Patent Application
20190087427
The embodiments presented relate to a system and method for securely downloading content by a user.
Marketing professionals are continually looking for more convenient ways to entice consumers to engage with their content. In recent years, the ubiquitous use of the internet via mobile devices has provided increasingly straightforward means for accessing content contained in promotional items. Marketers no longer need to rely on users remembering or saving a name, website address, promotional items, or other content as their mobile devices can connect them to the content source.
Content is often downloaded directly from a network to a computing device. Scannable codes, such as Quick Response (QR) codes are a secure means for downloading content onto a mobile device. However, QR codes are universal to the population to which they are provided, allowing any number of mobile devices to scan the QR code, and access the associated content. While the utilization of QR codes is convenient, there is no system for restricting access to the QR code once the content has been accessed by a specific mobile device.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The present embodiments disclose a system for providing secure content. The system includes a computing device having a camera operably coupled to an application. The application has a plurality of hashed content. A server has a system processor operably coupled to the computing device. The system processor is configured to generate a unique QR code, associate the unique QR code with one of the plurality of hashed content, associate the UID of the computing device with the QR code, and provide hashed content to the computing device having the associated UID.
Some embodiments restrict the use of the QR code to that of a single user within the system of users. This permits the QR code to be scanned by a user and the content to be downloaded to a single computing device.
In one aspect, the hashed content is an audio file or a video file.
In one aspect, the articles are printed articles provided to the user such as a concert ticket.
In one aspect, a comparator operably coupled to the system processor is configured to compare the UID with the content file to prohibit another UID from accessing the plurality of content associated with the QR code.
In another aspect, an administrator in communication with an administrator interface permits the administrator to upload the plurality of hashed content to the database.
Moreover, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, other aspects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.
A more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described system and methods of use. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only and not unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components related to the system and method. Accordingly, the system components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
The embodiments described herein provide for a system for downloading content using a quick response (QR) code, which is provided with an article. The QR code will only allow for a single device to access the code as shown and described herein.
In reference to
An administrator 120 is in communication with the network 140. The administrator 120 can create and upload content via content engine 155 to a database 170 associated with the administrative server 150. Once content is downloaded, system processor 165 may generate QR codes, in addition to facilitating other functionalities described herein. The administrator selectively uploads the content 210 to the database.
Network 140 may be the Internet, a cellular network, a wired network, a wireless network, a cloud computing network, or other conventional network technology recognized in the art. It is to be understood that, in practice. there will be plural and likely a large number of computing devices 110 used by each of the user 100 within the community of users connected to the network 140. Also, the administrative server 150 may be a unitary device but would preferably be implemented as a server farm or a distributed computing system to handle large capacities of content stored in a database 170 and the many simultaneous connections with computing devices 130. Further examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), an inter-network (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).
The computing devices 110 may include conventional components such as one or more applications 112, one or more memory components 114, and one or more processors 116. Examples of computing devices 110 include such known mobile devices as smartphones, tablets, etc., but it is to be understood that the computing device 110 need not be a mobile device and that the inventive concepts apply to other computing devices such as a desktop computer.
Processors 116 and system processor 165 are suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors and any one or more processors of any digital computing device. Generally, the processor 116 will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computing device 110 are a processor 116 for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices 114 for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computing device 110 will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computing device 110 need not have such devices. Moreover, a computing device 110 can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Memory components 114 suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor 116 and the memory 114 can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.
In reference to
While the example of a QR code 220 is utilized in some embodiments, a skilled artisan will recognize that alphanumeric codes, barcodes, readable code images, and similar machine-readable codes can be implemented.
Once the article 400 is printed having the QR code 220 provided thereon, the article is distributed to be provided and engaged with by the user 100 and community thereof. Engaging with the article 400, the user scans the QR code 220 using their computing devices 110 cameras 118.
The QR codes can include any other URL interactive code format such that these URL internet connecting “interactive codes” allow smartphone device users 100 or users of any computing device 110 with an optical scanning element such as a camera 118 to scan the QR code and be linked to both static data that is typically hosted by administrative server 150, and or specific internet URL's that can host much broader bandwidth of data that includes text, multiple languages, audio, video, special promotions, coupons, testimonials, product specifications, certifications, product demonstrations, dealer locations, retail locations, image galleries, GPS coordinates, warranty product registration forms, and opt-in interactive forms.
In reference to
In further reference to
Once the user 100 is provided with the article 400, the camera 118 of the computing device 110 is used to scan the QR code 220. The user 100 scans the QR code 220 in step 630 and the system processor 165 decodes the QR code 220 in step 635. The application 112 may access the camera 118 of the computing device 110 to perform the scan of the QR code 220. In step 640, a query is made to the system 10 to authorize the QR code 220 and reference the UID of the computing device 110 with the coupon code. Step 645, the response decoding result is provided.
In some embodiments, the UID of each computing device 110 is encrypted such that the database 170 is secure of sensitive information. In addition, any user 100 information such as names, login credentials, etc. are encrypted to promote a secure data storage environment for the system 10.
In some embodiments, the system processor generates a QR code 220 which is printed onto an article 400. The unique QR code 220 is associated with the content 210 which can be hashed by the system 10. The UID of the computing device 210 is associated with the QR code once the user 100 scans the QR code 220 with the camera 118. Once the QR code has been scanned, content 210 is provided to the computing device 110 having the associated UID. The database 170 is configured to store the content 210, the UID(s), and the associated QR codes 220. The UID is associated with the QR code 220 prohibits other UID's belonging to the computing devices 110 of other users in the community to access the content 210.
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/560,133 filed Sep. 18, 2017, entitled “Secure QR Code & Content Downloads” which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62560133 | Sep 2017 | US |
