US20120322428A1 - Network of tags - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser. An embodiment of the method scans to obtain a product or service code that provides the product or service information of the product or service, using a smartphone of a first user; combines the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code; and communicates the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser using a network. After the potential purchaser makes a purchase, the first user is compensated by the vendor/retailer and/or manufacturer according to the monetary incentive specified in an advertisement promotion code associated with the product or service.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/125,998, filed May 23, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/952,789, filed Sep. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,388,488, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
INTRODUCTION
• The ubiquity and unique features of smartphones has made them useful shopping devices. This is evidenced by the recent adoption of quick response (QR) codes on many goods and advertisements. When these two-dimensional barcodes codes are scanned by the camera of a smartphone, they provide much more information than the universal product code (UPC) barcodes traditionally found on products and used by point of sale (POS) devices. A QR code, for example, can contain a universal resource locator (URL) to additional information about the product or vendor of a product. As a result, when shopping with a smartphone, more information about a product or vendor can instantly be obtained by simply taking a photo of a QR code on the product.
• Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags also have the potential to improve the retail shopping experience. Like QR codes, RFID tags can provide more information about products and their vendors than is currently available. Unfortunately, the unique features of smartphones have not yet been coupled with the capabilities of RFID tags in order to improve the retail shopping experience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The skilled artisan will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system, in accordance with various embodiments.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a system for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser and for identifying an advertiser of a product or service, in accordance with various embodiments.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a system for identifying and compensating one or more advertisers of a product or service, in accordance with various embodiments.
• FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, in accordance with various embodiments.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a system that includes one or more distinct software modules that perform a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, in accordance with various embodiments.
• Before one or more embodiments of the present teachings are described in detail, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present teachings are not limited in their application to the details of construction, the arrangements of components, and the arrangement of steps set forth in the following detailed description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTSComputer-Implemented System
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates acomputer system100, upon which embodiments of the present teachings may be implemented.Computer system100 includes abus102 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and aprocessor104 coupled withbus102 for processing information.Computer system100 also includes amemory106, which can be a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled tobus102 for storing instructions to be executed byprocessor104.Memory106 also may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed byprocessor104.Computer system100 further includes a read only memory (ROM)108 or other static storage device coupled tobus102 for storing static information and instructions forprocessor104. Astorage device110, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled tobus102 for storing information and instructions.
• Computer system100 may be coupled viabus102 to adisplay112, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD), for displaying information to a computer user. Aninput device114, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled tobus102 for communicating information and command selections toprocessor104. Another type of user input device iscursor control116, such as a mouse, a trackball or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections toprocessor104 and for controlling cursor movement ondisplay112. This input device typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis (i.e., x) and a second axis (i.e., y), that allows the device to specify positions in a plane.
• Acomputer system100 can perform the present teachings. Consistent with certain implementations of the present teachings, results are provided bycomputer system100 in response toprocessor104 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained inmemory106. Such instructions may be read intomemory106 from another computer-readable medium, such asstorage device110. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained inmemory106 causesprocessor104 to perform the process described herein. Alternatively hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the present teachings. Thus implementations of the present teachings are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
• The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any media that participates in providing instructions toprocessor104 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such asstorage device110. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such asmemory106. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including the wires that comprisebus102.
• Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, digital video disc (DVD), a Blu-ray Disc, any other optical medium, a thumb drive, a memory card, a RAM, PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other tangible medium from which a computer can read.
• Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor104 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on the magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local tocomputer system100 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector coupled tobus102 can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and place the data onbus102.Bus102 carries the data tomemory106, from whichprocessor104 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received bymemory106 may optionally be stored onstorage device110 either before or after execution byprocessor104.
• In accordance with various embodiments, instructions configured to be executed by a processor to perform a method are stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be a device that stores digital information. For example, a computer-readable medium includes a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) as is known in the art for storing software. The computer-readable medium is accessed by a processor suitable for executing instructions configured to be executed.
• The following descriptions of various implementations of the present teachings have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the present teachings to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practicing of the present teachings. Additionally, the described implementation includes software but the present teachings may be implemented as a combination of hardware and software or in hardware alone. The present teachings may be implemented with both object-oriented and non-object-oriented programming systems.
Network of RFID Tags
• As described above, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags have long had the potential to improve the retail shopping experience. Like quick response (QR) codes, RFID tags can provide more information about products and their vendors than is currently available. Unfortunately, the unique features of smartphones have not yet been coupled with the capabilities of RFID tags or QR codes to improve the retail shopping experience.
• Recently, near field communication (NFC) standards have been proposed for smartphones. NFC is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them into close proximity, for example, within a few centimeters. NFC technology enables contactless transactions, data exchange, and simplified setup of more complex communications, such as Wi-Fi. NFC technology makes life easier and more convenient for consumers by making it simpler to make transactions, exchange digital content, and connect electronic devices. These NFC standards, for example, have been discussed and used to transform a smartphone into a payment device like a credit card. These NFC standards cover communications protocols and data exchange formats, and can also be used to communicate with RFID tags.
• Embodiments of a method and system are disclosed for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser using, for example, smartphones and RFID tags or quick response (QR) codes. Further, embodiments of a method and system are disclosed for identifying an advertiser of a product or service using, for example, smartphones and RFID tags or QR codes. A smartphone is described herein for illustrative purposes. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of electronic communication devices (hereinafter communication devices) that include a computer system, such as the system shown inFIG. 1, either mobile or non-mobile, can equally be used. In addition to smartphones, other types of communication devices can include, but are not limited to, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, music players, game players, or personal computers. QR codes are described herein for illustrative purposes. One skilled in the art will appreciate other types of codes, such as barcodes, may equally be used.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing asystem200 for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser and for identifying an advertiser of a product or service, in accordance with various embodiments.
• In various embodiments, a computer, such as a server, provides an advertising system/service280 to generate a product orservice code214 and one or moreadvertisement promotion codes216 for a product or service. In various embodiments, a vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 receives product orservice code214 andadvertisement promotion codes216 from advertising system/service280 through anetwork220, for example, and places product orservice code214 andadvertisement promotion codes216 on a RFID or a QR code (hereinafter RFID tag206) on a product or an item describing a service230 (hereinafter product or service230).
• Product orservice code214 uniquely identifies product orservice230 and includes or provides detailed information on product orservice230. Product orservice code214 is a UPC, for example. For example, information on a product can include, but is not limited to, price, manufacturer, date of manufacture, technical information, marketing information, vendor information, vendor return policies, technical support phone numbers and/or websites, vendor price comparisons, or comparable products comparisons.
• One skilled in art will appreciate that product orservice code214 can be placed on an item describing a service. For example, an RFID tag can be attached to a menu or an entrance of a restaurant and may include a service code that provides menu items of a restaurant, cost of the menu items, food preparation information, nutrition information for each item on the menu, reservation information, seating information, hours of operation, or directions to a restaurant.
• Advertisement promotion codes216 each provides a monetary incentive for a user or advertiser to communicate information about the product or service. Anadvertisement promotion code216 uniquely identifies an advertisement promotion for product orservice230. For example, fromadvertisement promotion code216, a vendor/retailer242 or amanufacturer244 can determine the particular advertising incentive they placed on product orservice230. Each product orservice230 can have more than one advertising incentive or promotion. Therefore, anadvertisement promotion code216 is used to determine the particular promotion.
• In various embodiments, advertising system/service280 provides one or more applications (or apps) that can be downloaded on asmartphone202 to readRFID tag206 to access product orservice code214 andadvertisement promotion code216. Note, as described above,smartphone202 can be any electronic communications device, including, for example,
• In various embodiments,smartphone202 with a camera, anNFC interface208, or radio frequency interface (not shown) can access more information about product or service230 (and other information), whensmartphone202 is within proximity of product orservice230 that includesRFID tag206.
• In various embodiments,smartphone202, carried by a smartphone user260 (also referred to as an advertiser), uses the application provided by advertising system/service280 to access product orservice code214 onRFID tag206. As noted above, product orservice code214 includes or provides this product or service information. Alternatively, product orservice code214 may include one or more links, such as URL links, that provide this product or service information.
• Information received bysmartphone202 fromRFID tags206 can be coupled with information fromsmartphone202, such as anadvertiser code212, the time product orservice230 was seen, the location of product orservice230, and even a photo or digital image of product orservice230 captured by an imaging device (not shown) ofsmartphone202.Advertiser code212 uniquely identifies a person who owns or carriessmartphone202 and advertises product orservice230 to someone else.Advertiser code212 is used, for example, to determine the person who should be paid for advertising product orservice230.Advertiser code212 is registered by advertising system/service280, for example.
• All of this information can then be stored onsmartphone202 or shared with others, including one or morepotential purchasers250 in the form of adigital code210, through anetwork220.Digital code210 may include a barcode or other types of code, for example. Thenetwork220 can be, for example, social networks or traditional communication means, such as email, voice, text, or chat. For example,smartphone202 can receive the price and product information on a particular laptop (product230) from anRFID tag206 on the laptop for sale at aparticular retailer242. The product information can include, for example, the specifications of the laptop, such as the speed of the processor, the disk storage capacity and speed, the size of the monitor, and the type and number of input/output ports.Smartphone202 can couple this information with the time the laptop was seen, the location of the laptop, and a photo or digital image of the laptop take by thesmartphone202.Smartphone202 can also do an Internet search for laptops with similar product specifications and can get a price comparison with other vendors. All of this information on theparticular laptop230 can then be stored onsmartphone202 or a remote database (not shown), or shared with others, including one or morepotential purchasers250, usingnetwork220. For example, this information can be sent to a friend or posted on a social networking website.
• As noted above, theRFID tag206 associated with a product or service can includeadvertisement promotion code216 that provides a monetary incentive to communicate information about the product or service. In various embodiments,advertisement promotion code216 may also provide a coupon (not shown) that can be used repeatedly by multiple users.Smartphone202, for example, can then associateadvertisement promotion code216 of the product or service with the unique code of smartphone user260 (referred above inFIG. 2 as advertiser code212), who introduces the product or service topotential purchaser250 by forwarding the product or service information.Advertisement promotion code216, product orservice code214, andadvertiser code212 may be combined asdigital code210 when communicated topotential purchaser250.
• In various embodiments, when potential purchaser250 (now a purchaser) presentsdigital code210 to vendor/retailer242 at the time of purchase, a point of sale (POS) terminal ordevice240 scans and decodesdigital code210 into product orservice code214 that identifies the specific product or service,advertisement promotion code216 that identifies the advertising promotion including the compensation for advertising the product or service, andadvertiser code212 that identifiessmartphone user260 that forwarded the product or service information. One skilled in the art will appreciate that POS terminal ordevice240 can be any computing device, mobile or non-mobile, that is capable of scanning and decodingdigital code210 using, for example, an application provided by advertising system/service280.
• In various embodiments,potential purchaser250 presentsdigital code210 at the time of purchase using acommunications device252, such as a smartphone, and an application (or app) provided by advertising system/service280, for example. For example,potential purchaser250 presentsdigital code210 by displaying a code that can be scanned by POS terminal ordevice240, by sending the code throughnetwork220 to POS terminal ordevice240, or sending a RF or NFC to POS terminal ordevice240
• In various embodiments,advertisement promotion code216 included withindigital code210 specifies howsmartphone user260 is compensated for communicating product or service information topotential purchaser250. For example,smartphone user260 may be compensated by vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 of the product or service by receiving a credit message orcoupon246. Alternatively, vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 may store a credit forsmartphone user260 in an internal database to be used bysmartphone user260 when making a future purchase from vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244. Vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 may also send a message to advertising system/service280 instructing advertising system/service280 to store a credit or coupon forsmartphone user260.Smartphone user260 is identified on advertising system/service280 usingadvertiser code212, for example.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a system300 for identifying and compensating one or more advertisers of a product or service, in accordance with various embodiments.
• In various embodiments, two or more users who forward information on product orservice230 can be compensated using advertising system/service280. For example,smartphone user260 forwards product orservice code214 and theadvertisement promotion code216 provided onRFID tag206 of product orservice230 to asmartphone362 of a firstpotential purchaser360. The forwarded information is associated withadvertiser code212 ofsmartphone user260. The firstpotential purchaser360 may send the forwarded information (including product orservice code214,advertisement promotion code216,advertiser code212 of smartphone user260) and anotheradvertiser code312 of firstpotential purchaser360 to asmartphone352 of a secondpotential purchaser350 in the form of adigital code310. When secondpotential purchaser350 presentsdigital code310 at the time of purchase,digital code310 may be decoded into product orservice code214 that identifies the specific product or service, andadvertiser code212 ofsmartphone user260 andadvertiser code312 of firstpotential purchaser360.Smartphone user260 and firstpotential purchaser360 may each receive a credit message orcoupon246 and346, respectively, from vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 of the product or service, according to a preset percentage of the profit margin of the product or service specified byadvertisement promotion code216, for example. For example, vendor/retailer242 and/ormanufacturer244 may send a message to advertising system/service280 to store a credit or coupon forsmartphone user260 and firstpotential purchaser360. Again, advertising system/service280 identifiessmartphone user260 and firstpotential purchaser360 usingadvertiser codes212 and312, respectively.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are described with respect to anRFID tag206. One skilled in the art will appreciate that a QR code and/or barcode associated with a product or service can equally be used to provide an advertising code that provides a monetary incentive to communicate information about the product or service.
• In contrast to QR codes or barcodes, RFID tags can be active devices. In other words, they can constantly broadcast their information. This unique feature allows point of sale (POS) devices to tally the prices of all of the items in a shopping cart almost instantaneously, for example. Depending on the distances over which RFID tags broadcast their messages, however, this active capability of the tags can cause problems when browsing products in close proximity to many other products.
• In various embodiments,smartphone202 includes a filtering mechanism that allowssmartphone user260 to select the products or services he or she is currently interested in. This allowssmartphone202 to only notify its user when selected products and services are nearby.Smartphone202 can also block or not receive transmissions from the RFID tags of products or services asmartphone user260 has not selected.
• In various embodiments,smartphone user260 is offered a list of available products or services that are nearby having RFID tags that broadcast messages. Whensmartphone user260 deselects one or more products or services using a user interface onsmartphone202, this selection is stored in the smartphone's memory device. Thenext time smartphone202 receives messages from the one or more deselected products or services,smartphone202 will not show these messages tosmartphone user260. Alternatively,smartphone202 will show these messages in a different color or shade tosmartphone user260 untilsmartphone user260 actively selects these messages to reactivate message alert functionalities.
• FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, in accordance with various embodiments.
• Instep410, a smartphone of a first user scans a product or item describing a product to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service.
• Instep420, the product or service code is combined with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code.
• Instep430, the digital code is communicated to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using a network.
• In various embodiments, thescanning step410 includes scanning a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
• In various embodiments, thescanning step410 includes using an near field communication (NFC) interface on the smartphone to access information on the product or service.
• In various embodiments, themethod400 further includes filtering, using a filtering mechanism, unselected products or services by the first user so that the first user is only notified when selected products or services are nearby.
• In various embodiments, the filtering step includes blocking transmissions from RFID tags of products or services the first user has not selected.
• In various embodiments, themethod400 further includes showing messages from the unselected products or services in a different color or shade until the first user actively selects the messages from the unselected products or services.
• In various embodiments, thescanning step410 includes scanning a barcode or QR code.
• In various embodiments, themethod400 further includes capturing a photo or digital image of the product or service, using an imaging device on the smartphone.
• In various embodiments, the information from the smartphone includes one or more of the time the product or service was seen, the location of the product or service, and the digital image of the product or service.
• In various embodiments, the communicatingstep420 includes posting the digital code on a social networking website.
• In various embodiments, the communicatingstep420 includes sending the digital code using communication channels including one or more of an email, voice, text, and chat.
• In various embodiments, the product or service code provides the product or service information by including one or more universal resource locator (URL) links that provide the product or service information.
• In various embodiments, the product or service code is a product code, and the product or service information includes one or more of a price, manufacturer, date of manufacture, technical information, marketing information, vendor information, vendor return policies, technical support phone numbers and/or websites, vendor price comparisons, and comparable products comparisons.
• In various embodiments, the product or service code is a service code that provides information on services available and includes one or more of menu items of a restaurant, cost of the menu items, food preparation information, nutrition information for each item on the menu, reservation information, seating information, hours of operation, and directions to the restaurant.
• In various embodiments, the digital code further includes an advertisement promotion code that describes an incentive for communicating information about the product or service, and one or more advertiser codes that identify one or more advertisers that forwarded the information about the product or service to the potential purchaser. The first user is one of the one or more advertisers.
• In various embodiments, themethod400 further includes communicating the digital code to a point of sale device or terminal using the communication device. The point of sale device receives the digital code from a purchaser that is the second user, decodes the digital code into the product or service code, the advertisement promotion code, and the advertiser codes, and compensates the one or more advertisers according to the incentive described in the advertisement promotion code, after the purchaser makes a purchase.
• In various embodiments, the compensating step includes sending the one or more advertisers one or more emails attaching one or more credit vouchers or coupons for future purchases.
• In various embodiments, the compensating step includes storing a credit for each of the one or more advertisers in a database of a vendor/retailer or manufacturer for future purchases.
System
• Referring again toFIGS. 2 and 3, a system for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser includes a smartphone of a first user that scans a product or item describing a product to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service. The smartphone combines the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code. Further, the smartphone communicates the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using a network.
Computer Program Product
• In various embodiments, a computer program product includes a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a processor so as to perform a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser. This method is performed by a system that includes one or more distinct software modules.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of asystem500 that includes one or more distinct software modules that perform a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, in accordance with various embodiments.System500 includesscanning module510, combiningmodule520, andcommunication module530.
• In various embodiments, thescanning module510 scans to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service, using a smartphone of a first user.
• In various embodiments, the combiningmodule520 combines the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code.
• In various embodiments, thecommunication module530 communicates the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using a network.
• While the present teachings are described in conjunction with various embodiments, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.
• Further, in describing various embodiments, the specification may have presented a method and/or process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

Claims (20)

1. A method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, comprising:

scanning to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service, using a smartphone of a first user;

combining the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code; and

communicating the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using a network.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the scanning step comprises scanning a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the scanning step further comprises using an near field communication (NFC) interface on the smartphone to access information on the product or service.

4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising filtering, using a filtering mechanism, unselecting products or services by the first user so that the first user is only notified when selected products or services are nearby.

5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the filtering step includes blocking transmissions from RFID tags of products or services the first user has not selected.

6. The method ofclaim 4, further comprising showing messages from the unselected products or services in a different color or shade until the first user actively selects the messages from the unselected products or services.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the scanning step comprises scanning a barcode or QR code.

8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising capturing a photo or digital image of the product or service, using an imaging device on the smartphone.

9. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the information from the smartphone includes one or more of the time the product or service was seen, the location of the product or service, and the digital image of the product or service.

10. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the communicating step comprises posting the digital code on a social networking website.

11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the communicating step comprises sending the digital code using communication channels including one or more of an email, voice, text, and chat.

12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the product or service code provides the product or service information by including one or more universal resource locator (URL) links that provide the product or service information.

13. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the product or service code is a product code, and wherein the product or service information includes one or more of a price, manufacturer, date of manufacture, technical information, marketing information, vendor information, vendor return policies, technical support phone numbers and/or websites, vendor price comparisons, and comparable products comparisons.

14. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the product or service code is a service code that provides information on services available and includes one or more of menu items of a restaurant, cost of the menu items, food preparation information, nutrition information for each item on the menu, reservation information, seating information, hours of operation, and directions to the restaurant.

15. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the digital code further includes an advertisement promotion code that describes an incentive for communicating information about the product or service, and one or more advertiser codes that identify one or more advertisers that forwarded the information about the product or service to the potential purchaser, wherein the first user is one of the one or more advertisers.

16. The method ofclaim 15, the method further comprising communicating the digital code to a point of sale device or terminal using the communication device, wherein the point of sale device

receives the digital code from a purchaser, wherein the purchaser is the second user,

decodes the digital code into the product or service code, the advertisement promotion code, and the advertiser codes, and

compensates the one or more advertisers according to the incentive described in the advertisement promotion code, after the purchaser makes a purchase.

17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the compensating step includes sending the one or more advertisers one or more emails attaching one or more credit vouchers or coupons for future purchases.

18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the compensating step includes storing a credit for each of the one or more advertisers in a database of a vendor/retailer or manufacturer for future purchases.

19. A system for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, comprising:

a smartphone of a first user that

scans a product or item describing a product to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service;

combines the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code; and

communicates the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using a network.

20. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium whose contents include a program with instructions being executed on a processor so as to perform a method for communicating product or service information to a potential purchaser, the method comprising:

providing a system, wherein the system comprises one or more distinct software modules, and wherein the distinct software modules comprise a scanning module, a combining module, and a communication module;

scanning to obtain a product or service code that provides product or service information of a product or service, using the scanning module of a smartphone of a first user;

combining the product or service code with information from the smartphone associated with the product or service to generate a digital code, using the combining module; and

communicating the digital code to a communication device of a second user that is the potential purchaser of the product or service using the communication module.

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