Device and method for shopping and data collection

• US 20070090185A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clean Energy Developments Corp. (Sustainco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Clean Energy Developments Corp. (Sustainco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Day, Peter, Lewkowitz, Michael Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/257,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures

Abstract

A device and method of presenting information about goods and services to a targeted audience is disclosed. The disclosed device and method allow collecting associated marketing data. An exemplary handheld device equipped with a tag reader is described. The device and method are well suited for showrooms used by builders of homes, appliance vendors and the like. The marketing information, which is accessible by way of a communications network in an aggregated form, can greatly enhance the shopping experience for consumers, and improve marketing efficiency of builders, retailers and sellers.

Claims

1. A handheld device for displaying product information to a user, said handheld device comprising, a processor, processor readable memory, a display, and a product identification tag reader capable of reading data encoded onto a plurality of product identification tags, each of said plurality of product identification tags associated with one of a plurality of products available for purchase by said user,

said processor readable memory storing processor executable instructions adapting said handheld device to, in response to said identification tag reader reading one of said product identification tags, display on said display, product information data associated with said one of said product identification tags;

and

said handheld device stores user information reflecting for which of said plurality of products, said handheld device has displayed product information data for said user.

2. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said user information comprises attributes of said plurality of products that reflect individual preferences of said user.

3. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said processor executable instructions further adapt said handheld device to upload said user information from said handheld device onto a server computer.

4. The handheld device of claim 1, wherein said processor executable instructions further adapt said handheld device to interactively display modified versions of said product information data associated with one of said products, in response to requests from said user.

5. The handheld device of claim 3, further comprising a data entry interface wherein said requests from said user are communicated to said handheld device using said data entry interface.

6. The handheld device of claim 5, wherein said data entry interface comprises a keypad.

7. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said handheld device comprises a wireless interface.

8. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said tag reader comprises a barcode scanner.

9. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said tag reader is capable of reading human readable alphanumeric codes.

10. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said tag reader is radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader.

11. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said product information data is a multimedia presentation.

12. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said product information data comprises data organized in a markup language.

13. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said product information data comprises executable code.

14. The handheld device of claim 13 wherein said product information data comprises a java applet.

15. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein said processor executable instructions adapt said handheld device to download said product information data from a content server onto said handheld device for display.

16. A method of displaying product information to a user, said method comprising,

a) associating product information data with each of a plurality of product identification tags and further associating each of said product identification tags with one of a plurality of products or services;

b) assigning a unique prospect identifier to said user;

c) furnishing said user with a handheld device comprising a processor, processor readable memory, a display, and a product identification tag reader capable of reading data encoded onto said plurality of product identification tags;

d) displaying on said display, said associated product information data in response to said identification tag reader reading one of said product identification tags; and

e) storing information reflecting, for which of said plurality of products or services, said handheld device has displayed product information data for said user.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said storing updates a central data repository.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said central data repository is a database installed on a computer.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said central data repository is accessible by a computing device using a communications network.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said user is a prospective homebuyer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said product information data comprises information about home fixtures and appliances.

22. A computing arrangement comprising a central server;

a plurality of client computers; and

a plurality of handheld devices,

said central server comprising a server computer, web-server software, a data repository, and server-side software,

each of said handheld devices comprising, a processor, processor readable memory, a display, a product identification tag reader capable of reading data encoded onto a plurality of product identification tags, and software, wherein said software displays on said display, product information data associated with one of said product identification tags in response to said identification tag reader reading one of said product identification tags;

each of said product identification tags is associated with one of a plurality of products; and

said software collects information about a user'"'"'s interest in said products;

wherein said handheld devices store said information about said user'"'"'s interest in said products on said central server; and

said client computers are operable to access information about said user'"'"'s interest in said products from said central server by way of a communications network.

23. A method of collecting data about prospects, said method comprising,

a) associating product information data with each of a plurality of product identification tags and further associating each of said product identification tags with one of a plurality of products or services;

b) assigning a unique prospect identifier to each of said prospects;

c) furnishing each of said prospects with a handheld device comprising a product identification tag reader capable of reading data encoded onto said plurality of product identification tags;

d) displaying on said display, said associated product information data in response to said identification tag reader reading one of said product identification tags; and

e) storing in a central server computer, information reflecting,

i) for which of said plurality of products or services, said handheld device has displayed product information data for said prospects; and

ii) preference data as supplied by said prospects

wherein said central server is accessible from client computers operable to communicate with said central server to read said stored information by way of a communications network.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said stored information is marketing related data.