Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SCANNING APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING METHOD
Related Application(s)
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No.
16/002,605
filed June 7, 2018, and U.S. Patent Application No. 16/200,091, filed November
26, 2018,
both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
Technical Field
[0002] These teachings relate generally to scanning and scanning-based
information
retrieval.
Background
[0003] Modern technology facilitates accessing a wide variety of
information.
Various information sources and databases can be accessed, for example, via
home
computers and laptops as well as mobile platforms such as pads/tablets and so-
called smart
phones.
100041 Generally speaking, however, a particular individual person
usually gains
access to such content by way of user-initiated searches and/or queries. That
is, a person who
can gain something by accessing certain information must typically themselves
initiate the
inquiry in order to obtain that information. For example, a person who might
benefit from
knowing the appropriate first aid protocol for a particular injury must
usually formulate and
initiate a query in those regards. As another example, a person who might
benefit from
knowing a current market value for their used automobile must again usually
formulate and
initiate a corresponding query.
[0005] The applicant has determined that current practices in the
foregoing regards do
not necessarily meet all needs in all application settings. In particular, and
as an example, a
person who does not recognize the potential value of having and knowing
certain
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4
information in a certain application setting will be unlikely to take any
steps to acquire that
information and hence will be denied any benefits that correspond to having
that information.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0006] The above needs are at least partially met through provision of
the scanning
apparatus and method described in the following detailed description,
particularly when
studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 comprises a flow diagram as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of these teachings;
[0008] FIG. 2 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance
with various
embodiments of these teachings;
[0009] FIG. 3 comprises a block diagram as configured in accordance
with various
embodiments of these teachings;
100101 FIG. 4 comprises a screen shot as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of these teachings;
[0011] FIG. 5 comprises a screen shot as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of these teachings;
[0012] FIG. 6 comprises a screen shot as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of these teachings; and
100131 FIG. 7 comprises a top pan view as configured in accordance with
various
embodiments of the invention.
[0014] Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and
clarity and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative
positioning of
some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other
elements to help to
improve understanding of various embodiments of the present teachings. Also,
common but
well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially
feasible
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embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed
view of these
various embodiments of the present teachings. Certain actions and/or steps may
be described
or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art
will understand
that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The
terms and
expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to
such terms and
expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above
except where different
specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. The word "or" when
used herein
shall be interpreted as having a disjunctive construction rather than a
conjunctive
construction unless otherwise specifically indicated.
Detailed Description
[0015] Generally speaking, these various embodiments will support and
facilitate
providing one kind of categorical type of information regarding an item to an
entity (such as
a particular person) presumptively seeking a different kind of categorical
type of information
regarding that item. By one approach these embodiments are carried out while
the item is at a
location that offers a service that corresponds to the aforementioned
different kind of
categorical type of information.
[0016] By one approach these teachings provide a portable handheld device
having an
optical scanner and a wireless communications capability. That portable
handheld device
serves to scan an optical identification code on the aforementioned item and
to transmit
identification information corresponding to that optical identification code
to a particular
remote resource. Upon receiving the aforementioned one kind of categorical
type of
information from the remote resource at the portable handheld device, at least
some of that
information can be printed as hard copy and provided to the aforementioned
entity.
[0017] By way of example and without intending any particular limitations
in these
cards, the aforementioned different kind of categorical type of information
can comprise
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information regarding servicing the item while the other kind of categorical
type of
information can comprise valuation information regarding a value of the item.
100181 When the aforementioned item comprises a terrestrial vehicle such
as a used
automobile, the aforementioned optical identification code can comprise the
well-known
vehicle identification number (VIN). In such a case, and by one approach, the
portable
handheld device can also serve to receive mileage information for the
terrestrial vehicle and
to provide that mileage information to the aforementioned remotes resource
when also
transmitting the aforementioned identification information that corresponds to
the optical
identification code.
[0019] By one approach, the aforementioned hard copy can include metadata
regarding the item. As an example, when the item comprises a used automobile,
the metadata
can include manufacturer information, model information, and/or a model year
for the item.
[0020] So configured, a person can be conveniently provided with reliable
information that is relevant to an item of interest to that person
notwithstanding that the
person was not (at least openly) seeking such information nor even necessarily
aware that
such information could be readily accessed. Once supplied with the
information, however,
and presuming an appropriate application setting, this person has the
opportunity to leverage
their newfound knowledge to their benefit. Those skilled in the art will also
appreciate that a
person needs essentially no training or background knowledge or experience to
receive the
benefits of these teachings. In particular, this person needs no information
that identifies the
aforementioned remote resource and does not even need to own or control any
network
capable devices that can serve to interact with such a resource.
[0021] These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough
review
and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the
drawings, and in
particular to FIG. 1, an illustrative process 100 that provides a first
categorical type of
information regarding an item and that is compatible with many of these
teachings will now
be presented.
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[0022] This process 100 presumes a certain set of circumstances. In
particular, this
process 100 takes place while the item is at a location that offers a service
that corresponds to
a second categorical type of information regarding the item. More
particularly, this
process 100 takes place while an entity (such as a person) presumptively seeks
the second
categorical type of information regards the item.
[0023] For the sake of an illustrative example and without intending any
particular
limitations by way of these details, FIG. 2 presents an application setting
200 that includes a
vehicle service and sales facility 201 having both a vehicle servicing area
202 and a
vehicular inventory area 203. Although these two areas 202 and 203 are shown
as being
physically discrete from one another in this illustrative example, it will be
understood that
these two areas 202 and 203 may partially physically overlap with one another
in a given
application setting.
[0024] The vehicular inventory area 203 may be an indoor and/or an
outdoor area
having one or more new or used vehicles that are offered for sale to the
general public. The
vehicle servicing area 202 will typically include an intake area where persons
204 can bring
their vehicles 205 to be serviced and one or more service bays or other areas
where such
vehicles can receive inspection, maintenance, and/or repair services.
[0025] So configured, and again as an illustrative example, the
aforementioned
second categorical type of information can comprise information regarding
servicing a
vehicle that constitutes the aforementioned item. Accordingly, the second
categorical type of
information can comprise, for example, information regarding recommended
services and/or
repairs (including a time frame to complete such services/repairs and/or an
estimated or firm
cost associated with such services/repairs). By one approach the vehicle
service and sales
facility 201 also includes a visitor area where persons having their vehicles
maintained/serviced can safely and comfortably wait for their vehicles to
become available to
them again.
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[0026] Accordingly, and to be clear, in this example the process 100
presented in
FIG. 1 occurs while a vehicle 205 is at the vehicle servicing area 202 and
while the
person 204 that corresponds to that vehicle 205 is presumptively seeking a
categorical type
of information pertaining to servicing the vehicle 205.
[0027] With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, at block 101 this
process 200
provides a portable handheld device 206. FIG. 3 presents an illustrative
example of this
portable handheld device 206. In this example, the portable handheld device
206 includes a
control circuit 301. Being a "circuit," the control circuit 301 therefore
comprises structure
that includes at least one (and typically many) electrically-conductive paths
(such as paths
comprised of a conductive metal such as copper or silver) that convey
electricity in an
ordered manner, which path(s) will also typically include corresponding
electrical
components (both passive (such as resistors and capacitors) and active (such
as any of a
variety of semiconductor-based devices) as appropriate) to permit the circuit
to effect the
control aspect of these teachings.
[0028] Such a control circuit 301 can comprise a fixed-purpose hard-wired
hardware
platform (including but not limited to an application-specific integrated
circuit (ASIC)
(which is an integrated circuit that is customized by design for a particular
use, rather than
intended for general-purpose use), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and
the like) or
can comprise a partially or wholly-programmable hardware platform (including
but not
limited to microcontrollers, microprocessors, and the like). These
architectural options for
such structures are well known and understood in the art and require no
further description
here. This control circuit 301 is configured (for example, by using
corresponding
programming as will be well understood by those skilled in the art) to carry
out one or more
of the steps, actions, and/or functions described herein.
[0029] By one optional approach the control circuit 301 operably couples
to a
memory 302. This memory 302 may be integral to the control circuit 301 or can
be
physically discrete (in whole or in part) from the control circuit 301 as
desired. This
memory 302 can also be local with respect to the control circuit 301 (where,
for example,
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both share a common circuit board, chassis, power supply, and/or housing) or
can be
partially or wholly remote with respect to the control circuit 301 (where, for
example, the
memory 302 is physically located in another facility, metropolitan area, or
even country as
compared to the control circuit 301).
[0030] This memory 302 can serve, for example, to non-transitorily store
the
computer instructions that, when executed by the control circuit 301, cause
the control
circuit 301 to behave as described herein. (As used herein, this reference to
"non-transitorily"
will be understood to refer to a non-ephemeral state for the stored contents
(and hence
excludes when the stored contents merely constitute signals or waves) rather
than volatility
of the storage media itself and hence includes both non-volatile memory (such
as read-only
memory (ROM) as well as volatile memory (such as an erasable programmable read-
only
memory (EPROM).)
[0031] In this example the control circuit 301 also operably couples to a
wireless
communications interface 303. So configured the control circuit 301 can
communicate with
other elements via the wireless communications interface 303. In this example
the wireless
communications interface 303 is presumed to comprise a Wi-Fi capable
interface. Wi-Fi
refers to a technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a wireless
Local Area
Network (LAN) (generally using the 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz radio bands.
More
particularly, "Wi-Fi" refers to any Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) product
based on
interoperability consistent with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers' (IEEE)
802.11 standards. Such interfaces are well understood in the art and require
no particular
elaboration here. It should be noted, however, that the aforementioned vehicle
service and
sales facility 201 can include an access point 207 that compatibly
communicates with the
aforementioned wireless communications interface 303 to thereby provide access
to one or
more networks 208 including, but not limited to, the Internet.
[0032] In this example the control circuit 301 further operably couples
to a user
interface 304. This user interface 304 can comprise any of a variety of user-
input
mechanisms (such as, but not limited to, keyboards and keypads, cursor-control
devices,
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touch-sensitive displays, speech-recognition interfaces, gesture-recognition
interfaces, and so
forth) and/or user-output mechanisms (such as, but not limited to, visual
displays, audio
transducers, printers, and so forth) to facilitate receiving information
and/or instructions from
a user and/or providing information to a user.
10033] And, also in this example, the control circuit 301 operably
couples to an
optical scanner 305. This optical scanner 305 may include, for example, one or
more digital
cameras though any number of other optical scanning modalities can be
accommodated as
desired.
100341 By one approach the portable handheld device 206 comprises a
custom-built
platform. That said, the applicant has determined that some existing platforms
can serve the
purposes of these teachings provided those platforms are appropriately
configured to carry
out the described process 100. For example, the applicant has determined that
an iPod iTouch
can be configured for the present purposes. The iPod Touch is an i0S-based all-
purpose
mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. and includes a touchscreen-
controlled
user interface. It connects to the Internet only through Wi-Fi base stations
and does not use
cellular network data.
[0035] With continued reference to FIG. 1 and 2, at block 102 this
process 100
provides for using the portable handheld device 206 to scan an optical
identification
code 209 on the item (in this case, the vehicle 205). Generally speaking,
optical codes are
comprised of nonalphabetic graphic elements (such as lines having various
thicknesses and
spacings relative one another) that represent alphanumeric content. While the
present
teachings are not overly sensitive to any particular selections in these
regards, for the sake of
an example it will be presumed here that the optical identification code 209
comprises a
barcode.
[0036] And, again for the sake of an example, it will be further presumed
that in this
particular example the optical identification code comprises a so-called
vehicle identification
number (VIN). Those skilled in the relevant art will know that a VIN is a
unique code,
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including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify
individual vehicles.
Modern vehicle identification numbers are based on two related standards
originally issued
by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (namely, ISO 3779
and
ISO 3780). By one approach, for example, such an optical identification code
can be found in
the driver side door frame of the vehicle.
[0037] These teachings will of course accommodate other approaches in
these
regards. For example, part or all of the vehicular license plate could be
optically scanned to
obtain the license plate number for the corresponding vehicle. That license
plate number
could then serve as the basis of queries to glean, for example, the VIN or
other information
regarding the vehicle.
[0038] FIG. 4 and 5 present a further illustrative example in these
regards. In these
views the aforementioned user interface 304 of the portable handheld device
206 comprises a
touch-screen display 401. In FIG. 4, the user scans the optical identification
code 209 by
tapping a corresponding "scan" button 402. In this example, the display 401
also presents a
message 403 to advise the user that scanning has not yet occurred. This
message 403 can
comprise text (as shown), non-textual graphic or icon-based content, or both
as desired.
[0039] FIG. 5 presents a post-scan presentation on the display 401. In
this example
this presentation includes informational content 501 to indicate a successful
scan. In this
example the post-scan presentation also includes informational content
comprising (or
otherwise referencing) part or all of the optical identification code 209 (in
this specific
example, the YIN for the vehicle 205). Using this approach the user can, if
they wish,
compare the displayed optical identification code information against the
actual VIN on the
vehicle 205 to confirm an accurate scan.
[0040] At optional block 103 of FIG. 1, if desired, these teachings will
accommodate
using the portable handheld device 206 to also enter other information
regarding the item in
addition to the aforementioned optical identification code 209. As one
specific, non-limiting
example in these regards, the user can enter mileage information for a
terrestrial vehicle 205
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via the portable handheld device 206. FIG. 6 provides an illustrative example
in these regards
where the display 401 presents a field 601 in which the user can enter the
vehicle mileage
using a displayed touchpad 602. Upon entering the mileage, the user can
assert, in this
example, an "OK" button 603 to complete entry of the mileage information.
[0041] By one approach, these teachings will accommodate a set-up
protocol during
which the user selects whether mileage information is entered in "miles" or
"kilometers." By
another approach, in lieu of the foregoing or in combination therewith, the
user can be
provided with an opportunity to select the units for the measured parameter at
the time of
entering that information.
[0042] At block 104 this process 100 provides for using the portable
handheld
device 206 to transmit identification information corresponding to the optical
identification
code 209 to an appropriate pre-selected (and likely pre-programmed) remote
resource
(denoted by reference numeral 210 in FIG. 2). If desired, this transmitted
information can
include other information such as, for example, the above-described vehicle
mileage
information. The remote resource 210 can comprise, for example, the so-called
Blue Book
vehicle valuation service or the so-called Black Book vehicle valuation
service which are
known in the art. By one approach, the user has preselected a particular
valuation service to
use for all valuations in which case the portable handheld device 206 would
automatically
forward the indicated information to that preselected service.
100431 At block 105, the portable handheld device 206 receives a first
categorical
type of information from the remote resource 210 (including other information
as desired).
To continue with the present specific example, this first categorical type of
information
comprises valuation information regarding a value of the aforementioned item
(in this case, a
trade-in value for the vehicle 205). If desired, the portable handheld device
206 can receive
other information as well regarding the item. Examples include but are not
limited to non-
valuation metadata for the item. When the item comprises a terrestrial
vehicle, examples in
these regards include a model year for the vehicle, make information for the
vehicle (i.e., the
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manufacturer for the vehicle), and model information for the vehicle (such as
the model
name, a trim level identifier, and so forth).
[0044] With continued reference to FIG. 1 and 2, at block 106 this
process 100
provides for using a local printer 211 to print at least some of the first
categorical type of
information as hard copy 212. By one approach, the printer 211 can comprise a
user-
worn/carryable wireless portable printer (as manufactured, for example, by
Star Micronics).
[0045] FIG. 7 provides an illustrative example in these regards
(presuming that the
item comprises a vehicle 205). In this example the hardcopy 212 comprises a
paper printout
that presents valuation information 701 (representing, in this example, a
trade-in value for
the vehicle 205). For example, this valuation information 701 might read, in a
given instance,
"$15,535.00."
[0046] If desired, this printout hardcopy 212 may also present one or
more metadata
items 702. Examples in these regards can include, as suggested above, model
year
information, make information, and/or model information for the vehicle 205.
[0047] If desired, these teachings will also accommodate providing an
image 703 of
the item on the hardcopy printout 212. This image 703 can present a generic
stock
representation corresponding to the item or, if desired, can constitute an
image of the actual
item itself.
[0048] These teachings will further accommodate a wide variety of other
informational content. As one simple illustrative example in these regards, a
brand and/or
other promotional content 704 that pertain to the corresponding vehicle
service and sales
facility 201 can be included on the hardcopy 212. Other potentially useful
information items
include contact information for the facility 200 and/or particular employees
for associates of
the facility 200.
[0049] At block 107 this process 100 specifies providing the
aforementioned hard
copy 212 to an entity associated with the item. In the foregoing example, this
can comprise
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delivering the hardcopy 212 to the person 204 who brought the vehicle 205 to
the vehicle
servicing area 202 for attention.
[0050] So configured, a person who arrived with an item at a location
presumptively
seeking one categorical type of information regarding that item also
additionally receives a
different categorical type of information regarding that item. While this
different categorical
type of information may not have originally been sought by this person, this
supplemental
information (i.e., supplemental to the categorical type of information that
they were
originally presumptively seeking) can nevertheless be highly relevant in
context. For
example, when the item comprises a vehicle, the location comprises both a
vehicle service
and sales facility, and the supplemental information comprises valuation
information for the
vehicle, knowledge regarding the latter may be useful to this person who then
seeks to
leverage that information when considering the purchase of another vehicle
from this facility.
In that context, there are not any high pressure (or even any) sales tactics
to be endured by
this person. Nevertheless, this visitor can receive valuable information that
is relevant to both
their vehicle and the location where the information is gleaned.
[0051] It will be appreciated that these teachings differ considerably
from prior art
techniques in these regards. In particular, pursuant to past practices, the
person would either
specifically seek out such valuation information of their own accord or they
would visit such
a facility with the specific intent of exploring the purchase of an automobile
and with an
expectation of receiving a trade-in quote from the facility in those regards.
It will also be
appreciated that the person with the item need not themselves have any
training or even any
particular devices in order to receive the foregoing benefits.
[0052] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of
modifications,
alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described
embodiments
without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such
modifications, alterations,
and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive
concept.
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[0053] As one example in these regards, some optical identification codes
(such as
VIN's) are geographically limited. As an example in these regards, an
"American" car
visiting a vehicle dealership in Canada does not have a VIN that corresponds
to a "Canadian"
car and hence cannot be used to access typical resources that provide
valuation information
for Canadian vehicles. With that in mind, the portable handheld device 206 can
be
configured to provide an appropriate notice to the user when scanning a VIN
that is not
geographically appropriate. For example, such a notice could specifically
explain that the
scanned alphanumeric string is not a geographically-appropriate VIN.
[0054] As another example in these regards, these teachings will
accommodate taking
one or more digital images of the item and sending those images to the remote
resource 210
along with the optical identification code information. The remote resource
210 could then
be configured (for example, by leveraging an artificial intelligence component
or resource) to
examine that image for those images to further inform the, for example,
valuation
information provided in reply. For example, obvious accident damage could be
taken into
account when providing a trade-in valuation figure per the foregoing
teachings.
[0055] As yet another example, the foregoing process can generate data
that can be
provided as a report to an interested party, such as the manager of the above-
described
vehicle service and sales facility 200. That information could include such
things as
identifying information for the vehicle, the date the vehicle visited the
facility for servicing,
contact information for the vehicle's owner, the valuation information
provided per the
foregoing, and any of a wide variety of customer relationship management (CRM)
information to help facilitate further promotional offerings, statistical
analysis, sales leads,
and so forth.
[0056] And as yet another example, by one approach the portable handheld
device 206 could be configured with an interface to compatibly couple to a
vehicle's
diagnostic interface. So configured the portable handheld device 206 could
receive any of a
variety of diagnostic codes or other recorded metrics for the aforementioned
vehicle 205. The
portable handheld device 206 could then include at least some of that content
when
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communicating with the remote resource 210 to permit the latter to utilize
that information to
develop a more informed and nuanced valuation figure.
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