Marketing goods with bar codes
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer system comprising:
- a database storing data records, at least some of the data records including bar code information for a bar code that has been affixed to an item being offered for sale;
a processor for executing software instructions stored in a memory;
a memory storing first executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to receive a data record from a computing device representing a posting terminal, and then generate a bar code that uniquely identifies an item being offered for sale and with which the data record is associated; and
the memory storing second executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to;
receive over a network from a portable computing device a request including bar code information that has been obtained by scanning a bar code affixed to an item being offered for sale;
retrieve from the database a data record having bar code information that matches the bar code information received with the request from the portable computing device; and
communicate at least a portion of the data record retrieved from the database to the portable computing device for display at the portable computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are techniques to market products and services by enabling a potential consumer to access information about a product or service by simply scanning a bar code. Consistent with some embodiments, a computer system stores in a database data records that include bar code information. The computer system is operable to receive requests for information that include bar code information. Upon receiving such a request, the computer system identifies a data record in the database with bar code information that matches the bar code information received in the request, and then processes the request by communicating relevant information to the requestor.
309 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a database storing data records, at least some of the data records including bar code information for a bar code that has been affixed to an item being offered for sale; a processor for executing software instructions stored in a memory; a memory storing first executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to receive a data record from a computing device representing a posting terminal, and then generate a bar code that uniquely identifies an item being offered for sale and with which the data record is associated; and the memory storing second executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to; receive over a network from a portable computing device a request including bar code information that has been obtained by scanning a bar code affixed to an item being offered for sale; retrieve from the database a data record having bar code information that matches the bar code information received with the request from the portable computing device; and communicate at least a portion of the data record retrieved from the database to the portable computing device for display at the portable computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method comprising:
at a computer system that is communicatively coupled to, or hosting, one or more databases containing data records with at least some of the records having a field for storing bar code information associated with a bar code affixed to an item with which the data record is associated, i) receiving from a posting terminal a data record and then generating a bar code that uniquely identifies an item being offered for sale and with which the data record is associated, ii) receiving over a network from a computing device a request that includes bar code information obtained from scanning a bar code affixed to an item, iii) retrieving from the database a data record having bar code information that matches the bar code information received with the request from the computing device, and iv) communicate at least a portion of the data record retrieved from the database to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Specification