Ratings Using Machine-Readable Representations

• US 20090242620A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sahuguet, Arnaud
• Granted Patent: US 8,844,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal

Abstract

In a computer-implemented review method, a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity is decoded to obtain the identification code. The identification code is submitted to a central computer system, and a ratings form that can be used for providing a review of the ratable entity is received from the central computer system. A review of the ratable entity is provided to the central computer system using the review form.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented review method, the method comprising:

decoding a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity to obtain the identification code;

submitting the identification code to a central computer system;

receiving, from the central computer system, a ratings form that can be used for providing a review of the ratable entity; and

providing a review of the ratable entity to the central computer system using the review form.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ratable entity is a product or service.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein decoding the machine-readable representation comprises capturing an image of the machine-readable representation with a digital camera and associating the image of the machine-readable representation with the identification code.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable representation is a bar code or two-dimensional bar code.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving content from the central computer system after providing the review of the ratable entity.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the content comprises a coupon received via electronic transmission.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the content comprises an promotional item for an entity that provides products or services similar to or complementary to those of the ratable entity.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing a review of the ratable entity comprises receiving user input ranking the ratable entity into the ratings form and providing the user input to the central computer system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the review includes multimedia content.

10. A computer program product tangibly embodied and stored in an information carrier and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method, the method comprising:

decoding a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity to obtain the identification code;

submitting the identification code to a central computer system;

receiving, from the central computer system, a ratings form that can be used for providing a review of the ratable entity; and

providing a review of the ratable entity to the central computer system using the review form.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein decoding the machine-readable representation comprises capturing an image of the machine-readable representation with a digital camera and associating the image of the machine-readable representation with the identification code.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the machine-readable representation is a bar code.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor receive content from the central computer system after providing the review of the ratable entity.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein providing a review of the ratable entity comprises receiving user input ranking the ratable entity into the ratings form and providing the user input to the central computer system.

15. A computer-implemented review system, comprising:

a code generator to provide an identification code associated with a ratable entity;

a database storing a correlation between the identification code and one or more ratings categories submitted by a third party user in association with a request to provide the identification code; and

a media server to transmit an electronic ratings form that include the one or more ratings categories in response to receipt of an identification code correlated in the database to the one or more ratable categories.

16. A system, comprising:

a code generator to provide an identification code associated with a ratable entity;

a database storing a correlation between the identification code and one or more ratings categories submitted by a third party user in association with a request to provide the identification code; and

means for associating a received identification code with one or more ratings categories and deliver an electronic ratings form that includes the one or more ratings categories for completion on a remote device from which the identification code is received.

17. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

associating a ratable entity with an identification code and encoding the identification code in a machine-readable representation;

generating a ratings form for rating the ratable entity in response to receiving the identification code in an electronic communication from a mobile device and identifying the ratable entity using the received identification code;

providing the ratings form by electronic communication to the mobile device; and

receiving by electronic communication a review of the ratable entity from the mobile device, the review comprising one or more ratings of the ratable entity.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the machine-readable representation is a bar code.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising providing electronic content to the mobile device after receiving the review of the ratable entity.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the electric content is a coupon.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the electric content is an advertisement.