ELECTRONIC SHOPPING SYSTEM UTILIZING A PROGRAM DOWNLOADABLE WIRELESS VIDEOPHONE

• US 20020065728A1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knapp Investment Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: OGASAWARA, NOBUO
• Granted Patent: US 6,512,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3265 characterised by personalisation for use
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader

Abstract

An electronic shopping system facilitates purchase transactions via a wireless videophone. A purchase transaction program is downloaded from the seller'"'"'s server to a purchaser'"'"'s wireless videophone via a program loader contained within the purchaser'"'"'s wireless videophone. The purchase transaction program is stored in a program memory and is used by the purchaser to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased, as well as payment therefor. An integral digital camera is attached to the wireless telephone to facilitate the selection of items to be purchased and is controlled via the downloaded purchase transaction program to function as a bar code or product icon image capture device. Character or pattern recognition software translates the bar or icon code image into an appropriate item identifier.

Claims

1. A program downloadable wireless videophone comprising:

a program memory for storing a downloaded transaction program;

a program loader comprising a firmware memory, the firmware memory containing instructions for downloading the transaction program from a server into the program memory; and

a microprocessor for executing the instructions contained in the firmware memory of the program loader and for executing the downloaded transaction program stored in the program memory.

2. An electronic transaction system comprising:

a server for storing a transaction program and for facilitating electronic transactions;

at least one wireless videophone for communicating with the server, the wireless telephone(s) comprising;

a program memory for storing a downloaded transaction program;

a program loader comprising a firmware memory, the firmware memory containing instructions for downloading the transaction program from a server into the program memory; and

a microprocessor for executing the instructions contained in the firmware memory of the program loader and for executing the downloaded transaction program stored in the program memory.

3. A program downloadable wireless videophone for facilitating performance of purchase transactions, the program downloadable wireless videophone comprising:

a program memory for storing a downloaded purchase transaction program;

a program loader comprising a firmware memory, the firmware memory containing instructions for downloading the purchase transaction program from a server into the program memory;

a microprocessor for executing the instructions contained in the firmware memory of the program loader and for executing the downloaded purchase transaction program stored in the program memory;

a digital camera in communication with the microprocessor for acquiring visual indicia indicating products to be purchased; and

an IC card reader/writer in communication with the microprocessor for facilitating payment for products purchased.

4. An electronic shopping system for facilitating purchase transactions via a wireless videophone, the electronic shopping system comprising:

a server for storing a purchase transaction program and for facilitating electronic purchase transactions;

at least one wireless videophone for communicating with the server, the wireless telephone(s) comprising;

an antenna for receiving a radio frequency signal, the radio frequency signal comprising at least a purchase transaction program;

a receiver comprising;

a radio frequency receiver/amplifier coupled to receive the radio frequency signal from the antenna for amplifying the radio frequency signal;

a demodulator coupled to receive the amplified radio frequency signal from the radio frequency receiver/amplifier for demodulating the amplified radio frequency signal;

a channel decoder coupled to receive a demodulated signal from the demodulator for separating nonspeech and non-video digital data from the demodulated signal, the non-speech and non-video digital data comprising the purchase transaction program;

a program memory coupled to receive the purchase transaction program from the channel decoder for storing the purchase transaction program; and

a program loader for downloading a purchase transaction program from the server into the program memory.

5. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the server is disposed proximate a store with which purchase transactions are performed.

6. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the server is disposed at a location which is remote from the store with which purchase transactions are performed.

7. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, further comprising an extension PBX in communication with the server for facilitating wireless communication between the server and the wireless videophone(s).

8. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the program loader comprises a firmware memory.

9. The electronic shopping system according to claim 4, wherein the program loader comprises a firmware memory, the firmware memory containing instructions which are executed to effect storage in the program memory of the purchase transaction program received by the wireless videophone.

10. The electronic shopping system according to claim 9, wherein the wireless videophone further comprises a microprocessor in communication with the program loader and the program memory for executing the instructions stored within the firmware memory of the program loader and for executing the purchase transaction program stored within the program memory.

11. The electronic shopping system according to claim 10, wherein the wireless videophone further comprises:

a digital camera in communication with the microprocessor; and

a graphics display screen.

12. The electronic shopping system according to claim 11, wherein the digital camera is adapted to acquire visual images representing indicia of items to be purchased.

13. The electronic shopping system according to claim 12, the wireless videophone further including pattern recognition software, the pattern recognition software recognizing the item indicia and translating the item indicia into a corresponding desired product identification.

14. The electronic shopping system according to claim 13, wherein the item indicia is a bar code, the pattern recognition program translating the bar code data into a numerical product identification.

15. The electronic shopping system according to claim 13, wherein the item indicia is a product specific pattern shape, the pattern recognition program translating the pattern shape data into a numerical product identification.

16. The electronic shopping system according to claim 12, the server configured to host a pattern recognition software program, the videophone communicating the visual images acquired by the digital camera to the server, the pattern recognition software recognizing the item indicia and translating the item indicia into a corresponding desired product identification.

17. The electronic shopping system according to claim 16, wherein the item indicia is a bar code, the pattern recognition program translating the bar code data into a numerical product identification.

19. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 18, wherein the digital camera is rotatable.

20. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 18, wherein the executable instructions comprise a purchase transaction program.

21. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 20, wherein the program loader circuitry includes a firmware memory, the firmware memory containing instructions which are executed by the microprocessor to effect a download of the purchase transaction program and storage of the program within the program memory.

22. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 21, wherein the digital camera is operative to capture an item specific pattern image representing a desired item for processing, the pattern recognition software recognizing said pattern and translating said pattern into an alpha-numeric character string corresponding to the item.

23. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 22, wherein the item specific pattern image pattern is a bar code.

24. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 23, wherein a bar code identifies particular ones of a plurality of items, the items defining an application selected from the group consisting of an electronic shopping system merchandise ordering display, a bar code telephone directory, a printed bar code identified merchandise catalog, and a product affixed identification label.

25. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 21, wherein the digital camera is adapted to acquire visual images representing indicia of items to be purchased, the wireless videophone further including character or pattern recognition software, the recognition software recognizing the item indicia and translating the item indicia into a corresponding desired product identification.

26. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 25, wherein the item indicia corresponds to an item weight, the item weight being displayed on the display screen of an electronic scale.

27. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 26, wherein the item indicia further includes a product identification in combination with an item weight.

28. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 27, wherein the item indicia is a bar code.

29. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 27, wherein the item indicia gives an alpha-numeric product identification.

30. The program downloadable wireless videophone according to claim 27, the server configured to host recognition software, the wireless videophone communicating visual images acquired by the digital camera to the server, the recognition software recognizing the item indicia and translating the item indicia into a corresponding desired product identification.

18. A program downloadable wireless videophone for bidirectional communication with an electronic shopping system server, comprising:

a housing;

a digital camera, disposed on a front end of the housing;

a display screen disposed on the surface of the housing;

bidirectional electronic communication circuitry, disposed within the housing, the circuitry including;

an antenna;

transceiver circuitry for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals between the server and the videophone;

a demodulator coupled to demodulate radio frequency signals received from the server;

a channel decoder coupled to receive a demodulated signal from the demodulator, the channel decoder separating the received signal into voice, video and data portions;

program loader circuitry configured to download executable program instructions from the server, the executable program instructions comprising a data portion of the received signal; and

a program memory coupled to the program loader circuitry, the program memory storing the downloaded executable instructions; and

a microprocessor for executing the downloaded instructions.

31. A method for performing purchase transactions via a wireless videophone, the method comprising the steps of:

calling a server with the wireless videophone;

transmitting a radio frequency signal comprising a purchase transaction program to the wireless videophone, the radio frequency signal being received by an antenna of the wireless videophone;

amplifying the radio frequency signal received by the antenna to provide an amplified radio frequency signal;

demodulating the amplified radio frequency signal to provide a demodulated signal;

separating the purchase transaction program from the demodulated signal; and

using the purchase transaction program to perform a purchase transaction.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of storing the purchase transaction program comprises using a program loader to store the purchase transaction program.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of using the purchase transaction program to perform a purchase transaction comprises using a digital camera, disposed in the wireless videophone to scan a visual indicia corresponding to an item to be purchased.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of calling a server comprises calling a server disposed proximate a store where items are to be purchased.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of calling a server comprises calling a server disposed at a location remote from the store where items are to be purchased.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of calling a server comprises calling a server via an extension PBX.

37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the step of using the program to perform a purchase transaction comprises using an IC card reader/writer in communication with the wireless videophone to effect payment for a purchased item.

38. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising the step of communicating by video via the wireless videophone to make an inquiry about a product while the purchase transaction program is being executed.

39. The method as recited in claim 31, further comprising the step of transmitting a video communication from the server to the wireless videophone while the purchase transaction program is being executed.

40. The method according to claim 33, wherein the visual indicia corresponding to an item to be purchased is an item weight.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the digital camera scans the item weight indicia from the display screen of an electronic scale.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the visual indicia further includes item identification information in combination with said item weight.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the visual indicia is presented in bar code form.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the visual indicia is presented in alpha-numeric form.

45. The method according to claim 33, wherein the visual indicia corresponding to an item to be purchased is a videographic image of said item.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein the videographic image of an item to be purchased is recognized by pattern recognition software downloaded to the wireless videophone.

47. The method according to claim 45, wherein the videographic image of the item to be purchased is transmitted to the server, the videographic image of the item to be purchased being identified by pattern recognition software resident on said server.

48. The method according to claim 45, wherein the videographic image of the item to be purchased is transmitted to the server, the videographic image being manually identified by a store clerk.