초록 ▼

A method and system whereby a consumer creates a shopping list using a portable barcode scanner and an intelligent base-station. The entered barcodes are downloaded to the base-station from the barcode scanner. The base-station retrieves related barcode information from a barcode database via the In

A method and system whereby a consumer creates a shopping list using a portable barcode scanner and an intelligent base-station. The entered barcodes are downloaded to the base-station from the barcode scanner. The base-station retrieves related barcode information from a barcode database via the Internet. The barcode database can belong to a merchant, or a generic shopping service. The base-station can be a consumer's computer, or some other smart electronic device. The base-station maintains a predictive shopping list database for all barcodes entered via the barcode scanner. The database learns the shopping consumption habits of the consumer over a period of time and ensures that when the consumer is ready to shop no previously needed, but currently forgotten, items are left off of the shopping list. The consumer uses this method to shop in a store, or via Mail-Order/Telephone-Order or on the internet using the created shopping list.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A method for creating a consumer's shopping list prior to entering a store, comprising the steps of: (a) using a portable barcode scanner; (b) scanning a needed product barcode or a needed product coupon barcode using said portable barcode scanner prior to entering to said store

What is claimed: 1. A method for creating a consumer's shopping list prior to entering a store, comprising the steps of: (a) using a portable barcode scanner; (b) scanning a needed product barcode or a needed product coupon barcode using said portable barcode scanner prior to entering to said store; (c) using one or more consumer's first computers comprising the steps of; (i) receiving data from, and transmitting data to, said portable barcode scanner over a consumer's first network infrastructure; (ii) storing said data in a memory means on said first computer as a current shopping list under control of each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode and under control of a date and time; wherein said date and time indicative of when each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode was scanned by said portable barcode scanner; (iii) communicating with a second computer system using said first computer, over a second network infrastructure to request and to receive additional shopping list information based on each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode; (iv) collecting and storing a multiplicity of said dates and times that each said product barcode has been scanned by said portable barcode scanner and stored in said first computer memory means; wherein said collecting and storing of said multiplicity of dates and times providing a means to learn said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product; wherein said means of learning said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product is a consumption tracking frequency of each said product; said consumption tracking frequency of each said product providing a means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced; (v) providing a specific notification of previous shopping list information stored in said first computer's memory without needing a current scanned entry of one or more barcodes associated with said previous shopping list information, wherein said specific notification occurring at a date and time when said consumer creates said current shopping list; said notification provided by said means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced; (vi) adding automatically a list of one or more products stored in said previous shopping list information to said current shopping list commensurate with said means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced at said date and time of creating said current shopping list; (vii) displaying a multiplicity of said product barcodes or said product coupon barcodes, together with additional shopping list information, on said consumer's first computer display; (viii) indicating on said first computer display that said consumer has obtained said current shopping list in-hand from said consumer's first computer; and (ix) indicating that said data transmitted to and said data received from said portable barcode scanner has been successfully sent and received; (d) transferring each said scanned product barcode or each said product coupon barcode to said consumer's first computer, over said first network infrastructure from said portable barcode scanner; (e) storing each said transferred product barcode or each said product coupon barcode in a shopping list database on said consumer's first computer, said shopping list database includes other product information, wherein said other product information includes: a product description, a product cost, a date and time on which each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode was scanned by said portable barcode scanner and an indicator for a required quantity of each said product; (f) obtaining in-hand said stored current shopping list from said consumer's first computer in order to go to a first store and purchase products listed on said current shopping list, said obtaining in-hand is selected from the group comprising: (i) printing said stored current shopping list on a printing device attached to said consumer's first computer, (ii) transferring said stored current shopping list to a consumer's portable computer device, and (iii) using said portable barcode scanner, (g) using said first computer comprising an optional step of either: (a) sending said current shopping list from said consumer's first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure, said second store shipping products listed on said current shopping list to said consumer, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products; or (b) sending said current shopping list from said consumer's first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure, said second store making said products listed on said current shopping list available to said consumer for pick up, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products. 2. The portable barcode scanner of claim 1, wherein said first network infrastructure is a wireless link between said portable barcode scanner and said consumer's first computer; wherein said wireless link is selected from the group comprising: an infrared link and a Bluetooth-enabled radio-frequency link. 3. The portable barcode scanner of claim 1, wherein said first network infrastructure is a wired link between said portable barcode scanner and said consumer's first computer; wherein said wired link is selected from the group comprising: an RS-232 link, a USB link, a parallel link and an IEEE 1394 link. 4. The first computer of claim 1 is selected from the group comprising: a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, an internet appliance, and a cell phone. 5. The first computer of claim 1, wherein said second network infrastructure is the internet. 6. The portable computer device of claim 1 is selected from the group consisting: a personal digital assistant and a cell phone. 7. The shopping list of claim 1 is selected from the group comprising: beauty aids, books, clothing, computer hardware, computer software, computer supplies, drugs, footwear, groceries, gifts, health aids and music. 8. A method for creating a consumer's shopping list prior to entering a store, comprising the steps of: (a) using a portable barcode scanner; (b) entering manually a needed product barcode or a needed product coupon barcode using said portable barcode scanner prior to entering to said store; (c) using one or more consumer's first computers comprising the steps of; (i) receiving data from, and transmitting data to, said portable barcode scanner over a consumer's first network infrastructure; (ii) storing said data in a memory means on said first computer as a current shopping list under control of each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode and under control of a date and time; wherein said date and time indicative when each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode was manually entered into said portable barcode scanner; (iii) communicating with a second computer system using said first computer, over a second network infrastructure to request and to receive additional shopping list information based on each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode; (iv) collecting and storing a multiplicity of said dates and times that each said product barcode has been manually entered into said portable barcode scanner and stored in said first computer memory means; wherein said collecting and storing of said multiplicity of dates and times providing a means to learn said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product; wherein said means of learning said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product is a consumption tracking frequency of each said product; said consumption tracking frequency of each said product providing a means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced; (v) providing a specific notification of previous shopping list information stored in said first computer's memory without needing a current manual entry of one or more barcodes associated with said previous shopping list information, wherein said specific notification occurring at a date and time when said consumer creates said current shopping list; said notification provided by said means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced; (vi) adding automatically a list of one or more products stored in said previous shopping list information to said current shopping list commensurate with said means to predict when each said product needs to be replaced at said date and time of creating said current shopping list; (vii) displaying a multiplicity of said product barcodes or said product coupon barcodes, together with additional shopping list information, on said consumer's first computer display; (viii) indicating on said first computer display that said consumer has obtained said current shopping list in-hand from said consumer's first computer; and (ix) indicating that said data transmitted to and said data received from said portable barcode scanner has been successfully sent and received; (d) transferring each said manually entered product barcode or each said product coupon barcode to said consumer's first computer, over said first network infrastructure from said portable barcode scanner; (e) storing each said transferred product barcode or each said product coupon barcode in a shopping list database on said consumer s first computer, said shopping list database includes other product information, wherein said other product information includes: a product description, a product cost, a date and time on which each said product barcode or each said product coupon barcode was manually entered into said portable barcode scanner and an indicator for a required quantity of each said product; (f) obtaining in-hand said stored current shopping list from said consumer's first computer in order to go to a first store and purchase products listed on said current shopping list, said obtaining in-hand is selected from the group comprising: (i) printing said stored current shopping list on a printing device attached to said consumer's first computer, (ii) transferring said stored current shopping list to a consumer's portable computer device, and (iii) using said portable barcode scanner, (g) using said first computer comprising an optional step of either; (a) sending said current shopping list from said consumer's first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure. said second store shipping products listed on said current shopping list to said consumer, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products; or (b) sending said current shopping list from said consumer's first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure, said second store making said products listed on said current shopping list available to said consumer for pick up, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products. 9. The portable barcode scanner of claim 8, wherein said first network infrastructure is a wireless link between said portable barcode scanner and said consumer's first computer; wherein said wireless link is selected from the group comprising: an infrared link and a Bluetooth-enabled radio-frequency link. 10. The portable barcode scanner of claim 8, wherein said first network infrastructure is a wired link between said portable barcode scanner and said consumer's first computer; wherein said wired link is selected from the group comprising: an RS-232 link, a USB link, a parallel link and an IEEE 1394 link. 11. The first computer of claim 8 is selected from the group comprising: a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, an internet appliance, and a cell phone. 12. The first computer of claim 8, wherein said second network infrastructure is the internet. 13. The portable computer device of claim 8 is selected from the group consisting: a personal digital assistant and a cell phone. 14. The shopping list of claim 8 is selected from the group comprising: beauty aids, books, clothing, computer hardware, computer software, computer supplies, drugs, footwear, groceries, gifts, health aids and music. 15. A barcode scanning system for aiding a consumer in creating a new shopping list to which products are automatically added based in part on previously entered shopping lists, said automatically added products not having been considered by said consumer at a date and time of creating said new shopping list, said barcode scanning system comprising: (a) a portable barcode scanner with a means to scan a product's barcode prior to entering a store; (b) one or more consumer's first computers connected to said portable barcode scanner over a first network means, wherein said first computer includes a means to store in a memory means one or more barcodes and one or more dates and times that said one or more barcodes were scanned, said barcodes and said dates and times received over said first network means from said barcode scanner in order to create said new shopping list, and wherein said first computer includes a means to store said received barcodes in said memory means comprising barcodes previously received from said barcode scanner; (c) a computer program in said first computer, wherein said computer program enables collecting and storing of a multiplicity of said dates and times that each said product barcode has been scanned by said barcode scanner and stored in said first computer memory means, received over said first network means; wherein said collecting and storing of said multiplicity of dates and times providing a means to learn programmatically said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product; wherein said means of programmatically learning said consumer's rate of consumption of each said product is a consumption tracking frequency of each said product; said consumption tracking frequency of each said product providing a means to predict programmatically when each said product needs to be replaced; (d) wherein said computer program providing a specific notification of previous shopping list information stored in said first computer's memory without needing a current scanned entry of one or more barcodes associated with said previous shopping list information, wherein said specific notification occurring at a date and time when said consumer creates said new shopping list; said notification provided by said means to predict programmatically when each said product needs to be replaced; (e) wherein said computer program enables automatically adding a list of one or more products stored in said previous shopping list information to said new shopping list commensurate with said means to predict programmatically when each said product needs to be replaced at said date and time of creating said new shopping list; (f) one or more second computers connected to said first computer over a second network means, wherein said second computer includes a means to receive said barcodes from said first computer over said second network means, as well as wherein said second computer includes a means to send product information about said barcodes to said first computer; (g) a printer attached to said consumer's first computer, wherein said printer prints said new shopping list for said consumer; and (h) a portable computing device with a means to receive said new shopping list from said first computer and a means to store said new shopping list in a memory means, (i) wherein said first computer includes an optional means of either: (a) sending said new shopping list from said first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure, said second store shipping products listed on said new shopping list to said consumer, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products; or (b) sending said new shopping list from said first computer to a second store connected to said second network infrastructure, said second store making said products listed on said new shopping list available to said consumer for pick up, thereby not requiring said consumer to shop in-store for said products. 16. The portable barcode scanner of claim 15, wherein said first network infrastructure is a wireless link between said portable barcode scanner and said consumer's first computer; wherein said wireless link is selected from the group comprising: an infrared link and a Bluetooth-enabled radio-frequency link. 17. The first computer of claim 15 is selected from the group comprising: a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, an internet appliance, and a cell phone. 18. The first computer of claim 15, wherein said second network infrastructure is the internet.