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EP-4736066-A1 - TAG, TAG BLANK, METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR REPRESENTING INFORMATION

EP4736066A1EP 4736066 A1EP4736066 A1EP 4736066A1EP-4736066-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tag (52), which, includes a dynamic machine- readable code (51) configured to be formed from unit elements (29, 39), wherein the unit elements (29, 39) have at least two visual states (B, W) and are configured to form two or more visual representations (43.1, 43.2). The visual representations (43.1, 43.2) are configured to be formed by a constrained static pattern part (44) formed from static unit elements (29), in which static pattern part (44) dynamic unit elements (39) are arranged, which are dynamic based on a set criterion of the visual representation. One aspect of the invention in the area of circular economy lies in loss reduction in products that, for example, perish easily, expire within a certain period of time and become unusable under the wrong conditions. A few examples of such products are food, pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Inventors

  • TAPIO, Antti
  • JUHALA, Janne

Assignees

  • Logmore Oy

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240701

Claims (1)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A tag, which includes visual unit elements (29, 39) which have at least two visual states (B, W) and which are configured to encode data (27) for a reading (30) of the tag (52) by a reader device (30), wherein a URL (80) is configured in the data (27), wherein the tag (52) has two or more visually dis- tinct representations (43.1, 43.2) produced by unit elements (29, 39), which are configured to be controlled based on a set criterion, and wherein the unit elements (29, 39) configured to form a said visual representation (43.1, 43.2) include - unit elements (29) configured to form a set static pat- tern part (44), which unit elements (29) are configured to form a set part of the visually distinct representa- tions (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) that are configured to encode the data (27), - dynamic unit elements (39), in at least a part of which a change is configured to occur in the visual state (B, W) of the unit element (39) in order to change the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) based on a set criterion . 2. The tag according to Claim 1, characterized in that the change in the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) is configured to occur in the dynamic unit elements (39) unidirectionally from a first visual state (W, B) to a second visual state (B, W) . 3. The tag according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that error is configured in the visual states (B, W) of the visual unit elements (29, 39) in order to modify at least some of the static unit elements (29) of the tag (52) so that they match each other with respect to their visual states (B, W) in the distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52), in order to modify at least some of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) so that they differ from each other with respect to their visual states (W, B) in the distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52), for example, in order to indicate a change, and wherein the number of unit elements (29, 39) that are erroneous with respect to their visual states (W, B) in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) is config- ured so that the tag (52) is readable by a reader device (30) in both of the two distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) . 4. The tag according to any of Claims 1 - 3, characterized in that error is configured in the visual states (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) so that the change in the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) is configured to occur unidirectionally from a first visual state to a second visual state. 5. The tag according to any of Claims 1 4, characterized in that the dynamic unit elements (39) are arranged in gaps of the set static pattern part (44) in at least a part of an area of the code (51') formed by the same. 6. The tag according to any of Claims 1 - 5, characterized in that error is configured in the static unit elements (29) so that a total number of erroneous unit elements (29) is evenly distributed between the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) . 7. The tag according to any of Claims 1 - 6, characterized in that the tag (52) includes - one or more substrates (20) in which unit elements (29) are arranged, which are configured to form the set static pattern part (44), one or more elements (21, 21' ) configured to change their visual state (B, W) in order to provide dynamic unit elements (39) in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) . 8. The tag according to any of Claims 1 - 7, characterized in that the tag (52) includes one or more visual elements (40.1, 40.2), for example, provided in or in connection with a visual representation (43.1, 43.2), for providing additional infor- mation (26) in addition to the information (38) interpreted from a change that has occurred in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) , wherein the additional data (26) is configured to be read in a separate reading process. 9. The tag according to any of Claims 1 8, characterized in that the tag (52) includes one or more visual elements (40.1, 40.2), for example, provided in or in connection with a visual representation (43.1, 43.2), for providing additional infor- mation (26) in addition to the information (38) interpreted from a change that has occurred in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2), and wherein the additional information (26) is configured to be formed by one or more groups of visual elements (40.1, 40.2) in order to ensure the correctness of the addi- tional information (26) . 10. The tag according to any of Claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the URL (80) configured in the data (27) is configured to indicate a server arrangement (130) shared by numerous tags (52) . 11. The tag according to any of Claims 1 io, characterized in that the visual unit element (29, 39) is configured to encode a data bit in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) . 12. The tag according to any of Claims 1 11, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2), which is configured to express variable infor- mation (38) , includes a static code part (82) and a dynamic code part (83) that is configured to change based on a set criterion. 13. The tag according to Claim 12, characterized in that the dynamic code part (83) is shorter in character length than the static code part (82) . 14. The tag according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the dynamic code part (83) is a character pair ( (AA) , (BB) ) . 15. The tag according to any of Claims 1 14, characterized in that most of the dynamic unit elements (39) are arranged in an area (E4 - E7) configured to encode an error correction of the data (27) in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) . 16. The tag according to any of Claims 1 15, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) includes product information (84') in a specified format, such as, for example, one or more of the following: a generic identification code (84) of a product (90), such as, for example, a GTIN code (84*), manufacture batch information (89) of the product (90), metadata (85') of the product (90), such as, for example, information relating to a shelf life of the product (90) and/or information (85) relating to a usabil- ity of the product (90) . 17. The tag according to any of Claims 1 16, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) includes - static product data (84’) in a specific format, such as, for example, a generic identification code (84) of a prod- uct (90), such as, for example, a GTIN code (84*), - at least one dynamic information field (81) configured to indicate variable data (38), which includes a static code part (82) and a dynamic code part (83) that is con- figured to change based on a set criterion. 18. The tag according to any of Claims 1 17, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) includes - static product data (84') in a specific format, such as, for example, a generic identification code (84) of a prod- uct (90), such as, for example, a GTIN code (84*), - metadata (85’) of the product (90), such as, for example, information relating to a shelf life of the product (90) and/or information (85) relating to a usability of the product (90), - at least one dynamic information field (81) configured to indicate variable data (38), which includes a static code part (82) and a dynamic code part (83) that is con- figured to change based on a set criterion, and the dynamic code part (83) is configured as part of the metadata (85'), wherein at least one dynamic parameter (88) that is con- figured to change based on a set criterion can thereby be formed in the metadata (85') . 19. The tag according to any of Claims 1 18, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) includes - static product data (84') in a specific format, such as, for example, a generic identification code (84) of a prod- uct (90), such as, for example a GTIN code (84*), - at least one dynamic information field (81) configured to indicate variable data (38), which includes a static code part (82) and a dynamic code part (83) that is con- figured to change based on a set first criterion, - metadata (85') of the product (90), such as, for example, information relating to a shelf life of the product (90) and/or information (85) relating to a usability of the product (90) which includes at least one dynamic parameter (88) that is configured to change based on a set second criterion . 20. The tag according to any of Claims 2 19, characterized in that the visual states of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) are a lighter (W) unit element and a darker (B) unit element, and a change in the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) is configured to take place unidirectionally in all dynamic unit elements (39) from lighter (W) to darker (B) . 21. The tag according to any of Claims 1 20, characterized in that the dynamic unit elements (39) are arranged in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) in gaps between the set static unit elements (29) in at least part of the machine-readable code (51') formed by the visual represen- tations (43.1, 43.2) . 22. The tag according to any of Claims 1 21, characterized in that the URL (80) is configured as part of the static pattern part (44) . 23. A tag blank for forming a tag, wherein the tag (52) includes visual unit elements (29, 39) which have two or more visual states (B, W) and which are configured to encode data (27) for a reading of the tag (52) by a reader device (30), wherein a URL (80) is configured in the data (27), and wherein the tag (52) has two or more visually distinct representations (43.1, 43.2) produced by the unit elements (29, 39), which are con- figured to be controlled based on a set criterion, and wherein the said unit elements (29, 39) configured to form a visual representation (43.1, 43.2) include unit elements (29) config- ured to form a set static pattern part (44), which unit elements (29) are configured to form a set part of the visually distinct representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) that are config- ured to encode the data (27), and which static pattern part (44) is at least partially configured as part of the tag blank (20') that can be provided on an object of application (58) of the tag (52) , wherein the tag blank (20'), together with one or more dynamic elements (59) in connection with which at least a part of the tag blank (20') is to be arranged, is configured to conjointly form the said tag (52), and wherein the tag blank (20') is configured in at least part of an area (28') of the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) so that the dynamic unit elements (39) formed in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) by the dynamic element (59) can be read by the reader device (30), wherein, in at least a part of the dynamic unit elements (39), a change is configured to occur in the visual state (B, W) of the unit element (39) in order to change the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) based on a set criterion. 24. The tag blank according to Claim 23, characterized in that the tag blank (20'), together with the dynamic unit elements (39) provided in connection with the tag blank (20'), is con- figured to form a tag (52) according to any of Claims 2 - 22. 25. An arrangement for representing data, which includes visual unit elements (29, 39) which have two or more visual states (B, W) and which are configured to encode information for a reading by a reader device (30) in such a manner that by them is arranged to be formed two or more visually distinct representations (43.1, 43.2), which are configured to be controlled based on a set criterion, and wherein the said unit elements (29, 39) configured to form the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) include - unit elements (29) configured to form a set static pattern part (44), which unit elements (29) are con- figured to form a set part of the said visually dis- tinct representations (43.1, 43.2) configured to en- code the data (27), - dynamic unit elements (39), in at least a part of which a change is configured to occur in the visual state (B, W) of the unit element (39) in order to change the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) based on a set criterion, and wherein the static unit elements (29) are configured in a sub- strate (20) , which can be provided on an object of application (58) of the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) that is machine-readable with the reader device (30), the dynamic unit elements (39) are configured to be formed by one or more dynamic means (59') for changing the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) . 26. A method for creating visually distinct representations for a machine-readable code, which visual representations (43.1, 43.2) include visual unit elements (29, 39) which have two or more visual states (B, W) and which encode data (27) for a reading of a code (51') by a reader device (30), wherein a server address (80') is configured in the data (27), and wherein the code (51') has two or more visually distinct representa- tions (43.1, 43.2) produced with the unit elements (29, 39) , which are configured to be controlled based on a set criterion, and wherein in the method at least two different visual representations (43.1, 43.2) are generated, - a set static pattern part (44) including unit elements (29) and, in connection therewith, dynamic unit elements (39) for producing one or more changes in the visual rep- resentations (43.1, 43.2) are generated while preserving a readability of the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) . 27. The method according to Claim 26, characterized in that the dynamic unit elements (39) are generated in the visual repre- sentations (43.1, 43.2) in such a manner that a change in the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) occurs in the dynamic unit elements (39) unidirection- ally from a first visual state (W, B) to a second visual state (B, W) . 28. The method according to Claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, during generation, error is configured in the visual states (B, W) of the visual unit elements (29, 39) of the tag (52) in order to modify at least some of the static unit elements (29) of the tag (52) so that they match each other with respect to their visual states (B, W) in the distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) , in order to modify at least some of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) so that they differ from each other with respect to their visual states (W, B) in the distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) , and wherein the number of unit elements (29, 39) that are erroneous with respect to their visual states (W, B) in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) is config- ured so that the tag (52) is readable by a reader device (30) in both of the two distinct visual representations (43.1, 43.2) of the tag (52) . 29. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 28, characterized in that error is configured in the visual states (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) so that a change in the visual state (B, W) of the dynamic unit elements (39) of the tag (52) occurs unidirectionally from a first visual state to a second visual state. 30. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 29, characterized in that the dynamic unit elements (39) are provided in gaps in the static pattern part (44) in at least a part of an area of the code (51') formed by the same. 31. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 30, characterized in that error is configured in the static unit elements (29) so that a total number of erroneous unit elements (29) is evenly distributed between the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) . 32. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 31, characterized in that one or more visual elements (40.1, 40.2) are provided in the tag (52) , for example, in or in connection with its visual representation (43.1, 43.2) , for providing additional data (26) in addition to the said information (38) interpreted from a change that occurs in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2) , wherein the additional data (26) is provided so as to be read in a separate reading process. 33. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 32, characterized in that one or more visual elements (40.1, 40.2) are provided in the tag (52), for example, in or in connection with its visual representation (43.1, 43.2), for providing additional data (26) in addition to the said information (38) interpreted from a change that occurs in the visual representation (43.1, 43.2), and wherein the additional data (26) includes one or more groups of visual elements (40.1, 40.2) in order to ensure a correctness of the additional data (26) . 34. The method according to any of Claims 26 - 33, characterized in that the data (27) configured in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2) includes a server address (80') . 35. A server arrangement, which includes processor means (131) configured to interpret received data (27) relating to a ma- chine-readable code (51’) and to compare it with pre-stored data (55) relating to machine-readable codes (51') for which a set meaning (38) is respectively provided, wherein the set meaning (38) is configured to be returned to the device (30) that sent the data (27) . 36. A method for manufacturing a tag according to Claim 1, characterized in that the method includes - providing unit elements (29) configured to form a set static pattern part (44) on one or more substrates (20), - providing one or more elements (21, 21’) that are vari- able in their visual state (B, W) in connection with the one or more substrates (20) in order to provide dynamic unit elements (39) in the visual representations (43.1, 43.2), and wherein the one or more substrates (20) and the one or more elements (21, 21 ' ) that are variable in their visual state conjointly form a functional machine-readable code (51') . 37. A computer program product for creating visually distinct representations for a machine-readable code, characterized in that the product (113) comprises a program code means (114) stored on a medium/storage device (115) that can be read by a computer (110), which program code means (114) is provided to execute any of the steps according to Claims 26 34 when the program is run on the computer (110) . 38. Hardware for creating visually distinct representations for a machine-readable code, wherein the hardware (110) includes a memory unit (112) for storing a program code (114) and a pro- cessor (111) for executing the program code (114), character- ized in that, during execution, the hardware (110) implements at least one of the steps according to method Claims 26 - 34.

Description

TAG, TAG BLANK AND ARRANGEMENT FOR REPRESENTING INFORMATION, METHOD FOR CREATING VISUALLY DISTINCT REPRESENTATIONS FOR A MACHINE-READABLE CODE, AND SERVER ARRANGEMENT The invention relates to a tag . The invention additionally relates to a tag blank and an arrangement for representing information, a method for creating visually distinct represen- tations for a machine-readable code, and a server arrangement . The utilization of a dynamic QR code with a sensor device that is configured to perform measurements is known from the Appli- cant ' s international patent application publication WO 2019/086763. By means of a reader device that reads a QR code in which successive measurement results are updated, these results can be sent to a server . The server collects the meas- urement results and, as a consequence of a transmission, pro- vides feedback to the reader device as to whether all measure- ments remained within set limits for conditions . However, such a sensor device requires a display to represent the respective updatable QR code, which is updated based on the measurement results . The display element constitutes a consid- erable part of the manufacturing cost of the sensor device . This raises the threshold for a utilization of the sensor device in high-volume, mass-produced products . In addition, in many situations, instead of measurement results, it would be suff i- cient for the server to receive information as to whether or not a status of a monitored object still complies with, f or example, set conditions . An object of the present invention is to provide a tag and a machine-readable code, more specifically a QR code, which is simpler to implement and consequently also less expensive . The characteristic features of a tag and a tag blank according to the invention are set out in the accompanying Claims 1 and 23 , while methods for creating visually distinct representations for a machine-readable code and for manufacturing a tag are set out in Claims 26 and 36 . In the invention, the machine-readable code of the tag includes a set static pattern part and one or more dynamic, i . e . , vari- able parts . According to one embodiment, it is possible with the one or more dynamic parts of the machine-readable code to express information relating to a status of a monitored object and, more specifically, to determine if a change has occurred in that status . The dynamic part can have, in connection with the static pattern part, a first visual state . It can be set so as to signify a baseline status of the monitored object , a situation in which everything has remained in a good state, such as, for example, to comply with set conditions . Moreover, the dynamic part also has, in connection with the same static pattern part, at least one other visual state . This can be set so as to signify a change in the status of the monitored object, from a first status to the second status . In other words, this would be a situation in which something, for example, a measured phenomenon or a quantity derived therefrom, has changed from the baseline status signified by the first state . This makes it possible to determine a current status of the monitored object and, more specifically, a change in condition that has occurred in the status and/or that conditions and/or a quantity derived therefrom has exceeded and/or fallen below a set limit . According to one embodiment, optically machine-readable two- dimensional visual code pairs are utilized in the invention . There can thus be a code corresponding to a baseline status and one or more codes corresponding to a changed status . Further, the one or more codes corresponding to a changed status can be divided into a simple indication of a change (yes/no) as well as a specification of its type (duration, magnitude, etc . , of the change) . In addition, each code has a URL, so that a URL can be encoded with the same . The URL indicates a server ar- ranged in the data network . When it knows the code and how to process it, the reader device, after it has read the code, makes a server call defined by the URL . In the server call, the data formed from the code is sent to the server . The server interprets the meaning associated with the data and automati- cally returns information generated based on that data to the reader device . Thus, from the standpoint of the reader device, everything functions automatically, without any specific user interaction . This makes the operation easy and smooth . From the standpoint of the end user, it is sufficient that the code is read by the reader device in the usual manner in which it generally reads optically machine-readable codes . In addition, an identifier that can be associated with a re- spective read monitored object can also be read or derived from each code, wherein the identifier can be, such as, for example, a product serial number, a batch number of a product batch, or both . It can be used to identify different monitore