Universal information code format for two dimensional bar code and interactive information exchange system using the same

Abstract

A Universal Information Code (UIC) resolves the encoding limitation associated with the known 2D bar code format. The UIC includes at least a type field and an index field. The type field indicates application type and format of other fields. The index field provides an index to access a website, categories of information, keyword of information, index or link to associated information and expansion information. The UIC further includes optionally a text description field and an authorization field. The text description field can be used to include a textual description of the website. The authorization field can be used to store password or public key. A mobile terminal device equipped with camera can fetch an image of the 2D bar code in UIC format and then extract related fields for interactive information exchange with a database.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an interactive information exchange system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a mobile terminal device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the UIC format according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for bar code reading and UIC extraction process.

FIG. 5A shows a flowchart for processing UIC when the type of application is advertisement.

FIG. 5B shows flowchart for processing UIC when the type of application is for searching information.

FIG. 5C shows a flowchart for processing UIC when the type of application is for purchase/transaction.

FIG. 5D shows a flowchart for processing UIC when the type of application is for secured data.

FIG. 5E shows a flowchart of processing UIC to authenticate an admission.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for processing UIC according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a procedure for uploading information and generating UIC based on the uploaded information.

FIG. 8 shows a format of information upload table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An information code format used for a bar code and indicating a database of information, comprising: a type field to indicate the information type; andan index field to indicate a unique information for the database.

2. The information code format as in claim 1, wherein the index field comprises an IP address index to indicate an IP address for the database.

3. The format of claim 1, wherein the index field comprises an information category index to indicate a category of information in the database.

4. The format of claim 1, wherein the index field comprises an information content index to indicate content of information in the database.

5. The format of claim 1, wherein the index field comprises an associated information index to indicate a link to an associated information in the database.

6. The format of claim 1, wherein the index field comprises an expansion information index indicate a link to an expansion information in the database.

7. The format of claim 1, further comprising a text description field for recording a textual description of the information.

8. The format of claim 1, further comprising an authorization field to store a password or a public key.

9. A device for accessing an information database, comprising an imaging fetching unit to fetch an image of a bar code symbol encoded in a universal information code format having a type field to indicate the information type and an index field to indicate a unique information for the database;a processor connected to the imaging fetching unit and configured to extract the type field and the index field in the bar code symbol; anda wireless transceiver connected to the processor and communicating with the information database.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a category index in the index field to indicate a category of information in the database, and the processor is configured to send the category index to the database to retrieve information related to the category index.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a content index in the index field to indicate a content of information in the database, and the processor is configured to send the content index to the database to retrieve information related to the content index.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an associated information index in the index field to indicate a link to an associated information in the database, and the processor is configured to send the associated information index to the database to retrieve information related to the associated information index.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an expansion information index in the index field to indicate a link to an expansion information in the database, and the processor is configured to send the expansion information index to the database to retrieve information related to the expansion information index.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a text description field for recording a textual description of the information in the database, and the processor is configured to display the textual description.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an authorization field to store a public key, and the processor is configured to send the public key and a private key provided by a user to access secured data in the database.

16. A method for facilitating a mobile terminal device to access a database wirelessly through a bar code symbol encoded in a universal information code format having a type field to indicate the information type and an index field to indicate a unique information for the database, comprising: reading the bar code symbol by the mobile terminal device;decoding the universal information code from the bar code symbol; andidentifying type of information in the database by the type field.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile terminal device accesses the database with the unique information indicated in the index field.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a category index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the category index to access the database; andthe data base sending information related to the category index to the mobile terminal device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a content index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the content index to the database; andthe data base sending information related to the content index to the mobile terminal device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises a content index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the content index to the database; andthe data base sending information related to the content index to the mobile terminal device.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an associated information index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the associated information index to the database; andthe data base sending information related to the associated information index to the mobile terminal device.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an associated information index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the associated information index to the database; andthe data base sending information related to the associated information index to the mobile terminal device.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the universal information code format further comprises an expansion information index in the index field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device sending the expansion information index to the database; andthe data base sending information related to the expansion information index to the mobile terminal device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the mobile terminal device examining whether new expansion information index is contained in the received information.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the information code format further comprises a text description field and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device extracting the text description field and displaying a textual description.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the information code format further comprises authorization field to store a public key, and the method further comprising the mobile terminal device extracting the authorization field to obtain the public key; andthe mobile terminal device sending the public key and a private key provided by a user to the database for access secured data in the database.