Multi-merchant gift registry

• US 20030093333A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William J. Veeneman
• Original Assignee: William J. Veeneman
• Inventors: Veeneman, William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/212,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093333A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• 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

A multi-merchant gift registry utilizes a portable hand held scanner having a wireless communication link. Items are scanned with the scanner and this data is transmitted to a remote terminal that correlates the scanned data with a product identification. This product identification is then transmitted back to the scanner, where it is displayed. The registrant can then choose the product and enter a quantity. This information is again transmitted via a wireless link and the gift registry is updated.

Claims

1. A multi-merchant gift registry comprising:

a scanning device configured to acquire an identifier associated with a product, the input device having a first transceiver for sending and receiving data and an input device configured to receive information from a registrant;

a database;

a first computer coupled with a second transceiver configured to receive the identifier via the second transceiver and to correlate the identifier with a product identification within the database and to transmit the product information via the transceiver to the input device; and

a second computer configured to receive the information from the registrant and to update the multi-merchant gift registry based on the information from the registrant.

2. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the information from the registrant includes a product identification.

3. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 2, wherein the information from the registrant includes a quantity of a product.

4. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the scanning device is a portable, hand held bar code scanner.

5. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the scanning device further includes a display for displaying a query to the registrant.

6. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the database is a retailer database.

7. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the database is associated with the first computer.

8. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the database is maintained by a local registry system.

9. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the database is maintained by a central system.

10. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the first computer is a controller located within a retail location.

11. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the first computer is a local registry system.

12. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the first computer is central system.

13. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is coupled with the first computer via an internet connection.

14. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is coupled with the first computer via a local area network.

15. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, further comprising a repeater to repeat the information sent by the first and the second transceiver.

16. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1 wherein the first computer and the second computer are the same.

17. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the scanning device is an RF emitter and the identifier is an RF tag.

18. The multi-merchant gift registry of claim 1, wherein the scanning device is a digital camera.

19. A method of using a multi-merchant gift registry having a wireless hand held portable scanner for scanning a product identifier to be added to a registry, the method comprising:

scanning an identifier associated with the product with the portable scanner;

transmitting identifier data via a transceiver from the scanner to a first computer;

correlating the identifier data with a product identification at the first computer;

transmitting the product identification;

receiving the product identification at the portable scanner;

displaying the product identification on the portable scanner;

displaying a query on the portable scanner;

receiving a response to the query;

transmitting information relating to the product identification and the response to the query from the portable scanner to a second computer; and

updating the gift registry via the second computer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the identifier is a bar code.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first computer is located within a retail location.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first computer is located at a local registry system.

23. The method of claim 19, where correlating the identifier data includes accessing a retailer product database.

24. The method of claim 19, where correlating the identifier data includes accessing a product database maintained by the local registry system.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting identifier data via a transceiver from the scanner to a first computer, includes transmitting the data to an intermediate transceiver that is coupled to the first computer via an internet connection.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein transmitting identifier data via a transceiver from the scanner to a first computer, includes transmitting the data to an intermediate transceiver that is coupled to the first computer via a local area network.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the first computer and the second computer are the same.

28. A method of using a multi-merchant gift registry having a wireless portable scanner, the method comprising:

receiving an identifier data via a wireless link from the wireless portable scanner;

correlating the identifier data with a product identification;

transmitting the product identification to the scanner via the wireless link;

receiving confirmation of product selection from scanner; and

updating the gift registry based on the received confirmation.

29. A multi-merchant gift registry, comprising:

scanning means for scanning a identifier data;

wireless transmitting means for transmitting the identifier data from the scanner;

first computing means for receiving the product identifier, correlating the identifier data with a product identification and transmitting the product identification to the scanning means; and

second computing means for updating the gift registry based on the product identification.