Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a method of generating a two-dimensional barcode. <CIT> discloses a method of disseminating a barcode having a damaged region. <CIT> discloses a method for serializing products using a barcode and checking authenticity of barcodes.

This summary is not an extensive overview of the claimed subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key elements of the claimed subject matter nor delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the claimed subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The invention provides an apparatus according to claim <NUM>. The invention also provides a method for encoding a two-dimensional barcode image according to claim <NUM>.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects of the claimed subject matter. These aspects are indicative, however, of a few of the various ways in which the principles of the innovation may be employed and are not limiting, the scope of protection being defined by the claims. Other advantages and novel features of the claimed subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

In the following description reference is made to examples and embodiments which are consistent with the scope of the invention as defined by the appended independent claims.

Many forms of two-dimensional barcodes are currently used to transmit data. It may be desirable, for example to generate a hybrid two-dimensional barcode including first and second data sets, where non-public data in the first data set may be used to authenticate the public data in the second data set. The data in the first data set may be data that the generator of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode wants to send to a recipient who has a compatible decoder but be unreadable by a decoder that operates according to the technical standard governing the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. For example, the second data set in a hybrid two-dimensional barcode may identify a device to which the barcode is attached. This barcode may include a timestamp encoded as the second data set to thwart counterfeiters who may attach a copy of the barcode to their counterfeit part. One way to add non-public data to a barcode is to encrypt the data before encoding it. Encryption, however, may increase the size of the data and, thus, allow less data to be encoded in the two-dimensional barcode. In addition, encryption and decryption may require additional hardware and/or software in the two-dimensional barcode generator and two-dimensional barcode reader to encrypt and decrypt the non-public data. Furthermore, it may be desirable to send non-public data in a hybrid two-dimensional barcode that resembles a standard code but that can be decoded only by a hybrid two-dimensional barcode reader that is configured to access the non-public data. This encoded data may be read by anyone having a compatible hybrid two-dimensional barcode reader. Those having two-dimensional barcode readers that operate according to the corresponding technical standard, however, will not be able to read the non-public data.

Examples described below concern a method for generating a hybrid two-dimensional barcode including a first data set that cannot be decoded by a decoder operating according to the standard governing the two-dimensional barcode. The generated hybrid two-dimensional barcode holds more information than a conventionally encrypted barcode and may include only data in the first data set or a mix of data in the first and second data sets. The data in the second data set may be independent of the data in the first data set or may include information used to decode the data in the first data set. In some described examples, the data first data set is encoded in the hybrid two-dimensional barcode having formatting elements of a standard two-dimensional barcode but using an encoding technique that is different from that specified in the standard governing the two- dimensional barcode. Thus, the example hybrid two-dimensional barcode resembles a barcode conforming to the standard but cannot be completely decoded using a standard decoder. Example hybrid two-dimensional barcodes conform to parts of the standard but do not conform to other parts. An example hybrid two-dimensional barcode decoded by a standard decoder may appear to be defective or appear to include less data than is actually encoded in the barcode. A hybrid two-dimensional barcode decoder that is compatible with the example barcode, however, can recover the data in both the first and second data sets hybrid two-dimensional barcode.

Some examples process the data in the first data set the hybrid two-dimensional barcode using a constellation encoder before encoding the processed data in the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. Furthermore, the constellation encoded data may be processed to be redundant, allowing some error correction in the decoding operation.

As a preliminary matter, some of the figures describe concepts in the context of one or more structural components, variously referred to as functionality, modules, features, elements, or the like. The various components shown in the figures can be implemented in any manner, such as software, hardware, firmware, or combinations thereof. In some cases, various components shown in the figures may reflect the use of corresponding components in an actual implementation. In other cases, any single component illustrated in the figures may be implemented by a number of actual components. The depiction of any two or more separate components in the figures may reflect different functions performed by a single actual component.

Other figures describe the concepts in flowchart form. In this form, certain operations are described as constituting distinct blocks performed in a certain order. Such implementations are examples and non-limiting. Certain blocks described herein can be grouped together and performed in a single operation, certain blocks can be broken apart into multiple component blocks, and certain blocks can be performed in an order that differs from that which is illustrated herein, including a parallel manner of performing the blocks. The blocks shown in the flowcharts can be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, manual processing, or the like. As used herein, hardware may include microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, computer systems, discrete logic components, and/or custom logic components such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic arrays (PLAs) or the like.

As to terminology, the phrase "configured to" encompasses any way that any kind of functionality can be constructed to perform an identified operation. The functionality can be configured to perform an operation using, for example, software, hardware, firmware, or the like. For example, the phrase "configured to" can refer to a logic circuit structure of a hardware element that is arranged to implement the associated functionality. The phrase "configured to" can also refer to a logic circuit structure of a hardware element that is arranged to implement the coding design of associated functionality of firmware or software. The term "module" refers to a structural element that can be implemented using any suitable hardware (e.g., a processor, among others), software (e.g., an application, among others), firmware, and/or any combination of hardware, software, and firmware. The term, "logic" encompasses any functionality for performing a task. For instance, each operation illustrated in the flowcharts corresponds to logic for performing that operation. An operation can be performed using, software, hardware, firmware, or the like. The terms, "component," "system," and the like may refer to computer-related entities, hardware, and software in execution, firmware, or combination thereof. A component may be a process running on a processor, an object, an executable, a program, a function, a subroutine, a computer, or a combination of software and hardware. The term, "processor," may refer to a hardware component, such as a processing unit of a computer system.

Furthermore, the claimed subject matter may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a computing device to implement the disclosed subject matter. The term, "article of manufacture," as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any non-transitory computer-readable storage device or media. Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices, e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, optical disk, compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), smart cards, flash memory devices, among others. In contrast, computer-readable media, i.e., not storage media, may additionally include communication media such as transmission media for wireless signals and the like.

<FIG> show examples of four different types of two-dimensional barcode images. <FIG> shows an example Version <NUM> Quick Response (QR) barcode image <NUM> and <FIG> shows control features of the QR barcode image <NUM>. <FIG> shows an example two-dimensional barcode image <NUM> according to an Aztec formatting standard, <FIG> shows an example two-dimensional barcode image <NUM> according to a Maxicode formatting standard, and <FIG> shows an example two- dimensional barcode image <NUM> according to a Data Matrix formatting standard. Each of these two-dimensional barcode images includes blocks of pixels representing control features and blocks of pixels representing data. In the described examples, control features are elements of the two-dimensional barcode image that allow a barcode reader to properly orient the barcode image, determine how data is encoded in the image, and/or extract individual data symbols from the image. The data may be encoded using an error correction code, such as a Reed Solomon code before being encoded in the two- dimensional barcode to enable the data to be recovered even when a portion of the two- dimensional barcode is corrupted. Although a single example of each of these codes is shown in <FIG>, each type of barcode may have multiple different formats capable of holding respectively different amounts of data.

<FIG> shows features of the example QR barcode image <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The data for the QR barcode occupies most of the interior space (data area) <NUM> of the QR barcode. The data in this example barcode image are in the form of adjacent black and white blocks of pixels arranged in a first data format defined by the relevant QR code formatting standard. <FIG> shows the QR barcode <NUM> without the blocks of pixels corresponding to the data values. As shown in <FIG> the QR barcode <NUM> includes control features such as timing elements <NUM>, position elements <NUM>, alignment elements <NUM>, version and format elements <NUM>, and a quiet zone <NUM> surrounding the code. The timing elements define the horizontal and vertical bounds of the blocks of pixels. Each of these elements is encoded in the QR barcode image as a respective block of pixels in the QR code image.

The Aztec barcode <NUM>, Maxicode barcode <NUM> and Data Matrix barcode <NUM> also include blocks of pixels representing control features and data elements, which are not described herein. Although the examples described below are in terms of the QR barcode image <NUM>, it is contemplated that similar methods may be used to format the first data set in other types of two-dimensional barcode images including, without limitation, those shown in <FIG> by formatting the first data set in blocks of pixels that do not correspond to the formatting of the two-dimensional barcode while retaining the blocks of pixels corresponding to the format elements of the two-dimensional barcode. In addition, although the two-dimensional barcode images shown in <FIG> include black and white blocks of pixels (e.g., squares or circles), it is contemplated that other barcodes including squares, circles, or other geometric shapes of different colors may be used in other embodiments. When more than two colors are used in a two-dimensional barcode image, each element of the barcode may represent more than one bit of information.

The example embodiments described below retain the timing elements <NUM>, position elements <NUM>, and alignment elements <NUM> of the standard two-dimensional barcode. At least a part of the data area <NUM> in these embodiments, however, is not encoded according to the QR formatting standard. Some example embodiments write data to the entire data area <NUM> by mapping binary data to black and white blocks of pixels such that a black block of pixels represents a"<NUM>" and a white block of pixels represents a"<NUM>" or vice versa. This differs from the encoding technique used in a standard QR barcode which applies a predetermined masking pattern to the data before writing it to the data area <NUM>. Furthermore, the QR standard requires a specific layout of the encoded bits depending on the type of data being encoded, (e.g., numeric, alphanumeric, Kanji, or byte). Example embodiments described below do not mask the data and do not format the data according to the specific layouts of the QR standard. In other embodiments, the binary data is partitioned into successive sets of N bits, where N is a positive integer, and mapped into corresponding groups of N adjacent blocks of pixels (e.g., black and white squares) in the data area <NUM>. In other embodiments, the N-bit data values are processed by a constellation encoder to map each N-bit value into a respective M-bit value, where M is an integer greater than N, and the M-bit values are mapped into the black and white blocks of pixels in the data area. To ensure that the data in the first data set can be decoded only by the example decoder, the constellation encoded data may be encrypted and data defining the constellation encoder and/or encryption keys may be encrypted and shared among the devices handling the QR codes including the first data set. In other embodiments, the data values may be redundantly mapped into the N-bit values to allow for error correction in the decoded data values. In yet other embodiments, the N-bit data values may be mapped into a predetermined portion of the data area <NUM> of an existing QR code so that the existing QR code may still be recovered by virtue of the Reed Solomon coding applied to the existing data and the data in the first data set may be recovered from the predetermined portion of the data area <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a hybrid two-dimensional barcode generator/reader device <NUM> according to an example embodiment. Although the device is described below as both a hybrid two-dimensional barcode generator and a hybrid two- dimensional barcode reader, a similar structure may be used as a hybrid two-dimensional barcode generator without the ability to read a two-dimensional barcode or as a hybrid two-dimensional barcode reader without the ability to generate a two-dimensional barcode. In addition, the device <NUM> may be used to generate two-dimensional barcodes according to the applicable standard, as the device <NUM> includes a standard two-dimensional barcode generator/reader. The example device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a camera <NUM>, a data input device <NUM>, a two-dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM>, an optional constellation encoder/decoder <NUM>, an optional encryption/decryption processor <NUM>, a data output device <NUM>, an optional display device <NUM>. The device <NUM> may be implemented using the hardware shown in <FIG>, described below.

To generate a hybrid two-dimensional barcode, the processor <NUM> of the example device <NUM> receives the first data set via the data input device <NUM>. The data input device may be a keyboard, a microphone coupled to a speech-to-text processor, a memory device, a wireless or wired network interface, or an interface to an application running on the device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> stores the first data set in the memory <NUM>. If the data in the first data set is to be processed for error correction (e.g., Reed Solomon Coding), the processor <NUM> performs this processing and stores the result in the memory <NUM>. If the data in the first data set is to be constellation encoded and/or encrypted, the processor <NUM> applies data from the memory <NUM> to the optional constellation encoder/decoder <NUM> and/or encrypts the data in the first data set or the constellation encoded data using the encryption/decryption processor <NUM>. When the first data set is not constellation encoded or encrypted, the processor <NUM> causes the two-dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM> to generate a template barcode according to the applicable standard and then writes the first data set stored in the memory <NUM> to template. Alternatively, the processor <NUM> applies the data which has been constellation encoded and/or encrypted to the two- dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM>. In either case, the processor <NUM> then provides the generated hybrid two-dimensional barcode including the first data set to the data output device <NUM> for display on the optional display device <NUM>. The encryption/decryption processor <NUM> may be used both to encrypt the first and/or second data sets before the data sets are written into the two-dimensional barcode and/or to encrypt and/or decrypt a constellation look-up table <NUM> used by the constellation encoder/decoder <NUM>, as described below with reference to <FIG>.

The operation of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode generator device <NUM> is described in more detail below with reference to <FIG>. When the example device <NUM> is a hybrid two-dimensional barcode generator, the camera <NUM> may be eliminated and the constellation encoder/decoder <NUM> may be replaced by a constellation encoder <NUM>. The two-dimensional barcode generator/reader may retain both functions to ensure that the second data set may be decoded from a hybrid two-dimensional barcode that includes both of the first and second data sets. Similarly, the encryption/decryption processor <NUM> may retain both functions so that the device <NUM> may encrypt the first and/or second data sets before generating the hybrid two-dimensional barcode and may decrypt the constellation look-up table <NUM> for use by the constellation encoder/decoder <NUM>. In this instance, the device <NUM> may receive the decryption key and the encrypted constellation look-up table <NUM> via a data connection through the data input <NUM>.

To read a hybrid two-dimensional barcode encoded according to the example embodiments, the processor <NUM> receives an image of the barcode from the camera <NUM> or from the data input device <NUM>. The image received from the data input device <NUM> may be received, for example, from an application running on the device <NUM> or the device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, from a wireless or wired network connection, or from a memory device. The processor passes the received image to the two-dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM> to be decoded as described below with reference to <FIG>. The two-dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM> may interact with the constellation encoder/decoder to decode constellation encoded data from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, as described below with reference to <FIG>. The hybrid two-dimensional barcode may include data in the first and second data sets. The version and format elements <NUM> of the hybrid two- dimensional barcode include valid data when the barcode <NUM> includes data in the second data set. The second data set may include an indication that the hybrid two-dimensional barcode <NUM> also includes data. Alternatively, the version and format elements <NUM> may have values that can be read by the example device <NUM>, indicating that the barcode includes only data in the first data set, a combination of data in the first and second data sets, or only data in the second data set. When the version and format elements <NUM> indicate that the hybrid two-dimensional barcode includes data in the second data set and the two-dimensional barcode generator/reader <NUM> is not able to decode the data in the second data set, the device <NUM> may provide output data indicating an error to the display device <NUM>.

When the example device <NUM> is implemented as a hybrid two-dimensional barcode reader, the constellation encoder/decoder <NUM> may be replaced by a constellation decoder <NUM> and the two-dimensional barcode generator/reader may be replaced by a two- dimensional barcode reader. In an example reader device <NUM>, the encryption/decryption processor <NUM> may be replaced by a decryption processor <NUM> to decrypt the first and/or second data sets in the hybrid two-dimensional barcode and/or to decrypt the constellation look-up table <NUM> for use by the constellation decoder <NUM>. The decoder device <NUM> may receive the decryption key and the encrypted constellation look-up table <NUM> via a data connection through the data input <NUM>.

<FIG> is a data diagram illustrating an example method for formatting data in the first data set to be included in the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. The example data in the first data set shown in <FIG> is arranged in the memory <NUM> in a two-dimensional matrix <NUM> having eight rows and <NUM> columns. The example method partitions the data along the rows and then along the columns into successive four-bit values that are formatted as black and white blocks of pixels in the example hybrid two-dimensional barcode. In this example, the first four bits of the first row form a first four-bit value <NUM> the next four bits form a second four-bit value <NUM> and the last four bits form a third four- bit value <NUM>. This partitioning of the data continues for each row of the matrix <NUM>. After partitioning the rows of the matrix to generate a sequence of <NUM>-bit values, the processor <NUM> partitions the columns of the matrix to obtain another sequence of <NUM>-bit values. These values are represented by the four-bit groupings <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG>. The values obtained from the partitioning of all of the rows and all of the columns of the matrix <NUM> may be encoded directly into the hybrid two-dimensional barcode or may be constellation encoded such that the results of the consolation encoding are encoded into the hybrid two- dimensional barcode. As an alternative to concatenating the sequences generated from the rows and columns, values from the sequences may be interleaved or combined in other ways such as reversing one sequence before interleaving it with the other sequence. As another alternative rather than generating sequences from rows and columns, the processor <NUM> may copy a sequence generated from scanning the rows of the matrix to generate two identical sequences and combine the sequences as described above to generate the data to be encoded in the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. As yet another alternative to the formatting shown in <FIG> the processor may apply a conventional ECC algorithm such as Reed Solomon coding to the data before formatting the data in the hybrid two- dimensional barcode.

When the four-bit data values are encoded into the hybrid two-dimensional barcodes, they may be formatted as four linearly-arranged symbols (e.g., four blocks of pixels in a line) or as squares having two-blocks of pixels on a side. Longer sequences, larger squares, and/or rectangular arrangements of blocks of pixels may be used to encode values having larger numbers of bits.

<FIG> is a data diagram, partly in block diagram form, that shows an example constellation encoder/decoder. In an example embodiment the encoder/decoder may be implemented as a lookup table (LUT) <NUM> which may be programmable. The values <NUM> represented the input values to the LUT <NUM> when it is configured as a constellation encoder. These values may be address values of the LUT. In a simple implementation, the LUT <NUM> may translate a four-bit input value into a four-bit output value that may be different from the four-bit input value. Thus, the example LUT <NUM> may contain values representing a permutation of the <NUM> four-bit input values. As there are <NUM>! (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) different permutations of <NUM> values, the selection of a particular permutation for use in the LUT <NUM> may provide effective encryption when a different permutation is used for each hybrid two-dimensional barcode. The use of different permutations is illustrated by the values <NUM> which provide an alternative permutation of the input values <NUM>.

Alternatively, the LUT <NUM> may provide output values having a greater number of bits than the input values. For example, the values <NUM> and <NUM> may be concatenated such that each four-bit input value <NUM> corresponds to a respective <NUM>-bit value provided by the LUT <NUM>. Using permutations of <NUM>-bit values to represent the first data set may provide even greater security than just the four-bit values <NUM> or <NUM>.

As described below the particular permutation used in a hybrid two-dimensional barcode to encode the data in the first data set may be exchanged between a barcode generator <NUM> and a barcode reader <NUM> using an encrypted communication (e.g., a public key/private key encryption method). Alternatively, the values stored in the constellation translation LUT <NUM> may be generated using a generator function. An example generator function pseudo randomly selects the <NUM> values responsive to a seed value that is exchanged by the encoder <NUM> and decoder <NUM> in an encrypted communication. As yet another alternative, this seed value or other value used by the generator function may be a common value stored in both the encoder <NUM> and the decoder <NUM>. In one embodiment, the encoder <NUM> and decoder <NUM> may each store a number (e.g., <NUM> to <NUM>) of seed values. The encoder <NUM> may randomly or pseudo randomly select one of these seed values to generate the constellation and the decoder <NUM> may sequentially step through the seed values, trying each one, until a verification code or ECC result indicates that the decoder <NUM> has successfully decoded the first data set.

<FIG> is a flowchart diagram showing an example process <NUM> for generating a hybrid two-dimensional barcode. At operation <NUM>, the generator receives data for the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. The data may include both the first and second data sets or only the first data set. When operation <NUM> receives the second data set, the example process <NUM> generates a two-dimensional barcode including the data in the second data set according to the appropriate standard. The data in the first data set is then processed and used to replace a portion of the two-dimensional barcode image to generate the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image. Due to the ECC inherent in the two-dimensional barcode standard, a barcode reader operating according to the appropriate standard may still be able to read the second data set from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. The standard may define different levels of ECC. For example, QR codes define four levels of ECC that allow between <NUM> percent and <NUM> percent of the corrupted data to be restored. Thus, the data in the first data set may replace a portion of the data in the second data set in a standard QR code and still allow the second data set to be recovered, depending on the amount of data in the second data set that was replaced by the first data set and the level of ECC that was applied to the second data set.

Operation <NUM> determines whether the received data includes data in both the first and second data sets. In this instance, operation <NUM> generates the two-dimensional barcode image for the data in the second data set according to the barcode standard. When operation <NUM> determines that the input data does not include data in the second data set, operation <NUM> generates an empty template for the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image. As described with reference to FIG. IB above, this template may include the position <NUM>, alignment <NUM>, timing <NUM>, and quiet zone <NUM> elements of the two-dimensional code. In some example embodiments, the template may also include version and format elements <NUM>. After operation <NUM> or <NUM>, process <NUM> executes operation <NUM> which constellation encodes and/or encrypts the data in the first data set. In addition, or in place of the constellation encoding described above, operation <NUM> may implement encryption including a symmetric key algorithm (e.g., AES, DES, 3DES, Blowfish, Twofish. or Serpent) or an asymmetric key algorithm (e.g., RSA, ElGamal, Elliptic Curve, or Diffie- Hellman).

After operation <NUM>, the example encoder <NUM> adds the data in the first data set to the generated two-dimensional code (e.g., the code generated by operation <NUM> or <NUM>) at operation <NUM>. This data is added by replacing black and white blocks of pixels in a predetermined portion of the data area <NUM> of the two-dimensional barcode image <NUM>, for example the blocks of pixels (e.g., squares) in the lower right corner of the data area <NUM>, to generate the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image. This portion of the two- dimensional barcode is only an example. Because the data in the standard two- dimensional barcode is encoded with error correction, any portion of the barcode may be selected to include the data in the first data set. Both the encoder and decoder, however, use the same portion for the data in the first data set. Although the example above describes adding the first data set to a template two-dimensional barcode image, it is contemplated that the control elements of the standard two-dimensional barcode may, instead, be added to a two-dimensional barcode including the first data set. Alternatively, the hybrid two-dimensional barcode may be generated in a single operation in which the control elements and second data set are written into the hybrid two-dimensional barcode concurrently with writing the first data set.

Before formatting the first data set into the predetermined portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, operation <NUM> may add one or more verification codes such as a checksum or cyclic redundancy code (CRC) to the data to aid in determining whether the data was properly decoded by a decoder. Embodiments employing ECC for the first data set may not use these verification codes. At operation <NUM> the process <NUM> determines whether the generated two-dimensional code includes data in the second data set. When the code includes data in the second data set, the process <NUM>, at operation <NUM>, decodes the hybrid two-dimensional barcode according to the appropriate standard. At operation <NUM>, the process <NUM> determines whether the second data set has been recovered from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. When operation <NUM> determines that the second data set has been recovered, or when operation <NUM> determines that the hybrid two-dimensional barcode does not include the second data set, operation <NUM> outputs the generated hybrid two-dimensional barcode.

When operation <NUM> determines that the second data set was not recovered, process <NUM> executes operation <NUM> to determine whether the second data set was encoded with the maximum ECC level. The standard for a two-dimensional barcode may include multiple levels of error correction coding and the level of coding used may be indicated in then version and format elements <NUM>. QR codes, for example, include four levels of ECC. As described above, an example hybrid two-dimensional barcode having data in both the first and second data sets is implemented by replacing a predetermined portion of the data in the second data set (e.g., the data in the lower right corner of the QR code) with the data in the first data set. The decoding of this barcode relies on the ECC to recover the second data set. Thus, when the second data set was encoded using a relatively low level of ECC and the second data set cannot be recovered from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, it may be possible to encode the second data set using a higher level of ECC to generate a hybrid two-dimensional barcode in which the second data set can be decoded even after replacing the predetermined portion of the barcode with the first data set.

Accordingly, when operation <NUM> determines that the maximum ECC level was not used to encode the second data set, operation <NUM> increases the level of the ECC and transfers control to operation <NUM> to regenerate the two-dimensional barcode including the second data set according to the standard. When operation <NUM> determines that the maximum ECC level was used to encode the second data set, and the second data set was not recovered from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, operation <NUM> indicates that an error occurred in the generation of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. In response to this error, the user may reduce the size of the second data set in the hybrid two- dimensional barcode or reduce the amount of data in the first data set to reduce the size of the predetermined portion of the standard two-dimensional barcode that is replaced by the first data set.

<FIG> is a flowchart diagram of a decoding process <NUM> that may be performed by a device such as the device <NUM> shown in <FIG> and/or the device <NUM> shown in <FIG> below. At operation <NUM>, the process <NUM> receives an image of the two-dimensional barcode. This image may be received, for example, via a camera, such as the camera <NUM> of the device <NUM> or the camera <NUM> of the device <NUM>. At operation <NUM>, the process <NUM> applies the received two-dimensional barcode <NUM> to a standard two-dimensional barcode decoder <NUM>. Operation <NUM> determines from the output of operation <NUM> whether the decoder <NUM> was able to decode data according to the standard. When operation <NUM> successfully decoded standard data, operation <NUM> determines whether the decoded data and/or whether the version and format elements <NUM> in the code <NUM> indicates that the two- dimensional barcode <NUM> is a hybrid two-dimensional barcode that includes data in the first data set. When operation <NUM> determines that the two-dimensional barcode <NUM> does not include data in the first data set, the process <NUM> outputs the second data set as the result of decoding the two-dimensional barcode <NUM>.

When operation <NUM> determines that no data was decoded by the standard two-dimensional decoder in operation <NUM> or when operation <NUM> determines that the barcode is a hybrid two-dimensional barcode including the data in both the first and second data sets, process <NUM> executes operation <NUM> which applies the hybrid two-dimensional barcode to the hybrid two-dimensional barcode decoder <NUM>. The decoder device <NUM> may extract a sequence of values of the first data set from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. In an example the hybrid two-dimensional barcode includes only data in the first data set, the version and format elements <NUM> may specify how the data elements <NUM> of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode are to be translated into the output sequence (e.g., how the data values are organized in the data area <NUM>, what decryption code and/or constellation code to use). The example data decoding operation <NUM> may also perform error correction based on any ECC used to generate the hybrid two-dimensional barcode.

Operation <NUM> determines whether the decoder operation <NUM> successfully decoded the first data set from the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. For example, operation <NUM> may generate a verification code such as a checksum and or a CRC from the generated data and compare the verification code to a corresponding verification code decoded by the data decoder operation <NUM>. When the first data set is encoded with ECC, operation <NUM> may determine whether the data was decoded from the output of the ECC processor and may not generate or compare the verification code. When operation <NUM> determines that first data set was successfully decoded, operation <NUM> performs any constellation decoding and/or decryption operation that may have been applied to the data during generation of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode. While this example embodiment performs constellation decoding and/or decryption after verifying the data, it is contemplated that the verification operation <NUM> may occur after the extracted data has been processed by the constellation decoding and/or decryption operation <NUM>.

In example embodiments an indication of whether the first data set is constellation coded and/or encrypted is contained in the version and format elements <NUM> of the two-dimensional code <NUM>. The information used to decrypt the first data set, including the location of the predetermined portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, the constellation used by the consolation encoder/decoder <NUM> and/or the encryption key used by the encryption/decryption processor <NUM> may be provided to the hybrid two-dimensional barcode encoder/decoder device <NUM> as encrypted data according to an agreed-upon encrypted messaging protocol using one of the encryption methods described above for optionally encrypting the first data set. After operation <NUM>, operation <NUM> outputs both the first and second data sets.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example processing system <NUM> that may be used as two-dimensional barcode encoder/decoder device <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a bus <NUM>. Also coupled to the bus <NUM> are a memory <NUM>, which may include a flash memory device, random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM); an optional microphone <NUM>; an optional camera <NUM>; and an optional input and/or output device <NUM>, such as a touch screen display. The bus <NUM> also connects the system <NUM> to a communication interface <NUM>, for example, to provide communication between the hybrid two-dimensional barcode encoder/decoder device <NUM>, and a network (not shown) via an enhanced NodeB (not shown).

The memory <NUM> may store computer instructions for applications that are currently running on the system <NUM>. The communications interface <NUM> may be coupled to a LAN/WLAN interface <NUM> such as a wired or optical Ethernet connection or wireless connection (e.g., IEEE <NUM> or IEEE <NUM>). In addition, the communications interface <NUM> may be coupled to a wireless interface such as a cellular interface <NUM>. The interfaces <NUM> and <NUM> may be coupled to respective transceivers and/or modems (not shown) to implement the data communications operations.

Processor <NUM> may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP) that is configured to execute commands stored in the memory <NUM> corresponding to the programs (Internet browsers, application program interfaces (APIs), dynamically linked libraries (DLLs), or applications (APPs)) such as one or more two- dimensional barcode encoder/decoder modules, or encryption/decryption modules. The memory <NUM> may also store temporary variables, a clipboard, or other information used in the execution of these programs. The programs stored in the memory <NUM> may be retrieved by the processor from a separate computer readable medium, for example, a flash memory device, a CD-ROM, or digital versatile disk (DVD).

The apparatus may include the first formatting standard being selected from a group consisting of a QR barcode formatting standard, an Aztec barcode formatting standard, a Maxi barcode formatting standard, a Data Matrix barcode formatting standard, and a PDF417 barcode formatting standard.

The instructions may further configure the processor to constellation encode the first data set before generating the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image.

The instructions that configure the processor to constellation encode the first data set may configure the processor to: partition the first data set into successive N-bit data values, where N is an integer; and apply the successive N-bit data values as address values to a constellation translation look up table, to generate the constellation encoded data as respective successive output values of the constellation translation look-up table.

The constellation translation look-up table may be configured to generate Q-bit output values as the constellation encoded data, where Q is an integer greater than N.

The instructions may configure the processor to: map the Q-bit output values into respective Q-bit matrixes of values each Q-bit matrix having at least two rows and two columns; and encode the respective Q-bit matrixes of values into successive locations in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image.

The instructions may configure the processor to partition the first data set into successive N-bit data values including instructions that configure the processor to: arrange the first data set into a matrix having M rows and P columns, where M and P are integers greater than N; and select successive N-bit values each of the M rows and select successive N-bit values of each of the P columns to generate the successive N-bit data values.

The instructions may configure the processor to: receive encrypted data representing the constellation translation look-up table; and decrypt the encrypted data representing the constellation translation look-up table to generate the constellation translation look-up table before constellation encoding the first data set.

The instructions may configure the processor to decrypt the encrypted data representing constellation translation look-up table according to an asymmetric decryption algorithm.

The instructions may configure the processor to: generate the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image having: (<NUM>) the control features corresponding to the control features of the first formatting standard, (<NUM>) the first data set in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image, the first data set encoded in the second data format, and (<NUM>) a second data set in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image, the second data set encoded in the first data format.

There is described a hybrid two-dimensional barcode comprising: control feature blocks of pixels at respective locations in the two-dimensional barcode corresponding locations of control features of a first formatting standard, and first data blocks of pixels in a data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, the first data blocks of pixels representing values of a first data set, the first data blocks of pixels being arranged in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode in a second data format different from a first data format of the first formatting standard.

The barcode may include second data blocks of pixels in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode, the second data blocks of pixels representing values of a second data set, the second data blocks of pixels being arranged in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode in the first data format.

The second data set may include data values corresponding to an error correction code (ECC) and the hybrid two-dimensional barcode includes the first data blocks of pixels at locations in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode corresponding to some of the second data blocks of pixels.

The method may include constellation encoding the first data set before generating the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image.

The constellation encoding of the first data set may comprise: partitioning the first data set into successive N-bit data values, where N is an integer; and applying the successive N-bit data values as address values to a constellation translation look-up table; and generating the constellation encoded data as respective successive output values of the constellation translation look up table.

Generating the constellation encoded data may include generating Q-bit output values as the constellation encoded data, where Q is an integer greater than N.

The method may include arranging the first data set into a matrix having M rows and P columns, where M and P are integers greater than N; and selecting successive N-bit values each of the M rows and select successive N- bit values of each of the P columns to generate the successive N-bit data values.

The method may include, receiving encrypted data representing the constellation translation look-up table; and decrypting the encrypted data representing the constellation translation look-up table to generate the constellation translation look-up table before constellation encoding the first data set.

The method may include generating the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image having: (<NUM>) the control features corresponding to the control features of the first formatting standard, (<NUM>) the first data set in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image, the first data set encoded in the second data format, and (<NUM>) a second data set in the data portion of the hybrid two-dimensional barcode image, the second data set encoded in the first data format.

At least one machine-readable medium may include instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations to implement of any of the above apparatus, instructions or method.

An apparatus may comprise means to implement any of the above apparatus, methods of barcodes.

A system may implement any of the above apparatus, instructions or method.

A method any of the above apparatus, instructions or method.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In particular and in regard to the various functions performed by the above described components, devices, circuits, systems and the like, the terms used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component, e.g., a functional equivalent, even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, which performs the function in the example illustrating aspects of the claimed subject matter. In this regard, it will also be recognized that the disclosed example embodiments and implementations include a system as well as computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions for performing the acts and events of the various methods of the claimed subject matter.

There are multiple ways of implementing the claimed subject matter, e.g., an appropriate API, tool kit, driver code, operating system, control, standalone or
downloadable software object, etc., which enables applications and services to use the techniques described herein. The claimed subject matter contemplates the use from the standpoint of an API (or other software object), as well as from a software or hardware object that operates according to the techniques set forth herein. Thus, various implementations of the claimed subject matter described herein may have aspects that are wholly in hardware, partly in hardware and partly in software, as well as in software.

The aforementioned example systems have been described with respect to interaction among several components. It can be appreciated that such systems and components can include those components or specified sub-components, some of the specified components or sub-components, and additional components, and according to various permutations and combinations of the foregoing. Sub-components can also be implemented as components communicatively coupled to other components rather than included within parent components (hierarchical).

Additionally, it is noted that one or more components may be combined into a single component providing aggregate functionality or divided into several separate sub components, and any one or more middle layers, such as a management layer, may be provided to communicatively couple to such sub-components in order to provide integrated functionality. Any components described herein may also interact with one or more other components not specifically described herein but generally known by those of skill in the art.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>, <NUM>) for encoding a two-dimensional barcode image, the apparatus comprising:
a processor (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a memory (<NUM>, <NUM>), coupled to the processor, the memory characterised by including instructions configuring the processor to:
<NUM>) generate the two-dimensional barcode image having control features corresponding to a first formatting standard defining a first data format for encoding binary data into blocks of pixels (<NUM>);
<NUM>) encode, according to a second data format different to the first data format of the first formatting standard, binary data in a first data set into blocks of pixels for a part of a data portion of the two-dimensional barcode image (<NUM>);
<NUM>) encode, according to the first data format, binary data in a second data set into further blocks of pixels for a further part of the data portion of the two-dimensional image (<NUM>); and
<NUM>) cause the two-dimensional barcode image to be output.