WO2010145670A1

WO2010145670A1 - Method for retrieving product information

Info

Publication number: WO2010145670A1
Application number: PCT/DK2010/050149
Authority: WO
Inventors: Poul David Faurby Videbaek
Original assignee: Just Fair Aps
Priority date: 2009-06-18
Filing date: 2010-06-18
Publication date: 2010-12-23
Also published as: EP2443599A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of communication by a moveable electronic device (6) earned by a user for input of product data into the handheld electronic device (6), transmission of input product data by a wireless net (8) to a computer system (16, 18, 20), where the computer selects product information related to the input data, and the handheld electronic device presents the received information. It is the object of the invention to give a person shopping relevant and current product information directly from the manufacturer of a product. This object can be fulfilled in that the computer system (16, 18, 20) performs search and sends a request for new product information to a local server (20), where the local server comprises product data related to each lot of items that has been sold. Hereby is it possible for a consumer, by using the handheld electronic device (6), to receive a first set of product information and also t receive additional information about the product. By request for information by performing input o product data, the computer system is able to deliver a complete current product description and also to indicate maybe by video sequences where the product is produced.

Description

Method for retrieving product information

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for communication by at least a handheld or moveable electronic device carried by a user, input of product data into the handheld electronic device, transmission of input product data by a wireless net to a computer system, where the computer system searches for product information related to the input product data over the internet, where the computer selects product information related to the input data, where the computer system transmits the product information to the handheld electronic device, and the handheld electronic device presents the received product information.

Background of the Invention

US20090069000A1 concerns a method of enabling a mobile device to access content relating to a user-selected portion of a web page, the method comprising: receiving a request for the content; generating an information element representative of the requested content, the information element being arranged to enable the mobile device to access the content; and outputting the information element to the mobile device.

US7287696 discloses a system and method for decoding barcodes using a mobile device. Generally, the barcode image is acquired via a digital camera attached to the mobile device. After the barcode image has been acquired, software located on the mobile device enhances the barcode image and subsequently decodes the barcode information. The barcode information is then transmitted to a server via a wireless network. The server processes the barcode information and transmits media content related to the barcode back to the mobile device.

JP 2006243919A2 concerns access to a link destination, using link destination information which is made into an image, by automatically generating the link destination information, which indicates the site of the link destination of a web page. An address where detail information of an index 201 exists is analyzed, from xHTML form description data 901 which describes the content of the index 201 of the web page. A two-dimensional barcode 202 including information, which indicates the address, is printed together with the index 201 of the web page. Consequently, the access is performed to the address, where the detailed information of the index 201 exists, only by reading the printed two-dimensional barcode 202. Thus, a user needs not perform a complicated operation or setting in order to re-confirm the detailed information of the index 201.

JP2002216252A2 concerns a method to make easily and precisely performable the business from order receipt to sales. A server in a sales management centre receives the input of commodity information from a maker on the Internet and registers it in a commodity database. When the access from a user's cellular phone is received, an introduction page for the commodity information is provided. When a prescribed commodity is selected in this page, and the operation of reading the commodity code of the commodity is performed, the server provides image data showing the commodity code by a two-dimensional barcode. A transaction processor in a store reads the barcode displayed on the cellar phone, forms order information for ordering the commodity shown by the code, and transmits it to the server through an exclusive line. The transaction processor further performs the price settlement processing of the commodity to a user and issues an exchange ticket.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the invention to give a person relevant and current product information directly from the manufacturer of a product. A further object of the invention is to provide a person with information of the local society of the manufacturer of the product. A third object of the inventions is to give a person access to transactional information to indicate how the money is spent in the supply chain.

Description of the Invention

The object can be fulfilled by the preamble to claim 1 and modified in that the computer system performs search and sends a request for new product information to a local server where the local server is placed close to production facilities producing products related to the requested product data, where the local server comprises product data related to each lot of items that has been sold. By the method described, it is possible for a consumer by using the handheld electronic device or another moveable electronic device to receive product information if the consumer wishes to receive more information related to a product. By request of information by performing input of product data, the computer system is able to deliver a complete current product description and also to indicate maybe by video sequences where the product is produced. It is furthermore possible to show video sequences showing how e.g. a village is being developed by using e.g. fair-trade selling systems for delivering goods, e.g. to the western world. The access to the current information will provide the consumer with a feeling about supporting the producing facilities by buying a product that is delivered from a well-known facility. Getting the first piece of information in relation to a product can give the consumer a more positive feeling by purchasing a product of which the consumer has further information. The product packaging may also contain information about further internet information by which the consumer can get access to additional information about the product. It is also possible to get access to the internet, e.g. via displays which allow the consumer to get access to the whole website of the product in question.

A possible input of product data can be performed by using a camera input for receiving a digital image of a picture or optical recognition as input to identify a product such as a barcode. Any communication device which can send or receive information using radio communication can be used. Most consumers already carry a mobile phone when they are visiting shops or supermarkets. Therefore, it is possible to use the mobile phone as an electronic device. Most mobile phones comprise a camera and hereby it is possible to take a picture of a barcode or any optical recognition data and use this optical information for generating product data. The picture of the barcode can be transmitted to a computer system where the barcode is analyzed and the actual data segment is extracted and used for access to a web page which is connected directly to the production facility of the product in question. Barcode reading could be performed in different ways. It is also possible by means of a cable to connect a mobile phone to a barcode reader.

The digital image can be analyzed in the electronic device for extracting the content of the barcode, which content of the barcode forms the product data which product data is transmitted to the server system. It is possible to analyze the digital image inside e.g. a mobile phone. If the mobile phone contains an analyzing program, the images of the barcode could be analyzed directly in the mobile phone and the extracted code could be automatically transmitted. That could be performed in traditional barcodes as well as in 2D barcodes. By analyzing the barcode locally, the data segment that is to be transmitted to the computer system is very limited. Therefore, the cost of transmitting that data segment over the mobile net will be very low.

A short-range radio transmitter can transmit product data to handheld or moveable electronic devices, which devices indicate that product data is received, where a user of the electronic device can select product information and request further information by internet communications. Short-range radio transmitters are a possible solution in the future where ultra-wideband communication is being more widely accepted. The use of short-range radio communication allows the signals to be received at a distance of a few meters from a transmitter. In this way, the consumer does not need to be directly in touch with the product for which additional information is sought. The short-range radio communication could give the negative effect that several products are transmitting their data and they are received so that the consumer will have to select between several received signals. The short-range radio communication gives the possibility that the data segment that is continuously transmitted could contain enough information to show the information on a screen and let the consumer select between received data. If the consumer selects one of the products, the connection over the internet directly to the product manufacturer will give access to the information searched for.

In a possible embodiment, the electronic device comprises an RFID reader, where the RFID transmitter is placed close to the product. It is possible to use RFID tags on the products and receive the necessary information directly from the RFID tags. The RFID tag is a radio receiver and transmitter so a first signal has to be transmitted to the RFID tag before the RFID tag will transmit a coded signal in return. RFID tag communication could be made on a short-range basis so only a small number of products will probably transmit the information at the same time. But use of RFID technology could also be necessary to perform a selection of received signals before information is searched for.

Further communication can be performed if a product related to product information is sold in a shop or supermarket; the selling activity activates the computer system, where information of the sold product is generating a bonus for the production facility, where the computer system informs the production facility by transmitting information to at least one mobile phone. A further benefit of this invention is that information is also transmitted to the manufacturer if a product is sold. This could be important in fair- trade production areas where people working near the production facilities will immediately get the information they require about current sales activities.

The bonus can be activated if one or more products are sold in a shop or supermarket whereby the bonus generates a payment instruction to a mobile phone in relation to the production facility. A bonus given because of a fair-trade product can be transmitted directly to a consumer's mobile phone where the mobile phone receives coded information, and this coded information can be used by the consumer for receiving payment if the received code is shown to a local bank authority, e.g. in a village.

The computer system can comprise a supply chain management tool, which supply management tool enables transparency in the supply chain by gathering information from stakeholders in the supply chain to a centralized information system. In this way it can be achieved that there will be total transparency in the supply chain so that the person who gets access to the product information can analyse if e.g. the supply chains are what he expects. The product user can see if the product has been transported around the world more that once and maybe then avoiding buying this product even at low price because the CO2 emission by long transportation is something that the customer wants to avoid. Also by looking into the supply chain it is possible to see the age of the product. Products, which are sold as new and fresh ones, could in fact be weeks on their way if they are produced outside Europe. Further information concerning the supply chain could be information about how the product has been stored during transportation. If a product is fresh fruit e.g. it could be important if the product has been transported by means of controlled temperature and humidity. Also for e.g. clothes which are transported around the world, it is important that the clothes have been transported in a controlled atmosphere otherwise the clothes as such may be totally destroyed by too high humidity.

The product information to which a user has access by the handheld electronic device can comprise information related to a supply chain. By giving full access to the supply chain from the handheld electronic device, it is possible e.g. in a shop to have the full information about the supply chain. If a computer has a direct access to the supply chain, the consumer has a possibility to make a decision on buying or not buying a product if the supply chain is so extensive and time-consuming that the person who wants to buy the product selects another product with a much more positive supply chain. Another piece of information which is possible to get access to is the actual payment of e.g. the farmer who is producing the product. If e.g. five or six or even more business units are selling the products to one or another before the product ends at the end-user, there might be a very low profit for the farmer who has produced the product. By access to the supply chain, the user or the customer will get access to this piece of information and will probably wish to buy products where even the farmer has an advantage profit-wise of delivering the product.

The product information can comprise live stream directly from the producer to the consumer. By giving access to a video stream it is possible to use handheld electronic devices in order to gain direct access to the production of a product. Maybe the live stream is not directly live but related to the batch of the product that is just in front of the person who searches for further information Thereby information about the production day and also information about the persons who are to be seen on the video stream. The person who watches this information can surely be informed by looking at the video screen that the production is performed in a very poor and bad manner and in another video screen it can be seen that there is a positive behaviour in the people producing the product. Therefore, selection between products can be made based on a positive video stream that is received at the handheld electronic device. Description of the Drawing

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a computer system. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a method according to this invention. Figure 1 shows a method 2 where a shelf 4 based in a shop or supermarket is close to an electronic device 6 which could be a mobile phone where information from the shelf 4 by the arrow is transmitted to a communication device e.g. a mobile phone. Input to that communication device could be performed in different ways. The simplest way is if the product on the shelf has a code and this code is keyed into the communication device and then sent as an electronic message such as a SMS text message. Another possibility is that a optical information carrier such as a barcode could be scanned by the electronic communication device and this barcode could be a 2D barcode. Otherwise, RFID communication could be performed from the shelf concerning information about a product. Then a radio signal will be received by the electronic communication device or mobile phone 6 and information from that mobile phone or other electronic devices 6 is further transmitted by electronic transmission 8 towards a receiver transmitter 10 from which information is further transmitted through wires or optical fibres 12 to the internet 14. Request for product information could be sent through the internet where this request is sent further through wiring 22 to a server 16 by wiring 24 to a server 18 and by wiring 26 to a server 20. The server 20 may accept that data is available and, via a communication line 28 to a mobile transmission system 30, the data request can be further transmitted over the electric communication net 32 to a receiving electronic communication device or mobile phone 34.

In this way, a request for information sent from the first electronic communication device or mobile phone 6 can be connected to another electronic communication device or mobile phone 34 where this electronic communication device or mobile phone maybe contains a video sequence or a text description of the product placed on the shelf 4 in a shop or supermarket. The information related to the product is then transmitted from the electronic communication device or mobile phone 34 over the communication net 32 of the communication system 30 and through the wiring 28 to a server 20 and further via the internet 14 over line 12 to a transmitting system 10 where the information is sent as radio transmission 8 towards the mobile phone 6. On the consumer's electronic communication device or mobile phone 6, product information may contain text or video sequences that can be viewed by the consumer.

The information related to the product could also be placed in a server system near the production facilities and as such not directly placed in the mobile phone. But placing the current product information in the mobile phone it is assured that the latest information is available.

Figure 2 also shows a computer system 102 where a product 104 is sold in a shop or supermarket 106. From the shop or supermarket 106, a data communication 108 is sent to a server 110 which server over transmission line 112 connects to the internet 114. From the internet, further a line 116 communicates to a server 118 from which a further communication line 120 goes to a radio communication system 122 which by a radio communication system 124 communicates to electronic communication device or a mobile phone 126. This piece of information on the mobile phone 126 can be carried by 128 to a bank authority 130 where the information received on the mobile phone 126 will cause payment of a bonus.

In this way, the purchase of a product 104 in a shop or supermarket 106 will directly effect payment of a bonus to the owner of the electronic communication device or mobile phone 126.

Claims

1. Method for communication by at least a handheld or moveable electronic communication device (6) carried by a user, input of product data into the handheld electronic communication device (6), transmission of input product data by a wireless net (8) to a computer system (16,18,20), where the computer system (16,18,20) searches for product information related to the input product data over the internet (10), where the computer selects product information related to the input data, characterized in that the computer system (16,18,20) performs search and sends a request for new product information to a local server (20) where the local server (20) is placed close to production facilities producing products related to the requested product data, where the local server (20) comprises product data related to each lot of items that has been sold where the computer system (16,18,20) transmits the product information to the handheld electronic communication device (6), where the handheld electronic communication device (6) presents the received product information.

2. Method for communication according to claim 1, characterized in that input of product data is performed by using a camera input for receiving a digital image of a optical information carrier.

3. Method for communication according to claim 2, characterized in that the digital image is analyzed in the electronic communication device for extracting the content of the optical information carrier, which content of the optical information forms the product data, which product data is transmitted to the server system.

4. Method for communication according to claim 1, characterized in that a short- range radio transmitter transmits product data to handheld or moveable electronic communication devices, which devices indicate that product data is received, where a user of the electronic communication device selects product information and request further information by internet communications.

5. Method for communication according to claim 4, characterized in that the electronic device comprises an RFID reader, where the RFID transmitter is placed close to the product.

6. Method for communication according to one of the claims 1- 5, characterized in that further communication is performed if a product (104) related to product information is sold, the selling activity activates the computer system (110), where information of the sold product generates a bonus for the production facility, where the computer system (110) informs the production facility by transmitting information to at least one mobile phone (126).

7. Method for communication according to claim 6, characterized in that the bonus is activated when one or more products are sold , which bonus generates a payment instruction to a mobile phone placed in the production facility.

8. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the computer system comprises a supply chain management tool, which supply management tool enables transparency in the supply chain by gathering information from stakeholders in the supply chain to a centralized information system.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the product information to which a user has access by the handheld electronic device comprises information related to a supply chain.

10. Method according to one of the claims 1- 9, characterized in that the product information comprises live stream directly from the producer to the consumer.