1. A method for displaying information having a multi-layer code, comprising:

scanning, using a scanner device, a multi-layer code associated with an item;

reading, by one or more mobile applications running on the scanner device, first information embedded within a first layer of the code;

using the first information, link the scanner device to first content accessed via a first web portal associated with a first entity;

decoding, by the one or more mobile applications running on the scanner device, second information embedded within a second layer of the code;

using the second information, link the scanner device to second content accessed via a second web portal associated with a second entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content comprises data associated with a retailer of the item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content comprises data about the item from a source other than a retailer of the item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second content comprises at least one of persistence data, toxicity data, product safety data, and supply chain information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanner device is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, or a mobile device equipped with at least one of a camera or a reader.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first layer of the multi-layer code includes information unique to a retailer of the product or item available through a universal mobile application, and the second layer of the multi-layer code includes proprietary information not available through the universal mobile application.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating at least one radio frequency identification inlay with the code.

8. A system for displaying proprietary information having multiple layers of code, comprising:

a multi-layer code associated with the item;

at least one scanner device configured to read the multi-layered code;

a first mobile application running on the scanner device and configured to read first information embedded in a first layer of the code and, using the first information, link the scanner device to first content accessed via a first web portal associated with a first entity and display the first content on a display of the scanner device;

at least one second mobile application running on the scanner device and configured to read second information embedded in a second layer of the code and, using the second information, link the scanner device to second content accessed via a second web portal associated with a second entity and display the second content on a display of the scanner device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second information comprises proprietary information unique to a vendor of the second mobile application.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the proprietary content includes at least one of sustainability data, toxicity data, product safety data, material content, and product care data.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one second content is not available through the first mobile application.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second content is provided by a source other than a retailer of the item.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second content includes proprietary information unique to a provider of the at least one second mobile application.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the scanner device is at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, or a mobile device equipped with at least one of a camera or a reader.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

associating at least one radio frequency identification inlay with the at least one code.

Background

Quick Response (QR) codes have become popular in the consumer market. The QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that contains information about the product or item attached thereto. Typically, a QR code scanner or a scanner-equipped device, such as a smartphone, may read the QR code and convert it into some useful form. For example, a QR code scanner may read a QR code affixed to an article and link to web content created by a retailer, thereby eliminating the need for a user to type a web address into a web browser or otherwise search for desired content. This typically takes the form of a consumer-oriented marketing message, which may include details of a specific type or range of products, special offers, competition, and loyalty customer rewards programs.

However, the information provided by the QR code is limited to that provided by the retailer. In many cases, it will be useful for the consumer to scan the QR code and be provided with information from a range of sources containing various data related to the product.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiments of the invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, a system, method, and apparatus for displaying proprietary information within a multi-layered quick response code may be described. An individual (individual) may read a quick response code affixed to an item or product using a quick response code scanner that is unique within a mobile application on a mobile device. With mobile applications, a quick response code scanner may read information embedded within a quick response code that is unique to the mobile application. The individual may be linked to content hosted (host) on or accessed via a web portal associated with the mobile application. The individual may then be presented with information accessed from a variety of data sources, including from sources other than the retailer of the item, or with proprietary information unique to the mobile application provider.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description of the various embodiments and specific examples, while indicating preferred and other embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

Drawings

Advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be read with reference to the drawings.

Exemplary FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a multi-layered QR code;

exemplary FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of generating proprietary content from a QR code read in the form of persistent data;

exemplary FIG. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of generating proprietary content from QR code read in the form of RSL/toxicity data (toxicity data);

exemplary FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of generating proprietary content from a QR code read in the form of origin data;

exemplary FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of generating proprietary content from QR codes read in the form of extended care (extended care) data;

exemplary FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of generating proprietary content from a QR code read in the form of care and content information data;

exemplary fig. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a multi-layer QR code including an RFID inlay.

Detailed Description

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternative embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, a discussion of several terms used herein follows.

As used herein, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but merely illustrative. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Furthermore, the terms "embodiments of the invention," "embodiments," or "invention" do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

Further, many embodiments are described in terms of sequences of actions to be performed by, for example, elements of a computing device. It will be recognized that various actions described herein can be performed by specific circuits (e.g., Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)), by program instructions stored on a memory that are executed by one or more processors, or by a combination of both. Additionally, the sequence of actions described herein can be considered to be embodied entirely within any form of computer readable storage medium having stored therein a corresponding set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform the functions described herein. Thus, the various aspects of the invention may be embodied in a number of different forms, all of which are contemplated to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further, for each of the embodiments described herein, the corresponding form of any such embodiment may be described herein as, for example, "logic configured to" perform the described action.

According to at least one example embodiment, methods, systems, and devices may be described for displaying proprietary information within a quick response code.

FIG. 1 may show an exemplary embodiment 100 of a method, system, and apparatus for displaying proprietary information using QR codes. In this example, the multi-layer QR code 102 may be affixed to a particular item or product. The first layer of the QR code 102 may be decoded by a freely available general-purpose application that may link to and display content provided by a webpage specified by a retailer, such as a retailer. Further, a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device 104 may be equipped with a camera or reader and may have a suitable proprietary mobile application that may be used to further decode additional layers of QR code 102 affixed to an item and link the individual to many additional sources 106, including additional proprietary information that is not accessible through the general-purpose application. In one exemplary embodiment, the proprietary mobile application may assign a specific code to an individual merchant or retailer for identification purposes.

Fig. 2 may show an exemplary implementation 200 of proprietary content, for example, read in the form of persistent data, which may be provided by a QR code 202 interfaced with a proprietary mobile application described herein.

At the point of sale or after purchase, the consumer may scan the QR code 202 using a proprietary mobile application to access persistence data 204 related to the production process and/or the dispensing of the product or item. The data may include, for example, Higg Index, Bluesign, or other persistence data as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The data in the model may be hosted on many external systems 206 and compiled through a portal associated with the mobile application into a 'dashboard' for presentation to the consumer, for example.

Fig. 3 may show another exemplary embodiment 300 of proprietary content read in the form of RSL/toxicity data, which may be provided by a QR code 302 interfaced with a proprietary mobile application described herein.

At the point of sale or after purchase, the consumer may scan the QR code 302 using a proprietary mobile application to access product security data 304 related to the material content of a particular item or product. The data may include, for example, RBO RSL, OekoTex, REACH, or other toxicity data as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The data in the model may be hosted on many external systems 306 and compiled through a portal associated with the mobile application into a 'dashboard' for presentation to the consumer on a display, for example.

Fig. 4 may show another exemplary implementation 400 of proprietary content, for example, read in the form of origin data, which may be provided by a QR code 402 interfaced with a proprietary mobile application described herein.

In this exemplary embodiment, at the point of sale or after purchase, the consumer may scan the QR code 402 using a proprietary mobile application to access details of a supply chain 404 of items or products, the supply chain 404 including, for example, the origin and manufacturing location of the raw material (e.g., organic cotton) and any available certifications for social and ethical compliance as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The data in this model may be hosted on many external or internal systems 406, such as remotely located servers, for example, and may be compiled through a portal associated with the mobile application into a 'dashboard' for presentation to the consumer on a display.

Fig. 5 may show another exemplary implementation 500 of proprietary content, for example, read in the form of extended care data, which may be provided by a QR code 502 interfaced with a proprietary mobile application described herein.

In this example, at the point of sale or after purchase, the consumer may scan the QR code 502 using a proprietary mobile application to access guidelines 504 on how to best care for the product or item to maximize its lifetime and minimize its environmental impact. Written explanations of care symbols may be included, as well as tips, tips and/or techniques relating to the maintenance and maintenance center. The data may be extracted from a common external source (e.g., Ginetex Clevelare) as well as a database of specific items as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The data in this model may be hosted on many external and internal systems 506 and compiled through a portal associated with the mobile application into a 'dashboard' for presentation to consumers on a display, for example.

Fig. 6 may show another exemplary implementation 600 of proprietary content, for example, read in the form of care and content information data, which may be provided by a QR 602 code interfaced with a proprietary mobile application described herein.

In this example, after purchase, the consumer may scan the QR code 602 to access the care and content information as originally fully printed on the care label. This may allow the consumer to cut or tear off a large portion 608 of the care label when the information is typically printed in multiple languages. The result may be enhanced comfort of smaller tags without sacrificing access to care and content information. The data in the model may be hosted, for example, on an internal system 606 and compiled through a portal associated with the mobile application and displayed in its entirety or through a user-selectable language.

Fig. 7 may show an exemplary embodiment 700 of an RFID inlay 701 associated with the exemplary embodiments described herein. RFID inlay 701 may be incorporated into a care label and encoded with a unique EPC number. The EPC number may be reproduced in whole or in part in a QR code 702, which QR code 702 may be printed on the same label.

A smartphone 704 running a suitable or desired application may decode the EPC from the QR code 702, eliminating the need for a dedicated RFID reader. This may provide more opportunities to capture the EPC and reference the associated database at points in the supply chain where no RFID reader is installed.

Further, the consumer may remove portions of the label that includes the inlay (e.g., to increase comfort or privacy) but retain the ability to access any data source 706 linked to the EPC.

Referring generally to fig. 1-7, any article or product having a QR code may utilize the exemplary embodiments described herein. For example, for apparel and footwear, the example embodiments described herein may be utilized to display general content from the QR code as well as proprietary content such as, but not limited to, composition, care instructions, chain of custody, persistence, and the like. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the type of proprietary information read from the mobile application may be customized to or modified from a type of product or item having a QR code.

In further exemplary embodiments, the QR code may hold a unique identification number, which may be connected to a secure database, e.g., through an application and data link, for tracking, authentication, etc. For example, QR may encode a URL that connects to content described herein, as well as a unique serial number or the like, which may be separated from the URL by, for example, control characters.

The unique serial number may reference a secure database and may hold data about the production and distribution of articles for a particular item or other information as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The consumer-oriented application may use the QR code to access non-sensitive information, and the brand checker application may scan the same QR but may isolate a unique number to look up a specific item in the secure database.

The foregoing description and drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Other variations of the embodiments discussed above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, the above described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will therefore be appreciated that variations may be made in those embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.