IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,566,835
Granted Patent B2
US 12,566,835 · App. 17/951,063 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Quick response codes for data transfer

Inventors: Matthew C. Byington (Sunnyvale, CA); Anton K. Diederich (Mountain View, CA); Jenna Yi (San Jose, CA); Luojie Xiang (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
G06F21/36G06F21/602G06F21/604G06F21/64G06F21/107
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,566,835
App. No.
17/951,063
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present application relates to devices and components including apparatus, systems, methods, and computer-readable medium to utilize quick response (QR) codes for performing a data transfer between accounts. Embodiments may provide protection from improper use of the QR codes.

Claims (58)

1 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a device to at least:

receive a first timestamp from a first device, the first timestamp corresponding to a first time where a quick response (QR) code was initially displayed on the first device;

receive a second timestamp from a second device, the second timestamp corresponding to a second time where the quick response (QR) code was scanned by the second device;

determine that a time difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp is less than a threshold period of time;

determine that the quick response (QR) code has been invalidated;

determine that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes;

determine whether to allow a data transfer to be performed based at least in part on whether the time difference is determined to be less than the threshold period of time and whether the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes, the quick response (QR) code being associated with the data transfer; and

facilitate the data transfer based at least in part on the determination that the time difference is less than the threshold period of time and the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

2 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed based at least in part on the determination that the time difference is less than the threshold period of time.

3 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed based at least in part on the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

4 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to at least:

identify a value for the data transfer received from the first device or the second device, wherein the data transfer is facilitated with the value for an account stored on the device.

5 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors further cause the device to at least:

identify a first value for the data transfer received from the first device;

identify a second value for the data transfer received from the second device; and

compare the first value to the second value to determine whether the first value is equal to the second value, and wherein the determination of whether to allow the data transfer to be performed is further based at least in part on whether the first value is equal to the second value.

6 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors further cause the device to at least:

identify a request for additional quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device;

generate one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device based at least in part on the request for additional quick response (QR) codes;

individually encrypt the one or more quick response (QR) codes; and

provide the encrypted one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device.

7 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 6 , wherein the request for additional quick response (QR) codes indicates a number of additional quick response (QR) codes, and wherein the one or more quick response (QR) codes comprises a number of quick response (QR) codes equal to the number of additional quick response (QR) codes.

8 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the threshold period of time is a first threshold period of time, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to:

determine that the quick response (QR) code has been stored on the first device longer than a second threshold period of time, wherein the quick response (QR) code is determined to be invalidated based at least in part on the determination that the quick response (QR) code has been stored on the first device longer than the second threshold period of time.

9 . A device, comprising:

memory to store one or more timestamps; and

one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors to at least:

receive a first timestamp from a first device, the first timestamp corresponding to a first time where a quick response (QR) code was initially displayed on the first device;

receive a second timestamp from a second device, the second timestamp corresponding to a second time where the quick response (QR) code was scanned by the second device;

determine that a time difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp is less than a threshold period of time;

determine that the quick response (QR) code has been invalidated;

determine that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes;

determine whether to allow a data transfer to be performed based at least in part on whether the time difference is determined to be less than the threshold period of time and whether the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes, the quick response (QR) code being associated with the data transfer; and

facilitate the data transfer based at least in part on the determination that the time difference is less than the threshold period of time and the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed based at least in part on the determination that the time difference is less than the threshold period of time.

11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed based at least in part on the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further to at least:

identify a request for additional quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device;

generate one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device based at least in part on the request for additional quick response (QR) codes;

individually encrypt the one or more quick response (QR) codes; and

provide the encrypted one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the request for additional quick response (QR) codes indicates a number of additional quick response (QR) codes, and wherein the one or more quick response (QR) codes comprises a number of quick response (QR) codes equal to the number of additional quick response (QR) codes.

14 . A method of operating a device, comprising at least:

receiving, by the device, a first timestamp from a first device, the first timestamp corresponding to a first time where a quick response (QR) code was initially displayed on the first device;

receiving, by the device, a second timestamp from a second device, the second timestamp corresponding to a second time where the quick response (QR) code was scanned by the second device;

determining, by the device, that a time difference between the first timestamp and the second timestamp is less than a threshold period of time;

determining, by the device, that the quick response (QR) code has been invalidated;

determining, by the device, that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes;

determining, by the device, whether to allow a data transfer to be performed based at least in part on whether the time difference is determined to be less than the threshold period of time and whether the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes, the quick response (QR) code being associated with the data transfer; and

facilitating, by the device, the data transfer based at least in part on the determination that the time difference is less than the threshold period of time and the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the data transfer is determined to be allowed to be performed based at least in part on the determination that the first device failed to retrieve additional quick response (QR) codes.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising at least:

identifying, by the device, a request for additional quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device;

generating, by the device, one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device based at least in part on the request for additional quick response (QR) codes;

individually encrypting, by the device, the one or more quick response (QR) codes; and

providing, by the device, the encrypted one or more quick response (QR) codes for use by the first device.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the threshold period of time is a first threshold period of time, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the quick response (QR) code has been stored on the first device longer than a second threshold period of time, wherein the quick response (QR) code is determined to be invalidated based at least in part on the determination that the quick response (QR) code has been stored on the first device longer than the second threshold period of time.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2022
From: BYINGTON, MATTHEW C.; XIANG, LUOJIE; YI, JENNA; DIEDERICH, ANTON K.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 061258/0072 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63248397 · Sep 24, 2021
Provisional Application 63248384 · Sep 24, 2021
Related Publication 20230101005A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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