# US 11,310,240 B2 · Generating and utilizing digital visual codes to grant privileges via a networking system

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- Number: US 11,310,240 B2
- Document ID: US11310240B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/841,445
- Filed: 2020-04-06
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-15
- Assignees: Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Applicants: Facebook, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Anthony Leach; Eugenio Padilla Garza; Anthony Tran; Russell William Andrews
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310240B2

## CPC

- H04L 63/102: {Entity profiles}
- G06Q 10/1093: Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q 20/322: {Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]}
- G06Q 20/3274: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being displayed on the M-device}
- G06Q 20/3276: {using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device}
- H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)}
- H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)}
- H04W 12/084: using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
- H04W 12/77: Graphical identity
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

One or more embodiments of the disclosure include systems and methods that generate and utilize digital visual codes. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods generate digital visual codes comprising a plurality of digital visual code points arranged in concentric circles, a plurality of anchor points, and an orientation anchor surrounding a digital media item. In addition, the disclosed systems and methods embed information in the digital visual code points regarding an account of a first user of a networking system. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods display the digital visual codes via a computing device of the first user, scan the digital visual codes via a second computing device, and provide privileges to the second computing device in relation to the account of the first user in the networking system based on the scanned digital visual code.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method comprising:
providing, for display via a first computing device of a first user of a social networking system, a digital visual code encoding an action identifier and a user identifier for the first user of the social networking system;
receiving, from a second computing device associated with a second user, the user identifier and the action identifier, wherein the user identifier and the action identifier are obtained by the second computing device by scanning the digital visual code displayed on the first computing device; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the action identifier from the second computing device:
accessing credentials for the first user of the social networking system; and
utilizing the credentials for the first user to perform an action corresponding to the action identifier.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: generating the digital visual code by embedding the action identifier and the user identifier into a digital array comprising a plurality of digital visual code points.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein embedding the action identifier and the user identifier comprises:
generating one or more hashes based on the action identifier and the user identifier;
transforming the one or more hashes to one or more binary codes comprising a plurality of bits; and
embedding the action identifier and the user identifier into the digital array by affirmatively marking digital visual code points from the plurality of digital visual code points based on the plurality of bits relative to one or more anchor points in the digital array.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
detecting a digital visual code modification event comprising at least one of: passage of a threshold period of time or scanning of the digital visual code a threshold number of times; and
in response to detecting the digital visual code modification event, generating a modified digital visual code such that the digital visual code is no longer operable to cause performance of the action.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:
receiving a request to perform the action from a third computing device associated with a third user, the request comprising the user identifier and the action identifier; and
in response to determining that the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code and in response to determining that the user identifier and the action identifier have already been received from the second computing device, rejecting the request to perform the action from the third computing device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the second computing device associated with the second user, an additional user identifier of a third user of the social networking system, wherein additional user identifier of the third user is obtained by the second computing device by scanning a third digital visual code displayed on a third computing device of the third user; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the additional user identifier, performing the action with regard to the first user and the third user.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the action comprises at least one of: making a payment, adding a contact to a list of contacts, initiating a communication thread, or sending a calendar event.

### Claim 9

A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
provide, for display via a first computing device of a first user of a social networking system, a digital visual code encoding an action identifier and a user identifier for the first user of the social networking system;
receive, from a second computing device associated with a second user, the user identifier and the action identifier, wherein the user identifier and the action identifier are obtained by the second computing device by scanning the digital visual code displayed on the first computing device; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the action identifier from the second computing device:
access credentials for the first user of the social networking system; and
utilize the credentials for the first user to perform an action corresponding to the action identifier.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
detect a digital visual code modification event comprising at least one of: passage of a threshold period of time or scanning of the digital visual code a threshold number of times; and
in response to detecting the digital visual code modification event, generate a modified digital visual code such that the digital visual code is no longer operable to cause performance of the action.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
receive a request to perform the action from a third computing device associated with a third user, the request comprising the user identifier and the action identifier; and
in response to determining that the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code and in response to determining that the user identifier and the action identifier have already been received from the second computing device, reject the request to perform the action from the third computing device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
receive, from the second computing device associated with the second user, an additional user identifier of a third user of the social networking system, wherein additional user identifier of the third user is obtained by the second computing device by scanning a third digital visual code displayed on a third computing device of the third user; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the additional user identifier, perform the action with regard to the first user and the third user.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the action comprises at least one of: making a payment, adding a contact to a list of contacts, initiating a communication thread, or sending a calendar event.

### Claim 15

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computer system to:
provide, for display via a first computing device of a first user of a social networking system, a digital visual code encoding an action identifier and a user identifier for the first user of the social networking system;
receive, from a second computing device associated with a second user, the user identifier and the action identifier, wherein the user identifier and the action identifier are obtained by the second computing device by scanning the digital visual code displayed on the first computing device; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the action identifier from the second computing device:
access credentials for the first user of the social networking system; and
utilize the credentials for the first user to perform an action corresponding to the action identifier.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
detect a digital visual code modification event comprising at least one of: passage of a threshold period of time or scanning of the digital visual code a threshold number of times; and
in response to detecting the digital visual code modification event, generate a modified digital visual code such that the digital visual code is no longer operable to cause performance of the action.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
receive a request to perform the action from a third computing device associated with a third user, the request comprising the user identifier and the action identifier; and
in response to determining that the digital visual code is a single-use digital visual code and in response to determining that the user identifier and the action identifier have already been received from the second computing device, reject the request to perform the action from the third computing device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computer system to:
receive, from the second computing device associated with the second user, an additional user identifier of a third user of the social networking system, wherein additional user identifier of the third user is obtained by the second computing device by scanning a third digital visual code displayed on a third computing device of the third user; and
based on receiving the user identifier and the additional user identifier, perform the action with regard to the first user and the third user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the action comprises at least one of: making a payment, adding a contact to a list of contacts, initiating a communication thread, or sending a calendar event.