cylindrical surfaces Copyright Notice A portion ofthe disclosure ofthis patent nt contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to thefacsimile reproduction by anyone ofthe patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patentfile or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever BACKGROUND Field of the Invention: This invention relates to a method for generating and decoding two dimensional barcodes or matrix barcodes, more specifically QR codes, placed on concave or convex cylindrical surfaces.

Description of the Related Art: [ 0002] QR code has come to us from Japan where they are very common. QR is short for Quick Response (they can be read quickly by a cell phone). They are used to take a piece of information from a transitory media and put it in to the users’ cell phone. QR Codes are ed to be seen in a ne advert, on a billboard, a web page or even on someone’s t-shirt. Once it is in users” cell phone, it may give details about that business ing users to search for nearby locations), or details about the person wearing the t— shirt, can show a URL which can be clicked to see a trailer for a movie, or it may give a coupon which can be used in a local outlet. [ 0003] The reason why they are more useful than a standard barcode is that they can store (and digitally present) much more data, ing URL links, geo coordinates, and text.

The other key feature of QR Codes is that instead of requiring a chunky hand—held scanner to scan them, many modern cell phones can scan them by just installing an application or just focusing on them with the smartphone standard . 2D barcodes were created to address the 1D barcode tion on the encoded data size. The most popular version of 2D barcodes is the QR code.

Actually, the most common use of QR codes has been to encode Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), such as website addresses. Such QR codes provide consumers with a quick and easy way to visits a y’s website, without having to memorize, write down or manually type a URL in mobile devices. Consumers may take a picture of the QR code, using a camera embedded in the hone, and may utilize a smartphone application to automatically translate the QR code into URL. Smartphone Application may then launch a browser pointed to the URL. Modern Smartphone cameras can detect QR codes automatically.

There are multiple inventions that have been enlisted in prior art which are defining the new system and procedures for the effective utilization of QR codes. For instance, System and Method for Using Intelligent Codes to Add a Stored-Value Card to an Electronic Wallet is a patent issued to awk Network Inc bearing patent no 030,4642Al. The method ses of receiving a request to add a stored—value card to an electronic wallet via interpreting an intelligent code which directs a user to a URL for an electronic wallet website; prompting a user for credentials to enter the electronic wallet website; ining whether the stored-value card already exists in the electronic wallet; and adding the stored—value card to the electronic wallet. A system comprises a computer device to e a t to add a stored—value card to an electronic wallet via interpreting an intelligent code which directs a user to a URL for an electronic wallet website; to prompt a user for credentials to enter the electronic wallet website, to determine possession of the stored—value card, to determine whether the stored-value card already exists in the electronic wallet, and to add the -value card to the electronic wallet. [ 0007] Similarly, another ion bearing US Patent US2,013,025,6403A1 issued to Wendy MacKinnon Keith is a system and Method for Facilitating Secure Self Payment ctions of Retail Goods. The disclosed herein are various embodiments for systems and methods for self—payment and verification of the purchase of retail goods and services. According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for ing the purchase using a mobile electronic device in wireless ication with a payment verification system and a code generating system is provided, the method comprising the steps of: receiving from a consumer information identifying an item for purchase; receiving from a consumer information identifying payment means for purchasing the item for purchase; processing the information fying the item for purchase and information identifying payment means and generating a unique QR code indicating a purchase of the item; sending the unique QR code to a mobile device for display by a consumer to the vendor of the item for purchase.

A US Patent 2,014,014,308,9Al issued to Blackhawk Network Inc depicts a system and Method for Using Intelligent Codes in Conjunction with —Value Cards.

The invention discloses a system and method of transacting a prepaid product with an electronic mobile device that is used to electronically interface with a code, such as a QR code, barcode, RF signal or NFC , representing a prepaid product. The codes of multiple d products of multiple prepaid product providers are d together on a single ure or in a single computer displayed in a shopping area. The electronic mobile device subsequently electronically interfaces with a point of sale device after electronically interfacing with said code to provide prepaid product information.

A systems and methods for using quick response codes to activate re applications bearing US Patent US20130239104A1 is issued to Symantec Corp. The invention discloses a computer—implemented method for facilitating access to shared resources within computer clusters may include (1) identifying a quick response code ed by at least one computing , (2) identifying information encoded in the quick response code ed by the computing system, (3) determining that the information encoded in the quick response code contains an activation key that facilitates activation of a software application, then (4) applying, in response to this determination, the activation key to the software application in order to activate the software application without requiring a user of the software application to manually enter the activation key.

Various other methods, systems, and computer—readable media are also disclosed. [ 0010] A system and method for applying a digital signature and authenticating physical documents bearing US Patent US9,369,287Bl is issued to Seyed Amin Ghorashi Sarvestani. The patent discloses a system and a method for ting and authenticating a l signature on a physical document. The system and method includes the use of a document having a code embedded therein (e.g., a Radio Frequency Identification Code and/ a Near Field Communication Code), a first user computing device having a first user application software and a code reader, a second user computing device having a second user ation software and a code reader, a printer for printing a digital signature on the document, and a main application server for generating, encrypting and authenticating a digital signature, the data integrity of the nt and status of the document. [ 0011] Another patent proposes a System and method for processing gift cards using scannable code. A method is disclosed which blends the use of scannable codes such as a quick response (QR) codes and sing virtual gift cards. The system receives from a first device associated with a giver at a first time, a first visual scan of a code and data from a giver to identify a recipient and other parameter with a gift. The system receives from a second device associated with a recipient a second visual scan of the code. The system presents at least a second portion of data on the second device and then establishes a policy based on the data that causes the system to r purchases using the recipient payment account that existed prior to the first time for a ying purchase upon which the system applies the gift according to the policy. [ 0012] To be scannable by a smartphone camera the QR code size should be big enough to cover the substantial proportion of the , so depending on the size of the QR code, the distance to the camera lens, the magnification factor, and the camera sensor resolution, some small QR codes may not be scanned by average smartphones. The problem gets worse When the QR code is placed on curved surfaces because the distortion of the captured shape can’t be compensated by actual scanning— decoding algorithms. [ 0013] The current invention proposes to provide a system and method to apply QR codes to small cylindrical es, overcoming the inherent limitations of the curvature distortion on them.

None of the us inventions and s, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Hence, the inventor of the present invention proposes to resolve and nt existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art.

SUMMARY In light of the disadvantages of the prior art, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not ed to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. [ 0016] It is therefore the purpose of the invention to alleviate at least to some extent one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art and/ to e the nt public with a suitable alternative thereto having relative advantages. [ 0017] The primary object of the invention is related to the provision of generating and placing Quick Response (QR) matrix barcodes on small cylindrical surfaces. [ 0018] It is further the objective of the invention to place the QR code on curved surfaces effectively so the distortion of the captured shape can be compensated by actual scanning— decoding algorithms.

It is also the objective of the invention to provide a method of another embodiment of the invention to print and then detects a QR code printed with ink onto a small cylindrical medium.

This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the t matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above—described es are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the t matter described herein will become nt from the following ed Description, s, and Claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [ 0021] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the t invention may be embodied in various forms.

Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in lly any riately detailed system, structure or manner.

The current invention in its preferred embodiment discloses QR codes which are found everywhere including billboards, packaging, magazines etc. However, there are n conditions, including , size, distance to the camera, light and distortion that must be met to guarantee scannability by an average smartphone user: [ 0023] The format of QR code is a square matrix of black and white small squares, surrounded by a white border. It can be 21 by 21, 25 by 25 and bigger. Usually, format 25 is enough to encode a short URL on a 7 error correction level. Although format 21 is better in terms of real life conditions bility, they can only encode a limited amount of combinations that may not be enough for practical use. [ 0024] The small size QR codes are difficult to scan because the image captured may not include enough pixels to map the QR. The minimal distance from the camera lens to the QR code is depending upon the lens used, it’s aperture, magnification ratio and the resolution of the image sensor.

The st between the dark s and the surrounding light background has to be good enough to allow the detection algorithm to y identify black and white elements. As scanners operate on grayscale images, color is not as relevant as luminance and contrast. Shadow and reflections can turn a perfect QR code unreadable, so good uniform illumination is crucial. The tests have determined that a 10 mm optimal contrast format 21 QR code is scannable by at least 90% of the users under normal light conditions. [ 0026] The ideal condition to scan a QR is to place it on a flat surface, aligning the camera right in front of it so the image of the QR will look perfectly square. r algorithms can compensate for perspective distortions fairly well, allowing a able offset angle to render a trapezoid shape that can be compensated to re—create the original square with 100 accuracy. Spherical, cylindrical and other curvature distortions are not tly contemplated by scanner software algorithms. The light conditions on a curved surface may be another severe limitation to scannability. That is the reason why QR codes can't be found on small bottles, pens, pipes and other everyday cylindrical objects.

However, if the distortion factor is small enough the QR code may still be readable.

The current invention proposes to introduce a practical approach to create scannable QR codes on small cylinder surfaces if, for instance, an image of the desired QR code is printed on a curved surface. Aligning the axis of the camera lens to the projector will effectively allow the camera to capture an image of the QR code that resembles the square that is being projected, thus re—creating a scannable QR code.

If the surface where the image is being projected is flattened, the output will be a distorted square. To create a real ble QR code on the curved surface there are four practical approaches currently ble including print or laser engrave a compensated ted image from a moving nozzle close to the curved surface that renders the transfer following the curved shape or Print or laser engrave a non—distorted image from a nozzle moving on a plane from a distance that will be several times bigger than the projection size ting parallel to the center plane of the cylinder. Furthermore, pad printing, also called tampography, by using an ct offset (gravure) ng process that involves the non—distorted image being transferred from the cliche’ via a flexible pad onto the curved surface. Lastly the ng stickers with the same distortion compensation mentioned in the first way. [ 0029] Provided the size and light conditions are met, the resulting optical effect will be good enough to present a virtual scannable QR code. For a simple cylinder, the math required to render a ted square shape is a basic arctangent trigonometry a that takes into t the arc angle from border to border of the square on one dimension.

Better results can be achieved if optical lens distance compensation is taken into account, but according to our experience, the improvement is hardly noticeable. [ 0030] To maximize the size of the QR code, including white borders, the angle can be up to 180 degrees. However, this will require the user to get a more accurate alignment, taking much more time than what a less ted QR code will require due to software perspective distortion compensation. The smallest practical diameter of the cylinder that can hold a scannable QR code is currently about 10mm. According to our tests, a format 21 QR code will be 12% more scannable compared to a format 25 of the same size.

Better camera optics and tions will allow smaller sizes, but the same ts for maximizing scannability will apply. Example: For a 10mm diameter cylinder, the maximum visible sector (from a long distance, ideally infinite) will be 180 degrees, which will yield a rectangle 15.7mm by 10 mm.

The current invention in its preferred embodiment will propose to print the QR code in such a way that the white border is 2 squares, a format 21 QR code will have 10mm divided by 25 segments equal 400 microns per side square elements in the , but the expanded black squares of the QR will be expanded to 660 by 440 microns. The flat rectangle will yield a mon—scannable QR code, but when applied to the cylinder that gle will become a square and then the QR code will be ble from a perpendicular axis.

While a specific embodiment has been shown and described, many variations are possible. With time, additional es may be employed. The particular shape or configuration of the platform or the interior configuration may be changed to suit the system or equipment with which it is used. [ 0033] Having bed the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without ing from its spirit.

Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

The Abstract ofthe Disclosure is ed to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the d ments e more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims t, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims (1)

1. [ 0035] Claim I: The t invention is a method for adapting a QR code matrix to be attached to a cylindrical surface by compensating the spatial distortion, so it will look like the original normal square flat matrix when scanned from a point on an axis perpendicular to the tangent plane of its center and from a distance several times its width; the method sing the steps of calculating the arc angle from the scanner to the QR code borders on the curved surface and expanding each individual square element of the matrix to match its projection on the curved surface, considering a format 25 or 21 matrix and at least two s surrounding border, expanded to a maximum of 180 degrees arc from the central axis of the cylinder. , The method of claim I where printing the two-dimensional bar code encoding method, on the at least substantially uniform background on the cylindrical and concave shapes; 7 The method of claim I where localizing the area of the image on a selected area of the assembly comprising a QR code; — The method of claim I where the printing of code allows the extracting a QR code area comprising the QR code; and — The method of claim I which allows the verifying ofthe ted QR code area ses of dimensional parameters that are within a desired range for QR code detection. [ 0036] Claim [1: The method of claim 1, further comprising of providing an application configured to be downloaded to a ; the reader adapted to take an image of the two— dimensional code; and the application configured to decode the encoded text, normally a short URL, based on the image of the two-dimensional code taken by the reader. 7 The method ol‘elam 11, wherein the reader is a mobile phone having a digital ; 7 The method ofclaim ll, wherein the application is configured to enable a user to decode the encoded short URL and te on a browser to the destination URL or launching an application; 7 The method of claim 11, wherein the QR code encodes a short URL with the minimum possible characters to allow sufficient combinations to make each code unique; — The method of clam ll, wherein the short URL key is comprised of a human—readable case-insensitive set of characters.