Method and system for encoded information processing

Abstract

Methods and system for encoded information processing are described. In one embodiment, an encoded pattern may be optically detected from source media. Gaming data and associated synchronization data may be decoded from the encoded pattern. The gaming data may be synchronized for use during gaming based on the synchronization data. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

1 . A method comprising:
 optically detecting an encoded pattern from source media;   decoding gaming data and associated synchronization data from the encoded pattern; and   synchronizing the gaming data for use during gaming based on the synchronization data,   wherein the synchronizing of the gaming data enables the gaming to be synchronized to content provided by a signal source.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing the gaming data comprises:
 scheduling the gaming data for use during gaming based on the synchronization data,   wherein the scheduling of the gaming data enables the gaming to be synchronized to the content provided by the signal source.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 accessing a portion of the gaming data based on the scheduling of the gaming data; and   providing gaming content including the portion of the gaming data during the gaming.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing a plurality of gaming interactions from a user during the gaming; and   wherein the accessing of the portion of the gaming data is based on the scheduling of the gaming data and the processing of the plurality of gaming interactions.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 calculating a score in accordance with performance of the user during the gaming.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 presenting a score based on performance of the user during the gaming.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing the score to a gaming provider; and   receiving an electronic coupon from the gaming provider in response to the providing of the score.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing the score to a gaming provider; and   receiving a player ranking from the gaming provider in response to the providing of the score.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source media includes at least one of printed matter, a display device, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the encoded pattern is a bar code. 
   
   
       11 . A method comprising:
 optically detecting an encoded pattern from source media;   decoding gaming data from the encoded pattern;   receiving synchronization data from a signal source;   accessing a portion of the gaming data based on the synchronization data; and   providing gaming content including the portion of the gaming data during the gaming.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 scheduling the gaming data for use during the gaming based on the synchronization data; and   wherein the accessing of the gaming data is based on the scheduling of the gaming data.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the source media includes at least one of printed matter, a display device, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 optically detecting an encoded pattern from source media on a held-held device;   decoding promotional data from the encoded pattern;   receiving synchronization data on the held-held device from a presentation device; and   synchronizing the promotional data for use during operation of the hand-held device based on the synchronization data,   wherein the synchronizing of the promotional data enables the hand-held device to be synchronized to content provided by a signal source.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the promotional data comprises:
 scheduling the promotional data for use during operation of the hand-held device based on the synchronization data,   wherein the scheduling of the gaming data enables the hand-held device to be synchronized to the content provided by the signal source.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 using the promotional data during operation of the hand-held device based on the synchronization data.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the presentation device includes a display device. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the synchronization data is received from a video signal presented on the display device; and
 wherein the synchronization data is encoded within the video signal in a substantially invisible way.   
   
   
       19 . A method comprising:
 receiving an encoded audio signal from a signal source;   decoding gaming data and associated synchronization data from the encoded audio signal; and   synchronizing the gaming data for use during gaming based on the synchronization data.   wherein the synchronizing of the gaming data enables the gaming to be synchronized to content provided by the signal source.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 accessing a portion of the gaming data based on the synchronizing of the gaming data; and   providing gaming content including the portion of the gaming data during the gaming.   
   
   
       21 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:
 optically detect an encoded pattern from source media;   decode gaming data and associated synchronization data from the encoded pattern; and   synchronize the gaming data for use during gaming based on the synchronization data,   wherein synchronization of the gaming data enables the gaming to be synchronized to content provided by the signal source.   
   
   
       22 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the encoded pattern is a bar code. 
   
   
       23 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the following operations:
 optically detect an encoded pattern from source media;   decode gaming data from the encoded pattern;   receive synchronization data from a signal source;   access a portion of the gaming data based on the synchronization data; and   provide gaming content including the portion of the gaming data during the gaming   
   
   
       24 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 23  further comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more processors perform the following operations:
 schedule the gaming data for use during the gaming based on the synchronization data; and   wherein accessing of the gaming data is based on scheduling of the gaming data.   
   
   
       25 . A system comprising:
 an optical detection module to optically detect an encoded pattern from source media;   a data decoding module to decode gaming data and associated synchronization data from the encoded pattern detected by the optical detection module; and   a synchronization module to synchronize the gaming data for use during gaming based on the synchronization data decoded by the data decoding module,   wherein synchronization of the gaming data enables the gaming to be synchronized to content provided by a signal source.   
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a portion access module to access a portion of the gaming data decoded by the data decoding module based on the scheduling of the gaming data by the synchronization module; and   a content provider module to provide gaming content including the portion of the gaming data during the gaming.