Multi-mode barcode resolution system

Abstract

Methods and systems for generating and resolving multi-mode barcodes include a device scanning and translating graphical data representing a barcode pattern into barcode information. The device detects distinct data items in the barcode information that each specifies an action to be taken by the device, and then transmits a request for a preference order to a remote server. Next, the device receives the preference order indicating a ranking of the distinct data items and determines, based on the ranking, an order in which actions specified by the data items are to be taken by the device. The device identifies a data item that the device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item and has a higher ranking in the preference order than the actions specified by all other data items that the device is capable of taking, and performs the action specified by the data item.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method implemented by a scanning device in order to process a multi-mode barcode, the method comprising:
 reading a graphical data representation of a barcode pattern;   generating barcode information from the graphical data representation;   identifying a plurality of distinct data items present in the barcode information, wherein each distinct data item specifies an action that the scanning device is to execute;   selecting a first action to execute based on a preference order, wherein the first action corresponds to a first distinct data item included in the plurality of distinct data items and has a higher ranking in the preference order than other actions corresponding to other distinct data items included in the plurality of distinct data items; and   executing the first action specified by the first distinct data item.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a request for the preference order to a remote server, and, in response, receiving the preference order from the remote server, wherein the preference order indicates an order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the request for the preference order includes one or more capabilities of the scanning device, and the remote server generates the preference order based on the one or more capabilities. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more capabilities of the scanning device include at least one of wireless connectivity capability, web browsing capability, email processing capability, text message processing capability, image processing capability, and sound processing capability. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the barcode information includes one or more preference order identifiers indicating a default order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining that the plurality of distinct data items is associated with a plurality of data types, wherein the first distinct data item is associated with a first data type, and a second distinct data item included in the plurality of distinct data items is associated with a second data type. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of data types includes at least one of a web address, plain text, an email address, a text message, an image, and a sound. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the preference order indicates a ranking of data types included in the plurality of data types, and further comprising determining an order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed based on the ranking of the data types. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user to select a preferred action to execute based on the actions specified by the plurality of distinct data items, receiving a user selection of the preferred action, and performing the preferred action selected by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the first action comprises:
 identifying two or more distinct data items that are included in the plurality of distinct data items and specify actions that the scanning device is capable of executing; and   determining which distinct data item included the two or more distinct data items has a highest ranking in the preference order.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first distinct data item comprises the distinct data item included in the two or more distinct data items having the highest ranking, and a first data type associated with the first distinct data item has a higher ranking in the preference order than any data types associated with any other distinct data items included in the two or more distinct data items. 
     
     
         12 . A scanning device, comprising:
 an optical sensor that reads a graphical representation of a barcode pattern;   a memory that is coupled to the optical sensor and includes instructions; and   at least one processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions, is configured to:
 process the graphical data representation to generate barcode information, 
 identify a plurality of distinct data items present in the barcode information, wherein each distinct data item specifies an action that the scanning device is to execute, 
 select a first action to execute based on a preference order, wherein the first action corresponds to a first distinct data item included in the plurality of distinct data items and has a higher ranking in the preference order than other actions corresponding to other distinct data items included in the plurality of distinct data items, and 
 execute the first action specified by the first distinct data item. 
   
     
     
         13 . The scanning device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a request for the preference order to a remote server, and, in response, receive the preference order from the remote server, wherein the preference order indicates an order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed. 
     
     
         14 . The scanning device of  claim 13 , wherein the request for the preference order includes one or more capabilities of the scanning device, and the remote server generates the preference order based on the one or more capabilities. 
     
     
         15 . The scanning device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more capabilities of the scanning device include at least one of wireless connectivity capability, web browsing capability, email processing capability, text message processing capability, image processing capability, and sound processing capability. 
     
     
         16 . The scanning device of  claim 12 , wherein the barcode information includes one or more preference order identifiers indicating a default order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed. 
     
     
         17 . The scanning device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine that the plurality of distinct data items is associated with a plurality of data types, wherein the first distinct data item is associated with a first data type, and a second distinct data item included in the plurality of distinct data items is associated with a second data type. 
     
     
         18 . The scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of data types includes at least one of a web address, plain text, an email address, a text message, an image, and a sound. 
     
     
         19 . The scanning device of  claim 17 , wherein the preference order indicates a ranking of data types included in the plurality of data types, and further comprising determining an order in which the first action and the other actions should be executed based on the ranking of the data types. 
     
     
         20 . The scanning device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to prompt a user to select a preferred action to execute based on the actions specified by the plurality of distinct data items, receive a user selection of the preferred action, and perform the preferred action selected by the user. 
     
     
         21 . The scanning device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to select the first action by:
 identifying two or more distinct data items that are included in the plurality of distinct data items and specify actions that the scanning device is capable of executing; and   determining which distinct data item included the two or more distinct data items has a highest ranking in the preference order.   
     
     
         22 . The scanning device of  claim 21 , wherein the first distinct data item comprises the distinct data item included in the two or more distinct data items having the highest ranking, and a first data type associated with the first distinct data item has a higher ranking in the preference order than any data types associated with any other distinct data items included in the two or more distinct data items.