Systems and methods for price searching via a mobile device reading display screen graphics

• US 7,778,886 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United States Automobile Association (United Services Automobile Association)
• Inventors: Oakes, Charles Lee III, Maroney, Judd Hoyt
• Primary Examiner(s): Airapetian; Mila
• Application Number:
  US12/042,412
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

Price searching via a mobile device reading display screen graphics is provided. A system for obtaining pricing information comprises at least one subsystem that electronically reads a price of a product using a mobile device scanning a display screen, at least one subsystem that searches for other available products and price data to compare to the electronically read price and product data, at least one subsystem that compares the price data of the other products to the electronically read price data, and at least one subsystem that presents purchase options based upon results of the comparison of the price and product data.

Claims

1. A system for comparing product pricing information comprising:

at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to determine whether a product is similar to that of a product whose price was electronically read off of a display screen via an optical scanner of a mobile device and communicated from the mobile device;

at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to compare price information of products determined to be similar; and

at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available immediately or is on back-order and based on a distance between a current location of the mobile device and the product.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product if the product has the same model number as that of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device, wherein said range of price difference is a percentage higher or lower than the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based location of the product whose price falls within the range of price difference.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem comprising a processor configured to select a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.

7. A method for comparing product pricing information comprising:

determining, using a computer processor, whether a product is similar to that of a product whose price was electronically read off of a display screen via an optical scanner of a mobile device and communicated from the mobile device;

comparing, using a computer processor, price information of products determined to be similar; and

selecting, using a computer processor, a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available immediately or is on back-order and based on a distance between a current location of the mobile device and the product.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting, using a computer processor, a product if the product has the same model number as that of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting, using a computer processor, a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting, using a computer processor, a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device, wherein said range of price difference is a percentage higher or lower than the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting, using a computer processor, a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based location of the product whose price falls within the range of price difference.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting, using a computer processor, a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for comparing product pricing information, said computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for:

determining whether a product is similar to that of a product whose price was electronically read off of a display screen via an optical scanner of a mobile device and communicated from the mobile device;

comparing price information of products determined to be similar; and

selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available immediately or is on back-order and based on a distance between a current location of the mobile device and the product.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for selecting a product if the product has the same model number as that of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for selecting a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for selecting a product if the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device, wherein said range of price difference is a percentage higher or lower than the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based location of the product whose price falls within the range of price difference.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions for selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s price falls within a range of price difference compared to the price of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device and based upon whether the product whose price falls within the range of price difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.