Method of providing digital content for users of physical items

• US 10,523,773 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Werner, Jon H., Dibenedetto, Christian, Vaterlaus, Amy Jones, Vincent, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Seung H
• Application Number:
  US16/163,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20190098102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2291 User-Defined Types; Storage management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/235 Update request formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for enhancing users'"'"' overall experiences with physical items by supplementing their physical experiences with digital experiences. According to an embodiment, a user uses an electronic device to scan a smart tag associated with an item to obtain an item identifier of the item. The electronic device sends the item identifier to a server, which selects digital content related to the item and sends the selected digital content to the user'"'"'s electronic device for display.

Claims

1. A method performed by an application on a mobile device for delivering digital content associated with an item, the method comprising:

receiving, by the application on the mobile device, an identifier from a smart tag associated with an item in response to the smart tag being tapped by the mobile device or the mobile device being placed proximate the smart tag;

identifying, by the application on the mobile device, a remote data store storing digital content associated with the item in response to receiving the identifier associated with the item;

retrieving, by the application on the mobile device first digital content, wherein the first digital content comprises digital content associated with the item and an interface to receive user account information;

displaying, on the display of the mobile device, the first digital content comprising the interface to receive user account information;

retrieving, by the application on the mobile device, second digital content from the remote data store in response to receiving user account information, wherein the second digital content comprises digital content associated with both the item and the user; and

displaying, on the display of the mobile device, the second digital content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is apparel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the item is a shoe.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the item is a jersey.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the second digital content further includes an offer associated with the item.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving input that accepts the offer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first digital content and the second digital content comprises information about a sporting event associated with the item.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second digital content comprises statistics of an athlete associated with the item.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receive, by the application on the computing device, an identifier from a smart tag associated with the item in response to the smart tag being tapped by the mobile device or the mobile device being placed proximate the smart tag;

identify, by the application on the computing device, a remote data store storing digital content associated with the item in response to receiving the identifier associated with the item;

retrieve, by the application on the computing device, first digital content from the remote data store, wherein the first digital content comprises digital content associated with the item and an interface to receive user account information;

display, on a display device, the first digital content comprising the interface to receive user account information;

retrieve, by the application on the remote computing device, second digital content in response to receiving user account information, wherein the second digital content comprises digital content associated with both the item and the user; and

display, on the display device, the second digital content.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the item is apparel.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the item is a shoe.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the item is a jersey.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9,

wherein the second digital content includes an offer associated with the item.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the instructions further comprise receiving input that accepts the offer.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first digital content and the second digital content comprises information about a sporting event associated with the item.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 9, wherein the second digital content comprises statistics of an athlete associated with the item.

17. A system for delivering digital content associated with an item, comprising:

a smart tag associated with an item and configured to transmit item information; and

an application configured to be executed by a mobile device, wherein the application, when executed, is configured to cause the mobile device to;

receive the item information from the smart tag in response to the smart tag being tapped by the mobile device or the mobile device being placed proximate the smart tag;

identify, using the item information, a remote data store storing digital content associated with the item in response to receiving the item information;

retrieve first digital content from the remote data store, wherein the first digital content comprises digital content associated with the item and an interface to receive user account information;

display the first digital content comprising the interface to receive user account information;

retrieve second digital content in response to receiving user account information, wherein the second digital content comprises digital content associated with both the item and the user; and

display the second digital content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the first digital content and the second digital content comprises information about a sporting event associated with the item.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second digital content comprises statistics of an athlete associated with the item.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the second digital content comprises an offer associated with the item.