The present invention relates to systems and methods for identifying and tracing items. More particularly, the invention relates to system that automatically scans and embeds unique code identifiers on items such as articles of manufacture, media files and the like.
On the Internet, it is not common for websites, social networks or other software to provide any tracing option for items such as products, or media files such as videos, images or documents after they are uploaded. If a tracing method is implemented, it takes a long time to trace the original creator of an item. There is no efficient method to trace items, to interact with, or to review interactions between other people on items. If an item has a tracing method, it can be changed and manipulated to appear as originating from someone other than the original producer or owner. Searching for the source of products or media files can be stressful and inefficient, often yielding misleading results that are time consuming to sort through.
It is often necessary to conduct multiple time consuming searches to identify and compare similar products or media files. Lack of adequate identification and tracing of items are significant problems in the field. There is a need in the field for an unconventional technological solution to solve these technological problems.
Systems and methods for tracing items with a single command using uniquely coded icons are disclosed herein. A multifunctional scanning system automatically generates and provides different scannable codes to enable security and traceability for users, products, and media items.
In a method according to an embodiment, a user creates an account and the system automatically generates an account code. The user may create an account on a website or within a system application on a computing device. Once the account is created on the website or the computing device's system application (“multifunctional scanning system”), the multifunctional system scanner automatically generates a unique account code. Users may upload items from computing devices or cameras to the user's account. Once uploaded, the multifunctional scanning system automatically scans the item to search for any existing code (“icon”) embedded on the item. If there is no code found on the item, the multifunctional scanning system automatically generates a unique scannable code and stores the code in a database. The unique scannable code is then embedded to the item. If there is already a code found on the item, the item can only be published on the user's page as shared with a reference to the original owner who was identified by the scan API call to the server. If the shared item is then published, the original owner receives a notification on his account.
In another method according to an embodiment, a user who has an account modifies the settings in the account. A user accesses the account settings within the multifunctional scanning system installed on a computing device. The user may adjust the device settings for initiating screenshots and scanning items. One setting option is a manual method, meaning that each time a screenshot of an item is taken on the device using the default means, the screenshot is automatically scanned. Another setting option is a device shake method, enabling a user to choose the number of device shakes that initiates taking a screenshot and scanning an item. Another setting option is a voice command scanning method, enabling a user to record a voice command word or phrase that initiates scanning an item on the screen of the device. Yet another setting option is a floating button method, enabling a user to press a floating button on the screen of the device that initiates taking a screenshot and scanning an item. The manual, device shake, voice command, and floating button methods are all single command methods for scanning and generating codes.
In a further method according to an embodiment, a user with an account and the multifunctional scanning system configured on a computing device can implement screenshot and scanning methods. With the multifunctional scanning system activated, a user may view an item with a code on the screen of the computing device. If automatic scanning is activated (“Yes”) in the settings, the multifunctional scanning system scans each new screen automatically without a command (depending on setting the period of time between each scan done automatically, or depending on changes in the screen's display), then sends a request to a server and transmits the captured icon screenshot.
If the automatic scanning method is not enabled, the user may use another triggering method (e.g. manual, device shake, voice command, floating button) to take a screenshot and scan the item. If an item is external to the computing device and the device has a camera, the user may access a camera shortcut in the multifunctional scanning system. The user can then capture a code using the camera, so that the multifunctional scanning system can scan the code. Once the multifunctional scanning system has scanned the code, the application sends a request to a server while delivering the screenshot and code. The server determines if the code received is an account code or an item code. The server sends a notification to the code owner's account indicating a new scan. The server also sends a response to the user identifying a post model or user model. The multifunctional scanning system then displays the original place of the scanned item with multiple options for the user to choose from. Options include selecting the code owner's account, selecting the item name, or selecting the category or hashtag for the item.
These and other features and advantages will be apparent from reading of the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory and do not restrict aspects as claimed.
The following descriptions relate principally to preferred embodiments while a few alternative embodiments may also be referenced on occasion, although it should be understood that many other alternative embodiments would also fall within the scope of the invention. The embodiments disclosed are not to be construed as describing limits to the invention, whereas the broader scope of the invention should instead be considered with reference to the claims, which may be now appended or may later be added or amended in this or related applications. Unless indicated otherwise, it is to be understood that terms used in these descriptions generally have the same meanings as those that would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. It should also be understood that terms used are generally intended to have the ordinary meanings that would be understood within the context of the related art, and they generally should not be restricted to formal or ideal definitions, conceptually encompassing equivalents, unless and only to the extent that a particular context clearly requires otherwise. In light of the present disclosure, those of ordinary skill in the art should also appreciate that many changes can be made relative to the disclosed embodiments while still obtaining a comparable function or result without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
For purposes of these descriptions, a few wording simplifications should also be understood as universal, except to the extent otherwise clarified in a particular context either in the specification or in particular claims. The use of the term “or” should be understood as referring to alternatives, although it is generally used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only, or unless the alternatives are inherently mutually exclusive. Furthermore, unless explicitly dictated by the language, the term “and” may be interpreted as “or” in some instances. When referencing values, the term “about” may be used to indicate an approximate value, generally one that could be read as being that value plus or minus half of the value. “A” or “an” and the like may mean one or more, unless clearly indicated otherwise. Such “one or more” meanings are most especially intended when references are made in conjunction with open-ended words such as “having,” “comprising” or “including.” Likewise, “another” object may mean at least a second object or more. Thus, in the context of this specification, the term “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense and thus should be understood as meaning “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the use of “may” or “may be” indicates that a modified term is appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while considering that in some circumstances the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable.
Generally, software are program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, main frame computers and comparable computing devices. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Embodiments may be implemented as a computer-implemented process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program that comprises instructions for causing a computer or computing system to perform example process(es). The computer-readable storage medium a computer-readable memory device. The computer-readable memory device includes a hardware device that includes hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a compact disk, and a memory chip, among others. The computer-read able storage medium can for example be implemented via one or more of a volatile computer memory, a non-volatile memory, a hard drive, and a flash drive.
Throughout this specification, the term platform may be a combination of software and hardware components to provide a communication application or other services. Examples of platforms include, but are not limited to, a hosted service executed over a plurality of servers, an application executed on a single computing device and comparable systems. The term “server” generally refers to a computing device executing one or more software programs typically in a networked environment. However, a server may also be implemented as a virtual server (software programs) executed on one or more computing devices viewed as a server on. the network. More details on these technologies and example embodiments may be found in the following description. A computing device, as used herein, refers to a device comprising at least a memory and a processor that includes a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a vehicle mount computer, or a wearable computer. A memory may be a removable or non-removable component of a computing device configured to store one or more instructions to be executed by one or more processors. A processor may be a component of a computing device coupled to a memory and configured to execute programs in conjunction with instructions stored by the memory. A user experience may be a visual display associated with an application or service through which a user interacts with the application or service. A user action, such as a user selection refers to an interaction between a user and a user experience of an application or a user experience provided by a service that includes one of touch input, gesture input, voice command, eye tracking, gyroscopic input pen input, mouse input and keyboards input. A tag, as used herein, refers to one of a hashtag and a label. The hashtag may be metadata in the format of a hash character, or number sign, followed immediately by a word or an unspaced phrase, and a label may be any type of categorization tool.
A code may be implemented as a barcode, a QR code, circular code, numbers, shapes, dots, symbols, letters, lines or a combination of two or more types or shapes of codes that can be read and analyzed by a computing device using a scanner, camera or scanning the screen through a software installed within that computing device, that can understand the language in which the code was written with or by matching the code with its original replica in the memory of the main platform it was created by, and then presenting the data associated with the original code.
References to particular proprietary names are made as examples but do not limit the systems and methods disclosed herein. A “computing device” is defined as including mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and any other computing device able to support the features described herein. “Media files” are defined as including image files, picture files, video files, audio files, text documents and the like. “Items” are defined as including articles of manufacture, other products, media files, and the like. The terms “embed” and “affix” are used interchangeably in the disclosure to describe the same process. The terms “image” and “picture” are used interchangeably in the disclosure to describe the same type of media file. Any “examples” described herein are non-limiting.
An “icon” as described herein refers to a digital image that has code affixed (embedded) to it. An icon can include a profile picture and code surrounding the profile picture. The icon can include an account code or an item code. The item code may also contain categories codes, hashtags codes, payments codes, other user's account's codes, gifts codes, shipments codes, classifications codes, organizing codes, and all types of codes that can identify a process or information about an item. A “multifunctional scanning system” is software that can be installed in a computing device to create account codes, item codes, and various icons for products, pictures, videos, writings advertisement and the like.
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The item code 102 is embedded to the icon 100 and the icon 100 as a whole is embedded to an item. Different item codes 102 for different items are automatically generated by a code generating software (“multifunctional scanning system”) when an item is uploaded. As shown, the item code 102 appears as dots, letters, numbers, and symbols. This represents the ability of the multifunctional scanning system to scan letters, symbols, and numbers, in addition to dots. As aforementioned, “items” are defined as including articles of manufacture, other products, media files and the like. Thus, a different item code 102 is automatically generated and affixed to a picture, to a video, to a hashtag, to a text, to a category, to a picture of a product, or any item uploaded on the internet. This process is described in greater detail in reference to the logic flow diagram in
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Providing an icon 100 generated by software enables users to reach the items they are looking for and interact with them on the internet, reducing the time required for a normal search process. A software system and website provide these icons for users to use them on media files, articles of manufacture, or other products to be authenticated and traceable. The system and method result in an organized registration, classification and safe sharing of contents, products and intellectual properties. This system and method also provide the efficiency required among users to organize these contents and reach them, increasing the income for owners of items and decreasing the loss of fans, interactions, money and reviews. Providing an icon 100 generated by software also aids in establishing communication between the viewers and owners, and between the sellers and the customers, improving collaborations among them and resulting in progressive development of user's experience. Users can share icons 100 with item codes and icons 110 with account codes on the internet. For example, a user can share a video on social media with an icon 100. When any user uses the multifunctional scanning system to scan the icon 100 on the video, he will obtain information about the video including the original owner. In another example, a user can share an icon 110 with his account code 112 on social media or another website. Any user can visit that website and use the multifunctional scanning system to scan that icon 110. That user will be directed to the corresponding account page where he can view information about the account owner, including items they have uploaded.
In an example scenario, a video is created by a user called (“john23”) and uploaded on one of the social communication networks. This user has already put his username on the video as a lead to gather other user's subscriptions and views. This interesting video gets downloaded by another user and later get published on another network and then get transferred among other users. One of the viewers find this video interesting and wants to reach it, interact with it or see similar videos. This user will start searching for that video by typing the name (“john20”) on one of the search engines provided on the internet. The user will get more than a million results for that search with only one true result. Assuming in the same scenario that the account is found, reaching the video itself among other published items by john20 will take more time. To see other videos or items published by other users that have the same contents will cost even more time. Normally such scenarios are avoided by users because of the large consumption of time. Therefore, john20 will lose views that may bring him extra money through advertisement, extra fans and/or extra interaction, and the viewers will not be able to reach their interests.
The multifunctional scanning system solves all of these problems and shortens the steps required in such searching and reaching processes. Enabling the owner of an item with an account on the multifunctional scanning system to add an icon 100 automatically with a single command will enable the viewers of that material to reach that owner, the item itself, or other items similar to it with only a single scanning command. This simple process is explained in greater detail and shown in
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If there is no code or intellectual property found on the item, a window opens on the user's screen enabling the user to name the item, add details and an optional description (step 208). The multifunctional scanning system generates a unique scannable code for the item (“item code”) and stores the code in a database in the servers (step 209). The user chooses a location on the item to affix the icon (optional) 100. After the location is chosen, the multifunctional scanning system affixes the icon 100 to the item (step 210). The item is then published with the icon 100 included as a component of the item (step 211). Once an item is published with an icon 100, any user of the multifunctional scanning system can trace the item and identify the owner, category, hashtags, and other details regarding the item, or move to similar items with a single command.
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If the user selects “Device Shake Method” 606, then the user can set the number of shakes of the computing device required to start the process of taking a screenshot and scanning it 607. Setting the number of shakes required can be done either by entering the number or performing the shake and the multifunctional scanning system will detect that number automatically. The user can leave it with the default number of shakes which is one.
Another technique to select from is called “Voice Command Method” 608. If this method 608 is activated, a recording panel opens 609, and the user can record the voice command required to activate the scanning process 610. Then, the user selects buttons from that recording panel, and the order of selecting those buttons will be a shortcut to open the computing device's microphone to receive the voice command 610. Another option is for the user is to leave the microphone “open” in the settings, so the microphone can receive voice commands without using buttons.
Another option to select from is the “Floating Button Method” 611. This method is beneficial in case of devices that can not recognize shaking or any of the other methods. When this method 611 is activated, a floating movable button will appear on the screen. When the floating movable button is pressed, the process of taking a screenshot and scanning is activated 612. The user can set the suitable size and translucency of the floating button 613.
The manual method 604, device shake method 606, voice command method 608, and floating button method 611 are all “Single Command” methods for scanning and generating codes. Once the user completes selection of the scanning and screenshot technique settings, the user selects “Save” 614. After saving the settings, each time one of the single command methods is triggered, the multifunctional scanning system will automatically take a screenshot, scan it and present the results of the scan to the user 615.
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After completing the selections of Scanning Techniques 711, the user selected options from the Screenshots menu 709. The user selected a recommended way for saving the screenshots taken by one or more of these activated scanning techniques: “save only screenshots with codes found in it.” The user did not select the options “save every scan's screenshot” or “don't save any scan's screenshot.” Lastly, the user saved settings for the Scanning and Screenshots 701 selected. As a result of the saved settings in this example, the multimedia software scanner will take a screenshot and scan it for existing codes every time the user's computing device is shaken three times, or every time the Floating Button is selected. The scanned screenshot will only be saved in that computing device if a code is identified. Any screenshots taken using one of the activated techniques will be deleted directly from the computing device if there are no codes identified. The methods shown in the example of
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If the item and icon 100 are on outside the screen (“No”) of a computing device, the user will access the camera shortcut in the multifunctional scanning system for any computing device with a camera included in it (step 803). The multifunctional scanning system's camera detects the icon 100 using that camera (step 803) and the multifunctional scanning system scans the icon image. After scanning, the multifunctional scanning system sends a request to a server and transmits the captured icon image (step 804).
Conversely, if the icon 100 is on the screen (“Yes”) of a computing device with the multifunctional scanning system installed in it, the multimedia software scanner will determine if the automatic scanning is activated (step 805). If automatic scanning is activated (“Yes”) in the settings, the multifunctional scanning system scans each new screen automatically without a command (depending on setting the period of time between each scan done automatically, or depending on changes in the screen's display), then sends a request to a server and transmits the captured icon screenshot (step 804). If automatic scanning is not activated in the settings, the user can take a screenshot of the icon 100 using a method activated in the settings, such as the Manual Method 604, the Device Shake Method 606, the Voice Command Method 608, or the Floating Button Method 611 (step 806). After the chosen method is initiated, the multifunctional scanning system scans the captured screenshot, then sends a request to a server and transmits the captured icon screenshot (step 804).
After the server receives the captured icon image (or screenshot) and the request from the multifunctional scanning system, the server determines if the code embedded to the icon 100 is an account code or item code (step 807). The server will send a response as a post model or user model (step 807). The icon 100 owner gets a notification on his/her account that is also added on the Scan count of that account (step 808). The scanned icon 100 is also going to be saved in the Scan history of the user who initiated the scan.
After the scan history data is recorded for the icon 100 owner and the user who initiated the scan, the multifunctional scanning system directly presents the icon's item inside the owner's account, with several options to choose from on the screen of the computing device (step 809). Among those choices are: 1) the icon owner's picture and name (step 810), 2) the name of the scanned item (step 811), or 3) the category or hashtag names listed for the item (step 812). If the icon owner's picture and name is selected (step 810), the multifunctional scanning system will direct the user to the owner's account page, which lists more information about the owner's item and scanning history. If the name of the scanned item is selected (step 811), the multifunctional scanning system will direct the user to the item's page (within the owner's account). On the item's page, the user may view comments, reviews, price information, and additional details about the item. If the category or hashtag names listed for the item is selected (step 812), the multifunctional scanning system will direct the user to a list of other items that have the same category or hashtag name chosen. If the icon has an account code, the multifunctional scanning system will directly present that account after scanning that coded icon.
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Another function of the multifunctional scanning system is optical character recognition (OCR). The multifunctional scanning system can scan screenshots captured of items such as text documents, text or symbols on physical items, or text or symbols on a computing device screen using one of the activated methods explained in
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A further option 1304 presented also results from filtering the scanning result according to the detection of the soundtrack symbol 1204 (
The multiple scanning results for each mentioned symbol and adjacent statement are also sorted according to the other symbols and adjacent statements, as they are going to be used as categorized key words (by the symbols) to minimize the searching results and sort them accordingly. A good example is the video symbol 1203 (
The movements of the icon 100 and the icon components described herein can be automatically generated by the multifunctional scanning system or movements can be specified by a user. The scanning system can generate movement of the icon 100. Further, the scanning system can generate movement of components: the picture 101, item code 102, and the security detector 103. In contrast to the scanning system automatically generating movement, a user can select movement settings of the icon 100. Likewise, a user can select movement settings for the picture 101, item code 102, and the security detector 103.
The multifunctional scanning system has additional functions. For example, the scanning system can convert a fixed picture icon into a video or a GIF. In another example, the scanning system can make an icon 100 appear and disappear from sight while affixed to a video item 1400. Further, the scanning system can cause an icon 100 to blink (flash) on and off.
The multifunctional scanning system is able to identify details of a first item 1400. The details of the first item 1400 can include the owner of the first item, the location of the first item, comments, reviews, price information, weight, and any other item details. Further, the scanning system can identify one or more items similar to the first item; compare the items similar to the first item; and present the comparison to a user. As a comparison example, the scanning system can trace (scan) a first item 1400 (commercial product) that will lead to that specific product and other similar products. For example, the scanning system can trace the first item 1400 (e.g. computer table), then display a screen showing the item 1400 and a similar second item with comparison information. A user can then review the comparison information of multiple items on the screen displayed by the scanning system application.
In another example for a process (method) done after tracing an item 1400 (e.g. video) is initiated, the scanning system can present multiple similar videos that have the same description or details. In another example of a process, the scanning system can trace a pizza item icon that will lead to sending a message to the pizza store, with order and location, then sending the pizza to the tracing person. Another example is a car with a camera that can trace street signs. When a street sign advertisement has an icon, the scanning system will trace it, then present a video advertisement or audio advertisement with location and details inside the car. These aforementioned processes are merely a few examples of processes that can be conducted using the multifunctional scanning system.
This is a Nonprovisional Continuation-in-part U.S. Patent Application under 35 U.S.C. 111. This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of Nonprovisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/779,931, filed Feb. 3, 2020, hereby incorporated in its entirety into the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16779931 | Feb 2020 | US |
Child | 17847500 | US |