Amazon's Patent-Pending Price Checks

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?"

Comments

Say Cheese!

[AKAImBatman]

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

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

Re:Say Cheese!

[plover]

Of course now that I hit submit, I read more of the patent itself. It was submitted two years ago, but was issued yesterday.

Using an "imaging device" on a handheld PDA to comparison shop for prices is sooooo last millenia. We tested several of them for a "comparison shopping" project (going into a competitor's stores with handhelds and comparing their prices against ours.) We found that the other stores tended to kick out people who were running around scanning merchandise.

Also, plenty of stores have a "no cameras" policy posted right at the entrance. Forethought ... or defense against PRIOR ART?

Re:Say Cheese!

[Alex P Keaton in da]

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?

CASHIER: "Price check on tomato soup!"

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

Another example of the overworked Patent Office

[darealpat]

Once again those with deep pockets go forth and argue a case for something that has existed under another name or description, but not functionality. I think that is where the Patent Office falls down: the wording of applied patents.

It is in the practical examples and application of the descriptions that make "prior art." With sufficiently trained researchers (and sufficient numbers of said people... or bots??!!?) these types of applications and patents will be minimised at the door, and eventually even less will be brought in since it will be known that thorough checking will be done.

Re:Another example of the overworked Patent Office

[e4g4]

Clearly. Is this not just a barcode scanner with a server connection? DHL, Fedex and UPS all have something like this. As far as I can tell, the only novel thing about this patent is that the "barcode scanner" doesn't have to be a dedicated scanner, just anything with a CCD.

I agree with darealpat - I wonder how much of the search for "prior art" involves string matching...

$result = query( "select * from patents where patent_text like '%portable imaging device to capture an image of identifying data%'");
num_rows($result)==0? issue_patent() : issue_lawsuit();

Important difference

[Anonymous Coward]

Between you all get upset, please note that this is an application, as in Amazon drafted it and sent it to the USPTO but they havent looked at it yet. It's not the same as a granted patent.

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.

Sounds like a cool technology

[ReformedExCon]

I assume it's mostly meant to retrieve data on the current special offers for the particular item. Usually, scanning the barcode will give you price information, even without hitting some "3rd party" database. But if store X has a special on item Y, then it might be worth it to travel across town and buy it from there.

It seems like the logical evolution of systems like Froogle. Only this one would be much more personal and probably more local, not to mention tied to brick and mortar storefronts rather than online storefronts.

It does seem awfully like the thing mentioned in the news article for finding used book prices, though. Someone ought to look into that.

Uh-oh!

[Netsensei]

1. Post about silly patents applied by Amazon on /.
2. Get some pro- and contra-patent zealots engage into total battle
3. ???
4. Profit!

Read the claims not the title

[cswinter]

The title is broadly descriptive of the technology. The claims, especially the independent claims, tell you what Amazon are actually seeking protection for.

I also note it is pending, so any criticism of the USPTO should be withheld until it is granted and it can be determined what prior art was considered in examination and what scope of protection (if any) has been granted.

Land of the lost?

[miffo.swe]

Is the road to wealth really to just watch sience fiction movies and read SF books and patent every gadget that looks cool? Even if you dont have the faintest idea about how to produce it you can get a patent and you can reap the benefits as soon as someone manages to make a product out of the idea, even if the idea is a century old. Even worse is that if you take an old idea and stick it onto another old idea you magically have a patent, even if you just combined two things like a catalouge and a ordering form in the back pages. I dont see how you could patent that. Still, in the online world you could patent something jsut like that.

I really honestly cant see how a patent system like this can help the US in the long run. The incentive to produce is substantially lowered and replaced with people who just litigate and patents obvious ideas. Theese people dont contribute a dime to the community since all the money they touch is fictional for a fictional service in a highly abstract market.