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EP-3928226-B1 - RECONSTRUCTED SEGMENTED CODES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

EP3928226B1EP 3928226 B1EP3928226 B1EP 3928226B1EP-3928226-B1

Inventors

  • WAHL, Jeffrey R.
  • LAFAUCI, Michael A.
  • PINSKY, Jonathan

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200220

Claims (15)

  1. A system for reconstructing a visual code (510) from a plurality of individual portions, the system comprising: a physical object comprising a physical visual code (1510-1) forming a first individual portion of the plurality of individual portions; characterized by a device (1502) comprising (i) a graphical user interface, GUI, application (1504) for displaying a virtual visual code (1510-2) in an augmented reality space, wherein the virtual visual code (1510-2) forms a second individual portion of the plurality of individual portions, such that, in a first state, the plurality of individual portions are spaced apart to form a non-functional visual code, and (ii) a camera (1506) configured to capture an image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1), wherein the GUI application (1504) is programmed to: (a) display the virtual visual code (1510-2) to a user via the augmented reality space prior to, during, or subsequent to capturing the image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1); (b) direct the camera (1506) to capture the image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1); (c) display the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) in the augmented reality space; and (d) combine the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) with the virtual visual code (1510-2) in the augmented reality space, to provide a second state in which the plurality of individual portions are moved relative to the first state, thereby reconstructing the visual code (510) to form a functional visual code.
  2. The system of claim 1, wherein the combination of the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) with the virtual visual code (1510-2) is characterized by : (1) having the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code and the virtual visual code (1510-2) directly adjacent to each other in the augmented reality space; or (2) having the image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) and the virtual visual code (1510-2) overlapping over one another in the augmented reality space.
  3. The system of claim 1, wherein the functional visual code is a linear visual code, a two-dimensional, 2D, visual code, or a three-dimensional, 3D, visual code.
  4. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI application (1504) is programmed to determine a distance between the device (1502) and the physical object, optionally wherein the GUI application (1504) is programmed to display, in the augmented reality space, the virtual visual code (1510-2) when the user device (1502) is within a predetermined distance away from the physical visual code (1510-21) .
  5. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI application (1504) is programmed to determine whether the formation of the functional visual code occurs within a predetermined time window.
  6. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI application (1504) is programmed to store, in a database, information indicative of the formation of the functional visual code, wherein the information comprises (i) location, date, or time of the formation of the visual code or (ii) identity of the user, optionally wherein the database is a blockchain database.
  7. A computer-implemented method for reconstructing a visual code from a plurality of individual portions that, in a first state, are spaced apart to form a non-functional visual code, the method comprising: (a) capturing an image and/or video of a physical visual code (1510-1) forming a first individual portion of the plurality of individual portions; (b) displaying a second individual portion of the plurality of individual portions as a virtual visual code (1510-2) in an augmented reality space; and (c) combining the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) with the virtual visual code (1510-2) in the augmented reality space, to provide a second state in which the plurality of individual portions are moved relative to the first state, thereby reconstructing the visual code to form a functional visual code.
  8. The method of claim 7, wherein the combination of the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) with the virtual visual code (1510-2) is characterized by : (1) having the captured image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) and the virtual visual code (1510-2) directly adjacent to each other in the augmented reality space; or (2) having the image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) and the virtual visual code (1510-2) overlapping over one another in the augmented reality space.
  9. The method of claim 7, wherein the functional visual code is a linear visual code, a two-dimensional, 2D, visual code, or a three-dimensional, 3D, visual code.
  10. The method of claim 7, wherein the image and/or video of the physical visual code (1510-1) is captured by a camera (1506) of a device (1502), wherein the method further comprises determining a distance between the device (1502) and the physical visual code (1510-1), optionally wherein the method further comprises displaying the virtual visual code (1510-2) in the augmented reality space when the device (1502) is within a predetermined distance away from the physical visual code (1510-1).
  11. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the formation of the functional visual code occurs within a predetermined time window.
  12. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing, in a database, information indicative of the formation of the functional visual code, wherein the information comprises (i) location, date, or time of the formation of the visual code or (ii) identity of the user, optionally wherein the database is a blockchain database.
  13. The method of any one of claims 7-12, wherein (i) one of the physical visual code (1510-1) and the virtual visual code (1510-2) is provided by a pharmacy and (ii) the other of the physical visual code (1510-1) and the virtual visual code (1510-2) is provided a user of the medication or a proxy of the user, and wherein the formation of the functional visual code in the augmented reality space is to verify the medication, the user of the medication, or the proxy, optionally wherein: (1) the formation of the functional visual code is for (A) the pharmacy to provide the medication to the user or the proxy or (B) the user of the medication or the proxy to drop off the medication to the pharmacy; or (2) the physical individual portion is provided on a container or packaging of the medication.
  14. The method of any one of claims 7-12, wherein the formation of the functional visual code in the augmented reality space is for tracking, securing, authenticating, and/or transferring an article carrying the physical visual code (1510-1), optionally wherein the article is a merchandise, a luggage, or an electronic display.
  15. A computer-readable medium comprising non-transitory, machine-executable instructions that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, implements the method of any one of claims 7-14.

Description

BACKGROUND Visual codes (e.g., barcodes) are used in a variety of applications including, for example, tracking (e.g., monitoring and/or logging), accountability, security (e.g., a lock and key mechanism), authentication, and transfer of one or more articles (or devices). Examples of such article(s) include computer data comprising information, objects (e.g., documents, shipping packages, foods, drugs, etc.), animals (e.g., wild or domesticated animals), individuals (e.g., event attendees, patients, etc.), etc. The visual codes can comprise a graphical and/or textual element that encodes information about the article(s) or a link to such information that is stored in a separate database (e.g., a cloud database). The visual codes can be printed on the article(s) and read by a reader (e.g., an electronic reader) to identify the article(s) and permit transference or modification (e.g., update to provide a timestamp) of the encoded information. The visual codes are typically static (e.g., not hidden), as they are printed or manufactured on the article(s) in a readable format. In some cases, such static visual codes may lack control of when the visual codes can be read and/or who can read the visual codes. US 2011/186623 describes a method of providing an incentive for crushing containers prior to disposal by providing a reward for doing so. When a container is substantially crushed a code on the container that was previously unreadable is caused to be readable by a code reading means. In response to reading the code by the code reading means, a reward is provided. The container may be disposed of in a disposal means. The disposal means may include the code reading means and provide the reward. Alternatively the code reading means may be provided, for example, on a mobile phone or other device. The reward may be any item of value such as a prize, token, money, account credit or voucher, for example. Figure 1 of US 2011/186623 illustrates an example of a crushable container with a barcode applied. The barcode includes at least two parts printed or otherwise applied to non-adjacent surfaces of the uncrushed container and are unreadable/indecipherable whilst Figure 3 illustrates the container in a substantially crushed state in which the separate parts of the barcode are aligned on adjacent surfaces of the container and are readable/decipherable. In the readable/decipherable state the barcode may be read by a code reading means or reader, for example a barcode reader, such as a scanner. US 2007/145140 describes a barcode system that includes an apparatus with a first subcomponent and a second subcomponent. The first subcomponent has a first barcode portion, and the second subcomponent has a second barcode portion. When the first subcomponent is correctly assembled with the second subcomponent, the first barcode portion is correctly aligned with the second barcode portion, such that a readable barcode is formed by the first and second barcode portions. The barcode system also includes a scanner for reading the readable barcode formed by the first and second barcode portions. The scanner may be connected to a display to display output from the scanner. Figures 6(a)-6(c) of US 2007/145140 illustrate an exemplary inflator assembly that includes an inflator connector component and an inflator tube component. Each component includes a separate barcode portion. For example, the inflator connector component includes a first barcode portion and the inflator tube component includes a second barcode portion. If the inflator connector component is properly assembled with the inflator tube component, the first barcode portion will align properly with the second barcode portion, such that the barcode portions form a readable barcode. The readable barcode is capable of being scanned or read by a suitable barcode scanner in order to confirm correct assembly of the inflator components. Figure 6(b) of US 2007/145140 illustrates a readable barcode whilst Figure 6(c) illustrates the inflator assembly when the assembly is incorrectly assembled together, such that the second barcode portion does not align with the first barcode portion. In such a circumstance, a barcode scanner would not be able to read the barcode. SUMMARY The present invention is set out in the appended claims. The present disclosure describes systems and methods relating to a dynamic visual code. More specifically, the present disclosure describes systems and methods relating to a visual code that is divided into a plurality of portions that is readable by a reader. The plurality of portions of the visual code can be combined (e.g., upon activation) to form the visual code that is readable by the reader. The present disclosure describes software and hardware configurations for using such reconstructable visual codes. The present disclosure further describes methods of using the reconstructable visual codes, e.g., for security and user identification measures when pic