Injecting a code into video data without or with limited human perception by flashing the code

1. A computer-implemented method for injecting a code into video data without or with limited human perception, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving a playlist and a digital advertisement from a server;

outputting the digital advertisement to a display screen using the playlist;

generating a code containing information; and

outputting the generated code to the display screen

by flashing the generated code on the display screen during the outputting of the digital advertisement at a predetermined flash frequency and for a predetermined flash time so that the generated code is visually imperceptible or barely detectable to a human viewer, and

whereby a client device can capture the digital advertisement, decode the information in the generated code, and provide the information to the server, and

whereby the server can utilize the information received from the client device to determine an effectiveness of the digital advertisement at the display screen.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the generated code further comprises a component that tracks a location of the display screen.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the digital advertisement received at the display screen does not include the generated code.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the information provided to the server comprises:

indicating a display time the digital advertisement was outputted on the display screen;

identifying the display screen; and

indicating the location of the display screen.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information is provided as part of a service agreement.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information is utilized to determine interactions at the display screen.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein a price to advertise on the display screen is determined at least in part by the interactions at the display screen.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the generated code comprises a QR code.

9. A computer-controlled apparatus for injecting a code into video data without or with limited human perception, the apparatus comprising:

a display screen;

a multimedia player configured to output a digital advertisement to the display screen utilizing a playlist;

a code generator configured to generate a code containing information; and

a code injector configured to output the generated code to the display screen,

wherein the code injector is configured to output the generated code by flashing the generated code on the display screen during the outputting of the digital advertisement at a predetermined flash frequency and for a predetermined flash time so that the generated code is visually imperceptible or barely detectable to a human viewer, and

whereby a client device can capture the digital advertisement, decode the information in the generated code, and provide the information to a server, and

whereby the server can utilize the information received from the client device to determine an effectiveness of the digital advertisement.

10. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the generated code further comprises a component that tracks the location of the display screen.

11. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the information comprises information indicating a display time the digital advertisement was outputted on the display screen.

12. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the information further comprises the location of the display screen and an identification of the display screen.

13. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the information is provided as part of a service agreement.

14. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the information is utilized to determine interactions at the display screen.

15. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 14 , wherein a price to advertise on the display screen is determined at least in part by the interactions at the display screen.

16. The computer-controlled apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the generated code comprises a UPC code.

17. A computer-implemented method for managing a plurality of digital signs, comprising performing computer-implemented operations for:

receiving information extracted from a generated code, the information comprising

information indicating a display time a digital advertisement was displayed on a digital sign of the plurality of digital signs, wherein each of the plurality of signs outputs the digital advertisement to a display screen by flashing the generated code on the display screen at a predetermined flash frequency and for a predetermined flash time so that the generated code is visually imperceptible or barely detectable to a human viewer,

information indicating a location of the digital sign, and

information identifying the digital sign; and

storing the information, wherein the information is utilized by a data-mining algorithm to calculate an advertising price for each of the plurality of digital signs based at least on part on a number of times the generated code was accessed on each of the plurality of digital signs.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the information is provided as part of a service agreement.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the information is utilized to determine interactions at the display screen.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , wherein a price to advertise on the display screen is determined at least in part by the interactions at the display screen.