System and method to store and retrieve identifier associated information content

• US 8,615,487 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2004
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Soule III
• Inventors: Gomez, Garrison, Siegler, Thomas A., Soule, Robert M. III, Daddabbo, Nick, Sperduti, David
• Primary Examiner(s): REYES, MARIELA D
• Application Number:
  US10/852,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,501 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 186/61
• US Class Current: 707/612
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/152 using file content signatures, e.g. hash values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/156 Query results presentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes

Abstract

In one embodiment, information content files, such as text files, image files, XML files and the like, that provide information related to an identifier bearing item, such as a consumer item with a barcode, are stored on a data storage device such as network server. Identifier data entries, such as UPC data, are associated with file data entries, such as file names, in a database. General file access information that is used in accessing the information content files is stored on a terminal. In operation an identifier is read by the terminal and is used to extract one of the file data entries from the database based on database communication information stored on the terminal. The file data entry in combination with the general file access information is used to establish communication with the data storage device and to extract one of the information content files.

Claims

1. A method of storing and retrieving information content related to an identifier bearing item, the method comprising:

configuring a terminal with general file access information, the general file access information including at least data storage device connection information, the data storage device containing a plurality of information content files;

configuring the terminal with database connection information, the database containing a plurality of identifier data entries and a plurality of file data entries, each of the plurality of identifier data entries associated with at least one of the file data entries, each of the file data entries when combined with the general file access information capable of being used to access at least one of the plurality of information content files;

reading an identifier on the identifier bearing item to generate identifier data;

transmitting a file data entry request to the database from the terminal, the file data entry request being transmitted based on at least the stored database location information and including at least the identifier data;

receiving from the database by the terminal a file data entry; and

formulating by the terminal an information content file request, the information content file request based on at least the general file access information and the file data entry.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information content file request is a file transfer protocol request.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information content file request is a hypertext transfer protocol request.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the file data entry request is a file transfer protocol request.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the file data entry request is a hypertext transfer protocol request.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the terminal is a transaction terminal.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the terminal is a portable data terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the terminal is an information kiosk.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the terminal is a cash register.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the terminal is self-checkout terminal.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information content files are image files.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information content files are extensible mark-up language files.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the information content files are text files.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data storage device connection information comprises a network address for the data storage device.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data storage device connection information comprises telephony connection information for the data storage device.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the data storage device is located on the terminal.

17. The method according to claim 1 wherein the identifier is represented by a barcode.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the identifier is stored in radio frequency identification tag.

19. The method according to claim 1 further comprising decoding the identifier.

20. The method according to claim 1 wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and the file data entries specify file paths on the data storage device.

21. The method according to claim 1 wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and a first file path portion and the file data entries specify second file path portions, the second file path portions including file names.

22. The method according to claim 1 wherein the file data entries are file names.

23. A system for storing and retrieving information content related to an identifier bearing item, the system comprising:

a reader capable of reading an identifier on the identifier bearing item to generate identifier data;

a data storage device containing a plurality of information content files;

a terminal configured to store general file access information and database connection information, the general file access information including at least data storage device connection information; and

a database containing a plurality of identifier data entries and a plurality of file data entries, each of the plurality of identifier data entries associated with at least one of the file data entries,

wherein an information content file request transmitted by the terminal to the data storage device is based on at least the general file access information and on one of the file data entries, the one of the file data entries being received in response to a file data entry request transmitted by the terminal to the database.

24. The system according to claim 23 wherein the file data entry request is based on at least the identifier data and is transmitted based on at least database connection information stored in the terminal.

25. The system according to claim 23 wherein the information content file request is a file transfer protocol request.

26. The system according to claim 23 wherein the information content file request is a hypertext transfer protocol request.

27. The system according to claim 23 wherein the general file access information specifies a network address of the data storage device and each of the file data entries provide information identifying one of the information content files.

28. The system according to claim 23 wherein the terminal is a transaction terminal.

29. The system according to claim 23 wherein the terminal is a portable data terminal.

30. The system according to claim 23 wherein the terminal is a cash register.

31. The system according to claim 23 wherein the terminal is an information kiosk.

32. The system according to claim 23 wherein the terminal is self-checkout terminal.

33. The system according to claim 23 wherein the information content files include image files.

34. The system according to claim 23 wherein the information content files include extensible mark-up language files.

35. The system according to claim 23 wherein the information content files include text files.

36. The system according to claim 23 wherein the reader is further capable of decoding the identifier.

37. The system according to claim 23 wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and the file data entries specify file paths on the data storage device.

38. The system according to claim 23 wherein the general file access information specifies the location of the data storage device and a first file path portion and the file data entries specify second file path portions, the second file path portions including file names.

39. The system according to claim 23 wherein the file data entries are file names.

40. A system for storing and retrieving information content related to an identifier bearing item, the system comprising:

a reader capable of reading an identifier on the identifier bearing item to generate identifier data, the identifier data specifying at least a source of the identifier bearing item;

a database containing a plurality of identifier data entries, each of the identifier data entries associated with a redirection entry;

a terminal in communication with the reader, the terminal configured with database connection information;

a data storage device containing a plurality of information content files, at least one of the plurality of information content files related to the identifier bearing item;

a communications network in communication with the terminal, the database and the data storage device; and

an entity separate from the source of the identifier bearing item, the entity maintaining some control over the at least one of the plurality of information content files related to the identifier bearing item,

wherein the terminal establishes communication with the data storage device and requests at least one of the plurality of information content files related to the identifier bearing item based on the redirection entry associated with the identifier bearing item, the redirection entry being received in response to a request transmitted by the terminal to the database.

41. The system according to claim 40 wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is a manufacturer of the identifier bearing item.

42. The system according to claim 40 wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is an importer of the identifier bearing item.

43. The system according to claim 40 wherein the some control includes maintaining the information content files.

44. The system according to claim 40 wherein the some control comprises developing guidelines for the information content files.

45. The system according to claim 40 wherein the some control comprises developing at least some of the content of the information content files.

46. The system according to claim 40 wherein the entity is a retail establishment containing the terminal.

47. The system according to claim 40 wherein the entity is a content management entity.

48. The system according to claim 40 further comprising a plurality of entities separate from a plurality of sources for a corresponding plurality of identifier bearing items, each of the plurality of entities maintaining some control over some of the information content files.

49. A method for storing and retrieving information content related to an identifier bearing item, the method comprising:

configuring a terminal with database connection information, the database containing a plurality of identifier data entries, each of the identifier data entries associated with a redirection entry;

reading an identifier on the identifier bearing item to generate identifier data, the identifier data specifying at least a source of the identifier bearing item;

transmitting a redirection request to the database from the terminal, the redirection request being transmitted based on at least the stored database location information and including at least the identifier data;

receiving by the terminal from the database a redirection entry;

transmitting an information content file request by the terminal to one of a plurality of data storage devices based on at least the redirection entry, the information content file request identifying at least one of a plurality of information content files stored on the one of the plurality of data storage devices, the at least one of the plurality of information content files related to the identifier bearing item; and

receiving by the terminal from the one of the plurality of data storage devices the at least one of the plurality of information content files,

wherein an entity separate from the source of the identifier bearing item maintains some control over the at least one of the plurality of information content files related to the identifier bearing item.

50. The method according to claim 49 wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is a manufacturer of the identifier bearing item.

51. The method according to claim 49 wherein the source of the identifier bearing item is an importer of the identifier bearing item.

52. The method according to claim 49 wherein the some control includes maintaining the information content files.

53. The method according to claim 49 wherein the some control comprises developing guidelines for the information content files.

54. The method according to claim 49 wherein the some control comprises developing at least some of the content of the information content files.

55. The method according to claim 49 wherein the entity is a retail establishment containing the terminal.

56. The method according to claim 49 wherein the entity is a content management entity.

57. The method according to claim 49 further comprising a plurality of entities separate from a plurality of sources for a corresponding plurality of identifier bearing items, each of the plurality of entities maintaining some control over some of the information content files.