Abstract:
An apparatus and method are disclosed for tamper-proofing two-dimensional, optical, computer readable bar codes, including QR Codes. QR Codes, like traditional bar codes, contain computer readable content not cognizable by the human mind. The present invention teaches means of securing this content from would-be thieves and forgers motivated to overlay authorized, original content with unauthorized, replacement content.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to bar codes, and more particularly relates to a tamper-proof apparatus for securing bar codes from unauthorized replacement with geometric patterns. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Two-dimensional, optical, computer readable bar codes, including Quick Response (QR) Codes, are well-known in the art. QR Codes, like traditional bar codes, contain nonvolatile, computer readable, content not cognizable by the human mind. In particular, QR Codes contain hardlinks meant to direct a computer to Internet Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) resolving to websites with information associated with the physical objects to which the QR Codes are affixed. While human beings can visually identify a QR Code generally, humans cannot recognize the specific content printed within QR Codes and other bar codes. Because the content of QR Codes is printed and intended for optical computer recognition, rather than human recognition, humans cannot distinguish legitimate original QR Code content from replacement illegitimate content overlaying the original content. This inability of humans to recognize illegitimate content creates an opportunity for pornographers, thieves, competitors, and other opportunists to misappropriate legitimate QR Codes for their own benefit by overlaying their content on original content, and thus redirecting humans and computers optically scanning to replacement content to unauthorized URLs. 
     The present invention teaches means of using color-coded and textured geometric patterns to secure legitimate content from would-be thieves and forgers bent on beguiling computers and human observers, and through such means imparts to human observers the ability to distinguish legitimate content from illegitimate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus and method to secure two-dimensional bar codes from unauthorized tampering. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would overcome the many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a means for humans to distinguish legitimate bar code content from illegitimate bar code content using recognizable geometric patterns. 
     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available technologies. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus and method for securing a two-dimensional bar code, the security badge comprising a printed QR Code encircled by a plurality of color-coded rings, wherein each color-coded ring represents a predefined category selected from the group consisting of: a category representative of subject matter displayed on a website to which a URL referenced in the QR Code resolves, and a category representative of a Trademark class established by the United States Trademark Office. 
     One or more of the color-coded rings may overlap the QR Code. One or more of the color-coded rings may underlap the QR Code. One or more color-coded rings may comprise rigid three-dimensional rings affixed to the security badge and overlaying the QR Code. A color of an area encircled by the one or more color-coded rings may be representative of a predefined category not represented by the one or more color-coded rings. 
     The area encircled by the one or more color-coded rings may be partially overlaid with the QR Code, in some embodiments. One or more color-coded circles may overlap and underlap one another. 
     One or more color-coded circles may comprise non-uniform radii. In some embodiments, one or more color-coded circles may comprise non-uniformly located centers within the QR Code. 
     In other embodiments, the area encircled by the one or more color-coded rings is overlaid with the QR Code. Additionally, the one or more color-coded rings may be textured. In some embodiments, the texture comprises Braille identifying the predefined category, or informing a blind human being that audio will be played via a website if the blind human being scans the security badge. In other embodiments, the one or more color-coded rings are chemiluminescent. 
     In some embodiments, the QR Code comprises between one and four non-linear border edges, the non-linear border edges representative of one of: a date upon which the QR Code was printed, a location where the QR Code was printed, a target audience, and effectiveness estimate. 
     The security badge may further comprise a plurality of printed stripes underlaying the QR Code and the one or more color-coded rings, wherein each of the printed stripes is representative of secondary category selected from the group consisting of: a category representative of subject matter displayed on a website to which a URL referenced in the QR Code resolves, and a category representative of a Trademark class established by the United States Trademark Office, a category representative of type of real estate offering, and category representative of a price range, a category representative of the age range for which the website is intended, and a category representative of geographic location. 
     The security badge may further comprise a passive RFID tag for demodulating a radio-frequency signal, the RFID tag identifying the owner of the QR Code. In alternative embodiments, the QR Code recited in each of the above embodiments is substituted for another two-dimensional bar code. 
     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a QR Code taught by prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a first embodiment of security badge for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a second embodiment of security badge for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a third embodiment of security badge for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a fourth embodiment of security badge for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for securing a two-dimensional bar code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Many of the functional units described in this specification could be labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like. 
     Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module. 
     Indeed, a module of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network. Where a module or portions of a module are implemented in software, the software portions are stored on one or more computer readable media. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     The schematic flow chart diagrams that follow are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one embodiment of the presented method. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method. Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a QR Code  102  taught by prior art. The QR Code  102  comprises a two-dimensional bar code recognizable by digital cameras and executable computer programs in logical communication with an optical scanner. QR Codes  102  are well-known to those of skill in the art. QR Codes  102  comprise oversampled polynomial source code in the form of a data matrix which hardlink the QR Code  102  and/or object to which the QR Code is affixed to either a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), Uniform Resource Name (URN), or Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) on the Internet when evaluated. 
     QR Codes  102  use Reed-Solomon error correction to embody accurately evaluable hardlinks to predetermined URLs. When the QR Code  102  is photographed and/or scanned by an executable computer program, a human being is directed to a URL resolving to a website with information sought by the human in scanning the QR Code  102 . 
       FIG. 2  is a first embodiment of security badge  200  for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. The security badge  200  comprises a QR Code  102 , an outer ring  202 , a center ring  204 , an inner ring  206 , a badge background  208 , and a code border  210 . 
     The security badge  200  is useful is a useful improvement to signage bearing one or more two-dimensional matrix bar codes, such as QR Codes  107 , which are publicly displayed. The QR Code  102  is substantially described above in relation to  FIG. 1  and is well-known to those of skill in the art. The QR Code  102  in the present invention may comprise Aztec Codes, barcodes, ShotCodes, touchtags, and the like. 
     The QR Code  102  is encircled by a plurality of rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 . In the shown embodiment, the QR Code  102  is encircled by three rings, an outer ring  202 , a center ring  204 , and an inner ring  206  (the “rings”). 
     In the shown embodiment, each of the rings  202 ,  204 ,  208  comprise two-dimensional objects printed on the security badge  200 . In other embodiments, the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  may comprise three-dimensional solid or hollow tubular objects which encircle and/or inscribe the QR Code  102 . Three-dimensional rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  may be formed from materials well-known to those of skill in the art, including polymers, common metals, woods, glass, precious metals, crystal, and the like. 
     The rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  alternatively underlay and overlay the QR Code  102 . In this configuration, the QR Code  102  is protected from alteration, tampering, or addition of illegitimate content. Traditional QR Codes  102  can be overlaid with stickers comprising illegitimate QR Codes  102  that redirect data processing devices scanning them to non-authorized websites, exemplia gratia pornographic websites, competitors&#39; websites, cloned websites, and other websites not authorized by the entity producing and/or maintaining the legitimate QR Code  102 . Because human beings cannot distinguish between a legitimate and illegitimate QR Code  102 , traditional QR Codes  102  are easily altered or tampered with to mislead human observers. 
     The present invention teaches, inter alia, means of using geometric shapes, such as the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 , to impart to human observers the ability to tell whether a QR Code  102  has been tampered with. The ability to visually distinguishing legitimate, original, bar code content from illegitimate, non-original, unauthorized content is facilitated by the teaching of the present invention. The present invention teaches means of tamper-proofing QR Codes and other bar codes known in the art. 
     The rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  are color-coded, in the shown embodiment, in accordance with a predetermined color criteria in which the color of each ring is representative of the type of content displayed by the website to which the hardlink coded in the QR Code  102  resolves (the “website”). In some embodiments, the ring colors are representative of the age range of target consumers for whom the website is intended (e.g. adult, teen, preteen, etc). In other embodiments, the ring colors are representative of the class of commerce in which the business or entity maintaining the QR Code  102  is engaged, such as a Trademark class established by the United States Trademark Office (USPTO). In still further embodiments, the ring colors are representative of the type of entity managing the QR Code  102  (e.g. nonprofit organization, university, s-corporation, c-corporation, political action committee, military or government agency, municipality, limited liability company, partnership, and the like); the ethnicity, age, sex, size, sexual orientation, or religion of the owners and/or managers of the QR Code  102  or associated business; or an organization affiliated with the owners such as a union or guild; etcetera. 
     In embodiments of the present invention in which the color of the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  is representative of the age range of consumers, or target audience, for whom the website is intended, the computer application scanning the security badge  200  may be configured to restrict access to the website in response to scanning a particular ring color pre-associated with adult content. In other embodiments of the present invention, the computer program product scanning, or recognizing, the security badge  200  may be configured to restrict access to certain websites or content for which the human operator of the computer program product has not paid to access. 
     The colors of the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  may be chemiluminescent to make them visible at night to human observers passing by in poorly lit areas. Alternatively, they may be lit, backlit, or otherwise illuminated using power supplies and electrical components well-known to those of skill in the art. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the QR Code  102  itself has three-dimensional properties. In some embodiments, the data matrix of the QR Code  102  may be embossed, raised, repousséed, chased, etcetera. In some embodiments, the QR Code  102  and/or entire security badge  200  is overlaid with glass or another rigid, transparent material. In some embodiments, the security badge  200  is projected by a projector onto colored surfaces, or curved surfaces, for mass display to large crowds. In other embodiments of the present invention, the security badge  200  comprises a passive or active radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. 
     The badge background  208 , like the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 , is color-coded to convey information to a human observer, and/or data processing device scanning the security badge  200 , about the website and/or entity managing the security badge  200 . In some embodiments, the badge background  208  is textured, transparent, florescent, chemiluminescent, and the like. The badge background  208  may signify the date when the security badge  208  was printed, a price point of a product associated with the security badge  200 , a type of merchant (e.g. a restaurant, or type of restaurant), a type of information provided by an organization affiliated with the security badge  200  (e.g. customer service, 411 information, etc.), and the like. In other embodiments, the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206  may carry the same or alternate significance as the badge background  208 . 
     The code border  210  denotes the borders of the QR Code  102 . In many embodiments of the present invention, the QR Code  102  is square. In other embodiments, the QR Code  102  is circular, rectangular, triangular, or rhombus-shaped. The code border  210  comprises the edges of the QR Code  102 , irrespective of the shape embodying the QR Code  102 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the QR Code  102  is square. The code border  210  comprises linear edges. In some embodiments of the present invention, the code border  210  comprises dashed edges, dotted edges, wavy edges, beveled edges, gradient edges, shaky edges, smooth edges, squiggly edges, and the like. In certain embodiments of the present invention, technical meaning is pre-associated with the shape of the code border  210 . For instance, a wavy code border  210  may be universally indicative to observers of the security badge  200  of use of semi-conductor technology by the authority managing or associated with the security badge  200 , or of use of radio frequency technologies, imported goods, consumables, kitchenware, and the like. 
     In some embodiments, the code border  210  may signify an efficiency estimate, or an estimate of traffic to a website which the security badge  200  is expected to generate. For instance, a jagged code border  210  may signify estimated traffic of 1,000 to 10,000 unique monthly hits, while a dashed edge may signify estimated traffic of more than 100,000 unique hits each month, etcetera. In alternative embodiments, the code border  210  signifies a range of historical traffic figures to a website, rather than a prediction of future traffic. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the security badge  200  is placed on top of preprinted signage using decals, stickers, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, the security badge is semi-transparent, and can be placed over car windows or pre-printed matter such that printing underlying the security badge  200  is still visible, but not to such a degree as to impracticate optical recognition of the QR Code  102  by a scanner and/or computer program product seeking to optically recognize the QR Code  102 . 
       FIG. 3  is another embodiment of a security badge  300  for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. The security badge  300  comprises a QR Code  102 , an outer ring  202 , a center ring  204 , an inner ring  206 , a badge background  208 , a code border  210 , color code  302 , code background  304 , and an overlapping ring  306 . 
     Each of the QR Code  102 , outer ring  202 , center ring  204 , inner ring  206 , badge background  208 , and code border  210  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     The code color  302  comprises the color of the source code in the QR Code  102 , which is in this embodiment black. The code color  302  may comprise any color well-known to human observers (e.g. red, blue, black, white, brown, yellow, transparent, green, gray, etc.). 
     The code background  304  comprises the background color of the QR Code  102 , which is in this embodiment white. The background color  304  may comprise any color well-known to human observers (e.g. red, blue, black, white, brown, yellow, green, gray, etc.). In some embodiments of the present invention, the code background  304  and the code color  302  are congruent, and the source code of the QR Code  102  is distinguished from the code background  304  only by non-visual characteristics inherent in the code background  304  and/or the code color  302 , such as chemiluminescence, ferromagnetism, density, finish, texture, etcetera. 
     The overlapping ring  306  (like the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ) is color-coded and symbolic of some characteristic of the website content and/or entity managing the security badge  300 . Were an illegitimate bar code to be placed over the QR Code  102 , it would lack the markings and color of the overlapping ring  306  and be visually distinguishable from the original QR Code  102 . 
     In the shown embodiment, the overlapping ring  306  touches each of three squares shown in the data matrix of the QR Code  102 . In the shown embodiment of the present invention, the inner most ring  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  proximates the three squares in the QR Code  102  data matrix so closely that the QR Code  102  could not be reliably scanned if the inner most ring  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  were closer to the data matrix. 
     The rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  may, in some embodiments, comprise incongruent radii and incongruently located center points. The center points of each of the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  may be located within the QR Code  102 , or outside the QR Code  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  are not circular, but rather comprise other combinations of regular and irregular geometric shapes, such as triangular, rectangular, elliptical, pentagonal, pentagramal, and the like. In some embodiments of the present invention, the shape of each of the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  is further representative of some characteristic of the website or products associated therewith. 
       FIG. 4  is another embodiment of security badge  400  for securing a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. The security badge  400  comprises a QR Code  102 , a badge background  208 , and an overlapping ring  306 . 
     Each of the QR Code  102 , the outer ring  202 , the badge background  208 , and an overlapping ring  306  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     The security badge  400  may comprise more than one QR Code  102  and/or bar code in non-shown embodiments. 
       FIG. 5  is another embodiment of security badge  500  for securing of a QR code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. The security badge  500  comprises a QR Code  102 , an upper stripe  502 , a center stripe  504 , a lower stripe  506 , and an Aztec code  508 . 
     The stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  each underlay the QR Code  102 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the security badge  500  comprises from one to five hundred stripes directionally situated behind the QR Code  102 . In some embodiments, the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  are situated horizontally. In some embodiments, the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  are situated vertically. In some embodiments, the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  are situated diagonally. In some embodiments, the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  are situated orthogonally. 
     Like the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306 , the stripe colors are representative of one of a category of subject matter displayed on a website to which a URL referenced in the QR Code resolves, a category representative of a Trademark class established by the United States Trademark Office, a category representative of type of real estate offering, and category representative of a price range, a category representative of the age range for which the website is intended, and a category representative of geographic location. 
     In some embodiments, the color of the upper stripe  502  may be indicative of the state or city in which the business managing the QR Code  102  is situated, or indicative of the state or city in which the product marketed by the business is situated (e.g. real estate, buildings, equipment, factories, and the like). 
     In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the combination of stripe colors may be indicative of an exclusive license to use said combination granted by an organization with rights over the security badge  400 . For instance, the organization with rights over the security badge  400  may grant unto one merchant using the security badge  400  the exclusive rights to use and identify itself with the stripe colors black and blue. 
     The security badge  500  may additionally or alternatively comprise other two dimensional bar codes, such as the Aztec code  508  and/or other well-known to those of skill in the art. The security badge may comprise holographs, or lenticular prints, in whole or in part, such that the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  and/or the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  and/or the QR Code  102  are printed lenticularly. 
     The security badge may further comprise a passive RFID tag for demodulating a radio-frequency signal, the RFID tag identifying the owner of the QR Code. In alternative embodiments. 
     One purpose of the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  is to provide human observers of the security badge  200  and QR Code  102  with means of visually distinguishing legitimate QR Code  102  content from illegitimate and of providing human observers with information about the website before the QR Code  102  is scanned. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method  600  for securing a two-dimensional bar code with geometric symbology in accordance with the present invention. 
     The method  600  begins  602  and a managing entity pre-associates  604  stripe  502 ,  504 ,  506  colors with geographic locations, such as states, cities or countries. 
     The method  600  proceeds by printing  606  QR Codes  102  over the stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506 . The QR Code  102  comprises jagged lines indicative of a company dealing with power generation. 
     The method proceeds by pre-associating  610  ring colors with trademark classes recognized by the USPTO. 
     Rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  are printed  612  over the QR Code  102  such that the rings overlap the QR Code  102 . One of the overlapping stripes is green, indicating the company managing the security badge develops alternative energies. 
     Proceeding, the security badge comprising the QR Code  102 , the rings  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  306  and stripes  502 ,  504 ,  506  is posted  614 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the method  600  progresses when the optical scanner scans  616  the security badge and recognizes  618  symbology in the security badge associated with content regulated or restricted on the website, such as adult content. The computer program product in logical connection with the optical scanner may restrict access to that content in accordance with its predetermined configuration. 
     Subsequently, the method  600  ends  620 . In alternative embodiments, the method  600  may include steps of printing  615  background color codes  302 , code background  304 , and/or badge background  208 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.