Method and system for matching via an image search query at a point of sale

• US 8,117,071 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Fitch, Todd Matthew, Flora, John Reed, Weiss, Benjamin R., Goldman, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zare, Scott
• Application Number:
  US12/112,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• Field of Search: 705/16, 705/20, 705/23
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/201 Price look-up processing, e.g. updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0054 with control of supplementary check-parameters, e.g. weight or number of articles
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/12 electronically operated digital data processing aspects G06Q20/00

Abstract

A method for matching an unknown product to an offered product profile at a point of sale involves obtaining a first sensory input from the unknown product, where the first sensory input comprises at least a portion of an image, assigning a value to one or more characteristics of the first sensory input, searching a first product repository for a matching product profile using a pre-defined range based on the value of the one or more characteristics of the first sensory input, identifying the matching product profile on the first product repository when the offered product profile is within the pre-defined range, wherein the matching product profile includes a plurality of product information data, and conducting a transaction at the point of sale using the plurality of product information data.

Claims

1. A method identifying a product at a point of sale (POS), comprising:

obtaining a first digital image and a second digital image of an unknown product;

generating, by the computer processor, a 3D image of the unknown product using the first digital image and the second digital image;

obtaining an electrical conductivity of the unknown product;

searching, by the computer processor, a product repository for the 3D image and the electrical conductivity to identify the product that matches the unknown product, wherein the product comprises a name and a price; and

selling the product for the price at the POS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an invoice comprising the name and the price at the POS for a sale of the product.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a chemical composition of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the chemical composition to identify the product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a plurality of product identification data of the product; and

obtaining a user approval of the plurality of product identification data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a molecular structure of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the molecular structure to identify the product.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a temperature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the temperature to identify the product.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a pH signature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the pH signature to identify the product.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a chemical affinity signature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the chemical affinity signature to identify the product.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a molecular binding signature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the molecular binding signature to identify the product.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a reactivity signature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the reactivity signature to identify the product.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a density of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the density to identify the product.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a viscosity of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the viscosity to identify the product.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a genetic marker of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the genetic marker to identify the product.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a thermal signature of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the thermal signature to identify the product.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a mass of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the mass to identify the product.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a radioactivity of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the radioactivity to identify the product.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a partial barcode of the unknown product;

searching the product repository for the partial barcode; and

failing to identify the product.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for identifying a product at a point of sale (POS), the instructions comprising functionality for:

obtaining a first digital image and a second digital image of an unknown product;

generating a 3D image of the unknown product using the first digital image and the second digital image;

obtaining an electrical conductivity of the unknown product;

searching a product repository for the 3D image and the electrical conductivity to identify the product that matches the unknown product, wherein the product comprises a name and a price; and

selling the product for the price at the POS.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, the instructions further comprising functionality for:

obtaining a molecular structure of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the molecular structure to identify the product.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, the instructions further comprising functionality for:

obtaining a genetic marker of the unknown product; and

searching the product repository for the genetic marker to identify the product.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, the instructions further comprising functionality for:

obtaining a partial barcode of the unknown product;

searching the product repository for the partial barcode; and

failing to identify the product.

22. A system for identifying a product at a point of sale (POS), comprising:

the POS operatively connected to a processor and configured to;

obtain a first digital image and a second digital image of an unknown product;

generate a 3D image of the unknown product using the first digital image and the second digital image;

obtain an electrical conductivity of the unknown product;

search a product repository for the 3D image and the electrical conductivity to identify the product that matches the unknown product, wherein the product comprises a name and a price; and

sell the product for the price at the POS.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the POS is further configured to:

obtain a molecular structure of the unknown product; and

search the product repository for the molecular structure to identify the product.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the POS is further configured to:

obtain a genetic marker of the unknown product; and

search the product repository for the genetic marker to identify the product.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the POS is further configured to:

obtain a partial barcode of the unknown product;

search the product repository for the partial barcode; and

fail to identify the product.