Computer operation control and item selection and vending methods and systems
US7156306B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06Q30/0601
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A signal is transmitted into a computer in response to an image on a display screen of the computer such that the computer operates in response to the signal; this includes moving a scanner in optical communication with the display screen such that the scanner detects an image (for example, a bar code) displayed on the screen and generates the signal in response. One or more computers may be used, and this may be used for vending a product or other purposes. With or without such scanning, a portion of a store environment may be displayed on a screen of a computer, including showing images of actual products for sale at the store, in which images of actual products are accessed via the computer from a database containing in-store images recorded in the store during a period of non-existent or minimal customer presence in the store. A vending system is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.