Abstract:
A method and apparatus for convenient and easy access to product-and shipment-related information and/or transactions is disclosed. An end device, for instance a bar code reader, is used to read a portable data carrier, for instance a bar code symbol. having a structured data format. The end device parses one or more particular data entities from the data read. The end device accesses a URL having at least a portion in common with one or more of the parsed data entities and displays associated web page content or processes an associated transaction. The end device may sequentially substitute a series of most probable non-common URI, portions to locate associated content if the first tried URL does not result in a valid response. Alternatively, a server may provide such search functionality.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present patent application depends from the U.S. provisional patent application entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING PRODUCT INFORMATION USING BAR CODE DATA, serial No. 60/183,421, dated Feb. 18, 2000. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to the field of bar code data collection and more particularly to the field of accessing information pertaining to a bar coded object via a computer network such as the Internet.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The efficient distribution of product-related information to end-users and potential end-users is an important tool for minimizing sales cycle times, improving user satisfaction, reducing warranty costs, and minimizing manufacturer liability. The presentation of desired and regulated information often occupies a great deal of product label space and is often limiting to the industrial and aesthetic design of product packaging.  
           [0004]    Explosive growth of the Internet and World Wide Web has provided an efficient means for the distribution of information, and product-related information in particular. To date, accessing product information has required a user to determine the manufacturer of the product, determine the manufacturer&#39;s URL, enter the URL into a web browser, and search the manufacturer&#39;s web site to find relevant product information.  
           [0005]    The present invention makes use of a product&#39;s UPC or other symbol to access data about the product.  
           [0006]    The symbology-related background of the invention is described in  The Bar Code Book  by Roger C. Palmer, hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0007]    In the field of automated data collection and, more particularly, optical data encodation, bar code symbologies have achieved wide use and have proved themselves to be very reliable and cost effective. Conventional linear bar code symbologies encode data as a series of variable width bars separated by variable width spaces. Generally, bars are formed from dark ink on a light colored background that forms the spaces.  
           [0008]    One particularly successful and widespread family of bar code symbologies is the UPC/EAN/JAN family. This group of bar code symbologies is used to identify virtually every type of pre-packaged retail item sold in the U.S. and Canada, Europe, and Japan, respectively.  
           [0009]    The Universal Product Code (UPC), European Article Numbering (EAN), and Japanese Article Numbering (JAN) systems are administered by the Uniform Code Council (UCC) and its foreign affiliates. Manufacturers who are members of the UCC may be assigned one or more 5-digit Company Prefixes, or company identifiers, that are used to identify the manufacturer in the context of the UPC system. Manufacturers, in turn, are free to assign a 5-digit product identifier code to each of their retail products. By using the combination of a company prefix with a product identifier code, it is thus possible to identify each product manufactured by UCC member companies. EAN and JAN systems are administered similarly.  
           [0010]    To automate the retail check-out process, company prefixes and product identifiers are combined and encoded in UPC (also EAN and JAN) bar code symbols that are affixed to products. For an item to be checked out, a checker or customer scans a UPC/EAN/JAN symbol. A -look-up in the store&#39;s computer compares the scanned symbol to a list of products and determines the associated price. For the system to work properly, the store must maintain an up-to-date database that includes at least the UPC number and price for each item carried. Usually an alphanumeric description of the item is also associated with the UPC number.  
           [0011]    The UPC symbology is a fixed-length numeric continuous symbology comprising characters having two bars and two spaces distributed within 7 modules. Each bar and space is between one and four modules wide. In the UPC-A variant, the symbol is divided into two halves separated by two center guard bars and bounded both left and right by a pair of outer guard bars. The left half of the UPC-A symbol comprises a 5-digit company prefix directly encoded (for number system characters 0, 6, and 7) and a number system character encoded by the parity pattern of the left characters. The right half of the UPC-A symbol comprises a 5-digit product identifier directly encoded and a Mod 10 check digit for the first 11 symbol characters. More recently, new number system digits 18, and 9 have been allocated for assignment, with number system 8 being used for 8-digit (7 digits plus 1-digit number system) company prefixes. Each half of the UPC-A symbol may be independently decoded.  
           [0012]    Other versions of the UPC/EAN/JAN symbology are used for reduced space applications (for instance, UPC version E) and for applications requiring additional data as in the 2- and 4-digit book addenda.  
           [0013]    Another symbology standard, UCC-128 (and the equivalent EAN-128) is based on the Code 128 symbology but includes a data structure well-adapted to tracking shipments within a supply chain. The UCC-128 symbology is similar to the UPC symbology in that it includes provision for encoding a company prefix and a company-assigned code. In the case of UCC-128, the company-assigned code is a shipment serial number that can be used to identify uniquely the contents of a particular shipment from that company.  
           [0014]    More recently, the UCC and EAN International have been investigating alternative data storage media for associating a UCC/EAN structured data set to an item. One example is the use of magnetically- or electrically-encoded data that may be accessed by a non-line-of-sight interrogator such as an RFID interrogator. Another example of such innovation includes the RSS and composite symbologies that use a combination of linear and 2D symbols to encode more data in less space. Bar code symbols, RF tags, 2D symbols, composite symbols, laser cards, touch memory, and other similar objects are known collectively as portable data carriers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for providing rapid and convenient Internet access to information about a product and/or transactions involving a product using data encoded thereon. In one embodiment, the product&#39;s UPC/EAN/JAN symbol is used to locate the information or initiate the transaction.  
           [0016]    One aspect of the present invention relates a business method involving registering at least a portion of a product&#39;s UPC/EAN/JAN code as a URL for accessing information about the product.  
           [0017]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of scanning a symbol, parsing data from the symbol, appending additional data to form a URL, opening a browser, directing the browser to the URL, and displaying information relevant to the symbol.  
           [0018]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a device for scanning a product symbol, accessing a URL corresponding to the product symbol, and displaying data relative to the product.  
           [0019]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a business method involving the formation of a web site that provides links to manufacturers of products using at least a portion of product UPC/EAN/JAN symbols to determine the links.  
           [0020]    Another aspect of the present invention relates to a business method involving a web application that stores product data, receives a query from an end device, and transmits product data to the end device according to UPC/EAN/JAN data contained within the query.  
           [0021]    Another aspect of the invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing a search for information about or a transaction concerning an object using data encoded on a portable data carrier associated with the object, and one or more structural formats likely to produce a URL where the data or transaction resides. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 shows a method for an end device to scan a symbol, form a URL containing data from the symbol, access a web site corresponding to the URL with a browser, and display data transmitted from the web site.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 shows a method for parsing symbol data to form a URL containing at least some of the symbol data.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 shows another method for parsing symbol data to form a URL containing at least some of the symbol data  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 shows a wireless apparatus for scanning a symbol, parsing symbol data to form a URL containing at least some of the symbol data, accessing a web site using the wireless link, and displaying data corresponding to the symbol.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 shows a computer system for scanning a symbol and accessing product data corresponding to the symbol over the Internet.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 shows a method for receiving a query containing data corresponding to a symbol on a server and redirecting the query to a second server having data corresponding to the symbol.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 shows a method for receiving a query containing data corresponding to a symbol on a server, looking up data corresponding to the symbol, and transmitting data corresponding to the symbol to the requesting device.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 shows a method for use in an end device that includes steps for trying a plurality of URLs for accessing product information. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]    The present invention contemplates a method and apparatus for rapid access to product and company information via an Internet connection. A UPC, EAN, or JAN symbol is scanned or alternatively entered by hand. Alternatively, another type of portable data carrier such as RF tag, touch memory, magnetic stripe, or laser card for instance is queried for data. An Internet URL corresponding to symbol data is contacted and data therefrom displayed on an end device. The invention includes end devices and computer software for carrying out the invention as well as a method of doing business.  
         [0031]    In the past, the only product information available to an end-user at the point of sale was that which was physically printed on a product label. Sales were delayed or lost when a user desired additional information but had to seek that information elsewhere.  
         [0032]    The present invention brings complete product information to a user at the point of sale using the existing product code infrastructure to address said information. This solution avoids needing to print additional information on the label, avoids needing to create an essentially duplicate data index to address additional information, but does result in relevant information being delivered to the potential purchaser or subsequent user.  
         [0033]    An end device scans the UPC (or alternatively, the EAN or JAN) symbol on a product. Scanned data is appended to appropriate prefix and suffix data and is used to address a web site displaying product information. For example, for a product carrying the UPC symbol encoding the data “0 43100 06622 4”, a character sequence for prepending comprising the characters “http://www.” and a character sequence for appending comprising the domain “.com” would be appended to form a URL reading “http://www.043100066224.com”. This address would be used by a browser to access data about the corresponding product, for instance, “The Mead Corporation, Dayton, Ohio 45463 U.S.A. Made In USA.  100  sheet college ruled 1 subject notebook. College ruled 11×8½ in (27.9×21.5 cm). Available in several colors, powder blue, royal blue, crimson, insignia yellow, and fir green. See also product number 06623, our equivalent wide ruled 1 subject notebook. See your local retailer, contact us at (000) 555-1234, or press the ‘order’ button to purchase. Mead manufactures a wide range of paper products for all your needs. Press ‘home’ to access a complete catalog.” 
         [0034]    An alternative embodiment accesses a pre-determined URL which in turn, passes a second URL back to the end device to access product data.  
         [0035]    A second alternative embodiment sequentially attempts connection with several possible URLs having data on the product at hand, including domains such as .com, .net, .gov, .org, etc.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 illustrates a method for scanning a symbol to access data associated with the symbol. In step  101 , the symbol is scanned. This may be via a fixed scanner, a hand-held discrete scanner connected to a reader, or an integrated end device. Step  102  indicates the parsing of relevant data from the symbol. A first set of data, the manufacturers code, is extracted from the left side of the symbol. A second set of data, the product code, is extracted from the right side of the symbol. An optional piece of data, the number system, may also be extracted to determine additional information such as the domain. In step  103 , data is combined with manufacturer&#39;s and optionally product data to form a complete URL. In optional step  104 , a browser is opened and in step  105 , the browser is directed to the URL formed in step  103  using IP. Product information received from the URL, corresponding to the scanned symbol, is then displayed to the user in step  106 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 illustrates one exemplary method for parsing symbol data into a URL. A UPC, EAN, or JAN symbol  201  comprises four data components. A first data component  202  is known as the number system and indicates a region of origin or other types of symbols. The first data component is encoded in a parity pattern in the left half of the symbol. Codewords in the left half of the symbol directly encode a manufacturer&#39;s identification  203 . The right half of the symbol directly encodes a product identification  204  associated with the manufacturer associated with the manufacturer&#39;s identification  203 . A modulus  10  check character  205  is encoded as a parity pattern in the codewords of the right half of the symbol. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the fixed characters “http://www.” form the first portion of the URL. The manufacturer&#39;s code “12345” is parsed to form the next portion of the URL. The characters “.corn/” are then added to the end of the manufacturer&#39;s code as the domain. Other alternative domains may also be used. The product code “67890” then forms the last part of the URL. The entire URL  206  is thus assembled to form the data string “http://www.12345.com/67890”. This address may then be used to access data about the product labeled with the symbol  201 . The example shown in FIG. 2 illustrates a way to access data directly from the manufacturer when the manufacturer holds the URL associated with the manufacturer&#39;s code.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 shows an alternative example of a way to construct a URL from a UPC/EAN/JAN symbol. This method shows a way to access product data through a third party web application. In this case, product information is appended below the domain. The alternative URL  301  “http://www.productinfo.com/12345/67890” may access product information via a web site called “productinfo.com”.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 4 shows a wireless end device for accessing product information. A body  401  has a scan button  402  that is used to enable a scanner  403 . Scanner  403  uses any of several scanning technologies known to the art including moving beam laser, CCD or CMD imager, or fixed spot wand. Upon scanning a symbol, a microcomputer in the end device; comprising at least a microprocessor, memory, and I/O; performs preprocessing steps described elsewhere in this document. The device of FIG. 4 then accesses product information on a server via a wireless interface through an antenna  404  and presents the information to a user on a display  405  or audibly via a speaker  406 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 shows a computer having a scanner connected via the Internet to one or more servers holding information about products. A bar code scanner  501  is used to scan symbols and is connected to a wedge reader  502 . The wedge reader  502  is connected between a keyboard  503  and a computer  504  such that data scanned by the scanner  501  appears to come from the keyboard  503 . The wedge reader  502  may be programmed to do data parsing and data appending described elsewhere in this document. Alternatively, the scanner  501  may be connected to the computer  504  using an alternate port such as a serial port, a bi-directional parallel port, a firewire port, a SCSI port or other port. Data may be passed to an application via other means including writing the application to check the ports or via a virtual wedge. The computer  504  is connected to the Internet  507  via a wired or wireless interface  506 . Interface  506  can include a conventional modem, a cable modem, a LAN, a digital subscriber line. a cellular modem, a satellite link, or other connection to the Internet. A first server  508  and, optionally, a second server  509  are connected to the Internet. Additional servers (not shown) are also available to ftp, http, and other access types by the computer  504  and each other. Portable media  510  and  511  may be used to load programs into a client computer  504  or server  508 , respectively.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 6 shows a server-based method for directing a product information query to a manufacturer&#39;s web site for response. A query is received via means known to the art in step  601 . The manufacturer&#39;s code is extracted from the received URL in  602  and the manufacturer&#39;s web address is looked up in a database  603   a  by step  603 . The product code is parsed from the received URL in  604 . In step  605 , the manufacturer&#39;s web address and the product code are combined to form a new URL where relevant product data resides. In step  606 , the user&#39;s query is hyperlinked to the URL determined in step  605  using known technology.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 7 shows a server-based method for responding to a query for product data. After the query is received in step  601 , the manufacturers code and item code are parsed in steps  602  and  604 , respectively. The query is then linked directly to product data residing on database  701   a  in step  701 . The product data is then returned to the client in step  702 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 8 shows a client-based method for accessing product information. This method corresponds to the method shown in FIG. 1 but includes a method for searching several possible URLs for the data. After manufacturer and item codes are extracted in step  102 , optional step  801  further extracts the number system value. In step  801   a , a URL format is selected. This may be done using the number system and, optionally, the manufacturer code to select the most likely format. Different possible formats may be selected in order of highest probability or in simple list order. Examples of different forms include those using the manufacture code before the domain (for example www.12345.com/67890); using known database sites before the domain with the manufacturer, item code, and, optionally, number system following the domain (for example www.productinfol.com/1234567890/0 or alternatively www.getdata.org/12345/67890); or using a different domain based upon number system (for instance www.swedishinfo.se/12345/67890) when the number system indicates the possibility of the manufacturer being Swedish). A URL to try is then formed using the selected format along with data from the instant symbol in step  802 . The URL is accessed or pinged in step  803 . A test is performed in step  804  to determine if the web site is valid and, optionally, if it contains relevant product information. The test in step  804  may include determining if the site responds, determining if the format of the site is consistent with product data, and/or determining if the content of the site is consistent with product data. Additionally, step  804  may include asking the user if the site contains the information sought. If the web site does contain valid data, then the data is downloaded and displayed on the end device in step  805 . If the web site is not valid, then a test is made to determine if all known possibilities have been exhausted in step  806 . If yes, then an error message is displayed to the user in step  808  indicating that the information sought could not be found. If there are remaining URL formats to be tried then a pointer is advanced to the next most likely or the next URL in a predetermined list in step  807  and the process of forming a URL and trying it repeated.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 9 shows a block diagram for a microcomputer-based end device such as those shown in FIG. 4 or  5 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 10 shows optional steps to the process shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 10, the product or item code for a given manufacturer is compared to a database  1001   a  in step  1001  to determine possible synonyms. For instance, the manufacturer corresponding to manufacturer code 12345 may have a path on its web site to the product corresponding to 67890 that is not literally “/67890” Database  1001   a  contains an equivalency that indicates the product corresponding to item code 67890 may be found at “/bluesuedeshoes” on the manufacturer&#39;s web site. In this case a URL comprising the characters “http://www.kingshoes.com/bluesuedeshoes” may be formed in step  1002 . The query is subsequently hyperlinked to “http://www.kingshoes.com/bluesuedeshoes” according to step  606 .  
         [0046]    It will thus be seen that according to the present invention a simple yet effective means and apparatus for conveniently accessing product information has been taught. While the invention that has been shown herein is the most practical and preferred embodiment as presently conceived, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and methods.