Method and system for online purchasing using processing sensor

• US 7,590,561 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trotter; Scott S
• Application Number:
  US10/291,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 705/27, 705/23, 356/21, 356/624, 356616-620
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to online purchasing via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting purchasing transactions over a network.

Claims

1. A method of enabling online purchasing, the method including the steps of:

providing a form having printed thereon coded data distributed over an area;

capturing, using a sensing device, an image from the form the image showing a portion of the coded data;

decoding at least some of the coded data within the captured image;

determining, from the coded data, an identity of the form and a position of the coded data on the form;

determining a position of the sensing device relative to the form from a distortion of the captured image and the determined position of the coded data;

receiving, in a computer system, the identity of the form and the position of the sensing device as indicating data; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one parameter relating to the purchasing transaction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, said indicating data is further indicative of a zone of the form, and said step of identifying identifies the at least one parameter relating to the purchasing transaction further based on the zone of the form.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the step of capturing is such that the portion of coded data shown in the image is dependent on which of a plurality of operative positions the sensing device is in when the image is captured, and

the method further comprises a step of:

interpreting, in the computer system, a parameter regarding at least one of the movement and the position of the sensing device relative to the form.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the step of capturing is such that the portion of coded data shown in the or each image is dependent on which of a plurality of operative positions the sensing device is in when the image is captured, and

the step of decoding further decodes at least some of the coded data to generate data regarding an identity of a potential purchaser, and

the method further comprises the step of:

identifying, in the computer system, from the data regarding the identity of the potential purchaser and the identity of the form, a purchasing transaction.

5. A system for enabling online purchasing, the system including:

a form containing information relating to a purchasing transaction, the form including coded data distributed over an area, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the form and a plurality of reference points on the form;

an image sensor, the image sensor adapted to capture one or more images when placed in any one of a plurality of operative positions relative to the form, the sensing device adapted to capture the one or more images such that the or each image shows a portion of the coded data dependent on which of the plurality of operative positions the sensing device is in when the image is captured;

a processor adapted to decode at least some of the coded data within the or each image captured, and further adapted to generate, from the decoded coded data, indicating data that is indicative of the identity of the form, and from the decoded coded data and a distortion of the or each image captured, at least one of a position and a movement of the image sensor relative to the form; and

a computer system for receiving the indicating data, the computer system operable to identify at least one parameter relating to the purchasing transaction, wherein

the processor is adapted to generate the indicating data regardless of which of the plurality of operative positions relative to the form the sensing device is placed in.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one parameter is further indicative of at least one zone of the form.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the coded data is further indicative of at least one parameter of the purchasing transaction, and the computer system is further operable to interpret at least one of said movement and said position of the image sensor as it relates to said at least one parameter.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the coded data is further indicative of an identity of a potential purchaser, and the processor is further adapted to generate, from the decoded coded data, data regarding the identity of the potential purchaser.