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Personal communication device with bar code reader for obtaining product information from multiple databases

  • US 6,974,078 B1
  • Filed: 09/28/1999
  • Issued: 12/13/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of obtaining information related to a specific product from multiple databases accessible over the Internet via a communications server using a hand-held personal communication device (PCD), said PCD having a display and means for communicating with the communication server, the method comprising the steps of:

  • a) entering product information including at least a product code for the specific product into said PCD;

    b) transmitting the product code to the communication server from the PCD;

    c) retrieving a product identifier for the specific product from a product information library storing product identifiers in relation to product codes;

    d) transmitting a search query to the communication server from the PCD, wherein the search query includes a request to obtain information related to the specific product;

    e) processing the search query to obtain the product related information from two or more of the multiple databases by automatically sending the product identifier to a search engine, wherein at least one of the databases is remote from the communication server;

    f) retrieving the product related information by the search engine from the two or more databases using the product identifier;

    g) responding to the search query by sending the retrieved product related information from the communication server to the PCD; and

    h) displaying at least a portion of the product related information on the PCD.

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