Patent ID: 8355956

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a database storing data records, at least some of the data records including bar code information for a bar code that has been affixed to an item being offered for sale; a processor for executing software instructions stored in a memory; a memory storing first executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to receive a data record from a computing device representing a posting terminal, and then generate a bar code that uniquely identifies an item being offered for sale and with which the data record is associated; and the memory storing second executable software instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer system to: receive over a network from a portable computing device a request including bar code information that has been obtained by scanning a bar code affixed to an item being offered for sale; retrieve from the database a data record having bar code information that matches the bar code information received with the request from the portable computing device; and communicate at least a portion of the data record retrieved from the database to the portable computing device for display at the portable computing device.