PRODUCT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING A TAG AND MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20130048721A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: RASBAND, Paul Brent, HALL, Stewart E., HO, Wing Kei, MOHIUDDIN, Mohammad, VAN NEST, Nancy Lee, RELIHAN, Timothy J., COPELAND, Richard L., RAO, Manjuprakash Rama
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A product information system including a server having an item database that stores at least one item identifier and corresponding item data for at least one item. Also, the item database is associated with a predetermined vendor. The server also includes a receiver that receives a message including tag data captured from a tag by a portable wireless device. The tag data includes an item identifier. Also, the server includes a processor that operates, in response to the received message, to select item data from the item database that corresponds to the received item identifier. The server also includes a transmitter that transmits the selected item data to the portable wireless device.

Claims

1. A product information system, the system comprising:

a server, including;

an item database storing at least one item identifier and corresponding item data for at least one item, the item data including scanning history data generated by the capture of tag data associated with the at least one item by at least one portable wireless device;

a receiver configured to receive a message, the message including tag data captured from a tag by a portable wireless device, the tag data including an item identifier;

a processor operating, in response to the received message, to update the scanning history data based on the received message and to select item data from the item database corresponding to the received item identifier; and

a transmitter arranged to transmit the selected item data to the portable wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one item identifier is a unique identification character sequence for the at least one item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes time Stamp data indicating a time when the tag a captured, and the selected item data corresponds to the time stamp data.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the item data includes at least one of an item description, item pricing information, item warranty, customer reviews of item, graphical content, video content and item availability.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tag is a near-field communication (NFC) tag that is removably affixable to at least one of a fixture, item and item enclosure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server further includes a consumer database storing consumer data corresponding to at least one portable wireless device user, the consumer data including a mobile device identification number corresponding to the transmitting device and scanning history data specific to at least one of the transmitting device and the item identifier, and the selected item data is based, in part, on the consumer data.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver receives a checkout message, and the processor operates, response to the received checkout message, to initiate consumer checkout with the predetermined vendor.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates item metrics associated with the at least one item identifier, and the processor is further configured to transmit the item metrics in response to a transmitted request message.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the item metrics are based on the scanning history data associated with the at least one item identifier.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the item metrics are based on the scanning history data associated with the at least one portable wireless device.

24. The system of claim 6, wherein the consumer data further includes at least one of a consumer account number, a personal identification number, credit card account information, financial institution information and consumer purchase history data.

8. A mobile device application method for requesting product information, the method comprising:

capturing tag data from using a portable wireless device, the tag data including an item identifier;

transmitting the tag data to a server in communication with at least one database;

storing a mobile device identification number corresponding to the transmitting device in the at least one database;

generating scanning history data based on the transmitted tag data, the scanning history data being specific to at least one of the item identifier and the mobile device identification number;

receiving item data in response to the transmitted tag data, the item data corresponding to the item identifier and selected, at least in part, based on the scanning history data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitted tag data includes time stamp data indicating a time when the tag data was captured, and the received item data corresponds to the time stamp data.

10. The method of claim 8, further comp sing transmitting a checkout message to the server, the checkout message initiating consumer checkout with the predetermined vendor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the received item data includes at least one of an item description, item pricing information, item warranty, customer reviews of item, graphical content, video content and item availability.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting checkout message, the checkout message initiating payment and delivery for at least one item corresponding to the captured tag data.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising initiating consumer checkout of items corresponding to the received item data.

25. The method of claim 8, further comprising

transmitting a help message indicating:

a location of the tag; and

assistance is requested at the location of the tag.

26. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting a checkout message, the checkout message initiating payment and delivery for at least one item corresponding to the captured tag data.

14. A method for providing product information to a mobile device, the method comprising:

storing at least one item identifier and corresponding item data for at least one item in an item database, the item database being associated with a predetermined vendor;

receiving a message, the message including tag data captured from a tag by a portable wireless device, the tag data including an item identifier;

storing a mobile device identification number corresponding to the transmitting device in a database;

generating scanning history data based on the received message, the scanning history data being specific to a east one of the item identifier and the mobile device identification number;

selecting item data from the item database corresponding to the received item identifier in response to the received message, the selected item data based at least in part on the scanner history data; and

transmitting the selected item data to the portable wireless device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the received message includes time stamp data, the selected item data corresponding to the time stamp data.

16. The method of Claim 14, wherein the at least one item identifier is a unique identification character sequence for the at least one item.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the item data includes a location of the tag predetermined by the vendor, and the method further comprises:

receiving a help message indicating the location of a tag; and

generating an alert in response to the received help message, the alert indicating assistance is requested at the location of the tag.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein item data includes at least one of an item description, item pricing information, item warranty, customer reviews of item, graphical content, video content and item availability.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a checkout message; and

in response to receiving checkout message, initiating a consumer checkout with the predetermined vendor.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising periodically transmitting a message to the wireless mobile device prompting checkout.