Authors:
Adrian Rodriguez, Barney Barnett
Abstract:
This disclosure proposes a system and method to generate a QR code which transports a shopping list which is retailer agnostic. Items within the shopping list can be added to an order even if an exact UPC match is made.
Background:
The problem is that shopping list apps from a retailer are tied to that retailer and the UPCs of that retailer.
If you add a UPC to a shopping list which is not available, the item cannot be added. For private label items, UPCs from one retailer will not be available at another retailer.
Typically, when the user builds a shopping list, it is a list of UPC codes. The list (or a reference to that list) is embedded in
a QR code. When a system reads the QR code, it reads each individual UPC.
This invention expands on the existing art by augmenting the data in the shopping list:
At the time of shopping list building, you also have access to an image of the
UPC - which may include a box with text. For example, a picture of a frosted
cereal box.
Description:
In the QR code of the shopping list, include the frosted cereal box UPC (known prior art) and also process the image with an object recognition system (OCR) to extract the frosted cereal and manufacturer name text. Also, the list of ingredients and nutrition facts.
Then, embed that in the shopping list as alternate metadata for the item. If you go to retrieve a shopping list in another store or another country that doesn’t have the exact UPC match, it can use the alternate metadata associated with the item to look
up similar items. Or comparably healthy items.
At the POS or shopping list intake system, it can then find a substitute rather than just giving a UPC not found error. It also doesn’t need to perform the OCR on the fly because the shopping list creator has provided the info. Just needs a database of current inventory to find a matching substitution.
In an alternate embodiment, the list can be only UPC codes and the UPC to description mapping can be done at the POS as part of exception handling. It can reach out to a service with universal metadata for every UPC.
Another alternate embodiment can have the actual images transferred within the shopping list and the UPC extraction and OCR happens at retrieval time to speed up shopping list creation.
Usages:
In the QR code of the shopping list, include the frosted cereal box UPC (known prior art) and also process the image with an object recognition system (OCR) to extract the frosted cereal and manufacturer name text. Also, the list of ingredients and nutrition facts.
Then, embed that in the shopping list as alternate metadata for the item. If you go to retrieve a shopping list in another store or another country that doesn’t have the exact UPC match, it can use the alternate metadata associated with the item to look
up similar items. Or comparably healthy items.
At the POS or shopping list intake system, it can then find a substitute rather than just giving a UPC not found error. It also doesn’t need to perform the OCR on the fly because the shopping list creator has provided the info. Just need a database of current inventory to find a matching substitution.
Claims:
A.) generate a QR code which transports a shopping list which is retailer agnostic.
B.) Adding items to an order even if an exact UPC match is made via alternate look up
a. Replacement
b. Meta-data
c. Product description
d. Other product attributes
Enabling Technology:
QR Codes
Shopping list apps
TCxAmplify mobile shopping solution
SCO order retrieval
TGCS Reference 1989
