Ratings using machine-readable representations

• US 8,844,800 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sahuguet, Arnaud
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US12/060,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,374 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/435, 235/487, 235/375, 705/26.1, 705/10, 705/7.32, 705/14.44, 705/14.19, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal

Abstract

In a computer-implemented review method, a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity is decoded to obtain the identification code. The identification code is submitted to a central computer system, and a ratings form that can be used for providing a review of the ratable entity is received from the central computer system. A review of the ratable entity is provided to the central computer system using the review form.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented review method, the method comprising:

storing information about a plurality of ratable entities;

receiving a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity of the plurality of ratable entities;

decoding the machine-readable representation to obtain the identification code and retrieve the information;

creating a ratings form based on the identification code and the information, the ratings form being used for providing a review of the ratable entity; and

providing the review of the ratable entity to a central computer system using the review form.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ratable entity is a product or service.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein decoding the machine-readable representation comprises capturing an image of the machine-readable representation with a digital camera coupled to a computing device performing the decoding and determining the identification code from the image of the machine-readable representation.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable representation is a linear bar code or two-dimensional bar code.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the linear bar code is selected from a group of linear bar codes including UPC symbols, EAN-13 codes, and pharmacodes.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the two-dimensional bar code is selected from a group of two-dimensional bar codes including DataMatrix, QRCode, and PDF417 codes.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving content from the central computer system in response to providing the review of the ratable entity; and

displaying the content.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the content comprises a coupon received via electronic transmission.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the content comprises a promotional item for an entity that provides products or services similar to or complementary to those of the ratable entity.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting an electronic message to a receiving device of the ratable entity, the electronic message comprising the content.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input corresponding to the content, the content comprising a uniform resource locator (URL);

transmitting a request based on the URL; and

receiving a response based on the request, the response comprising at least one of a coupon and a message.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the content comprises an invitation to view a web page including information related to the review.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the content is embedded in an email.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the review of the ratable entity comprises receiving user input ranking the ratable entity into the ratings form.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the review comprises multimedia content including audio recordings, pictures, photographs, video recordings, or any combination thereof.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a mobile computing device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving the machine-readable representation further comprises receiving a scanned image of the machine-readable representation.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein decoding the machine-readable representation comprises capturing an image of the machine-readable representation with a digital camera coupled to a computing device performing the decoding and determining the identification code from the image of the machine-readable representation.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodied and stored in an information carrier and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method, the method comprising:

storing information about a plurality of ratable entities;

receiving a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity of the plurality of ratable entities;

decoding the machine-readable representation to obtain the identification code and retrieve the information;

creating a ratings form based on the identification code and the information, the ratings form being used for providing a review of the ratable entity; and

providing the review of the ratable entity to a central computer system using the review form.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the machine-readable representation is a linear bar code or two-dimensional bar code.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that when executed by the processor receive content from the central computer system after providing the review of the ratable entity.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein providing a review of the ratable entity comprises receiving user input ranking the ratable entity into the ratings form.

23. A computer-implemented review device, comprising:

a database storing information about a plurality of ratable entities;

an input module to receive a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity; and

a code generator to provide the identification code associated with the ratable entity,

wherein the device creates an electronic ratings form that includes one or more ratings categories in response to providing the identification code and based on the information; and

wherein the device is operable to electronically transmit a review of the ratable entity to a central computer through completion of the form.

24. A mobile device, comprising:

a database storing information about a plurality of ratable entities;

an input module to receive a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code associated with a ratable entity;

a code generator to provide the identification code associated with a ratable entity;

means for associating the received identification code with one or more ratings categories and creating an electronic ratings form that includes the one or more ratings categories, wherein creating is performed using both the identification code and the information; and

wherein the mobile device is operable to electronically transmit a review of the ratable entity to a central computer through completion of the form.

25. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising:

storing information about a plurality of ratable entities;

receiving a machine-readable representation that encodes an identification code;

associating a ratable entity of the plurality of ratable entities with the identification code;

creating a ratings form for rating the ratable entity based on the identification code and the information in response to associating the ratable entity with the identification code;

transmitting, by electronic communication, a review of the ratable entity to a central computer system, the review comprising one or more ratings of the ratable entity.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, wherein the machine-readable representation is a linear bar code or a two dimensional bar code.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving electronic content after transmitting the review of the ratable entity; and

displaying the content.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the electric content is a coupon.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the electric content is an advertisement.