Dual encoding of machine readable code for automatic scan-initiated purchase or uniform resource locator checkout

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for allowing a single representation of a trigger for payment across different environments using machine readable codes. A machine readable code may be encoded with a URL and information about a product to which the machine readable code is attached. A first electronic device may be able to scan and decode the machine readable code into first recognizable product information using a complaint application. The compliant application may populate a first form on the first electronic device for a first transaction with the recognizable product information without having to access a server. A non-compliant application on a second electronic device will launch a browser using the URL and provide the unrecognizable product information to the server for decoding. The server will decode the unrecognizable product information into a second recognizable product information that may be used to populate a second form for a second transaction.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 scanning, by a scanning device in a first electronic device comprising a compliant machine readable code reader module, a machine readable code associated with a product;   decoding, by a first decoding module in the first electronic device, the machine readable code to form decoded barcode data, wherein the decoded barcode data comprises a network address associated with a host site operated by a central server computer and recognizable additional information related to the product, the recognizable additional information identified by decoding an unrecognizable additional data within the scanned machine readable code;   populating a form using the recognizable additional information by the electronic device; and   providing the populated form, by the first electronic device, to the host site operated by the central server computer using the network address,   wherein the central server computer comprises a second decoding module configured to decode the unrecognizable additional information received from a second electronic device comprising a non-compliant machine readable code reader module, the unrecognizable additional information being received by the central server computer after the second electronic device scans the machine readable code associated with the product, the second electronic device identifying the network address from the machine readable code but being unable to decode the unrecognizable additional data within the machine readable code.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the network address is a uniform resource locator (URL). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the recognizable additional information for populating the form by the first electronic device is available without downloading it from the central server computer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the recognizable additional information comprises at least one of a product identifier, a product name, a product description, a quantity, a price, an indicator for whether a sale of the product is taxable, a time indicator for when the price is valid or a merchant identifier. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 parsing the recognizable additional information for the time indicator for when the price is valid;   determining a present time;   comparing, using the first electronic device, the time indicator and the present time;   downloading, by the first electronic device, an updated price of the product from the central server computer based on the comparison; and   using the updated price of the product for populating the form.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the time indicator includes a begin date and an end date. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the comparison between the time indicator and the present time includes compensation for a difference in time zones between the time indicator and the present time. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 determining a present geographic location of the first electronic device;   identifying, by the first electronic device, a tax rate associated with the present geographic location; and   adjusting a total price of the product based on the identified tax rate.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the tax rate is identified based on being received from the central server computer upon sending the central server computer the present geographic location. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first decoding module and the second decoding module use the same decoding algorithm. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the recognizable additional information is encoded using a Base64 encoding scheme. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the machine readable code is a two-dimensional quick response (QR) code. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the scanning device in the first electronic device comprises a camera device configured to capture image information. 
     
     
         34 . A first electronic device comprising:
 a scanning device;   a processor; and   a memory including instructions that, when executed with the processor, cause the first electronic device to, at least:
 receive, from the scanning device, information obtained from a machine readable code associated with a product; 
 decode, by a compliant decoding module stored in memory of the first electronic device, the information obtained from the machine readable code to form decoded barcode data, wherein the decoded barcode data comprises at least a network address associated with a host site operated by a central server computer and recognizable additional information related to the product, the recognizable additional information identified by decoding an unrecognizable additional data within the information obtained from the machine readable code; 
 populating a form using the recognizable additional information; and 
 providing the populated form, by the first electronic device, to the host site operated by the central server computer using the network address, 
 wherein the unrecognizable additional data is unable to be decoded except by the compliant decoding module, such that a second electronic device without the compliant decoding module is caused to submit a request that includes the unrecognizable additional data to the central server computer at the network address obtained from the machine readable code. 
   
     
     
         35 . The first electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the populated form is a purchase order for the product. 
     
     
         36 . The first electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the populated form is provided to the host site upon receiving instructions from a user of the first electronic device to complete a purchase of the product. 
     
     
         37 . The first electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the central server computer is configured to complete a purchase transaction for the product upon receiving the populated form. 
     
     
         38 . The first electronic device of  claim 37 , further comprising receiving, by the first electronic device, an electronic receipt for the product from the central server computer that entitles the user to take possession of the product. 
     
     
         39 . The first electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the recognizable additional information related to the product is obtained by the compliant decoding module without communicating with the central server computer. 
     
     
         40 . The first electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the network address associated with the host site operated by the central server computer is also obtainable by a noncompliant decoding module.