DISCOUNT CARD APPLICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080302872A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tate, Timothy Scott
• Application Number:
  US11/760,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302872A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

To improve the consumer experience with retail rewards and discount programs, a system and method is provided for consolidating information relating to multiple rewards or discount programs in a manner that is convenient and reduces or eliminates the need to carry numerous rewards cards. The system and method of the present invention provides a mechanism for inputting and storing in an electronic device coded information, such as barcodes and QR codes, that may be contained on a coded dataset source, such as a rewards or discount card. In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device is a mobile telephone. At a retail checkout, the coded information is displayed on the mobile device, and the cashier may scan the display of the mobile device in the same manner as one would scan a discount card.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

an input device for inputting a plurality of input datasets, wherein each input dataset corresponds to a coded graphical representation;

a controller that converts an input dataset selected from the plurality of input datasets, in response to a user input, into the corresponding coded graphical representation; and

a display that displays the corresponding coded graphical representation, wherein the displayed coded graphical representation may be subjected to a reading device for interpreting the coded graphical representation.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the input datasets originate from coded cards.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keypad, and the controller is configured to receive as input datasets numeric or alphanumeric strings that are inputted using the keypad.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a camera, and the controller is configured to receive as input datasets photographs that are inputted by photographing the coded graphical representations.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a scanner, and the controller is configured to receive as input datasets scanned images that are inputted by scanning the coded graphical representations.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller converts the selected input data set to a linear barcode.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the linear barcode if one of a Code 39, Code 128, or UPC linear barcode.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controller converts the selected input dataset to a two-dimensional matrix code.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the two-dimensional matrix code is a QR code.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a scanner, and the input datasets are scanned images that are inputted by scanning coded graphical representations.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reading device is an optical scanner.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.

11. A method of using coded graphical representations in conjunction with an electronic device comprising the steps of:

inputting into the electronic device a plurality of input datasets, wherein each input dataset corresponds to a coded graphical representation;

selecting one input dataset from the plurality of input datasets;

converting the selected input dataset within the electronic device to the corresponding coded graphical representation;

displaying the corresponding coded graphical representation on a display on the electronic device; and

subjecting the displayed coded graphical representation on the display to a reading device for interpreting the coded graphical representation.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein one or more of the input datasets originate from coded cards.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the coded graphical representation is a linear barcode.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the linear barcode is one of a Code 39, Code 128, or UPC barcode.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the coded graphical representation is a two-dimensional matrix code.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the two-dimensional matrix code is a QR code.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device has a keypad, and the input datasets are numeric or alphanumeric strings that are inputted using the keypad.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electronic device has a camera, and the input datasets are photographs that are inputted by photographing the coded graphical representations.