Active Tag Code Encoding for Distance Readability

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tag codes have limited information capacity and are difficult to read from a distance due to their small size, requiring high-resolution scanners which are expensive and complex.

Innovation Solution

Active tag codes that change over time, presenting multiple data frames or portions to increase the amount of information encoded, allowing larger data features to be readable from a distance without the need for high-resolution sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the size of tag code is increased to encode more information, then the information capacity is improved, but the tag code becomes more difficult to read from a distance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation capacityVSAvoidreadability from distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static tag codes to dynamic active tag codes that change over time. The tag code presents different portions or perspectives at different times, allowing a standard sensor to capture sufficient data across multiple frames without requiring high resolution in a single frame. This temporal dynamics resolves the contradiction between information capacity and distance readability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the time dimension to the traditionally spatial tag code problem. Instead of increasing spatial resolution to read from a distance, the system uses temporal sequencing - presenting different portions of the tag code at different times. This dimensionality change allows standard sensors to accumulate sufficient information over time without requiring high spatial resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If high resolution scanners are used to read tag codes from a distance, then the readability from distance is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadability from distanceVSAvoidscanner complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static tag codes to dynamic active tag codes that change over time. The tag code presents different portions or perspectives at different times, allowing a standard sensor to capture sufficient data across multiple frames without requiring high resolution in a single frame. This temporal dynamics resolves the contradiction between information capacity and distance readability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, highly engineered high-resolution scanners with standard, inexpensive sensors. By using temporal sequencing instead of spatial resolution, the system achieves distance readability with common cameras or image sensors, dramatically reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of information

If the density of data features is increased to encode more information, then the information capacity is improved, but the tag code becomes more difficult to read without high resolution sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation capacityVSAvoidsensor resolution requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static tag codes to dynamic active tag codes that change over time. The tag code presents different portions or perspectives at different times, allowing a standard sensor to capture sufficient data across multiple frames without requiring high resolution in a single frame. This temporal dynamics resolves the contradiction between information capacity and distance readability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complete tag code information into multiple portions or perspectives that are presented sequentially over time. Each portion contains a subset of the total information, and the complete data set is reconstructed by combining information from multiple time points. This segmentation allows standard sensors to capture each portion with sufficient precision without requiring high overall resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8985455B2Active tag codes

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the use of active tag codes that change as a function of time to incorporate a greater amount of data into the tag code compared to a static tag code of similar configuration. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of presenting an active tag code to a receiving device. The method includes presenting a first portion of the active tag code at a first time, the first portion of the active tag code encoding a first subset of information of a set of information encoded in the active tag code. The method further includes presenting a second portion of the active tag code at a second, later time, the second portion of the active tag code encoding a second subset of information of the set of information encoded in the active tag code.