System and method for providing content associated with a product or service

• US 20100174599A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Gloria, Rosenblatt, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/319,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174599A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.370
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0237 at kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for providing and managing benefits associated with a product or service are provided. For example, a device for managing benefits associated with a product or service may include a processor configured to run a product benefit management application, a memory device operably coupled to the processor, an electronic display operably coupled to the processor, and an input interface. The input interface may be a near field communication interface configured to receive data associated with at least one benefit associated with the product or service from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the product or service. The electronic product benefit management application may be configured to enable a user of the electronic device to use the at least one benefit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing credit to a user for digital content in response to information from a tag associated with a product or service scanned by an electronic device, wherein the information comprises an identification number associated with the product or service and wherein the credit may be exchanged for digital content from an online digital content service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag and the credit is provided after the radio frequency identification tag is scanned by a near field communication interface of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a personal device belonging to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag and the credit is provided after the radio frequency identification tag is scanned by a near field communication interface of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a kiosk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a matrix barcode and the credit is provided after the matrix barcode is scanned by a camera of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a personal device belonging to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a matrix barcode and the credit is provided after the matrix barcode is scanned by a matrix barcode scanner of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is a kiosk.

6. A method comprising:

providing a tag associated with a product or service, wherein the tag is configured to enable an electronic device to obtain information associated with at least one benefit related to the product or service, wherein the at least one benefit comprises at least one digital content credit, wherein the at least one digital content credit is configured to be exchanged for digital content related to the at least one benefit from an online digital content service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises a product manual and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises troubleshooting assistance and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of instructional audio or video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for another product or service and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the other product or service;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for software and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the software;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for a peripheral device and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the peripheral device;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises offers for digital media downloads and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the digital media downloads;

or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises a magazine, magazine insert, or mailer, and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a movie trailer and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the movie trailer;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for a discounted product and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the discounted product;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a video advertisement and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the video advertisement;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a video game or software demonstration and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the video game or software demonstration;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises free or discounted music or media and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the free or discounted music or media;

or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises a textbook and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises supplementary problems and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the supplementary problems;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises answers to textbook problems and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the answers to the textbook problems;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises instructional audio or video and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the instructional audio or video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for related study materials and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the related study materials;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises further recommended reading and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of a related book or article;

or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises a novel or non-fiction book and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an author interview and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the author interview;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an offer for a related title and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the related title;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a movie trailer associated with the book and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the movie trailer;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises press discussing the book and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the press;

or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises music or movie packaging and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a movie trailer and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the movie trailer;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a review of the music or movie and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the review;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a free single and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the free single;

or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises software or video game packaging and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a demonstration version of software sold in the software or video game packaging and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the demonstration version of the software;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a preview video of the software sold in the software or video game packaging and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the preview video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a video describing how the software sold in the software or video game packaging was made and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises hints or troubleshooting and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of troubleshooting audio or video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an instructional video and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the instructional video;

or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises grocery product packaging and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises related recipes and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of audio or video for the related recipes;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an instructional video and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the instructional video;

or any combination thereof.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises a restaurant menu or store exterior and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises advertising content and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of advertising audio or video;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a dinner special and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the dinner special;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises nutrition information and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the nutrition information;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an event calendar and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the event calendar;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises discounted or prepaid food or merchandise and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the discounted or prepaid food or merchandise;

or any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the product or service comprises food product packaging and wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises free or discounted music and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the free or discounted music;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises an option to buy a song currently playing in a restaurant pertaining to the food product packaging and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the song currently playing in the restaurant;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises prepaid or discount food or drink and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a purchase of the prepaid food or drink;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises nutrition information and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the nutrition information;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises a game piece or game software and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of the game piece or game software;

wherein the at least one benefit related to the product or service comprises advertisements for related food products and the at least one digital content credit is configured to be applied to a download of audio or video advertisements for the related food products;

or any combination thereof.

16. A method comprising:

marketing a benefit package comprising one or more benefits associated with a product or service to a manufacturer, supplier, distributor, or retailer of the product or service, wherein the one or more benefits associated with the product or service are configured to be accessible via an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to provide a user of the electronic device with digital content related to the benefits associated with the product or service when a tag associated with the product or service is scanned by the electronic device, and wherein marketing the benefit package comprises recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein marketing the benefit package comprises recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service based on the type of the product or service.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises a product manual and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of troubleshooting assistance;

an instructional video;

contact information of a provider of the product or service;

offers for products;

offers for software;

offers for peripheral devices;

offers for digital media downloads;

or any combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises a magazine, magazine insert, or mailer, and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of a movie trailer;

offers for discounted products;

video advertisements;

video game or software demonstrations;

free or discounted music or media;

or any combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises a textbook and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of supplementary problems;

answers to textbook problems;

instructional audio or video;

a link to purchase related study materials;

further recommended reading;

or any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises a novel or non-fiction book and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of an author interview;

a link to buy a related title;

a movie trailer associated with the book;

press discussing the book;

or any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises music or movie packaging and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of a movie trailer;

reviews of the music or movie;

a free single;

or any combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises software or video game packaging and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of a demonstration version of software sold in the software or video game packaging;

a preview video of the software sold in the software or video game packaging;

a video describing how the software sold in the software or video game packaging was made;

hints or troubleshooting;

an instructional video;

or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises grocery product packaging and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of related recipes;

an instructional video;

a list of related ingredients;

placement of the ingredients onto a shopping list on the electronic device;

or any combination thereof;

or any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises a restaurant menu or store exterior and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of advertising content;

dinner specials;

nutrition information;

an event calendar;

discounted or prepaid food or merchandise;

or any combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the product or service comprises food product packaging and wherein recommending the one or more benefits related to the product or service comprises recommending a benefit of free or discounted music downloads;

an option to buy a song currently playing in a restaurant pertaining to the food product packaging;

prepaid or discount food or drink;

nutrition information;

a game piece or game download;

advertisements for related food products;

or any combination thereof.

27. An electronic device comprising:

a processor configured to run a product benefit management application;

a memory device operably coupled to the processor and configured to store data associated with the electronic product benefit management application;

an electronic display operably coupled to the processor and configured to display at least a portion of the data associated with the electronic product benefit management application; and

an input interface configured to receive data associated with at least one benefit associated with a product or service for management by the electronic product benefit management application, wherein the electronic product benefit management application is configured to enable a user of the electronic device to use the at least one benefit associated with the product or service after the data associated with the at least one benefit associated with the product or service is received by the input interface, and wherein the input interface is configured to receive the benefits associated with the product or service from a tag or a product interface associated with the product or service.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the input interface comprises a near field communication interface.

29. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the input interface is configured to receive the benefits associated with the product or service via wireless near field communication from a radio frequency identification tag.

30. The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the input interface is configured to receive the benefits associated with the product or service via wireless near field communication from a near field communication interface associated with the product or service.

31. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the input interface comprises a camera, wherein the camera is configured to scan a matrix code on the tag.

32. The electronic device of claim 27, comprising a network interface configured to connect to a web service and provide the data associated with the at least one benefit associated with the product or service, wherein the web service is configured to provide at least one digital content credit after receiving the data, wherein the at least one digital content credit is configured to be exchanged for digital content related to the at least one benefit from an online digital content service.

33. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein the electronic product benefit management application is configured to manage more than one benefit associated with a product or service.