WO2020119955A1 - Environment sensitive web identities in barcodes - Google Patents

Abstract

A method includes providing indicia on an object. The indicia vary based on and/or with one or more environmental conditions of said indicia, and wherein multiple distinct environmental variations of the indicia encode corresponding distinct URIs. Variations of said indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, wherein said first indicia are visible under first environmental conditions and wherein said second indicia are visible under second environmental conditions distinct from said first environmental conditions. At least some parts of the indicia are printed with a functional ink, wherein said first functional ink is responsive to a first real-world physical property. The environmental conditions may be based on real-world physical properties such as temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and/or time.

Description

ENVIRONMENT SENSITIVE WEB IDENTITIES IN BARCODES

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

[0001] This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials in the files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is related to and claims priority from: (1) US 62/779,033, filed December 13, 2018; and (2) US 62/786,308, filed December 28, 2018, the entire contents of both of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of smart packaging, and, more particularly, to a system supporting digital identities on product to vary based on sensory capabilities of inks and materials used to print indicia on labels or packages.

BACKGROUND

[0004] Product tags such as 2D bar codes containing uniform web locators (URLs) are increasingly present on consumer goods (or on labels or packaging associated with goods).

These URLs may be used to serve Web-based content directly to consumers, e.g., when a user scans a product's tag.

[0005] However, the URLs used in the tags are static, and, once printed the characters they contain cannot change.

[0006] Some inks can react to environmental changes. For instance, photochromic inks react to light, thermochromic inks to temperature, and hydrochromic inks react to changes in the degree of humidity.

[0007] Such inks are referred to as sensing, functional, or interactive inks (and are referred to herein as "functional inks").

[0008] There has been some description of using functional inks to change the appearance of a label (e.g., its colors) or to change some of its written content. [0009] Chinese patent application CN 102182225A describes a temperature sensitive ink anticounterfeiting mark based on two-dimension code information layer).

[0010] UpCode Ltd. of Vaasa Finland describes smart tags with sensors, with "up to 3 different sensors on one Smart Tag." (http://www.upcodeworld.com/smart-tags-with-sensor/)·

[0011] However, these approaches cannot be used to decode the sensor data without a dedicated application. For instance, they do not allow leveraging the camera application or native 2D barcode applications of iOS or Android devices to use sensory values as an input for dynamic digital content on the Web.

SUMMARY

[0012] The present invention is specified in the claims as well as in the below description. Preferred embodiments are particularly specified in the dependent claims and the description of various embodiments.

[0013] A system of one or more computers can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of having software, firmware, hardware, or a combination of them installed on the system that in operation causes or cause the system to perform the actions. One or more computer programs can be configured to perform particular operations or actions by virtue of including instructions that, when executed by data processing apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the actions.

[0014] One general aspect includes a method including: providing indicia on an object. The method also includes where said indicia vary based on and/or with one or more environmental conditions of said indicia. The method also includes where multiple distinct environmental variations of the indicia encode corresponding distinct URIs.

[0015] Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the methods.

[0016] Implementations may include one or more of the following features:

• The method where variations of said indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, where said first indicia are visible under first environmental conditions and where said second indicia are visible under second environmental conditions distinct from said first environmental conditions. • The method where at least some parts of the indicia are printed with a first functional ink, where said first functional ink is responsive to a first real-world physical property, and where parts of the indicia that are printed with the first functional ink vary in response to at least one change in said first real-world physical property.

• The method where parts of the indicia printed with the first functional ink include at least one part corresponding to said first indicia and at least one part corresponding to said second indicia.

• The method where the first functional ink is selected from: photochromic inks,

thermochromic inks, hydrochromic inks, and inks that react to acids.

• The method where the first real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time.

• The method where the one or more environmental conditions correspond to or include said first real-world physical property.

• The method where at least some parts of the indicia are printed with a second functional ink, where said second functional ink is responsive to a second real-world physical property, and where parts of the indicia that are printed with the second functional ink vary in response to at least one change in said second real-world physical property.

• The method where the second functional ink is selected from: photochromic inks,

thermochromic inks, and hydrochromic inks.

• The method where the second real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time.

• The method where the distinct URIs include a first URI and a second URI, and where said first URI refers to a first web service and where said second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

• The method where the distinct URIs include a first URI and a second URI, and where both URIs refers to the same web service with different parameters.

• The method where variations of said indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, where said first indicia is visible under first environmental conditions and where said second indicia is visible if said indicia is and/or has been subject to second environmental conditions distinct from said first environmental conditions. • The method where said first indicia encode a first URI and said second indicia encode a second URI, distinct from said first URI.

• The method where said first URI refers to a first web service and where said second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

• The method where said first URI refers to a first entry point for a computer application and where said second URI refers to a second entry point for said computer application, distinct from the first entry point.

• The method where the indicia are printed, at least in part, with multiple distinct

functional inks, each of said functional inks responsive to a corresponding real-world physical property.

• The method where parts of the indicia printed with the first functional ink comprise at least one part corresponding to said first indicia and at least one part corresponding to said second indicia.

• The method where the first indicia comprise first modules and wherein the second indicia comprise second modules.

• The method where the first modules are distinct from the second modules.

• The method where the first modules are completely distinct from the second modules.

• The method where at least some of the first modules are also second modules.

• The method where said indicia include a 2D barcode.

• The method where said multiple distinct URIs include multiple valid URLs.

• The method where at least some of the URLs correspond to distinct entry points for a computer application. The method further including: determining said indicia.

[0017] Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

[0018] Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

[0019] Below are some method aspects. Those will be indicated with a letter“M”.

Ml. A method comprising:

providing indicia on an object,

wherein the indicia vary based on and/or with one or more environmental conditions of the indicia, and wherein multiple distinct environmental variations of the indicia encode corresponding distinct URIs.

M2. The method of aspect Ml, wherein variations of the indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, wherein the first indicia are visible under first environmental conditions and wherein the second indicia are visible under second environmental conditions distinct from the first environmental conditions.

M3. The method of aspects Ml or M2, wherein the distinct URIs comprise a first URI and a second URI, and wherein the first URI refers to a first web service and wherein the second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

M4. The method of aspect M3, wherein the first web service comprises a first web site and wherein the second web service comprises a second web site.

M5. The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein variations of the indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, wherein the first indicia is visible under first environmental conditions and wherein the second indicia is visible if the indicia is and/or has been subject to second environmental conditions distinct from the first environmental conditions.

M6. The method of aspect M5, wherein the first indicia encode a first URI and the second indicia encode a second URI, distinct from the first URI.

M7. The method of aspect M6, wherein the first URI refers to a first web service and wherein the second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

M8. The method of aspect M6 or M7, wherein the first URI refers to a first entry point for a computer application and wherein the second URI refers to a second entry point for the computer application, distinct from the first entry point.

M9. The method of aspects M6 - M8, wherein the first URI refers to a particular web service with first parameters, and wherein the second URI refer to the particular web service with second parameters, distinct from the first parameters.

M10. The method of any one of the preceding aspects, wherein at least some parts of the indicia are printed with a first functional ink, wherein the first functional ink is responsive to a first real-world physical property, and wherein parts of the indicia that are printed with the first functional ink vary in response to at least one change in the first real-world physical property.

Mil. The method of aspect M10, wherein parts of the indicia printed with the first functional ink comprise at least one part corresponding to the first indicia and at least one part corresponding to the second indicia.

M12. The method of any one of aspects M2-M11, wherein the first indicia comprise first modules and wherein the second indicia comprise second modules.

M13. The method of aspect M12, wherein the first modules are distinct from the second modules.

M14. The method of aspects M12 or M13, wherein the first modules are completely distinct from the second modules.

M15. The method of aspect M12, wherein at least some of the first modules are also second modules.

M16. The method of any of aspects M10 to M15, wherein the first functional ink is selected from: photochromic inks, thermochromic inks, and hydrochromic inks.

M17. The method of any of aspects M10 to M16, wherein the first real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time.

M18. The method of any of aspects M10 to M17, wherein the one or more

environmental conditions correspond to or comprise the first real-world physical property.

M19. The method of any of aspects M10-M18, wherein at least some parts of the

indicia are printed with a second functional ink, wherein the second functional ink is responsive to a second real-world physical property, and wherein parts of the indicia that are printed with the second functional ink vary in response to at least one change in the second real-world physical property.

M20. The method of aspect M19, wherein the second functional ink is selected from:

photochromic inks, thermochromic inks, and hydrochromic inks.

M21. The method of aspects M19 or M20, wherein the second real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time. M22. The method of any of the preceding aspects, wherein the indicia are printed, at least in part, with multiple distinct functional inks, each of the functional inks responsive to a corresponding real-world physical property.

M23. The method of any of the preceding aspects, wherein the indicia comprise a 2D barcode.

M24. The method of any of the preceding aspects, wherein the multiple distinct URIs comprise multiple valid URLs.

M25. The method of aspect M24, wherein at least some of the URLs correspond to distinct entry points for a computer application.

M26. The method of any one of the preceding aspects, further comprising: determining the indicia.

[0020] Below are other aspects:

A27. An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, said method operable on a device comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and running a service on said hardware, said method comprising the method of any one of the method aspects M1-M26.

A28. A computer program product having computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer- implemented method comprising any one of method aspects M1-M26.

A29. A system comprising:

(a) hardware including memory and at least one processor, and

(b) a service running on said hardware, wherein said service is configured to: perform the method of any one of the preceding method aspects M1-M26. [0021] The above features, along with additional details of the invention, are described further in the examples herein, which are intended to further illustrate the invention but are not intended to limit its scope in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0022] Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. None of the drawings is to scale unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts aspects of systems according to exemplary embodiments hereof; and

[0024] FIG. 2 depicts aspects of computing according to exemplary embodiments hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EXEMPLARY

EMBODIMENTS

GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS

[0025] As used herein, unless used otherwise, the following terms or abbreviations have the following meanings:

[0026] “QR code” means Quick Response Code (“QR code” is a trademark for a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional barcode);

[0027] URI means Uniform Resource Identifier;

[0028] URL means Uniform Resource Locator;

[0029] ID (or 1-D) means 1 -dimensional; and

[0030] 2D (or 2-D) means 2-dimensional.

[0031] The term“mechanism,” as used herein, refers to any device(s), process(es), service(s), or combination thereof. A mechanism may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, using a special-purpose device, or any combination thereof. A mechanism may be integrated into a single device or it may be distributed over multiple devices. The various components of a mechanism may be co-located or distributed. The mechanism may be formed from other mechanisms. In general, as used herein, the term“mechanism” may thus be considered shorthand for the term device(s) and/or process(es) and/or service(s). Overview

[0032] Multiple URLs are determined and are encoded in the same indicia (e.g., QR code or the like) using one or more functional inks. Different ones of the URLs are scannable, depending on environmental changes, as indicated by the functional ink(s) used to print the indicia.

FUNCTIONAL INKS

[0033] As noted above, inks that react to environmental changes are referred to herein as "functional inks."

[0034] Functional inks include, without limitation, photochromic inks, thermochromic inks, hydrochromic inks, and inks that react to acids.

[0035] Some functional inks may vary with their environment, changing back and forth as their environment changes. For example, a particular thermochromic ink may change back and forth with temperature changes. For example, a particular thermochromic ink reacts to a certain temperature (e.g., by changing from one color to another color as the temperature reaches the certain temperature). Such a thermochromic ink may change back to the initial color if the temperature changes. As should be appreciated, such functional inks may be used to indicate current environmental conditions. Such functional inks may be referred to herein as dynamic functional inks.

[0036] Other functional inks may change once, e.g., when an environmental threshold is reached, and then not vary after that. For example, a particular hydrochromic ink may react to a certain degree of humidity (e.g., by changing from one color to another color). However, that particular hydrochromic ink may not change back to its initial color if the humidity changes. As should be appreciated, such functional inks may be used to indicate an environmental condition that existed at least once. Such functional inks may be referred to herein as one-way functional inks.

[0037] Functional inks used herein may be dynamic or one-way.

[0038] Some functional inks appear (or disappear) under certain environmental conditions.

[0039] As should be appreciated, functional inks are essentially sensors, reacting to one or more physical / environmental conditions.

[0040] Some functional inks appear (or disappear or fade) over time. [0041] Functional inks typically change color (and/or shade or hue) and/or visibility based on whatever physical/environmental condition they sense. Functional inks may have two or more colors (or shades or hues) indicative of corresponding physical/environmental conditions.

A functional ink may have multiple states (e.g., for sensing an actual temperature).

[0042] Functional inks used herein may multi-chromatic.

EXAMPLE

[0043] Aspects hereof may be better understood by way of an example.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 1, indicia (e.g., a 2D barcode or QR code or Data Matrix barcode) may be printed on a product or on a tag associated with the product. The indicia may be printed with functional ink such that, under various environmental conditions, the indicia may vary.

[0045] The indicia may represent any information, including any information associated with a product. For example, a URL contained or encoded in a 2D barcode may identify the product to which it is attached, either uniquely or at the SKU level.

[0046] Environmental conditions that may change the indicia may include, without limitation, one or more of: temperature, pollution, humidity, and/or light level changes.

[0047] Variations of the indicia may encode valid URLs, so that a first indicia (e.g., the QR code on the left in FIG. 1) encodes a first URL (https://example.com?t=0), whereas a second indicia (e.g., the QR code on the right in FIG. 1) encodes a second URL

(https://example.com?t=l).

[0048] The first URL may be distinct from the second URL, and they may correspond to distinct entry points to a web-based computer application.

[0049] Since the indicia are based on (or may vary with) their environment, a scan of the indicia may provide different URLs.

[0050] Lirst, a product URL is generated with the States Generation Algorithm (SGA), e.g., https : / /example . com/product 1. Then, the number of sensory parameters and possible values are provided to the SGA.

[0051] The SGA (at 1 in FIG. 1) then generates the URLs corresponding to all possible parameters and generates all variants of 2D barcodes (e.g., QR code or Data Matrix code) carrier encoding the URLs by adding or removing modules (data pixels) while ensuring the carrier is still valid (2). As used herein, a "module" refers to the black and white shapes that make up a 2D barcode, in particular, a QR Code or Data Matrix code.

[0052] One or more functional inks are then used to print all the possible states in the carrier. Whenever a state is reached because the conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, time, etc.) change or are changing, additional modules will appear or disappear hence changing the value of the URL (3). Any part of the URL can be changed as a result of environmental changes but changing the value of a URL Query Parameter as shown in Figure 1 allows for easy support by Web applications.

[0053] When a client device (e.g., a mobile phone, smartphone, a smart watch, a wearable computer or a desktop computer, etc.) is used to read the code it will decode the URL

corresponding to the latest conditions and will dereference this URL on the Web (4a) or (4b).

[0054] Dereferencing a URL may call or invoke a web service corresponding to the URL. This web service is referred to as Cloud Service in FIG. 1. The web service may extract sensory information in the variable part of the URL and it may use this information as an input either to store the sensory data and/or to return contextualized results to the mobile client.

[0055] As used herein, the term“web service” refers, without limitation, to a service (e.g., a web site, an application, a web server, etc.) offered at one or more locations on a network such as the Internet.

[0056] The web service may be implemented, at least in part, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 9,794,321, "System, method and a tag for mapping tagged objects to context- aware applications," the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. The scope hereof is not limited by manner in which a web service is implemented and/or the functionality it provides.

[0057] Those of skill in the art will understand, upon reading this description, that a state change of the 2D barcode may be complemented with other visual changes (e.g., additional warning imagery) to determine a URL.

[0058] The indicia may be generated by a states generation algorithm (or SGA). An exemplary SGA is described below, although those of skill in the art will understand, upon reading this description, that the indicia may be determined in different and/or other ways.

[0059] URI's preferably comply with the URI syntax defined in RFC 3986, "Uniform

Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax", January, 2005, updated October, 2015 (available at https://tools.ietf.org/pdf/rfc3986.pdf), the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0060] As should be appreciated, while the URIs are preferably valid with respect to form, a particular URI may not point to an actual service, especially at the time of generation.

[0061] In some cases, a barcode (e.g., a 2D barcode) may be printed with functional ink(s), such that in various states of the ink(s), the barcode encodes different URIs. As should be appreciated, the different URIs may be encoded with different modules or with some common modules.

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE A

[0062] A 2D barcode is coded with functional ink. In a first state, the barcode encodes a first URI. In a second state (distinct from the first state), the barcode encodes a second URI (distinct from the first URI). The transition from the first state to the second state (and possibly back) occurs because the functional ink changes in response to the environment

[0063] The first state is encoded in/with first modules of the barcode, and the second state is encoded in/with second modules of the barcode.

EXAMPLE Al

[0064] Same as Example A, and there is at least some overlap between the first modules and the second modules. I.e., at least some of the modules (or data pixels) that encode the first URL also encode at least part of the second URI. That is, at least some of the first modules are the same as at least some of the second modules.

EXAMPLE A2

[0065] Same as Example A, but there is no overlap between the first modules and the second modules. That is, none of the modules that encode the first URI are also used to encode the second URI.

EXAMPLE B

[0066] A product has an expiry date of 10 days. After 10 days some bits of the ink disappear/decay changing the URL to a new one flagging that this product should no longer be eaten. END OF EXAMPLES

STATES GENERATION ALGORITHM (SGA)

[0067] An exemplary pseudo code description of an SGA algorithm is given here:

• Given Sn, the set of all possible Web URI versions supported by the state of functional inks:

o Create a 2D barcode that contains the initial state SO of the web URI (no ink changed), then:

■ For each sensory state of the functional inks Sx in Sn:

■ Find a 2D code that matches the target web URI for Sx value by only adding or removing modules from the code

• For each Sy of all possible Sn states

o Ensure the Sy with all states combinations in Sn remains a valid 2D barcode in all states where Sx ¹ Sy .

[0068] Where the choice to add or remove modules depends on the capabilities of the functional ink (i.e., whether the ink appears or disappears under a certain state).

HUMAN INTERACTION

[0069] Embodiments hereof may also include variations where different indicia are visible based on human interaction (e.g., a person scratching at least some of the ink may reveal (or remove) modules of a 2D bar code, changing the code to a new value.

[0070] In such embodiments, alone or in combination with functional ink, one general aspect includes a method including: providing indicia on an object. The method also includes where said indicia vary based on and/or with one or more conditions of said indicia. The method also includes where multiple distinct variations of the indicia encode corresponding distinct URIs. At least one of the variations of the indicia may be determined by a user removing (e.g., by scratching) some of indicia. COMPUTING

[0071] The applications, services, mechanisms, operations, and acts shown and described above are implemented, at least in part, by software running on one or more computers.

[0072] Programs that implement such methods (as well as other types of data) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media ( e.g ., computer readable media) in a number of manners. Hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or in combination with, some or all of the software instructions that may implement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, various combinations of hardware and software may be used instead of software only.

[0073] One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate and understand, upon reading this description, that the various processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purpose computers and computing devices. One or more such computers or computing devices may be referred to as a computer system.

[0074] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer system 200 upon which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented and carried out.

[0075] According to the present example, the computer system 200 includes a bus 202 (i.e., interconnect), one or more processors 204, a main memory 206, read-only memory 208, removable storage media 210, mass storage 212, and one or more communications ports 214. Communication port(s) 214 may be connected to one or more networks (not shown) by way of which the computer system 200 may receive and/or transmit data.

[0076] As used herein, a“processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices or any combination thereof, regardless of their architecture. An apparatus that performs a process may include, e.g., a processor and those devices such as input devices and output devices that are appropriate to perform the process.

[0077] Processor(s) 204 may be any known processor, such as, but not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2® processor(s), AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), or Motorola® lines of processors, and the like. In the context of deep learning, the processors are preferably GPUs (Graphics processing units) and TPUs (Tensor Processing Units).

Communications port(s) 214 may be any of an Ethernet port, a Gigabit port using copper or fiber, or a USB port, and the like. Communications port(s) 214 may be chosen depending on a network such as a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system 200 connects. The computer system 200 may be in communication with peripheral devices ( e.g ., display screen 216, input device(s) 218) via Input / Output (I/O) port 220.

[0078] Main memory 206 may be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device(s) commonly known in the art. Read-only memory (ROM) 208 may be any static storage device(s) such as Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information such as instructions for processor(s) 204. Mass storage 212 may be used to store information and instructions. For example, hard disk drives, an optical disc, an array of disks such as Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), or any other mass storage devices may be used.

[0079] Bus 202 communicatively couples processor(s) 204 with the other memory, storage and communications blocks. Bus 202 may be a PCI / PCI-X, SCSI, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) based system bus (or other) depending on the storage devices used, and the like.

Removable storage media 210 may be any kind of external storage, including hard-drives, floppy drives, USB drives, Compact Disc - Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc - Re- Writable (CD-RW), Digital Versatile Disk - Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM), etc.

[0080] Embodiments herein may be provided as one or more computer program products, which may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. As used herein, the term“machine-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality of the same, or a combination of different media, which participate in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random- access memory, which typically constitutes the main memory of the computer. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.

[0081] The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical discs, CD-ROMs, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, erasable programmable read only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories

(EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Moreover, embodiments herein may also be downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link ( e.g ., modem or network connection).

[0082] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying data (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, data may be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over a wireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmitted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols; and/or (iv) encrypted in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.

[0083] A computer-readable medium may store (in any appropriate format) those program elements which are appropriate to perform the methods.

[0084] As shown, main memory 206 is encoded with application(s) 222 that support(s) the functionality as discussed herein (the application(s) 222 may be an application(s) that provides some or all of the functionality of the services / mechanisms described herein). Application(s) 222 (and/or other resources as described herein) may be embodied as software code such as data and/or logic instructions (e.g., code stored in the memory or on another computer readable medium such as a disk) that supports processing functionality according to different

embodiments described herein.

[0085] During operation of one embodiment, processor(s) 204 accesses main memory 206 via the use of bus 202 in order to launch, run, execute, interpret or otherwise perform the logic instructions of the application(s) 222. Execution of application(s) 222 produces processing functionality of the service related to the application(s). In other words, the process(es) 224 represent one or more portions of the application(s) 222 performing within or upon the processor(s) 204 in the computer system 200. [0086] It should be noted that, in addition to the process(es) 224 that carries(carry) out operations as discussed herein, other embodiments herein include the application(s) 222 itself (i.e., the un-executed or non-performing logic instructions and/or data). The application(s) 222 may be stored on a computer readable medium ( e.g ., a repository) such as a disk or in an optical medium. According to other embodiments, the application(s) 222 may also be stored in a memory type system such as in firmware, read only memory (ROM), or, as in this example, as executable code within the main memory 206 (e.g., within Random Access Memory or RAM). For example, application(s) 222 may also be stored in removable storage media 210, read-only memory 208, and/or mass storage device 212.

[0087] Those skilled in the art will understand that the computer system 200 may include other processes and/or software and hardware components, such as an operating system that controls allocation and use of hardware resources.

[0088] As discussed herein, embodiments of the present invention include various steps or acts or operations. A variety of these steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the operations.

Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. The term“module” refers to a self-contained functional component, which may include hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.

[0089] One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate and understand, upon reading this description, that embodiments of an apparatus may include a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0090] Embodiments of a computer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, may cause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0091] Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human). CONCLUSION

[0092] As discussed herein, embodiments of the present invention include various steps or operations. A variety of these steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the operations.

Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. The term“module” refers to a self-contained functional component, which can include hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.

[0093] One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate and understand, upon reading this description, that embodiments of an apparatus may include a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0094] Embodiments of a computer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, can cause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0095] Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention ( e.g ., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).

[0096] As used in this description, the term“portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of“X” or all of“X”. In the context of a conversation, the term“portion” means some or all of the conversation.

[0097] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase“at least some” means“one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase“at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs”, and includes the case of only one ABC.

[0098] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase“based on” means“based in part on” or“based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase“based on factor X” means“based in part on factor X” or“based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word“only”, the phrase“based on X” does not mean“based only on X.”

[0099] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase“using” means“using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase“using X” means“using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word“only”, the phrase“using X” does not mean“using only X.”

[00100] In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word“only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.

[00101] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase“distinct” means“at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that“X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase“X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.

[00102] As used herein, including in the claims, a list may include only one item, and, unless otherwise stated, a list of multiple items need not be ordered in any particular manner. A list may include duplicate items. For example, as used herein, the phrase“a list of XYZs” may include one or more“XYZs”.

[00103] It should be appreciated that the words“first” and“second” in the description and claims are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation.

Similarly, the use of letter or numerical labels (such as“(a)”,“(b)”, and the like) are used to help distinguish and / or identify, and not to show any serial or numerical limitation or ordering.

[00104] No ordering is implied by any of the labeled boxes in any of the flow diagrams unless specifically shown and stated. When disconnected boxes are shown in a diagram the activities associated with those boxes may be performed in any order, including fully or partially in parallel.

[00105] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. A method comprising:

providing indicia on an object,

wherein said indicia vary based on and/or with one or more environmental conditions of said indicia, and

wherein multiple distinct environmental variations of the indicia encode corresponding distinct URIs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein variations of said indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, wherein said first indicia are visible under first environmental conditions and wherein said second indicia are visible under second environmental conditions distinct from said first environmental conditions.

3. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the distinct URIs comprise a first URI and a second URI, and wherein said first URI refers to a first web service and wherein said second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first web service comprises a first web site and wherein the second web service comprises a second web site.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein variations of said indicia include a first indicia and a second indicia, wherein said first indicia is visible under first environmental conditions and wherein said second indicia is visible if said indicia is and/or has been subject to second environmental conditions distinct from said first environmental conditions.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first indicia encode a first URI and said second indicia encode a second URI, distinct from said first URI.

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7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first URI refers to a first web service and wherein said second URI refers to a second web service distinct from the first web service.

8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein said first URI refers to a first entry point for a computer application and wherein said second URI refers to a second entry point for said computer application, distinct from the first entry point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first URI refers to a particular web service with first parameters, and wherein the second URI refer to the particular web service with second parameters, distinct from said first parameters.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein at least some parts of the indicia are printed with a first functional ink, wherein said first functional ink is responsive to a first real-world physical property, and wherein parts of the indicia that are printed with the first functional ink vary in response to at least one change in said first real-world physical property.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein parts of the indicia printed with the first functional ink comprise at least one part corresponding to said first indicia and at least one part corresponding to said second indicia.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the first indicia comprise first modules and wherein the second indicia comprise second modules.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first modules are distinct from the second modules.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first modules are completely distinct from the second modules.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least some of the first modules are also second modules. 2

16. The method of claims 10 or 11, wherein the first functional ink is selected from: photochromic inks, thermochromic inks, and hydrochromic inks.

17. The method of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the first real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time.

18. The method of any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the one or more

environmental conditions correspond to or comprise said first real-world physical property.

19. The method of any one of claims 10-18, wherein at least some parts of the indicia are printed with a second functional ink, wherein said second functional ink is responsive to a second real-world physical property, and wherein parts of the indicia that are printed with the second functional ink vary in response to at least one change in said second real-world physical property.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second functional ink is selected from: photochromic inks, thermochromic inks, and hydrochromic inks.

21. The method of claims 19 or 20, wherein the second real-world physical property is selected from temperature, humidity, light level, vibration level, pollution level, altitude, noise level, and time.

22. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the indicia are printed, at least in part, with multiple distinct functional inks, each of said functional inks responsive to a corresponding real- world physical property.

23. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said indicia comprise a 2D barcode.

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24. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein said multiple distinct URIs comprise multiple valid URLs.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least some of the URLs correspond to distinct entry points for a computer application.

26. The method of claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

determining said indicia.

27. A computer program product having computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory computer readable media, the computer readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer- implemented method comprising any one of claims 1- 26.

28. An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for implementing a computer-implemented method, said method operable on a device comprising hardware including memory and at least one processor and running a service on said hardware, said method comprising the method of any one of the preceding method claims 1-26.

29. A system comprising:

(a) hardware including memory and at least one processor, and

(b) a service running on said hardware, wherein said service is configured to:

perform the method of any one of the preceding method claims 1-26.

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