Apparatus and method for maintaining a consumer products database
View Patent ↗This invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method for remotely capturing consumer product data and updating a consumer products database by a communication connection. A remote capture station provides data such as images and physical dimensions of consumer products for updating a consumer products database at a home location. This invention also relates to a method for consumer products database management including providing a capture station, engaging a consumer product with the capture station, capturing product data, transmitting the product data, and updating the consumer products database.
1. A method for consumer product database management, the method comprising:
providing a capture station at a remote location;
engaging a consumer product with the capture station, wherein the consumer product includes any tangible good that is purchased by a consumer in a retail environment;
capturing product data from the consumer product using at least one input device, wherein the product data comprises at least one product image and at least one of graphics, bar codes, sounds, heights, lengths, depths, weights, text, nutritional information, ingredient lists, and metadata;
transmitting the product data from the capture station to a home location;
updating a database of consumer products with the product data resulting in an updated database of related consumer goods including at least one of groceries, food, health, beauty, electronics, household, apparel, hardware, compact discs, and books; and
space management data coding and e-commerce data coding to provide a user with a resource for at least one of space management, advertising and e-commerce.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product data comprises at least one image and at least one dimension.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a remote user manipulating the consumer product to facilitate product data capture.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising a home user instructing the remote user during the product data capture.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising video conferencing between a remote user and a home user.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a home user remotely operating the input device on the capture station.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting the product data from the capture station following transmitting the product data.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the database of consumer products is client accessible.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updating includes writing the product data to a recordable medium.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising formatting the product data.
11. A method for consumer product database management, the method comprising:
providing a capture station at a remote location;
engaging a consumer product with the capture station, wherein the consumer product includes any tangible good that is purchased by a consumer in a retail environment;
scanning a bar code on the consumer product;
taking at least one digital image of the consumer product;
measuring at least one digital dimension of the consumer product;
weighing the consumer product on a digital scale;
inputting metadata for the consumer product;
transmitting product data from the capture station to a home location;
updating a database of consumer products with the product data; and
space management data coding and e-commerce data coding to provide a user with a resource for at least one of space management, advertising and e-commerce.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote location is a retailer.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the consumer products include at least one of groceries, food, health, beauty, electronics, household, apparel, hardware, compact discs, and books.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transmitting occurs after each product data capture step.
15. An apparatus for accomplishing the steps of claim 11 for consumer product data capture and database management, the apparatus comprising;
a remote located capture station having a remote computer with an input device;
a home computer connecting with a consumer products database; and
a communication connection between the remote computer and the home computer.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the input device comprises at least one of the group consisting of a digital camera, a bar code scanner, a digital video camera, a microphone, a keyboard, an electronic caliper, a digital micrometer, a laser measuring device, a three-dimensional laser scanner, an ultrasonic measuring device, an electronic tape measure, and a scale.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the communication connection is the internet.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
lighting positioned with respect to the capture station; and
background positioned with respect to the capture station for reproducing consistent images of the consumer product.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the consumer product includes at least one of groceries, food, health, beauty, electronics, household, apparel, hardware, compact disks and books.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein product image data is stored in TARGA 32 format.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the consumer products database is client accessible.
22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the capture station stores product data only until transmission.
23. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the input device includes an integrated dimensioning and weighing device.