WO2013053004A1

WO2013053004A1 - Improvements in or relating to markers

Info

Publication number: WO2013053004A1
Application number: PCT/AU2012/001229
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lynwood Harold DAVIS
Original assignee: Matthews Resources, Inc.
Priority date: 2011-10-11
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2013-04-18

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information. The method comprises, generating at least one unique pattern, providing a unique marker having a relief pattern, the arrangement of which corresponds to the or each unique pattern. The method further comprises enabling an association between the or each unique marker(s) and the communication network location by means of an electronic device so as to facilitate access to the information.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MARKERS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to markers. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for providing a unique marker for use in establishing a link between a physical item and information hosted at a virtual location.

Background of the invention

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date: (i) part of common general knowledge; or

(ii) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

The Internet is now routinely employed by many people to provide sophisticated information about a vast range of subjects, and to provide possible solutions to problems or answers to questions. With portable computing technology developing at a fast rate, speedy and reliable remote access to the Internet is now almost standard on any portable computing device.

Quick Response (QR) codes are increasingly being incorporated into modern forms of identification markers or similar forms of generic indicia used to denote physical items located in remote locations. Two-dimensional forms of QR codes readily lend themselves to being easily read or interpreted by many portable devices.

However, effective and reliable scanning of conventional QR codes remains a problem at exposed locations.₍

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides, in a first principal aspect, a method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information, the method comprising:

generating at least one unique pattern;

providing a unique marker having a relief pattern, the arrangement of which corresponds to the at least one unique pattern, and enabling an association between the unique marker(s) and the communication network location by means of an electronic device so as to facilitate access to the information.

A communication network location according to the invention may be a website, a web address, an intranet site, an extranet site, the Internet, or other electronic address. In some embodiments, the communication network may devolve to a social networking site such as Facebook or the like, or to a video or image sharing website such as

YouTube or the like. In this way access to a compilation or body of information is provided.

In one embodiment, the unique marker has a unique relief pattern of a Quick

Response (QR) code.

A metallic replica of the unique pattern may be formed by producing a three- dimensional replica or casting of the pattern in a metallic material such as bronze, aluminium, or other like material. In this way, a unique marker which corresponds substantially to a replica in relief, or a three-dimensional replica, of the unique pattern may be generated.

The replica in relief, or three-dimensional replica, is preferably formed so that it may be read or scanned by an electronic device, such as a portable electronic device, having appropriate scanning software installed or installable thereon. Such a portable electronic device may comprise a smart phone, portable tablet or other like device.

The unique marker may be associated with an electronic address so that, once the replica is scanned by the electronic device, a user of the electronic device is directed to the electronic address.

In a preferred embodiment, the electronic address to which the user of the electronic device is referred is predetermined and comprises information which relates to the physical item. In this way, information about any remote physical item with which the unique marker is associated can be accessed simply by the user scanning the three- dimensional replica with their electronic device. For example, the marker may be associated with a grave stone or other suitable memorial of a being's life. Once the replica is scanned by an appropriate electronic device, the user is then directed to an electronic address containing information about the being to which the grave stone or other suitable memorial relates. Alternatively, the physical item may merely provide a means for locating the unique marker. The marker may instead be associated with an electronic address containing information concerning an unrelated item. For example, marker(s) may be located on physical items or objects and, once scanned, arranged to direct users to Internet sites relating to various consumers, products, product offerings, retailers etc. It will be well understood by the reader how the present invention may be employed for use in the advertising and marketing fields.

QR codes generally consist of black units arranged in a square pattern on a white background. For the most part, QR code patterns provide a generally aesthetically pleasing and visually unobtrusive example of artwork. For two-dimensional

representations of QR codes, the spatial arrangement and contrasting nature of the black units on the white background (effectively presented as white units) are easily and readily interpreted by known scanning solutions so that the unique pattern can be read and interpreted. However, when the QR code is arranged in three dimensions, and indeed produced by way of a casting process, difficulties arise.

To overcome the practical problems of casting a three-dimensional representation of a QR code, it has been found that attention needs to be paid to the spatial depth of the black units relative to the white units. In this regard, the casting process is arranged so that the black units are positioned lower (relative to the depth direction of the replica) with respect to the white units, ie. the surfaces representative of the white units of the QR code are arranged so that they project above the neighbouring surfaces which are representative of the black units. This has the effect of increasing the contrast between the black units and neighbouring white units, and ensures the replica can be scanned by electronic/portable devices effectively in environments where poor light levels may exist. A key commercial advantage of this process is that costly post-casting painting can be readily avoided without compromising reliability of the scanning of the QR code by the electronic/portable devices. This also improves the aesthetic appeal of the marker.

In one implementation of the proposed method, the casting process generally takes advantage of the sand casting process but it will be appreciated that any casting process which allows a metallic three-dimensional replica of the QR code to be produced may be employed, provided the representative white units are spatially distinct from the representative black units. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that other processing techniques known in the art for producing three-dimensional representations may be employed to produce QR codes having the requisite spatial relativity between black and white units. Such techniques may include three-dimensional printing, laser or acid etching.

In another implementation of the method, a QR code generator is used to generate a unique QR code. The QR code so generated is then associated with an electronic address. Depending on the generator used to generate the QR code, the vector artwork of the QR code is obtained. Alternatively, the QR code can be further processed so as to obtain the associated vector artwork which defines the QR pattern. Once provided, the vector artwork is then employed to produce the pattern for use in the sand casting process. In one embodiment, the pattern is used to make a polymer pattern. A sand mould of the polymer pattern is produced, and the casting process is commenced.

Once the casting is produced it is darkened in colour using an appropriate paint or like finishing means. The raised portions, representative of the white units, are linished so as to highlight the natural colour of the casting material used. In the case of a bronze casting, the applied linish assists in highlighting the natural bronze colour.

In one commercial embodiment, the casting may be produced as a separate component which is then applied to the remotely located physical item. Alternatively, the casting of the indicia may be part of or integral with an overall casting which includes other elements such as text, motifs and borders etc.

According to a second principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information about the remotely located physical item, the method comprising:

generating at least one unique pattern comprising an arrangement of first and second units;

providing a corresponding metallic replica in relief or a three-dimensional replica of the at least one unique pattern, the replica comprising an arrangement of first and second surfacings corresponding substantially with the arrangement of the first and second units respectively, wherein the first and second surfacings are arranged so as to be spatially distinct from one another, and enabling an association between the at least one unique pattern and the communication network location by means of an electronic device so as to facilitate access to information about the remotely located physical item.

According to a third principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided a marker comprising:

a three-dimensional metallic body corresponding substantially with a Unique substantially two-dimensional pattern comprising an arrangement of first and second units, the metallic body comprising an arrangement of first and second surfacings corresponding substantially with the arrangement of the first and second units respectively, wherein the first and second surfacings are arranged so as to be spatially distinct from one another.

In one embodiment, the first and second units represent the white and black units of the QR code respectively. Thus, the three-dimensional metallic body may be arranged so that the first surfacings are spatially distinct from the second surfacings. In particular, the first surfacings may be arranged so as to be spatially raised (relative to the depth direction of the body of the indicia) above the second surfacings.

In one embodiment, the marker is produced and provided as a plaque for association with a structural item. The plaque may be applied to the structural item using any known and appropriate application means in the art, such as for example, adhesive, mechanical, or like application means.

According to a fourth principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided a marker comprising:

a three-dimensional metallic body corresponding substantially with a unique substantially two-dimensional pattern comprising an arrangement of first and second units representative of substantially white and darker than white coloured polygonal shaped units respectively,

the metallic body comprising an arrangement of first and second surfacings corresponding substantially with the arrangement of the first and second units respectively, wherein the first surfacing(s) are arranged so as to be spatially raised above the second surfacing(s).

The methods of the third and fourth aspects may be used with the methods of the first and second aspects. For any of the aspects of the invention described above, the remotely located physical item may comprise any physical item existing in free space. Examples of typical physical items are expansive and may include, without limitation, grave head stones or memorials located in a cemetery, remembrance walls, rocks, plinths, kerbs, artwork provided in a gallery, structures of significance, or vehicles. Other physical items are envisaged within the scope of the invention. Such items may occur in any remote location such as for example gardens, bush areas and the like.

Furthermore, the physical item may also be architectural in nature such as for example city buildings, monoliths, advertising walls, hoardings, furniture or other features where a person, company, association, government department, local government department or other entity may wish to promote their cause or

commemorate people, places or things.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be further explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an example of a plaque comprising an indicia prepared in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows an example of a Quick Response (QR) code; and,

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Description of embodiments of the invention

Various embodiments of the method of the present invention serve to provide a means for enabling an association between a marker - one embodiment of which is shown in Figure 1 and hereinafter referred to as 'indicia 1' - which is associated with a remotely located physical item, and an electronic address such as an Internet location. In a preferred embodiment (shown in Figure 3), the method comprises generating a unique pattern, such as a Quick Response (QR) code 4 similar to that shown in Figure 2. The method further comprises providing a corresponding metallic three-dimensional replica 2 of the unique pattern for association with a remotely located physical item such as for example a grave stone 3, and associating 7 the unique pattern with a

predetermined Internet location 5. The replica 2 is formed so that it may be read or scanned 7 by a portable device such as a smart phone or iPad having appropriate scanning and interpretation software. Once the replica 2 is scanned by the portable device, a user of the portable device is directed 11 to the Internet address 5.

The Internet address 5 to which the user of the portable device is referred, is generally predetermined and comprises a compilation of information which may relate to the physical item. In this way, information about any remote physical item can be accessed simply by the user scanning the replica 2 with their portable device.

The physical item may comprise any physical item existing in free space.

Examples may include, without limitation, such items as grave stone 5, artwork provided in a gallery, city buildings, or landmarks existing in a city or city park. For the embodiment of the invention described herein, the indicia 1 is provided in the form of plaques which are associated with grave stones in a cemetery. Once the replica 2 is scanned (7), the user is able to access an Internet site at Internet address 5 which contains information about the person to whom the grave stone relates. Thus, the method of the present invention provides a simple and discrete way of providing, at the relevant site, access to information concerning friends and/or family members who have passed.

As shown clearly in Figure 1, QR codes 4 generally consist of black units 6 arranged in a square pattern on a white background (effectively presented as white units 10). For the most part, QR code 4 patterns provide a generally aesthetically pleasing and visually unobtrusive instance of artwork. For two-dimensional representations of QK codes, the spatial arrangement and contrasting nature of the black 6 and white 10 units is easily and readily interpreted by known scanning solutions so as the unique pattern can be read and interpreted. However, when the QR code 4 is arranged in three dimensions, and indeed produced by way of a casting process, difficulties arise.

So that the indicia 1 may survive the effluxion of time when exposed to the elements, the replica 2 may be formed as a casting of the unique pattern in a metallic material such as bronze, aluminium, or other like material. To overcome the practical problems of casting a three-dimensional representation of a QR code 4 so that it can be scanned reliably, it has been found that attention needs to be paid to the spatial depth of the black units 6 relative to the white units 10. In this regard, the casting process is arranged so that the black units 6 are positioned lower with respect to the white units 10, ie. the surfaces (or surfacings) representative of the white units 10 of the QR code are to be arranged so that they are spatially distinct from neighbouring surfaces which are representative of the black units 6. This has been found to have the effect of increasing the contrast between the black units 6 and the neighbouring white units 10 to ensure that the replica 2 can be scanned by portable devices effectively in environments where poor light levels may exist. A key commercial advantage of this process is that cosdy post-casting painting can be readily avoided without compromising the scanning of the QR code by portable devices.

Therefore, with reference to Figure 1, the embodiment of the method described herein serves to provide the indicia 1 which comprises a three-dimensional metallic replica 2 of a QR code 4 which can be readily scanned by way of a portable device having appropriate scanning software installed thereon. The replica 2 comprises a three- dimensional metallic body 12 corresponding substantially with a unique two- dimensional QR code 4 comprising an arrangement of the first 6 and second 10 units. The body 12 is configured having an arrangement of first 18 and second 22 surfacings (or surfaces) arranged to correspond substantially with the white 10 and black 6 units respectively, whereby the first 18 and second 22 surfacings are arranged so as to be spatially distinct from one another so that the first surfacings 18 are spatially raised (relative to the depth direction of the body 12 of the indicia) above the second surfacings 22. ⁽

The replica 2 is produced by employing a conventional casting process. The casting process takes advantage of the sand casting technique but it will be appreciated that any casting process which allows a metallic replica of the QR code 4 to be produced may be employed provided the representative surfaces of the white units 10 are raised above those of the representative black units 6. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that other processing techniques known in the art for producing three-dimensional representations may be employed to produce QR codes 4 having the requisite spatial relativity between the black 6 and white 10 units. Such techniques may include three- dimensional printing, laser or acid etching.

A QR code generator is generally used to generate a unique QR code 4. QR code generators can be freely obtained from Internet sites, or downloaded and installed as specific applications for any portable device. It will be appreciated that each QR code is completely unique whereby the example shown in Figure 2 serves to only illustrate the general appearance of the QR pattern for those unfamiliar with QR code technology. Once generated, the QR code 4 is associated with an address location on the Internet. An important element of the QR code which, in part, influences the quality of the two-dimensional representation of the QR pattern, is the vector artwork which contains the necessary information (associated mathematical statements and individual properties such as colour, fill and outline assigned to the pattern) defining the QR pattern. Depending on the generator used to generate the QR code 4, the vector artwork of the QR code may be provided. It will be understood that QR generators are freely available on the Internet where many also provide the required vector artwork.

Alternatively, the QR code 4 may need to be further processed so as to obtain the associated vector artwork defining the QR pattern. Regardless, once obtained, the vector artwork is then used (by way of further software) to produce a pattern for use in the sand casting process. Typically, the pattern is used to make a polymer pattern. A sand mould of the polymer pattern is then produced and the casting process commenced in order to produce the replica 2.

Once the QR code is generated, it is associated with an URL or Internet address generally provided by a third party. Typically, the third party is responsible for providing and or maintaining the compilation of information stored at the URL or Internet address.

Once the casting is produced it is painted or finished using a dark colour. The raised surfacings 18, representative of the white units 10, are then each linished so as to highlight the natural colour of the casting material used. For example, in the case of a bronze casting, the applied linish assists with highlighting the natural bronze colour of the raised surfacings 18 which identify the white units 10.

The replica 2, once finished, may be mounted on a backing substrate so as to complete the indicia for assembling with the desired physical item. In the preferred form, the body 12 of the indicia is provided as a plaque which is affixable to the physical item in, preferably, a permanent manner. It will be appreciated that the plaque could also be removably attachable to the item depending on the longevity of the permanency desired.

In one commercial embodiment, the casting may be produced as a separate component which is then applied to the remotely located physical item. Alternatively, the casting of the indicia may be part of or integral with an overall casting which includes other elements such as text, motifs and borders etc. Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information, the method comprising:

generating at least one unique pattern;

providing a unique marker having a relief pattern, the arrangement of which corresponds to the at least one unique pattern, and

enabling an association between the unique marker(s) and the communication network location by means of an electronic device so as to facilitate access to the information.

2. A method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information about the remotely located physical item, the method comprising:

providing a corresponding metallic three-dimensional replica of the at least one unique pattern, the replica comprising an arrangement of first and second surfacings corresponding substantially with the arrangement of the first and second units respectively, wherein the first and second surfacings are arranged so as to be spatially distinct from one another, and

enabling an association between the at least one unique pattern and the communication network location by means of an electronic device so as to facilitate access to information about the remotely located physical item.

3. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

communication network location is at least one of the following: a website, a web address, an intranet site, an extranet site, the Internet, or other electronic address.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the

communication network devolves to a social networking site or a video or image sharing website.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unique marker has a unique relief pattern corresponding substantially to that of a Quick Response (QR) code.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unique

marker corresponds substantially to a replica in relief or a three-dimensional replica of the unique pattern.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the replica in relief, or three-dimensional replica, is formed so that it may be read or scanned by a portable electronic device.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the portable electronic device is one of a smart phone, portable tablet or other like device.

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the unique marker may be associated with an electronic address so that, once the replica in relief or three- dimensional replica is scanned by the portable electronic device, a user of the electronic device is directed to the electronic address.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the electronic address to which the user of the electronic device is referred is predetermined and comprises information which relates to the physical item.

11. A marker comprising:

a three-dimensional metallic body corresponding substantially with a unique two-dimensional pattern comprising an arrangement of first and second units, the metallic body comprising an arrangement of first and second surfacings corresponding substantially with the arrangement of the first and second units respectively, wherein the first and second surfacings are arranged so as to be spatially distinct from one another.

12. A marker comprising:

a three-dimensional metallic body corresponding substantially with a unique two-dimensional pattern comprising an arrangement of first and second units representative of substantially white and darker than white coloured polygonal shaped units respectively,

13. A marker according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the marker is associated with a remotely located physical item and a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information.

14. A marker according to claim 13, wherein the communication network location is one of the following: a website, a web address, an intranet site, an extranet site, the Internet, or other electronic address.

15. A marker according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the communication network devolves to a social networking site or to a video or image sharing website.

16. A marker according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the marker has a

unique relief pattern , the pattern being substantially of a Quick Response (QR) code.

17. A marker according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the marker

corresponds substantially to a replica in relief, or a three-dimensional replica, of the unique two-dimensional pattern.

18. A marker according to claim 17, wherein the replica in relief, or three- dimensional replica, is formed so that it may be read or scanned by a portable electronic device.

19. A marker according to claim 18, wherein the portable electronic device is a smart phone, portable tablet or other like device.

20. A marker according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the marker is associated with an electronic address so that, once the replica is scanned by the portable electronic device, a user of the electronic device is directed to the electronic address.

21. A marker according to claim 20, wherein the electronic address to which the user of the portable electronic device is referred is predetermined arid comprises information which relates to the physical item.

22. A marker according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein the first and second units represent the white and black units of the QR code respectively.

23. A marker according to any one of claims 11 to 22, wherein the marker provides a plaque for association with a structural item.

24. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or a marker according to any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the physical item is one of a grave/head stone or memorial located in a cemetery, remembrance walls, rocks, plinths, kerbs, artwork provided in a gallery, structures of significance, vehicles, city buildings, monoliths, advertising walls, hoardings, or furniture.

25. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, or a marker according to any one of claims 11 to 23, wherein the unique marker, or marker, is, at least in part, a substantially bronze or aluminium casting.

26. A method for enabling an association between a unique marker associated with a remotely located physical item arid a communication network location for providing access to a compilation of information, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any of the accompanying figures.

27. A marker substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any of the accompanying figures.