Simplified method and system for e-commerce operable in on-line and off -line modes
First Claim
1. A system for effecting procurement of desired items which include products or services or information content, the system comprising:
- a portable, hand-held user tool, comprising a facility for reading, storing and forwarding identification indicia appearing on or in proximity to the desired items;
a central agent facility configured to communicate with a plurality of the user tools and constructed to receive from the hand-held user tools the identification indicia;
a database associated with the central agent facility that correlates the desired item identification information received from the hand-held user tools with corresponding supply source information for the desired items available at or from a plurality of suppliers;
a data gathering facility associated with the central agent facility which communicates to the suppliers users requests for the desired items and receives information from the suppliers relevant thereto; and
wherein the central agent facility communicates to the user tools selective information pertaining to the desired items.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simplified method and system for e-commerce, which is operable in both on-line and off-line modes and in a manner which provides easy interface between entities providing products/services to the consuming public. A user tool is enabled to read identification indicia appearing on or in proximity to products or services and transmitting such information either wirelessly, or otherwise, to a central facility which carries out all of the necessary Internet searching to find information about the products/services. A consumer does not require to operate a PC or to have any knowledge concerning how to use, as by browsing or surfing the Internet, in order to procure information about products/services offered on the Internet.
72 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for effecting procurement of desired items which include products or services or information content, the system comprising:
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a portable, hand-held user tool, comprising a facility for reading, storing and forwarding identification indicia appearing on or in proximity to the desired items;
a central agent facility configured to communicate with a plurality of the user tools and constructed to receive from the hand-held user tools the identification indicia;
a database associated with the central agent facility that correlates the desired item identification information received from the hand-held user tools with corresponding supply source information for the desired items available at or from a plurality of suppliers;
a data gathering facility associated with the central agent facility which communicates to the suppliers users requests for the desired items and receives information from the suppliers relevant thereto; and
wherein the central agent facility communicates to the user tools selective information pertaining to the desired items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for effecting procurement of desired items which include products or services or information content, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing users with a portable, hand-held user tool, comprising a facility for forwarding identification indicia defining the desired items;
providing a central agent facility configured to communicate with a plurality of the portable user tools and constructed to receive from the user tools the identification indicia;
providing in conjunction with the central agent facility a database that correlates the desired item identification information received from the user tools with corresponding supply source information for the desired items available at or from a plurality of suppliers;
operating the central agent facility to gather from the plurality of suppliers information responsive to the user requests for the desired items and receiving from the plurality of suppliers information relevant thereto; and
communicating from the central agent facility to the user tools selective information pertaining to the desired items. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification