System and method for scan-based input, storage and retrieval of information over an interactive communication network

• US 20020016750A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scanbuy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scanbuy Incorporated
• Inventors: Attia, Olivier
• Application Number:
  US09/883,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20020016750A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

The invention comprises the system and methods for Shoppers to facilitate their Shopping experience by creating and managing Accounts (to store their Billing, Shipping, Credit Card information and Shopping Lists or Folders) through an interactive Communication Network, such as the Internet, using Barcodes Scanners and other computing or communication appliances. Customers or shoppers upload barcodes using a personal scanner to the centralized data repository which stores this information in the User'"'"'s folders, view product information in the Products Database on these appliances; organize their Shopping Lists (or Folders) by dragging and dropping products from one Folder to another; and use folders to directly check out and place Orders without having to re-enter their billing, shipping, and credit card information—thus accomplishing purchases with the minimum data entry or actions. There is also a component that detects and recommends a Substitute when a product, which the customer wishes to buy, is not available in the store that implements the present system.

Claims

1. The system and method comprises the following steps:

uploading barcodes in using a personal scanner into a centralized repository,

resolving this barcode into appropriate product identification (such as the SKU),

storing this information in the repository in the form of customized shopping lists or folders,

using these lists to conduct online shopping,

creating or printing personalized Catalogs that include the product information of items within these shopping lists along an associated barcode.

2. The system and methods that permits a User to drag and drop information from one folder to another using the drag-and-buy techniques as described in the document, particularly dragging a product from other folders into the shopping cart folder with the intention of using the contents of this folder to conduct online shopping.

3. The system and methods to search and recommend product substitutes when a desired product is not available in the Products Repository—

substitutes are searched in an internal Substitutes database, an internal repository of product and manufacturer information based on UPCs, and external registries or repositories of product and manufacturer information based on UPCs.