Coded visual information system

Abstract

A mobile communications device includes a memory that stores instructions and a processor that executes the instructions. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the mobile communications device to perform a process including capturing data at the direction of a user of the mobile communications device, analyzing the data captured to identify the data captured, automatically forwarding a request for content over a communications network in accordance with identifying the data captured, receiving the content over the communications network, and processing the content to provide output to the user.

1 . A mobile communications device, comprising:
 a memory that stores instructions; and   a processor that executes the instructions,   wherein, when executed by the processor, the instructions cause the mobile communications device to perform a process comprising:   capturing data at the direction of a user of the mobile communications device;   analyzing the data captured to identify the data captured;   automatically forwarding a request for content over a communications network in accordance with identifying the data captured;   receiving the content over the communications network, and   processing the content to provide output to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the content includes a script that is executed on the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         3 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the data captured comprises a communications address to which the request is to be sent over the communications network.   
     
     
         4 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the output comprises audio output.   
     
     
         5 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the output comprises video output.   
     
     
         6 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the output comprises an image.   
     
     
         7 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the data captured includes an image.   
     
     
         8 . The mobile communications device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the analyzing comprises determining whether a predetermined two-dimensional shape with an outline having curved components is present in the image, determining based on the outline an alignment of the predetermined two-dimensional shape when the predetermined two-dimensional shape is present in the image; and reading information within the predetermined two-dimensional shape in accordance with the determined alignment to identify the information.   
     
     
         9 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying the content as the output to the user.   
     
     
         10 . The mobile communications device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 executing the script to obtain at least one content asset that can be output to the user.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile communications device of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the script provides an option for the user to selectively play a content asset.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile communications device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the content asset is played visually when the user selects to play the content asset.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile communications device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the content asset is played audibly when the user selects to play the content asset.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining the content from an address corresponding to the capturing of the data.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the content is obtained from a content repository.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein output provided to the user varies at different times based on different data captured by the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the mobile communications device comprises a cell phone.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile communications device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the data is captured independently of an application installed on the mobile communications device that analyzes the data.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing output to a user of a mobile communications device, comprising:
 capturing data at the direction of a user of the mobile communications device;   analyzing the data captured to identify the data captured;   automatically forwarding a request for content over a communications network in accordance with identifying the data captured;   receiving the content over the communications network, and   processing the content to provide output to the user.   
     
     
         20 . A tangible computer readable storage medium that stores a computer program, the computer program, when executed by a processor, causing a computer apparatus to perform a process for providing output to a user of a mobile communications device comprising:
 capturing data at the direction of a user of the mobile communications device;   analyzing the data captured to identify the data captured;   automatically forwarding a request for content over a communications network in accordance with identifying the data captured;   receiving the content over the communications network, and   processing the content to provide output to the user.