Interactive Optical Codes for Direct Web Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical code scanning methods using smartphones often direct users to general web pages, requiring users to navigate through small user interfaces to find specific information, which can be cumbersome, especially for entering personal information or location details for services like weather forecasts.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of interactive optical codes that allow users to enter handwritten characters surrounding the optical code, which are then decoded using optical character recognition (OCR) to modify the URL, directing the user directly to the specific webpage or service page, such as a product page or weather forecast, without the need for manual navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users scan optical codes with smartphones, then users can access web pages and services, but users must navigate through small user interfaces to find specific information which is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing users to pre-enter handwritten characters or select from suggested characters around the optical code before scanning. These pre-entered characters are stored and automatically associated with the scanned URL, eliminating the need for manual navigation and input after scanning. This resolves the contradiction by performing the information selection action in advance, directly improving ease of operation while reducing navigation time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually enter information on smartphone web pages, then specific services can be accessed, but the small interface makes information entry difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the information input function from the smartphone's small keyboard interface and relocates it to the physical world by allowing users to write characters by hand around the optical code. The handwritten characters are captured via camera and processed through OCR to extract the input information. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the limitation of the small interface while maintaining the ability to access specific services.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of the camera and OCR processing that translates handwritten characters into digital text. This intermediary bridges the gap between the user's natural handwriting and the digital input required by the service, making information entry easier while maintaining adaptability to access specific services.
3Productivity
If optical codes direct to general web pages, then all users are provided with general information, but specific user needs cannot be met without additional navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the URL parameter through association with handwritten characters. The system captures the original URL from the optical code and combines it with character data from user input to create a modified URL that directly points to specific content. This parameter modification resolves the contradiction by enabling direct access to specific content (improving productivity) through an automated process that manages the complexity internally rather than requiring user navigation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the process by automatically associating user-input information with the optical code URL, allowing users to access specific web pages or services directly, improving usability on small smartphone interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
capture an image of a QR code and a plurality of handwritten characters
Implementation Method 2
decode a plurality of handwritten characters surrounding the QR code using optical character recognition (OCR)
Data Source
AI summary
Optical codes can include scanning an optical code and a character surrounding the optical code with a computer. A uniform resource locator can be extracted from the optical code. The uniform resource locator can be modified by associating the character surrounding the optical code with the URL extracted from the optical code.