US 8,553,146 B2Granted

Visually imperceptible matrix codes utilizing interlacing

AssigneeEchoStar Technologies L.L.C.

InventorJohn T. Kennedy

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Abstract

A device obtains a video and a matrix code (such as a QR code) to divide into portions and interlace with the video. The device generates a modified interlaced video by including at least a first portion in a first but not a second field of a first frame, a second portion in a second but not a first field of a second frame, and so on such that all of the portions of the matrix code are included in the modified interlaced video. Subsequently, the device transmits the modified interlaced video to a display. When the modified interlaced video is displayed, the matrix code is present but not visually perceptible. A matrix code reader detects and/or records and analyzes the displayed modified video to identify the portions of the matrix code included therein, extract such portions, and combine the extracted portions to form the matrix code.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for presenting matrix codes, the method comprising:

obtaining an interlaced video segment, utilizing at least one processing unit, comprising a sequence of frames of video data that each include at least a first field and a second field wherein the first field for each respective frame includes a first portion of information to display for the respective frame and the second field for each respective frame includes a second portion of the information to display for the respective frame;
generating a modified interlaced video segment, utilizing the at least one processing unit, by combining at least one matrix code with the interlaced video signal such that:
at least a first portion of the at least one matrix code is included in the first field of a first frame of the sequence of frames and not in the second field of the first frame, and
at least a second portion of the at least one matrix code is included in the second field of a second frame of the sequence of frames and not in the first field of the second frame,
wherein all of the at least one matrix code is included in at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment;
and
transmitting the modified interlaced video segment to at least one display device utilizing the at least one processing unit wherein the at least one matrix code can be captured utilizing at least one matrix code reader device by detecting the at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment that includes the at least one matrix code when displayed by the at least one display device and extracting the at least one matrix code from the at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment and wherein the at least one matrix code is visually imperceptible by a user viewing the at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment when displayed by the at least one display device.

4 more elements

A system for conveying matrix codes, comprising:

an electronic device comprising:
an obtaining component that obtains an interlaced video signal that comprises a sequence of frames of video data that each include at least a first field and a second field wherein the first field for each respective frame includes a first portion of information to display for the respective frame and the second field for each respective frame includes a second portion of the information to display for the respective frame;
at least one processing unit that generates a modified interlaced video segment by combining at least one matrix code with the interlaced video signal such that at least a first portion of the at least one matrix code is included in the first field of a first frame of the sequence of frames but not in the second field of the first frame, at least a second portion of the at least one matrix code is included in the second field of a second frame of the sequence of frames but not in the first field of the second frame, and all of the at least one matrix code is included in at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment;
and
at least one output component that transmits the modified interlaced video segment to at least one display device;
and
at least one matrix code reader device comprising:
at least one optical detector that detects the at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment displayed by the at least one display device;
and
at least one matrix code reader device processing unit that extracts at least the first portion and the at least the second portion of the at least one matrix code from the detected at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment and combines the at least the first portion and the second portion to form the at least one matrix code;
wherein the at least one matrix code is visually imperceptible by a user viewing the at least a portion of the modified interlaced video segment when displayed by the at least one display device.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.