Device and method for shopping and data collection
First Claim
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.
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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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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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.
- a plurality of client computers; and
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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. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification