Universal product information lookup and display system

• US 20020042736A1
• Filed: 12/10/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun P., OʼHagan, Timothy P.
• Application Number:
  US10/016,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042736A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for automated remote retrieval and display of product specific information includes a bar code reader for scanning uniform product code information, or other suitable indicia from a product. This information is decoded via local mapping, remote mapping done by a mapping server, or direct correlation with a network address. Such decoding allows for immediate and automated access to product specific information which is obtained, communicated to a user terminal, and displayed. Use of hypertext-based displays allow a consumer to provide additional querying specific to that particular product to obtain further or specified information. Demographic information specific to a user is suitably obtained to provide valuable market information for the product manufacturers.

Claims

1. A method of capturing and providing demographic information concerning a consumer of products to the manufacturer of such products during transactions in which the consumer utilizes a bar code reader and the Internet for product inquiries, comprising:

providing the consumer with a bar code symbol reader;

scanning a uniform product code (UPC) bar code symbol on a product by the consumer;

providing an association table in a database between the UPC symbol data and an Internet web site address affiliated with the product manufacturer;

providing the associated web site address to a computing device of the consumer for allowing the consumer to make a product information inquiry to said web site address; and

providing demographic information about the consumer to the product manufacturer by utilizing the information inquiry.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the bar code symbol reader is provided in the consumer'"'"'s home.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the demographic information includes the geographic location of the consumer.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein further comprising providing targeted e-mails to the consumer for product announcements by the manufacturer.