Computer readable storage media and methods for invoking an action directly from a scanned code

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing functions are disclosed herein. An example non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may store one or more programs, and the one or more programs may comprise instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to obtain a scanned code, analyze the scanned code to identify a direct action associated with the scanned code, and automatically invoke the one or more functions corresponding to the direct action. The direct action may include sending instructions or data or both to another computing device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first computing device, cause the first computing device to:
 receive a scanned code including:
 a human-readable element; 
 a machine-readable element including an identifier of a direct action, and 
 a signaling element; 
   analyze the scanned code to identify the direct action associated with the scanned code, the direct action corresponding to one or more functions on one or more of the first computing device and a second computing device;   determine that the direct action is not a priority direct action of a set of priority direct actions, the set of priority direct actions being stored on the first computing device;   retrieve, from the second computing device, instructions for invoking the one or more functions; and   automatically invoke the one or more functions corresponding to the direct action on one or more of the first computing device and the second computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the machine-readable element defines a shape in the scanned code and the shape functions as the signaling element. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the signaling element defines a first shape in the scanned code, and the one or more programs include further instructions causing the first computing device to:
 identify a location of the machine-readable element based on the first shape. 
 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the scanned code includes one or more reference points, and the one or more programs include further instructions causing the first computing device to:
 identify a location of the machine-readable element based on the one or more reference points. 
 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1  wherein the machine-readable element includes a waveform. 
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first computing device, cause the first computing device to:
 receive a scanned code including:
 a human-readable element; 
 a machine-readable element including an identifier of a direct action, and a signaling element, 
   wherein the human-readable element or the signaling element includes an indicator of an application or service;   analyze the scanned code to identify the direct action associated with the scanned code, the direct action corresponding to one or more functions of the application or service,   obtain, from the storage medium of the first computing device, instructions for invoking the direct action, and   automatically invoke the direct action.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the human-readable element is surrounded by the signaling element. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7  wherein the human-readable element includes an image. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the human-readable element is surrounded by the machine-readable element. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the signaling element defines a first area, and the machine-readable element is located outside of the first area. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the human-readable element and the signaling element are each all or part of the same element. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the direct action begins a process for associating a first user account of the application or service with a second user account of the application or service. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the human-readable element includes an image of a user. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the one or more programs include further instructions causing the first computing device to:
 determine that additional information is needed, wherein the information includes data or additional instructions for invoking the direct action, and 
 retrieve, from a second computing device, the additional information; 
 wherein the direct action is automatically invoked after the additional information is retrieved from the second computing device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 6  wherein the application or service is on a second computing device. 
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first computing device, cause the first computing device to:
 receive a scanned code including:
 a human-readable element; 
 a machine-readable element including an identifier of a first direct action, and 
 a signaling element; 
   analyze the scanned code to identify the first direct action associated with the scanned code, the first direct action corresponding to one or more functions of an application or a service on one or more of the first computing device and a second computing device;   obtain, from the storage medium of the first computing device, first instructions for invoking the first direct action, the first instructions including instructions to send, to a second computing device, information related to the first direct action, wherein the information includes at least one of second instructions and data; and   automatically invoke the first direct action on one or more of the first computing device and the second computing device.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the information includes second instructions, the second instructions causing the second computing device to automatically invoke a second direct action. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the human-readable element or the signaling element includes an identifier of the application or the service. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the human-readable element is surrounded by the signaling element. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16  wherein the human-readable element includes an image.