Method and system for collecting rich inventory via computer system
First Claim
1. A method for generating rich inventory data for a plurality of items, such that any image data, any audio data, and any alphanumeric data relating to a specific inventory item are automatically correlated and associated with that specific inventory item, comprising the steps of:
- (a) assigning a unique identifier to a specific item to be inventoried;
(b) enabling a user to select at least one parameter relating to said specific item from among a plurality of parameters, said at least one parameter comprising alphanumeric data;
(c) capturing at least one of an image and audio data relating to said specific item;
(d) storing said unique identifier, said at least one parameter, and said at least one of the image and the audio data relating to said specific item in a memory; and
(e) creating a data set in which a unique identifier, at least one parameter comprising alphanumeric data, and at least one of an image and audio data relating to each of the plurality of items are stored in the memory, by repeating steps (a) through (d) for each of remaining item in the plurality of items.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An efficient method for collecting rich inventory data including a unique control number, one or more parameters, image data, and/or audio data for each of a plurality of items being inventoried. A programmable digital camera (or a portable computer with an image capture system and microphone) is employed to collect the image data and/or audio data for the items. The unique control number is assigned for each item to be inventoried, and at least one parameter relating to the item is selected by a user from a pre-populated list of parameters. This list of parameters is appropriate for the type of inventory being collected, e.g., an inventory of goods to be auctioned over the Internet. Next, an image and/or brief audio description for the items is recorded. Alphanumeric data defining the selected parameter(s) and any image data or audio data are associated with the unique control number. If more items are to be inventoried, the unique control number is automatically incremented, and any parameters previously selected will be applied to a next item, unless a user affirmatively selects a different control number and changes the parameters. The resulting data are all linked together within an extensible markup language (XML) data structure. In the XML data structure, each item has a specific XML segment that includes the unique control number, any selected parameters, and the names of any image or audio data files. All the XML segments are stored in a single XML file.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A method for generating rich inventory data for a plurality of items, such that any image data, any audio data, and any alphanumeric data relating to a specific inventory item are automatically correlated and associated with that specific inventory item, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) assigning a unique identifier to a specific item to be inventoried;
(b) enabling a user to select at least one parameter relating to said specific item from among a plurality of parameters, said at least one parameter comprising alphanumeric data;
(c) capturing at least one of an image and audio data relating to said specific item;
(d) storing said unique identifier, said at least one parameter, and said at least one of the image and the audio data relating to said specific item in a memory; and
(e) creating a data set in which a unique identifier, at least one parameter comprising alphanumeric data, and at least one of an image and audio data relating to each of the plurality of items are stored in the memory, by repeating steps (a) through (d) for each of remaining item in the plurality of items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41)
-
-
19. A method for generating rich inventory data, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a system programmed for capturing and storing at least one of image data, audio data, and alphanumeric data for items being inventoried;
(b) assigning a unique identifier to a specific item being inventoried;
said unique control number being associated with a specific item being inventoried;
(c) enabling a user to select at least one parameter relating to said specific item from among a plurality of parameters to specify alphanumeric data associated with the specific item;
(d) capturing at least one of image data and audio data relating to said specific item with said system;
(e) storing the alphanumeric data, and said at least one of the image data and the audio data in association with the unique identifier for the specific item, so that alphanumeric data, and any image data and/or audio data stored are readily correlated with the unique identifier, and thus, with the specific item; and
(f) repeating steps (b)-(e) for each additional item to be inventoried.
-
-
34. An article of manufacture on which machine instructions are stored that are adapted to be executable by a processor, comprising:
-
(a) a memory medium; and
(b) a plurality of machine instructions comprising a computer program, which are stored on the memory medium, said plurality of machine instructions when executed by a processor, causing said processor to;
(i) enable a unique identifier to be assigned to a specific item to be inventoried;
(ii) enable a user to select at least one parameter relating to said specific item from among a plurality of parameters, producing alphanumeric data related to said specific item;
(iii) facilitate capturing at least one of image data and audio data related to said specific item;
(iv) correlate said unique identifier with said alphanumeric data and said at least one of the image data and the audio data related to said specific item; and
(v) create a data set comprising rich inventory data for a plurality of items being inventoried by repeating steps (i)-(iv) for each additional item to be inventoried.
-
-
39. A system for enabling rich inventory data to be generated for each item of a plurality of items, such that any image data, any audio data, and any alphanumeric data relating to a specific item are automatically correlated to said specific item, comprising:
-
(a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions defining a sequence of logical steps for generating said rich inventory data are stored;
(b) a display;
(c) an image capture device; and
(d) a processor that is controllably coupled to the display and to the image capture device by one of a wired and a wireless connection, and coupled to the memory to access the machine instructions, said processor executing said machine instructions and thereby implementing a plurality of functions, including;
(i) enabling a unique identifier to be assigned to a specific item being inventoried;
(ii) enabling a user to select at least one parameter relating to said specific item from among a plurality of parameters;
(iii) enabling a user to capture at least one of image data and audio data relating to said specific item;
(iv) storing said at least one parameter, and said at least one of the image data and the audio data in memory, in association with the unique identifier for the specific item being inventoried; and
(v) creating a data set of the rich inventory data by repeating steps (i)-(iv) for each additional item to be inventoried.
-
Specification