System and Method to Store and Retrieve Indentifier Associated Information Content

• US 20140108402A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomez, Garrison, Siegler, Thomas A., Soule, Robert M. III, Daddabbo, Nick, Sperduti, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,165,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/152 using file content signatures, e.g. hash values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes

Abstract

In one embodiment, information content files, such as text files, image files, XML files and the like, that provide information related to an identifier bearing item, such as a consumer item with a barcode, are stored on a data storage device such as network server. Identifier data entries, such as UPC data, are associated with file data entries, such as file names, in a database. General file access information that is used in accessing the information content files is stored on a terminal. In operation an identifier is read by the terminal and is used to extract one of the file data entries from the database based on database communication information stored on the terminal. The file data entry in combination with the general file access information is used to establish communication with the data storage device and to extract one of the information content files.

Claims

1. A method of storing and retrieving information, comprising:

configuring a terminal with general file access information comprising data storage device connection information for a data storage device containing information content files;

configuring the terminal with database connection information including identifier data entries and file data entries, wherein (i) each identifier data entry is associated with a file data entry and (ii) a combination of a given file data entry and the general file access information provide access to an information content file;

reading an identifier to generate identifier data;

transmitting, to a database from the terminal, a file data entry request that (i) comprises the generated identifier data and (ii) is based on the database location information;

receiving a file data entry from the database with the terminal; and

formulating, with the terminal, an information content file request based on the general file access information and the received file data entry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information content file request is a file transfer protocol request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the file data entry request is a file transfer protocol request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the file data entry request is a hypertext transfer protocol request.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal is a transaction terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal is a portable data terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information content files are extensible mark-up language files.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data storage device connection information comprises a network address for the data storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, the data storage device connection information comprises telephony connection information for the data storage device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data storage device is located on the terminal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is represented by a barcode.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is stored in radio frequency identification tag.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising decoding the identifier.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and the file data entries specify file paths on the data storage device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and a first file path portion and the file data entries specify second file path portions, the second file path portions including file names.

16. A system for storing and retrieving information, comprising:

a reader configured for reading an identifier and generating identifier data from the read identifier;

a data storage device containing information content files;

a terminal configured for storing general file access information, database connection information, and data storage device connection information; and

a database containing identifier data entries and file data entries, each of the identifier data entries associated with a file data entry;

wherein the terminal is configured for;

transmitting, to the data storage device, a file data entry request that (i) comprises identifier data generated by the reader and (ii) is based on the database location information; and

receiving a file data entry from the database with the terminal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the file data entry request is transmitted based on database connection information stored in the terminal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the information content file request is a hypertext transfer protocol request.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the general file access information specifies a network address of the data storage device and each file data entry provides information identifying an information content file.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the terminal is a transaction terminal.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the terminal is a portable data terminal.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the information content files comprise image files.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the information content files comprise extensible mark-up language files.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the reader is configured for decoding the identifier.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and the file data entries specify file paths on the data storage device.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and a first file path portion and the file data entries specify second file path portions, the second file path portions including file names.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the file data entries are file names.

28. A system for storing and retrieving information, comprising:

a reader configured for reading an identifier on an item and generating identifier data from the read identifier, the identifier data comprising the item'"'"'s source;

a database containing identifier data entries and redirection entries, each of the identifier data entries associated with a redirection entry;

a terminal in communication with the reader, the terminal configured with database connection information;

a data storage device containing information content files, wherein an information content file relates to the item bearing the identifier;

a communications network in communication with the terminal, the database, and the data storage device; and

an entity maintaining some control over the information content file related to the item bearing the identifier, wherein the entity is not the item'"'"'s source;

wherein the terminal is configured for;

establishing communication with the data storage device;

transmitting, to the database, a request comprising identifier data generated by the reader after reading an identifier on an item;

receiving, from the database, a redirection entry associated with an identifier data entry corresponding to the identifier data in the transmitted request; and

requesting an information content file related to the item bearing the identifier based on the redirection entry.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is a manufacturer of the identifier bearing item.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is an importer of the identifier bearing item.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the some control includes maintaining the information content files.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the some control comprises developing guidelines for the information content files.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the some control comprises developing some of the content of the information content files.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the entity is a retail establishment containing the terminal.

35. The system of claim 28, wherein the entity is a content management entity.

36. The system of claim 28, comprising a plurality of entities separate from a plurality of sources for a corresponding plurality of identifier bearing items, each of the plurality of entities maintaining some control over some of the information content files.

37. A method for storing and retrieving information, comprising:

configuring a terminal with database connection information comprising identifier data entries and redirection entries, each of the identifier data entries associated with a redirection entry;

reading an identifier on an item and generating identifier data from the read identifier, the identifier data comprising the item'"'"'s source;

transmitting, from the terminal to a database, a redirection request that (i) comprises the generated identifier data and (ii) is based on the database connection information;

receiving a redirection entry from the database with the terminal;

transmitting, from the terminal to a data storage device, an information content file request that (i) is based on the received redirection entry and (ii) identifies an information content file related to the identifier bearing item and stored on the data storage device; and

receiving the identified information content file from the data storage device with the terminal;

wherein an entity that is not the item'"'"'s source maintains some control over the information content file related to the identifier bearing item.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is a manufacturer of the identifier bearing item.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is an importer of the identifier bearing item.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the some control comprises developing guidelines for the information content files.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the some control comprises developing at least some of the content of the information content files.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the entity is a content management entity.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein a plurality of entities that are not the item'"'"'s source each maintain some control over information content files related to identifier bearing items.