Method and system for using a camera cell phone in transactions
View Patent ↗A method facilitating a transaction between a camera-phone user and a business entity. The business entity produces a printed medium indicating a transaction. The printed medium includes a barcode that includes direct contact data for communicating with the business entity. The barcode further includes specific transaction data relating to the transaction in the printed medium. Using the digital camera feature, the user captures a digital image of the barcode. The camera-phone is programmed to decode the digital image to retrieve the direct contact data and the transaction data embedded in the barcode. The camera-phone then automatically initiates a direct communication with the business entity via the mobile communications device using the decoded direct contact data. One communications are established, the camera phone further transmits the transaction data derived from the barcode to further facilitate the transaction.
1. A method for facilitating a transaction with a business entity from a printed medium using a mobile communications device, the printed medium having a barcode, the barcode including direct contact data for the business entity and transaction data relating to the transaction, the method comprising:
capturing a digital image of the barcode with the mobile communications device;
decoding the digital image in the mobile communications device to retrieve the direct contact data and the transaction data;
initiating a communication with the business entity via the mobile communications device using the decoded direct contact data; and
transmitting the transaction data to the business entity to facilitate the transaction.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:
storing user information in the mobile communications device; and
transmitting the user information to the business entity subsequent to initiating the communication, the user information facilitating the transaction.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communications device is a cell phone having a digital camera and the step of capturing the digital image is done with the cell phone digital camera.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the direct contact data is a phone number for the entity, and the step of initiating the communication comprises automatically dialing the decoded phone number.
5. The method of claim 4 further including conducting a voice transaction as part of the communication.
6. The method of claim 5 further including storing user information in the mobile communications device; and transmitting the user information to the business entity subsequent to initiating the communication, the user information facilitating the voice transaction.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the direct contact data is a web address for the entity, and the step of initiating the communication comprises automatically contacting the web address.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the transaction data includes an identifier of a unique offer associated with the printed medium, and further including a step of the business entity initiating a transaction routine for the unique offer upon receiving the transaction data.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the transaction data further includes an identification of the printed medium from which the transaction data was retrieved, and further including a step of the business entity tracking printed medium sources of incoming communications.
10. The method of claim 1 further including, after initiating the communication, steps of:
receiving a transaction query at the mobile communications device from the business entity; and
transmitting response data responsive to the transaction query to the business entity, said response data being input by a user of the mobile device.