Methods and systems for providing product information to a user

• US 20080091552A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Aas, Eric F.
• Application Number:
  US11/540,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0629 for generating comparisons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions

Abstract

A method of providing product information to a user includes obtaining a product identifier from the user that identifies a product, wherein the product identifier is transmitted with a user'"'"'s mobile device to a server configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding the product; conducting the electronic search for product information regarding the product with the server; and reporting the product information to the user'"'"'s mobile device. A system for providing product information to a user includes a server configured to receive a product identifier transmitted to the server by a user using a mobile device; and a connection between the server and one or more networks on which product information is stored, where the server is configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding a product identified by the product identifier and report the product information to the user'"'"'s mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of providing product information to a user, said method comprising:

obtaining a product identifier from said user that identifies a product, wherein said product identifier is transmitted with a user'"'"'s mobile device to a server configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding said product;

conducting said electronic search for product information regarding said product with said server; and

reporting said product information to said user'"'"'s mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining said product identifier comprises imaging a product identifier with said mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein obtaining said product identifier further comprises optical character recognition performed on an image taken with said mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said product identifier comprises a bar code.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said product information comprises comparative pricing information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said product information comprises alternative product information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing an order for said product on behalf of said user based on an instruction transmitted from said user'"'"'s mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said conducting said electronic search comprises conducting a reverse on-line auction among vendors bidding to sell said product to said user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a fee to said user for conducting said electronic search and reporting said product information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said product information comprises product advertising and said method further comprises charging a vendor or manufacturer for delivering said product advertising to said user.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising charging a commission from a vendor with whom said order is placed.

12. A system for providing product information to a user, said system comprising:

a server configured to receive a product identifier transmitted to said server by a user using a mobile device; and

a connection between said server and one or more networks on which product information is stored;

said server further configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding a product identified by said product identifier and report said product information to said user'"'"'s mobile device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said mobile device comprises a mobile telephone or personal digital assistant.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said mobile device comprises an imaging system for imaging said product identifier for use by said server.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising an optical character recognition function for extracting data from an image of said product identifier taken with said mobile device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said product information comprises comparative pricing information.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said product information comprises alternative product information.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to place an order for said product on behalf of said user based on an instruction transmitted from said user'"'"'s mobile device.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said server is further configured to conduct a reverse on-line auction among vendors bidding to sell said product to said user.

20. A system for providing product information to a user, said system comprising:

means for obtaining a product identifier from said user that identifies a product, wherein said product identifier is transmitted with a user'"'"'s mobile device to a server configured to conduct an electronic search for product information regarding said product;

means for conducting said electronic search for product information regarding said product with said server; and

means for reporting said product information to said user'"'"'s mobile device.