NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

[lesnshawn]

cjzak: I'm not JP, but if I may interject...

Here is a very interesting exchange on the subject (two of this board's "very own" are prominently featured):
http://www.sandira.com/blog/2008/09/shopsavvy-and-mobile-barcoding-what.htm

Regarding the '048 patent and 1D barcodes...the patent basically describes (and was originally written focusing on 1D barcodes) a process where the code is read and that information is then fed to a server which performs look-up functions for what's coded in that barcode.

Now, we know that 2D barcodes can have a variety of information, most notably a "look-up pointer" which is resolved by a database or an actual URL that when scanned simply launches the phone's browser, inputs that decoded URL into the phone's browser and executes the launch to that URL.

What does a 1D barcode contain? Nothing but ones and zeros. That's it. Nothing else. A series of ones and zeros (binary) that translates into a unique 12 digit number. Here's some information on this subject straight from the source:
http://www.upccode.net/faq.html#q1

So, by a 1D barcode simply being a product identifier, that's it, to be able to do any type of comparison on this simple 12 digit unique identifier the UPC code (1D barcode) HAS TO (I repeat, HAS TO) be RESOLVED by an DATABASE LOOK-UP SYSTEM!

Tell me how it would otherwise be done. Anybody?

One thing to note is the disingenuous answer that "BigInJapan" provided in one of the comments from the exchange (link) above. The statement made is, "we simply read barcodes..."

THAT is a flat out LIE! If they just read the barcode then the ONLY thing the user would get back is a reprint of the code itself, either in binary or the 12 digit identifier. What good would that be?

None. So, the only way to get any useful information from the barcode is to have a DATABASE that has cross referenced information pertaining to that barcode.

Here's the simple steps:
1) Open ShopSavvy application
2) Scan the barcode
3) "Read" the barcode (interpret the 12 digit number)
4) Now what?...The UPC code MUST now be sent to a SERVER that houses a DATABASE of information that the UPC code is then LOOKED UP against. What is stored in this database? Multiple retailer's information regarding the price of that item the UPC codes reference.
5) The results of the SERVER DATABASE LOOK-UP are RETURNED to the phone that initiated the action. The user that initiated the action then sees price information RETURNED FROM THE SERVER of the various retailers (only those that are stored in the server) who carry the particular item identified by that particular UPC code.

Now, in this case, it seems the servers (from what I've read of swrowen's comment) that ShopSavvy appears to use are "Google services" servers. Can we read, "databases"???

So, please, tell me, how in the world does ShopSavvy NOT infringe on NeoMedia's '048 indirect method?

The simple act of getting ANY information other than a unique number, that's it - just a plain old number - REQUIRES a database to be cross referenced.

lns