Real world showroom

• US 6,766,947 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Brody, Adam, Wan, Dadong, Gershman, Anatole V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US09/812,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 705/27, 705/16
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A method of retrieving product information and ordering products is disclosed. A consumer observes a product in its real world usage context and scans an RFID tag embedded in the product. A mobile terminal is used to transmit the RFID tag to a computer connected to a computer network. The computer transmits product specification information to the mobile terminal. The consumer may also be given the option of purchasing the product in real time.

Claims

1. A method of identifying and rewarding consumers who display products to other consumers, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a database, an RFID code of a tag embedded in a product and the identification of a first consumer who purchased the product and who utilized the product for an intended purpose of the product;

receiving, from a second consumer, a request for product specification information, wherein the request includes the RFID code;

searching the database with the RFID code to identify the first consumer; and

providing a reward to the first consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reword comprises a commission for sales made to the second consumer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reward comprises a discount on future purchases.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

transmitting product specification information to the second consumer.

5. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

storing, in a database, an RFID code of a tag embedded in a product and the identification of a first consumer who purchased the product and who utilized the product for an intended purpose of the product;

searching the database with the RFID code received from a second consumer to identify the first consumer; and

providing a reward to the first consumer.

6. A method of advertising and selling products, the method comprising the steps of:

embedding a radio frequency identification tag in a product;

selling the product to a first consumer;

reading the radio frequency identification tag embedded in the product while the product is being utilized by the first consumer for an intended purpose of the product;

ordering the product for a second consumer in real time after reading the radio frequency identification tag; and

rewarding the first consumer.