Methods and systems for interrogating and processing codes

• US 8,925,810 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Reblin, Gary C.
• Primary Examiner(s): KELLY, RAFFERTY D
• Application Number:
  US13/607,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20130001298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1413 1D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/327 Short range or proximity payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0238 at point-of-sale [POS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0045 with a code reader for reading of an identifying code of the article to be registered, e.g. barcode reader or radio-frequency identity [RFID] reader
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/009 the reader being an RFID reader

Abstract

An interrogating and processing system and method is described. A wireless communication device interrogates an information source, having a barcode or tag, and wirelessly transmits data indicative of the information source. The interrogator can be built into or adjunct to the wireless communication device. An automated processing subsystem receives the transmitted data and identifies an item corresponding to the data. A fulfillment subsystem effects delivery of the item to a destination. There can be a coupon code scanning and processing system and method. A wireless computing device having an interrogator reads a coupon code. An automated processing subsystem receives the corresponding data and provides a benefit associated with the coupon. The benefit can be a discount on a product or service. Alternatively, at least a portion of the coupon including a code is displayed on a screen of the computing device for processing at a point of sale terminal.

Claims

1. A coupon code scanning and processing system, comprising:

a wireless computing device comprising;

a scanner configured to scan a coupon, and an item code, the coupon relating to an item, and the item code identifying an item;

a memory configured to store data indicative of the coupon and to store data associated with the coupon, the stored data associated with the coupon comprising a whole or partial bitmap of the coupon and a coupon code;

a processor configured to receive the item code and to determine whether data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the item code is present in the memory and wherein the processor character recognizes the coupon to identify a coupon code;

wherein the processor is further configured to provide a notification if data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the item code is present in the memory; and

an automated processing subsystem configured to receive the coupon code from the wireless computing device and to provide the benefit associated with the coupon corresponding to the data associated with the coupon during a transaction involving the item identified by the item code,

wherein the stored coupon code is indicative of a uniform resource locator address for a network resource accessed by the wireless computing device to obtain the data associated with the coupon, and

wherein the processor additionally accesses a network resource addressed by the uniform resource locator address and obtains data associated with the coupon.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupon corresponds to a retail product.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the code comprises a barcode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless computing device has a mobile wireless cellular or personal communications service voice capability and belongs to a customer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated processing subsystem is a point of sale terminal or a coupon kiosk.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanning of the coupon is performed outside of a business having the automated processing subsystem.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanning of the coupon is performed on an electronic signage display of a coupon at a point of display in a business.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupon comprises a code.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated processing subsystem is located in a retail business location.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless computing device notifies the user of the device of applicable coupons.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless computing device transmits the data to the automated processing subsystem via a Bluetooth or infrared protocol.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless computing device transmits the data to the automated processing subsystem via a cellular or personal communications service protocol.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the benefit is a discount on a product or service.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the automated processing subsystem receives the whole or partial bitmap of the coupon.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a notification if data indicative of a coupon code related to an item similar to, but distinct from, the item identified by the item code is present in the memory.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the benefit is a mailed rebate.

17. The system of claim 1, additionally comprising an RFID scanner to limit coupon scans.

18. A coupon code scanning and processing method using a mobile computing device having a scanner, the method comprising:

receiving a coupon scanned via the mobile computing device, the coupon relating to an item;

receiving an item code scanned via the mobile computing device, the item code identifying an item, wherein the scanning of the item code is performed at a location of a product or service in a business;

character recognizing the coupon to identify a coupon code;

storing data indicative of the coupon code in a memory of the mobile computing device;

storing data associated with the coupon in the mobile computing device, the stored data associated with the coupon comprising a whole or partial bitmap of the coupon;

searching the memory to determine whether data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the received item code is present in the memory;

providing a notification if the data indicative of a coupon relating to the item identified by the received item code is present in the memory;

transmitting the data indicative of the coupon code to an automated processing subsystem via a wireless protocol so as to receive a benefit associated with the coupon corresponding to the data associated with the coupon code,

wherein the stored data indicative of the coupon code is indicative of a uniform resource locator address for a network resource accessed by the mobile computing device to obtain the data associated with the coupon, and

wherein the mobile computing device additionally accesses a network resource addressed by the uniform resource locator address and obtains data associated with the coupon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the benefit is a discount on a product or service.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the code comprises a barcode.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the automated processing subsystem receives the whole or partial bitmap of the coupon.

22. A coupon scanning and processing method using a mobile computing device having a scanner and a display screen, the method comprising:

scanning a coupon via the mobile computing device at a non-point of sale location;

character recognizing the coupon to identify a coupon code;

storing data indicative of the coupon code in a memory of the mobile computing device, the coupon code relating to an item;

storing data associated with the coupon, the stored data associated with the coupon comprising a whole or partial bitmap of the coupon;

scanning an item code at a point of sale location, the item code identifying an item;

searching the memory to determine whether the data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the scanned item code is present in the memory;

providing a notification if data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the scanned item code is present in the memory;

displaying at least a portion of the whole or partial bitmap of the coupon, including the data associated with the coupon, and the code on a screen of the mobile computing device; and

using the displaying of the at least a portion of the coupon including the data associated with the coupon and the code on a screen of the mobile computing device to receive a benefit associated with the displayed at least a portion of the coupon at a point of sale terminal,

wherein the stored data indicative of the coupon code is indicative of a uniform resource locator address for a network resource accessed by the mobile computing device to obtain the data associated with the coupon, and

wherein the mobile computing device additionally accesses a network resource addressed by the uniform resource locator address and obtains data associated with the coupon.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the benefit is a discount on a product or service.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the displayed at least a portion of the coupon is scanned at the point of sale terminal.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein data associated with the displayed at least a portion of the coupon is manually entered at the point of sale terminal.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the scanning of the coupon is performed at a display location of a product or service in a business.

27. A coupon code scanning and processing system having a mobile computing device, the system comprising:

means for receiving a scanned coupon, wherein the scanning of the coupon is performed at a location of a product or service in a business;

means for character recognizing the coupon to identify a coupon code;

means for storing data indicative of the coupon code in a mobile computing device;

means for storing data associated with the coupon in the mobile computing device, the coupon relating to an item, the stored data associated with the coupon comprising a whole or partial bitmap of the coupon;

means for receiving a scanned item code, the item code identifying an item, wherein the scanning of the item code is performed at the location of the product or service in the business;

means for searching the stored data for data indicative of a coupon code relating the item identified by the received item code;

means for providing a notification if data indicative of a coupon code relating to the item identified by the item code is stored in the memory; and

means for transmitting the data to an automated processing subsystem via a wireless protocol so as to receive a benefit associated with the coupon corresponding to the data associated with the coupon code,

wherein the stored data indicative of the coupon code is indicative of a uniform resource locator address for a network resource accessed by the mobile computing device to obtain the data associated with the coupon, and

wherein the mobile computing device additionally accesses a network resource addressed by the uniform resource locator address and obtains data associated with the coupon.