Amazon's Patent-Pending Price Checks

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Amazon's Patent-Pending Price Checks

Posted by CowboyNeal on Thursday September 8, 2005 @11:58PM from the prior-arts dept.

theodp writes "On Thursday, the USPTO revealed that Amazon is back at the patent trough, this time for a System and method for obtaining information relating to an item of commerce using a portable imaging device. Sounds an awful lot like ScoutPal, which drew raves from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, doesn't it?"

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Say Cheese! by AKAImBatman · 2005-09-09 00:00 · Score: 4, Funny

System and method for obtaining information relating to an item of commerce using a portable imaging device.

So... they took a picture? ;-)

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Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
1. Re:Say Cheese! by Alex+P+Keaton+in+da · 2005-09-09 00:32 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I want them to patent the entire Amazon shopping experience: Finding 10 things through their site that you want, and seem resonably priced, then getting to the checkout, and realizing that each item is from a different store, with it's own shipping and handling, and then seeing the $55 shipping and handling quote, and abandoning your shopping cart in a rage. Can that be patented?
  
  --
  And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
Next thing... by jmcmunn · 2005-09-09 00:02 · Score: 1, Funny

The next thing you know, Slashdot will patent "the reporting of stories about patents no one cares to hear about on their front page".
1. Re:Next thing... by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-09 00:15 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  "the reporting of stories about patents no one cares to hear about on their front page".
  
  Yeah, but they will just annoy the patent office as they will have filed for the exact same patent with a slightly different summary a day or two before.
CASHIER: "Price check on tomato soup!" by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-09 00:05 · Score: 3, Funny

STOCK BOY: "No problem...I'll just go scan one of the other cans."

Amazon.com stormtroopers burst from the ceiling tiles and decapitate our poor hero.
Uh-oh! by Netsensei · 2005-09-09 00:19 · Score: 5, Funny
1. Post about silly patents applied by Amazon on /.
2. Get some pro- and contra-patent zealots engage into total battle
3. ???
4. Profit!
Cue Cat anyone? by mrwiggly · 2005-09-09 00:31 · Score: 2, Funny

Weren't there some stupid dots in the name of this thing?

C:ue: C:a:t

Or something???
Re:Boycott Amazon by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-09 00:33 · Score: 2, Funny

Anyone who boycotts a company based on your calling them a "traitor" is an idiot.
Re:Zero Click Ordering by wfWebber · 2005-09-09 01:12 · Score: 2, Funny

Or we could patent the /. effect and sue Amazon if they ever get /.'ed?

--
Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway. -- Andrew S. Tanenbaum
The Eyes Have It! by David+Off · 2005-09-09 01:46 · Score: 2, Funny

> System and method for obtaining information relating to an item of commerce using a portable imaging device.

So now if you want to browse around a store with those portable imaging devices in your head you will have to pay Amazon for the priviledge!

What next? An organic pump like system for circulating a nutrient and oxygen transpoting liquid in a living organism
If Jeff Bezos was Victor Kiam by saddino · 2005-09-09 02:04 · Score: 2, Funny

"I liked the idea so much, that I stole it!"
More specifically... by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-09 02:08 · Score: 2, Funny
More specifically, a user at the location of the first entity operates a portable imaging device to capture an image of identifying data, such as a barcode, that identifies a selected item. The captured image is then communicated to a server operated by a second entity that is different than the first entity to obtain item information (e.g., price, availability, etc.) associated with the selected item. The item information is communicated back to the portable imaging device for display to the user while the user remains at the location of the first entity. In other embodiments, the information extracted from the captured image may also be used to forecast future purchasing activity for the selected item.

After reading the parent, the abstract made so much sense. Here's why:
- portable imaging device = eye balls
- first entity = cashier
- second entitiy = clerk's helper (stock boy in parent)
Here's the scenario. I walk up to a cashier at a local Stop-n-Rob. I look at a pack of condoms, the cashier sees them, as does the helper. No pointing, no talking, just scanning and capturing the image. Since there's no tag on the items, the helper goes to the back and checks the price for the condoms. The cashier then rings them up and offers cigarettes (as a pop-up ad). Next time I stop by, this time with my girl-friend, I bring up a soda, along with other snacks, to the counter. The cashier rings it up, and offers condoms, only because of the previous transaction. At the same time, the Feds jump me for DMCA violations. The Stop-n-Rob is closed down and made into an Starbucks where people could browse Amazon via Wi-Fi.
Re:Important difference by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-09 02:23 · Score: 1, Funny

wiping your arse comprising the step of utilizing paper in a back and forth rubbing motion

One up, one down and one to polish?
Re:Important difference by mike.newton · 2005-09-09 15:29 · Score: 2, Funny

You can send in an application for "...a method of wiping your arse comprising the step of utilizing paper in a back and forth rubbing motion" and that application would also be published.

We'll let the lawyers decide if that infringes on my uni-directional method, patented in 1994.