Code for object identification
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a receiver operative to receive an object identifier;
a code generator to generate a code;
a database operative to associate the code with the object identifier; and
a transmitter operative to transmit the code.
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Abstract
Codes are randomly generated for objects. There is no relationship between the object and the code assigned to the object. The only meaning to the code is in the association between the code and the object in a database. The service supports requests for new codes for objects, and for inquiries about codes (either existing or not). An inquiry about a code returns information stored in the database associated with an object associated with the code.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a receiver operative to receive an object identifier;
a code generator to generate a code;
a database operative to associate the code with the object identifier; and
a transmitter operative to transmit the code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a database including at least a first code associated with a first object identifier and a first information about an object identified by the object identifier;
a receiver operative to receive an inquiry about a second code;
a code comparator to compare the second code with the first code; and
a transmitter operative to transmit the first information associated with the first object identifier if the second code matches the first code. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a receiver operative to receive from a requester;
a request for a code for an object identified by an object identifier; and
an information about the object;
a code generator to generate the code;
a database operative to associate the code with the object identifier and to associate the information with the object identifier;
a verifier operative to verify that the requester is a manufacturer of the object;
a code comparator to compare the code with a second code in the database;
a transmitter operative to transmit the code to the requester;
means for placing the code on the an object identified by the object identifier;
means for searching the database for the code responsive to an inquiry about the code from an inquirer, the inquiry received by the receiver; and
means for retrieving the information associated with the object identifier from the database, the information transmitted by the transmitter to the inquirer.
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14. A computer-implemented method for using a code, comprising:
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receiving a request for a code, the request including an object identifier;
generating the code;
adding the object identifier to a database;
associating the code with the object identifier in the database; and
responding to the request with the code. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-implemented method for using a code, comprising:
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receiving an inquiry from a requester, the inquiry including the code;
searching a database to determine if the code is associated with an object identifier in the database; and
if the code is associated with an object identifier;
accessing information associated with the object identifier; and
returning the information to the requester. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-implemented method for using a code, comprising:
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identifying an object;
requesting a code for the object from a computer, the request including an object identifier for the object;
receiving the code for the object; and
placing the code on the object. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A computer-implemented method for using a code, comprising:
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determining a code from an object;
providing the code to a computer; and
receiving information from the computer concerning an object identified by an object identifier associated with the code. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A computer-implemented method for using a code, comprising:
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identifying an object by a manufacturer;
requesting a code for the object from a computer by the manufacturer, the request including an object identifier for the object and an information about the object;
receiving the code for the object by the manufacturer; and
placing the code on the object by the manufacturer;
delivering the object by the manufacturer to an inquirer;
determining the code from the object by the inquirer;
providing the code to the computer by the inquirer; and
receiving the information about the object from the computer by the inquirer.
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56. Computer-readable medium containing a program to use a code, comprising:
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software to receive a request for a code, the request including an object identifier;
software to generate the code;
software to add the object identifier to a database;
software to associate the code with the object identifier in the database; and
software to respond to the request with the code.
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57. Computer-readable medium containing a program to use a code, comprising:
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software to receive an inquiry from a requester, the inquiry including the code;
software to search a database to determine if the code is associated with an object identifier in the database; and
if the code is associated with an object identifier;
software to access information associated with the object identifier; and
software to return the information to the requester.
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58. Computer-readable medium containing a program to use a code, comprising:
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software to identify an object;
software to request a code for the object from a computer, the request including an object identifier for the object;
software to receive the code for the object; and
software to place the code on the object.
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59. Computer-readable medium containing a program to use a code, comprising:
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software to determine a code from an object;
software to provide the code to a computer; and
software to receive information from the computer concerning an object identified by an object identifier associated with the code.
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Specification