System and method for tracking a product

• US 20040024782A1
• Filed: 12/16/2002
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Chamberlain, Charles R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Herein is described systems and methods for tracking a product. To track a product, product identification information that identifies the product and product ownership information is received. The product ownership information is updated when the product is transferred to another. The product identification information and product ownership information is stored in a database.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a product, comprising:

receiving product identification information;

receiving product ownership information;

updating product ownership information when the product is transferred to another; and

storing the product identification information and product ownership information in a database.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing product specific information based on the product ownership information and product identification information.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

assigning a product identification number to the product; and

cross-referencing the product identification number with the product identification information and product ownership information in the database.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a seller.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a buyer.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a manufacturer.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing recall information based on the product ownership information wherein the recall information is based on the product identification information.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing instructions on use based on the product ownership information wherein the instructions are based on the product identification information.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product tie-in information based on the product ownership information wherein the product tie-in information is based on the product identification information.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product upgrade information based on the product ownership information wherein the product upgrade information is based on the product identification information.

11. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing information on previous owners based on the product ownership information and based on one or more of the product identification information or product identification number.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing a product offer based on the product ownership information wherein the product offer is based on the product identification information.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing warranty information based on the product ownership information wherein the warranty information is based on the product identification information.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein providing product specific information comprises providing product specific information via the Internet.

15. The method according to claim 3, wherein updating the product ownership information comprises:

receiving the product identification number;

searching the database based on the product identification number;

receiving new product ownership information; and

updating the database with the new product ownership information.

16. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving product identification information;

receiving product ownership information;

updating the product ownership information when the product is transferred to another; and

storing the product identification information and product ownership information in a database.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, the method further comprising:

providing product specific information based on the product ownership information and product identification information.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, the method further comprising:

assigning a product identification number to the product; and

cross-referencing the product identification number with the product identification information and product ownership information in the database.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a seller.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a buyer.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a manufacturer.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing recall information based on the product ownership information wherein the recall information is based on the product identification information.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing instructions on use based on the product ownership information wherein the instructions are based on the product identification information.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product tie-in information based on the product ownership information wherein the product tie-in information is based on the product identification information.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product upgrade information based on the product ownership information wherein the product upgrade information is based on the product identification information.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing information on previous owners based on the product ownership information and based on one or more of the product identification information or product identification number.

27. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing a product offer based on the product ownership information wherein the product offer is based on the product identification information.

28. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing warranty information based on the product ownership information wherein the warranty information is based on the product identification information.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein providing product specific information comprises providing product specific information via the Internet.

30. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein updating the product ownership information comprises:

receiving the product identification number;

searching the database based on the product identification number;

receiving new product ownership information; and

updating the database with the new product ownership information.

31. A system for tracking a product, comprising:

means for receiving product identification information;

means for receiving product ownership information;

means for updating the product ownership information when the product is transferred to another; and

means for storing the product identification information and product ownership information in a database.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for providing product specific information based on the product ownership information and product identification information.

33. The system according to claim 31, further comprising:

means for assigning a product identification number to the product; and

cross-referencing the product identification number with the product identification information and product ownership information in the database.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a seller.

35. The system according to claim 31, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a buyer.

36. The system according to claim 31, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a manufacturer

37. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing recall information based on the product ownership information wherein the recall information is based on the product identification information.

38. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing instructions on use based on the product ownership information wherein the instructions are based on the product identification information.

39. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product tie-in information based on the product ownership information wherein the product tie-in information is based on the product identification information.

40. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing product upgrade information based on the product ownership information wherein the product upgrade information is based on the product identification information.

41. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing information on previous owners based on the product ownership information and based on one or more of the product identification information or product identification number.

42. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing a product offer based on the product ownership information wherein the product offer is based on the product identification information.

43. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises:

providing warranty information based on the product ownership information wherein the warranty information is based on the product identification information.

44. The system according to claim 32, wherein providing product specific information comprises providing product specific information via the Internet.

45. The system according to claim 33, wherein updating the product ownership information comprises:

receiving the product identification number;

searching the database based on the product identification number;

receiving new product ownership information; and

updating the database with the new product ownership information.

46. A system for tracking a product, comprising:

a first receiving component configured to receive product identification information;

a second receiving component configured to receive product ownership information;

an update component configured to update the product ownership information when the product is transferred to another; and

a storing component configured to store the product identification information and product ownership information in a database.

47. The system according to claim 46, further comprising:

a providing component configured to provide product specific information based on the product ownership information and product identification information.

48. The system according to claim 46, further comprising:

an assigning component configured to assign a product identification number to the product; and

a cross-referencing component configured to cross-reference the product identification number with the product identification information and product ownership information in the database.

49. The system according to claim 46, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a seller.

50. The system according to claim 46, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a buyer.

51. The system according to claim 46, wherein the product identification information and the product ownership information is received from a manufacturer.

52. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide recall information based on the product ownership information wherein the-recall information is based on the product identification information.

53. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide instructions on use based on the product ownership information wherein the instructions are based on the product identification information.

54. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide product tie-in information based on the product ownership information wherein the product tie-in information is based on the product identification information.

55. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide product upgrade information based on the product ownership information wherein the product upgrade information is based on the product identification information.

56. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide information on previous owners based on the product ownership information and based on one or more of the product identification information or product identification number.

57. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide a product offer based on the product ownership information wherein the product offer is based on the product identification information.

58. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component is configured to provide warranty information based on the product ownership information wherein the warranty information is based on the product identification information.

59. The system according to claim 47, wherein the providing component provides product specific information via the Internet.

60. The system according to claim 48, wherein the update component is configured to:

receive the product identification number;

search the database based on the product identification number;

receive new product ownership information; and

update the database with the new product ownership information.