Systems and methods for price searching on a mobile device

• US 8,061,602 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Oakes, Charles Lee III
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US12/041,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.45, 235/462.46, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03, 235/380, 235/383, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

Price searching on a mobile device is provided. A system for obtaining pricing information comprises at least one subsystem that electronically reads a price and product data of a product using a mobile device, 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 that determines whether a product is similar to that of a product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device;

at least one subsystem that automatically compares cost information of products determined to be similar; and

at least one subsystem that automatically performs a user-chosen predetermined action based the comparison.

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

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem that selects a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one subsystem that selects a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available immediately or is on back-order.

8. A method for comparing product pricing information comprising:

determining whether a product is similar to that of a product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device;

automatically comparing cost information of products determined to be similar; and

automatically performing a user-chosen predetermined action based the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising 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.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a product if the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a product if the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device, wherein said range of cost difference is a percentage higher or lower than the cost of the product whose price and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost difference compared to the cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available immediately or is on back-order.

15. 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 and product identification were electronically read by and communicated from a mobile device;

automatically comparing cost information of products determined to be similar; and

automatically performing a user-chosen predetermined action based the comparison.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 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.

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

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for selecting a product if the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost 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 cost 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.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available in a physical retail store or over the Internet.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising instructions for selecting a product based upon whether the product'"'"'s cost falls within a range of cost 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 cost falls within the range of cost difference is available immediately or is on back-order.