Secure digital interactive system for unique product identification and sales
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of buying and selling an item relating to unique subjects, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing at least one uniquely identifiable remote data terminal, for communicating with a central computer managing a relational database for a transaction between a buyer and a seller;
b. entering the following at the at least one data terminals;
textual information descriptive of a subject in a structured fashion, including modifiable and non-modifiable data fields, and image information representative of the subject;
c. data-compressing the image data into a first image format;
d. separately transferring the textual and image data in the first format to the central computer by batch upload, the following steps being performed at the location of the central computer;
determining which remote data terminals are authorized to transmit subject oriented textual and image data, and storing information relating thereto;
receiving textual and image data from an authorized remote data terminal;
creating a first set of unique records identifying the textual information associated with teach subject received from each remote data terminal;
creating a second set of unique records identifying the image data associated with each subject received from each remote data terminal;
storing the image data separately from the textual information in a data-compressed second image format;
storing the textual information separately from the image data in relational form, along with information identifying the location of the separately stored image data corresponding thereto;
receiving subject-related requests relating to the transaction from at least one of the remote data terminals;
locating textual information corresponding to the subject-related requests relating to the transaction when requested;
transmitting the located textual information to the requesting remote data terminal; and
locating subject-related image data in response to the request when requested;
transmitting the related image data in a second data-compressed format;
e. de-compressing the images in the second data compressed format at the requesting remote data terminal; and
f. displaying the de-compressed images along with textual information at the requesting remote data terminal.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are described which provide secure interactive communication of text and image information between a central server computer and one or more client computers located at remote sites for the purpose of storing and retrieving files describing unique products, services or individuals. Textual information and image data from one or more of the remote sites are stored separately at the location of the central server, with the image data being in a compressed form, and with the textual information being included in a relational database with identifiers associated with any related image data. Means are provided at the central computer for management of all textual information and image data received to ensure that all information may be independently retrieved. Requests are entered from remote terminals specifying particular subject matter, and the system is capable of responding to multiple simultaneously requests. Textual information is recalled and downloaded for review along with any subsequently requested image data to be displayed at a remote site. Various modes of data and image formatting are also disclosed, including encryption techniques to fortify data integrity.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of buying and selling an item relating to unique subjects, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing at least one uniquely identifiable remote data terminal, for communicating with a central computer managing a relational database for a transaction between a buyer and a seller;
b. entering the following at the at least one data terminals;
textual information descriptive of a subject in a structured fashion, including modifiable and non-modifiable data fields, and image information representative of the subject;
c. data-compressing the image data into a first image format;
d. separately transferring the textual and image data in the first format to the central computer by batch upload, the following steps being performed at the location of the central computer;
determining which remote data terminals are authorized to transmit subject oriented textual and image data, and storing information relating thereto;
receiving textual and image data from an authorized remote data terminal;
creating a first set of unique records identifying the textual information associated with teach subject received from each remote data terminal;
creating a second set of unique records identifying the image data associated with each subject received from each remote data terminal;
storing the image data separately from the textual information in a data-compressed second image format;
storing the textual information separately from the image data in relational form, along with information identifying the location of the separately stored image data corresponding thereto;
receiving subject-related requests relating to the transaction from at least one of the remote data terminals;
locating textual information corresponding to the subject-related requests relating to the transaction when requested;
transmitting the located textual information to the requesting remote data terminal; and
locating subject-related image data in response to the request when requested;
transmitting the related image data in a second data-compressed format;
e. de-compressing the images in the second data compressed format at the requesting remote data terminal; and
f. displaying the de-compressed images along with textual information at the requesting remote data terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
providing all remote data terminals participating in the auction with textual information and image data relating to the unique subject to be auctioned;
collecting bids from the remote data terminals participating in the auction; and
allocating the subject of the auction to a particular data terminal as a result of a successful bid.
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15. The method of claim 14, wherein the decision concerning a successful bid is performed at a remote data terminal.
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16. The method of claim 14, wherein the decision regarding a successful bid is performed at the central computer.
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17. The method of claim 1, further including the step of inputting a user identification code at a remote terminal prior to entering the information, to gain access to the central computer.
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18. The method of claim 1, further including the step of inputting remote terminal identification information from a user security key at a remote terminal prior to entering the information, to gain access to the central computer.
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19. The method of claim 1, wherein the second image format is identical to the third image format.
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20. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of entering information is performed with a first screen display of the requesting remote data terminal.
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21. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying the de-compressed images along with textual information at the requesting remote data terminal is performed with the first screen display of the requesting remote data terminal.
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22. The method of claim 1 which further comprises the step of:
generating computer graphics at the remote data terminal.
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23. The method of claim 22 wherein:
the remote data terminal is a telephone.
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24. A method for conducting an interactive auction which comprises:
buying and selling according to the method of claim 1.
Specification