Computer operation control and item selection and vending methods and systems
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A signal is transmitted into a computer in response to an image on a display screen of the computer such that the computer operates in response to the signal; this includes moving a scanner in optical communication with the display screen such that the scanner detects an image (for example, a bar code) displayed on the screen and generates the signal in response. One or more computers may be used, and this may be used for vending a product or other purposes. With or without such scanning, a portion of a store environment may be displayed on a screen of a computer, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, in which images of actual products are accessed via the computer from a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. A vending system is also disclosed.
18 Citations
39 Claims
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1-5. -5. (canceled)
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6. An item selection communication method, comprising:
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transmitting signals from a first computer to a second computer and in response thereto generating at the second computer a display showing an image including a visual identifier correlated to a respective item;
scanning the visual identifier from a locus adjacent to but exteriorly of the second computer; and
receiving at least at the second computer a signal responsive to the scanning. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An item selection communication method, comprising:
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displaying item indicia and related scannable identifier indicia on a screen of a computer;
moving a scanner such that the scanner senses the scannable identifier indicia displayed on the computer screen; and
communicating a signal from the scanner to the computer in response to the scanner sensing the scannable identifier indicia. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A product vending method, comprising:
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displaying on a screen of a computer a portion of a store environment, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store and showing scannable images respectively associated with the products;
changing the portion of the store environment displayed on the screen until an image of an actual product to be selected and the respective scannable image are shown on the screen;
optically scanning the scannable image shown on the screen to generate a signal in response thereto; and
communicating the signal to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for selecting an item using a client system, comprising:
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displaying on a screen of the client system information identifying the item and displaying on the screen of the client system a scannable image that is to be used to select the identified item; and
in response to a user selecting the item by manually optically scanning the displayed scannable image, sending to a server system a signal identifying the selected item. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of selecting an item using a personal computer, comprising:
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accessing through operation of a personal computer, at the request of a user of the personal computer, a database of item information;
displaying, through a screen of the personal computer, in response to the accessed database, information for at least one item, including at least one scannable selector image; and
moving a scanner adjacent the screen to optically scan the displayed selector image, generating a signal in response thereto and communicating the signal to the personal computer, thereby selecting the corresponding item. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of placing an order for an item, comprising:
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under control of a client system, displaying on a computer of the client system information identifying the item; and
sending a request to order the item, including scanning a bar code image displayed on the computer of the client system, wherein the bar code image is related to the item; and
under control of a server system, receiving the request; and
generating an order to purchase the requested item.
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33. A method of selecting an item using a personal computer, comprising:
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accessing, at the request of a user of the personal computer, the Internet using a web browser program stored in the personal computer;
going via the web browser program directly to an item vendor'"'"'s website on the Internet, the website communicating with a database of item and bar code information maintained by the item vendor, the item and bar code information including information representing an actual store environment maintained by the item vendor;
downloading to the personal computer, via the Internet, from the item and bar code information, information about at least a portion of the actual store environment and at least one item and its related bar code;
displaying, through a screen of the personal computer, in response to the downloaded information, images of the portion of the actual store environment and the at least one item and related bar code where actually located in the portion of the actual store displayed; and
moving a bar code scanner adjacent the outside of the screen to optically scan the displayed bar code image, generating a signal in response thereto and communicating the signal to the personal computer, thereby selecting the corresponding displayed item. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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- 35. A product vending method, comprising displaying on a screen of a computer a portion of a store environment, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, wherein showing images of actual products includes accessing via the computer a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store.
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37. A vending system, comprising:
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a vendor'"'"'s database of item information linked to respective selector indicia information; and
a computer site configured to load item and selector indicia information from the vendor'"'"'s database, the computer site including;
a computer having a screen for displaying loaded item and selector indicia information; and
a scanner communicating with the computer for scanning displayed selector indicia information shown on the screen and for sending responsive signals to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification