Patent Application
20080071553
The present description will be better understood from the following detailed description read in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The detailed description provided below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present examples and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present example may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.
The image received by the web server (in step 201) may comprise an image in JPEG, TIFF or any other format. The data may be embedded in the image as metadata, for example as defined in the Exif (Exchangeable image file format) standard or using XMP (Extensible Metadata Platform) or IPTC (International Press Telecommunications Council) headers. Alternatively, the data may be embedded in the image in any other way. The image may be a still image or may be a moving image, such as a short video clip.
The image with embedded data may, in an example, have been created using a context sensitive camera as described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/659,121, Publication No. 2005/0052535 which is incorporated herein by reference.
In another example, the image with embedded data may be created in other ways, including, but not limited to, use of image recognition software on the initial image. The image recognition software may recognize the whole object in the image (e.g. using a model) or may extract information from parts of the image (e.g. a barcode, a serial number or other visible feature). The image recognition software may produce an image with embedded data or the data output from the image recognition software may be embedded within the image by a separate application.
In a further example, the data may be embedded by adding the metadata manually. This may be done by the seller using a custom application or web service. Alternatively, this service may be offered by a third party.
Having received the image (in step 201), the web server extracts the embedded data (step 202). This embedded data may also be referred to as a ‘tag’. The extracted data may comprise an Electronic Product Code (EPC or ePC), a Universal Product Code (UPC), a European Article Number (EAN), a Japanese Article Number (JAN) or any other identification code which relates to an object (e.g. serial number, an RFID number etc). In another example, the extracted data may comprise data in a different format, such as the manufacturers name and the model number of the item.
Using the extracted data (from step 202) the web server searches one or more databases to find the specification for the object (step 203) and, in some examples, additional data relating to the object, such as information on current value (e.g. from a valuation website), further images of the object (e.g. when new), advertising literature relating to the object (e.g. when first sold). The databases used may be local or remote and may be accessed via web pages e.g. using a search engine. In a first example, as shown in
Having obtained the information relating to the item (in step 203), the web server compiles this information into a commercial presentation for the item (step 204). The information which is compiled may comprise one or more pieces of information collected from one or more sources (e.g. from different databases, search engines, websites etc). The commercial presentation may be in the form of a web page with links to the additional information which may be stored on the web server or the links may direct the viewer to the source of the information (e.g. the manufacturer's website). The presentation may then be published on the web server or on another web server or alternatively, the presentation may be provided to the seller for them to publish. The presentation may be published on an online auction website or other commercial website. In another example, the commercial presentation may be in the form of sales documentation, an advertisement etc.
By obtaining information in addition to that provided by the seller (or instead of that provided by the seller), such as information from the original manufacturer, the information provided to a potential buyer relating to an item is more complete and more reliable. This provides the seller with a better sales presentation and may increase the chance that the item is sold whilst the potential buyer may have greater confidence in the information provided on the item for sale and may therefore be more inclined to make a purchase. As benefits may exist for both the seller and the buyer, this provides the operator of the commercial website with a more robust business.
In some examples, the extracted data may comprise data relating to more than one object (e.g. it contains two ePCs). In such an example, the web server may identify each of the items, search for specifications for each item and build a presentation for each item or a presentation for all of the items together (e.g. steps 203 and 204 are performed for each item referenced within the extract data). In another example, each of the goods may be identified (step 501) and the user may be prompted to identify which of the items the user requires a presentation for (step 502), as shown in
In the description above, specification data relating to the identified item is searched for (in step 203). The specification of an item is one example of the information relating to the item that may be searched for and in addition, or instead, the search may be performed to identify other information relating to the item. Examples include, but are not limited to, user instructions, test data, reviews of the item (e.g. as produced by consumer organizations or buyers of similar items whether new or used), valuations, data on comparable items (e.g. specifications, valuations etc), sales literature, images, information on other sales of the same type of item (e.g. data on the sale prices of identical or similar items on the particular commercial website or on other websites) and safety information (e.g. safety data sheets).
By automatically categorizing the items and using this category information within the website, errors in categorization are minimized and therefore searching by potential buyers will provide more accurate results. Additionally it provides the operators of the commercial website with more accurate information on what is for sale/sold on the site allowing them to generate more accurate statistics.
Although the above methods are particularly applicable to the sale of used (i.e. not new or second hand) goods, for example by an individual who may have been the original buyer of the goods, the methods are also applicable to the sale of new goods, for example by a third party who is not the manufacturer of goods and therefore does not necessarily have all the specification and other details. The third party may be an individual (e.g. who bought the goods but has not used them) or a commercial enterprise (e.g. a shop or online business).
In the above examples, the compiled information (in the form of a presentation) is published on a website. In another example, however, the method may be used to compile information which may be used in selling the item by other means e.g. in a shop, newspaper etc. The compiled information may comprise an advert, a sales brochure etc which may be printed or displayed to potential buyers via other media (e.g. television, radio).
In the above examples, the information on the item or on a group of items is compiled in order that the item (or items) can be advertised for sale. However, the compiled information may be used for other purposes, some examples of which are described below.
In an example, the methods described above may be used to obtain a valuation of property e.g. of all the items in a house. In such an example, multiple images may be received and the images may contain information on many items (e.g. where a photograph is taken of each room in the house). In searching for information on each item (in step 203), in addition to (or instead of) accessing specifications for the items, valuations of the items may be accessed in order that the compiled information (in step 204) includes a valuation of all the items and may include a total valuation. This may then be used to determine the insurance required on a property. In another example, the compiled information may include details (such as specifications) of each item and this may be sent to an insurance company which determines the required level of insurance. By having such an accurate and detailed inventory of items within the house, the process of replacing items if they are stolen/broken etc is simplified as there is a good record of the details relating to each item.
In another example, the methods described above may be used to obtain an inventory of the items within a property e.g. when selling or renting that property. As in the previous example, multiple images may be received and each image may contain embedded information relating to one or more items. The information compiled (in step 204) may comprise a list of all the items with links to additional information on those items, which may include user instructions and other details (e.g. specifications, valuations etc). Such a list may be useful to the person renting/selling the house and also to the tenant/purchaser because it provides information on all the items in a central place and may include information that might otherwise not be available (such as user instructions).
Although the present examples are described and illustrated herein as being implemented in a web based system as shown in
Although the examples described above show the method being run on a central resource (e.g. web server 101), the method may alternatively be performed in a distributed manner e.g. on the seller's PC 102 or on any user's device, such as a PC, PDA, mobile telephone etc to enable them to locally create a collection of data on an item which may then be uploaded to a website, distributed or otherwise used.
The term ‘computer’ is used herein to refer to any device with processing capability such that it can execute instructions. Those skilled in the art will realize that such processing capabilities are incorporated into many different devices and therefore the term ‘computer’ includes PCs, servers, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants and many other devices.
The methods described herein may be performed by software in machine readable form on a storage medium. The software can be suitable for execution on a parallel processor or a serial processor such that the method steps may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously.
This acknowledges that software can be a valuable, separately tradable commodity. It is intended to encompass software, which runs on or controls “dumb” or standard hardware, to carry out the desired functions. It is also intended to encompass software which “describes” or defines the configuration of hardware, such as HDL (hardware description language) software, as is used for designing silicon chips, or for configuring universal programmable chips, to carry out desired functions.
Those skilled in the art will realize that storage devices utilized to store program instructions can be distributed across a network. For example, a remote computer may store an example of the process described as software. A local or terminal computer may access the remote computer and download a part or all of the software to run the program. Alternatively, the local computer may download pieces of the software as needed, or execute some software instructions at the local terminal and some at the remote computer (or computer network). Those skilled in the art will also realize that by utilizing conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art that all, or a portion of the software instructions may be carried out by a dedicated circuit, such as a DSP, programmable logic array, or the like.
Any range or device value given herein may be extended or altered without losing the effect sought, as will be apparent to the skilled person.
The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate.
It will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. It will further be understood that reference to ‘an’ item refer to one or more of those items. For example, in the method shown in
It will be understood that the above description of a preferred embodiment is given by way of example only and that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Although various embodiments of the invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.
