GB2386235A

GB2386235A - Generating a product recommendation using a bar code scanner

Info

Publication number: GB2386235A
Application number: GB0204891A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hsin-Yuan Hu; Yukiko Okamoto; Sumiko Furusawa
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Also published as: GB0204891D0

Abstract

Personal data pertaining to a consumer's needs and habits are stored in an electronically readable format 14 that can be accessed by a server system 20. The consumer 110 scans the bar code 41 of at least one product and the electronic bar code identifier is electronically transferred from the barcode scanner 42 via a personal computing device 40 to a remotely located server system 20. Under control of the server system, the bar code identifier is matched to a specific product. Then a database 24 containing information about the specific product is accessed along with the consumer's personal data 14 and the information about the specific product is compared to the customer's personal data. Finally a product recommendation 26 is produced and is transferred back to the portable computing device 40.

Description

METHODS FOR GENERATING A PRODUCT RECOMMENDATION USING A BAR CODE SCANNER AND A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE HStN-YUANHU YUKIKO (NMN) OKAMOTO SUMIKO (NMN) FURUSAWA Related Applications This application is related to co-pending PCT Application, US 00/29385, filed on October 25,2000, which is entitled"Computerized Methods for Locating Products and Stores for a Remotely Located Consumer". This co-pending application designates the US, and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

Technical Field The present invention relates to computer assisted methods for facilitating the purchase of products by making a product recommendation based on a consumer's personal information, and comparing that personal information to electronically stored product information. The product information is obtained when the bar code for a particular product is scanned by the consumer with a portable bar code scanner that is in electronic communication with a remote server system. The methods can be conducted over the Internet, or other consumer interactive interfaces, such as portable phones and other portable computing devices.

Background of the Invention The Internet and mobile communication systems have delivered many benefits to consumers around the world. In addition to its many other functions, the Internet has opened up vast new shopping experiences. Via the Internet, consumers can find any number of products on sale. These products can be ordered"online"and even, in some case delivered directly to the consumer. The product seller can be a retailer, wholesaler, or manufacturer. These product sellers reap financial benefits because sales over the

Internet require fewer sales people, and show rooms and stores are generally unnecessary.

Consumers benefit by having access to a variety of merchandise from anywhere that Internet access is available. And the consumer is removed from the often uncomfortable interaction with sales people.

The increasing availability of the Internet makes it an even more powerful sales mechanism. The Internet can be accessed from home computers and Internet dedicated terminals, and now Internet access is available via wireless communication with mobile phones, such as cellular and digital phones as well as small portable computers, sometimes referred to as"palmtops"or simply'palms". This adds a whole new level of convenience for consumers by expanding the number of locations from which the Internet can be accessed. For example, a consumer can access the Internet from a car or while shopping at a mall. This may assist consumers in getting certain product infonnation that can be used in making purchasing decisions at a retail store. That is, the Internet can be used as an information resource, while the actual product purchase is conducted in the conventional manner of going to a store, locating a product, and then purchasing the product. But these known methods only provide general assistance for a consumer.

Often, the consumer is unable to locate the necessary product information or is unsure that the product information obtained corresponds to the product the consumer is actually interested in. That is, information publicly available over the Internet is not necessarily tailored to the individual consumer seeking the information. Thus, the known Internet assisted shopping methods do not"close-the-loop"for the purchasing consumer.

With the methods of accessing the Internet are steadily increasing, the number of people who use the Internet is also steadily on the rise. New methods of accessing the Internet have partially fueled this growth. For example, Internet Cafes allow people who do not own a computer, or who do not have Internet access for their computer, to access the Internet with the payment of a small fee. Internet access from mobile phones is another area of explosive growth. The"i-mode"phone system in Japan, for example, is immensely popular after being introduced only a few years ago. 1-mode phones are small, lightweight, portable phones that allow the user to send and receive e-mail over the Internet. Select Internet web sites are also accessible with an i-mode phone and additional web sites are regularly added. I-mode phones are now available with tiny

built-in camera that allow the user to take, send and display digital pictures over the Internet. Additional peripheral equipment is being developed for the growing number of portable telephones. For example, small bar code scanners have been developed for use with a portable phone.

The benefits that consumer's derive from the Internet are well known. And the improvements in mobile phones and portable computer technology provide consumers with a variety of potential new benefits. The combination of a small, lightweight portable phone, a bar code scanner and Internet access opens up a variety of potential benefits for consumers. But these benefits have not been fully utilized. Specifically, the benefits of combining portable computing devices that can remotely access the Internet with a bar code scanner have not been fully exploited.

For example, US Patent No. 5,918, 211, which issued to Sloane on June 29,1999, discusses a system for using a bar code scanner within a store to assist shoppers with determining if there are any coupons or special promotions associated with a given product. This system entails a bar code scanner that is given to the consumer upon entering the store (it may attached to a shopping cart, for example), then the consumer scans the bar code of products that they might be interested in purchasing. The electronic bar code information is then transmitted over a wireless, in-store network to a store computer that contains a listing of the various bar codes, and current promotions. The database is searched and if there are any relevant promotions, the information is relayed back to the consumer. Moreover, the consumer can use an identification card (that also has a bar code that can be scanned) so that the store computer can track purchasing habits of the consumer. But this system fails to fully integrate and exploit the technology available to consumers.

The system described in the'211 patent is geographically limited because the wireless communication system is store specific. Moreover, the bar code scanners are provided by the store and necessarily cannot be used by the consumer at home or at other stores. Likewise, the bar code information is restricted to information about products within the store and that information is generally restricted to in-store promotions.

Finally, the consumer ID card tracts only prior purchases, and does not allow for the consumer to enter preferences, special needs, family information, etc. And the prior

purchases tracked at one store are not necessarily shared with competing stores. As such, while attempts have been made to provide systems that utilize bar code scanning to assist consumers with shopping, these system fall far short of maximizing the benefits that today's technology can provide.

Hence, there exists a need for methods of integrating the various technological benefits available to owners of mobile computing devices. More specifically there is a need to link wireless communication, Internet access and bar code scanners and portable computing devices to provide consumers with more information in a more useful format. And there exists a need for methods to"close-the-loop"by providing consumers with instantaneous confirmatory information about the product they have selected for purchase. The present invention addresses these needs.

Summary of the Invention In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for providing a product recommendation for a consumer, wherein the first step is under the control of a client system, personal data pertaining to the consumers needs and habits is collected and stored in an electronically readable format that can be accessed by a server system. A portable computing device and a bar code scanner that are in electronic communication with oneanother are provided, and using the bar code scanner, the consumer scans the bar code of at least one product to receive the electronic bar code identifier. The bar code identifier is electronically transferred from the barcode scanner to the personal computing device that sends the bar code identifier to a remotely located server system. Then, under control of the server system, the bar code identifier is received and a stored database that matches bar code identifiers to specific products is accessed. The bar code identifier is matched to a specific product and then a database containing information about the specific product is accessed. The consumer's personal data is compared to the information about the specific product to produce therefrom a product recommendation, and then the product recommendation is sent to the portable computing device. In one preferred aspect of this invention, the server system communicates with the portable computing device via wireless communication via the Internet, and more preferably, the

portable computing device is a portable phone, and the bar code scanner is separate from, but in electronic communication with, the portable computing device.

In another aspect of the present invention, the consumer's personal data is generated under control of the client system by displaying one or more queries, and in response to one or more actions by the consumer, answers to the one or more queries are sent to a server system.

In yet another aspect of the present invention the specific product recommendation includes a recommendation selected from the group consisting of a purchase recommendation for the product, a recommendation that the product is not compatible with the consumer's medical or physical history, a dosage recommendation for the product, a list of stores that sell the product, usage instructions for the product and mixtures of these recommendations.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the client system can be electronically accessed by a portable client system, a remote client system, the server system and mixtures of these and preferably the portable computing device comprises the portable client system.

The methods of the present invention provide many advantages to consumers. For example, the methods can be conducted in a variety of convenient locations, in fact, anywhere that has wireless communication capabilities. Specifically, the present methods can be conducted anywhere that a compatible wireless signal can be reached with a portable computing device. Such portable computing devices include many personal cellular and digital phones, as well as small, portable personal computers, personal electronic planners, and the like. These devices are lightweight, and can be carried anywhere allowing the consumer to conduct the present methods from almost any location, for example, in a home, in a car, or in a shopping area. Moreover, advances in bar code scanning equipment allow for the integration of portables computing devices with small, lightweight, portable barcode scanners. This combination allows for the wireless transmission of barcode information and the wireless receipt of product information based on the bar code identifier. While these methods can provide consumers with personalized product recommendations, the consumer can also receive product information that has been customized based on the consumer's personal information.

More specifically, consumers are faced with an ever-increasing number of new products, in addition to the regular modifications of existing products. The present invention provides a substantial benefit to consumers by integrating the consumer's individual needs and the information about products that are scanned by the consumer with a portable barcode scanner. The present methods can help consumers optimize their product selections, purchases and use while simultaneously minimizing the amount of time needed to fill their individual shopping needs.

Brief Description Of The Drawin While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following Detailed Description of The Invention which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Figure I is a schematic representation of one method according to the present invention.

Detailed Description Of The Invention The present invention provides interactive methods of facilitating for a consumer the customized recommendation and possibly the purchase of one or more products.

Turning now to the drawing, where Figure I is a schematic representation of one method according to the present invention showing a portable computing device 40 that comprises a portable client system 10, which is in wireless communication with a server system 20. A bar code scanner 42 is provided that is in electrical communication with personal computing device 40. Bar code scanner 42 can be physically separate from personal computing device 40 or it can be built into the personal computing device 40.

Likewise, bar code scanner 42 can simply plug into personal computing device 40 as a peripheral attachment. Bar code scanner 42 can communicate with personal computing device 40 via wireless methods or via a hard wire connection that can comprise, for example, a cable Bar code systems and bar code scanners are well known and used extensively, for example, at grocery store check out counters. More specifically, bar codes are used on essentially all consumer products as this facilitates inventory control for both retailers and

wholesalers and it speeds the purchasing process for the consumer. The bar code for a given consumer product can identify the product type, its size, the package type, the price, the manufacturer, the product's age and other useful information. For a more detailed description of bar codes, bar code scanners, and their use with consumer products, see US Patent Nos., 5, 340,972 ; 5, 536, 928; and 5,918, 211, which issued to Sandor, on Aug. 23,1994, Seigel, on Jul. 16,1996, and Sloane, on Jun 29,1999, respectively. The entire disclosures of the Sandor, Seigel and Sloane patents are incorporated herein by reference.

It is understood that a"bar code"is a coded pattern of indicia comprised of a series of bars of various widths spaced apart from one another to bound spaces of various widths, with the bars and spaces having different light-reflecting characteristics. Bar code scanners, which are sometimes referred to as readers, electro-optically transform the graphic indicia into electrical signals, which are decoded into alphanumerical characters that are intended to be descriptive of the article or some characteristic thereof. Bar code scanners use a light source to read the bar code, and the light source is often derived from a laser.

The specific arrangement of indicia defines the bar code according to a set of rules and definitions specified by the code or"symbology"used. The relative size of the bars and spaces is determined by the type of coding used, as is the actual size of the bars and spaces. The number of characters per inch represented by the bar code symbol is referred to as the density of the bar code. To encode a desired sequence of characters, a collection of indicia are linked together to form the complete bar code symbol, with each character of the message being represented by its own corresponding group of indicia. In some symbologies a unique"start"and"stop"character is used to indicate where the bar code begins and ends. A number of different bar code symbologies exist. These symbologies include UPCIEAN, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, and Interleave 2 of 5.

The light source used to scan the bar code in a laser scanner is typically a gas laser or semiconductor laser. The use of a semiconductor device such as a laser diode as the light source in scanning systems is especially desirable because of their small size, low cost and low power requirements. The laser beam is optically modified, typically by a lens, to form a beam spot of a certain size at the target distance. It is preferred that the

beam spot size at the target distance be approximately the same as the minimum width between regions of different light reflectivity, i. e., the bars and spaces of the bar code. The light beam is directed by a lens or similar optical components along a light path toward a target that includes a bar code on the surface. Scanning is accomplished by repetitively scanning the light beam in a line or series of lines across the bar code. The scanning component may either sweep the beam spot across the bar code and trace a scan line across and past the barcode, or scan the field of view of the scanner, or both. The light source sequentially illuminates the bars and spaces being scanned.

Scanning systems also include a sensor or photo detector which functions to detect light reflected from the bar code. The photo detector is therefore positioned in the scanner or in an optical path in which it has a field of view that extends across and slightly past the bar code. The photo detector, in turn, produces an electrical output whose magnitude is proportional to the light reflected. Because the bars generally absorb light, while the spaces generally reflect light, the photo detector output alternates between high and low intervals, with the duration of each interval being a function of the width of the corresponding bar or space scanned. A portion of the reflected light that is reflected by the bar code is detected and converted into an electrical signal, and electronic circuitry or software decodes the electrical signal into a digital representation of the data represented by the bar code that has been scanned. For example, the analog electrical signal from the photo detector may typically be converted into a pulse width modulated digital signal, with the widths corresponding to the physical widths of the bars and spaces. Such a signal is then decoded according to the specific symbology into a binary representation of the data encoded in the bar code, and to the alphanumeric characters represented thereby.

The decoding process in known scanning systems usually works in the following manner. The decoder receives the pulse width modulated digital signal from the scanner, and an algorithm implemented in software attempts to decode the scan. If the start and stop characters and the characters between them in the scan are decoded successfully and completely, the decoding process terminates and an indicator of a successful read (such as a green light and/or an audible beep) is provided to the user. Otherwise, the decoder receives the next scan, performs another decode attempt on that scan, and so on, until a

completely decoded scan is achieved or no more scans are available. Such a signal is then decoded according to the specific symbology into a binary representation of the data encoded in the bar code, and to the alphanumeric characters so represented. The decoder typically includes both hardware and software components that cooperatively perform several functions. First, the decoder processes the photo detector output to determine the relative widths of the bars and spaces in the bar code scanned. Then, the decoder uses this coded information, along with the correlations between bar and space widths and character coding for the bar code symbology adopted, to decode the character message encoded into the bar code.

Laser scanners are not the only type of optical instrument capable of reading bar codes. Another type of bar code reader incorporates detectors based upon charge coupled device (CCD) technology. In such readers, the size of the detector is larger than or substantially the same as the bar code to be read. The entire bar code is flooded with light from the reader, and each CCD cell is sequentially read out to determine the presence of a bar or a space. Such readers are lightweight and easy to use, but require substantially direct contact or placement of the reader on the bar code to enable the bar code to properly read. Such physical contact of the reader with the bar code is a preferred mode of operation for some applications, or as a matter of personal preference by the user.

In the preceding discussion, a bar code reader is described as including both a scanner and a decoder. As will be appreciated, however, the decoding operation can be performed either independently of, or on board, the scanner. Thus, for the purposes of this document, the term"scanner"will be understood to encompass devices responsible for scanning, regardless of whether they are also responsible for decoding.

Returning again to Figure 1, wherein in the methods of the present invention consumer 110 scans bar code 41 using bar code scanner 42 that emits and receives the reflection of light wave 43. The reflected light is converted to an electronic bar code identifier that is sent, via wireless transmission 52, to server system 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, the bar code is physically associated with: the product ; an advertisement for the product; or in a catalogue from which products can be ordered. Preferably, the bar code is associated with an advertisement that is: in a printed

publication; on a kiosk ; on the Internet, wherein the bar code can be displayed or printed; or in a product brochure. By referencing bar code database 24, which matches bar code information to consumer products and also contains information about the products, server system 20 can identify the product scanned by the consumer and compare that information to consumer's historical data 15 stored in personal data base 14.

More specifically, under control of portable client system 10, optional remote client system 100, or both, personal data 12 pertaining to the needs and habits of consumer 110 is collected and compiled into an electronically readable personal data base 14, which is sent to server system 20 via electronic transmission 16, which can be, for example, a wireless transmission. It is understood, however, that electronic transmission 16 can be non-wireless. That is, electronic transmission 16 can be conducted over a standard cable or phone wire connection. The collection and storing of personal data 12 does not need to occur at the same time as the product recommendation is prepared. In fact, it is preferred that personal data 12 be collected before a product recommendation is prepared, and it is even more preferred that personal data 12 be collected and updated regularly as the needs and habits of the consumer change.

Optional remote client system 100 can be under control of, for example, a personal computer, an in-store kiosk or the like. Under control of server system 20, personal database 14 is received from portable client system 10 and processed, for example, in a server engine 22. Product recommendation 26 is prepared under control of server system 20, and is then send to portable computing device 40 via wireless transmission 41. Product recommendation 26 can be communicated to consumer 110 in any appropriate manner, for example, via display 11. Likewise, this information can be conveyed to consumer 110 via a printer (not shown), a voice message, or the like. Preferably, product recommendation 26 includes optional electronic order form 25 that allows the consumer to place an order for the product using the personal computing device, wherein if the consumer completes the order form the personal computing device sends it to the remotely located server system, the order form is then forwarded by the server system to a distributor of the specific product and the distributor completes the sale of the product to the consumer.

Personal data 12 can be entered into portable client system 10 by consumer 110, with, for example, data entry pad 13. Data entry pad 13 can be a standard keyboard, a microphone with appropriate voice recognition software, an electronic writing pad, or the like. In addition to, or in place of entering personal data 12, the personal data 12 can be a collection of previously entered data, the consumer's history of previous purchases or mixtures of these. This information can be stored as historical data 15 as a part of personal database 14. It is understood that personal database 14 can comprise numerous electronic files of data. Those skilled in the computer arts will understand that a database can be a collection of files and the depiction herein as one discreet database is a schematic representation only. Moreover, personal database 14 can be stored in the memory of portable computing device 40, or it can be remotely located in the memory of another device as long as the remotely located device can be accessed by portable computing device 40, server system 20 or both. Personal data 12 can be generated in response to queries sent to consumer 110 via portable computing device 40, optional remote client system 100, or other methods. For example, a third party could interview consumer 110 and generate a personal database 14 for consumer 110.

Preferably, personal database 14 will be an accumulation of personal data 12 and historical data 15 regarding the needs and habits of consumer 110. It is understood that a consumer can be responsible for purchasing products for many people, for example, the members of the conswner's household, or the patrons of the consumer's business. The term"household"as used herein is intended to encompass members of a family, people sharing a living space, patrons of a business or institution (for example hotels, hospitals, restaurants, schools, etc. ), and the like."Personal data"may include information about the number, ages and gender of the people in the consumer's household and mixtures thereof, and any other data that is useful for selecting and recommending products is intended to be included under the definition of personal data. As discussed above, this personal data can be input by the consumer or it can come from one or more databases of information about a particular consumer, consumers having similar households as a particular consumer, or general consumer data.

The data that is input by a particular consumer can be saved as historical data (in any of the systems discussed above) to be recalled each time that same consumer requests

a new recommendation. It is understood that each time a particular consumer requests a new product recommendation, that consumer should be given the opportunity to update and correct their historical data.

The client system, which can include one or both of portable client system 10 and optional remote client system 100, will generally be a system under control of consumer 110, while server system 20 can be, for example an Internet Web page, and optional second server system 30 can be, for example, a system under control of a retailer, wholesaler, distributor, or manufacturer of products. Portable client system 10 and server system 20 are preferably individual computer assemblies linked to the Internet by way of wireless communication. Client systems and server systems are well known in the art, see for example US Patent No. 5,960, 441. which issued to Hartman et al., on September 28 1999. The entire disclosure of this Hartman et al. patent is incorporated herein by reference.

Even more preferably, server system 20 comprises a customized web site having a user interface, wherein the user interface includes consumer identification data unique to each consumer who accesses the web site, and wherein the consumer identification data is stored in a data repository and is used to create a unique consumer profile corresponding to the consumer identification data for each consumer. It is the consumer identification data that can be used to associate consumer 110 with her personal database 14. As is well known to those in the art of electronic communication and commerce, the Internet comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks that are interconnected through communication links. The interconnected computers exchange information using various services, such as electronic mail, Gopher, and the World Wide Web ("WWW").

The WWW service allows a server computer system (i. e., Web server or Web site) to send graphical Web pages of information to a remote client computer system, for example, portable computing device 40 via portable client system 10. The remote client computer system can then display the Web pages. Each resource (e. g. , computer or Web page) of the WWW is uniquely identifiable by a Uniform Resource Locator ("URL"). To view a specific Web page, a client computer system specifies the URL for that Web page in a request (e. g. , a HyperText Transfer Protocol ("HTTP") request). The request is forwarded to the Web server that supports that Web page. When that Web server receives

the request, it sends that Web page to the client computer system. When the client computer system receives that Web page, it typically displays the Web page using a browser. A browser is a special-purpose application program that effects the requesting of Web pages and the displaying of Web pages.

Currently, Web pages are typically defined using Hyper Text Markup Language ("HTML"). HTML provides a standard set of tags that define how a Web page is to be displayed. When a user indicates to the browser to display a Web page, the browser sends a request to the server computer system to transfer to the client computer system an HTML document that defines the Web page. When the requested HTML document is received by the client computer system, the browser displays the Web page as defined by the HTML document. The HTML document contains various tags that control the displaying of text, graphics, controls, and other features. The HTML document may contain URLs of other web pages available on that server computer system or other server computer systems.

Server system 20 can comprise bar code database 24, or bar code database 24 can be in another server system, for example optional second server system 30. Moreover, bar code database 24 can be stored on any computer readable disk that can be accessed by server system 20. Bar code database 24 will contain information such as the product type, its size, the package type, the price, the manufacturer, the product's age and other useful information. Additional information that can be stored in bar code data base 24 might include, but is not limited to, the name, location and general inventory description of stores that sell the product associated with the bar code scanned. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, current inventory of the stores that sell the product associated with the bar code scanned is also available. Necessarily, a database that comprises a store's current inventory must be periodically updated to reflect the current inventory.

The methods of the present invention include the preparation and transmission of a recommendation for one or more products and, optionally, store recommendation 27, which comprises the name, location or both of one or more stores where the products are likely to be found. Preferably the present methods include the step of, under control of the server system, calculating a recommended quantity for each of the one or more

products recommended in the product recommendation, and even more preferably, providing usage instructions for the recommended products. Another aspect of the present methods includes the step of, under control of the portable client system, with one or more actions by the consumer, one or more stores are selected from the store recommendation supplied by the server system and one or more products are selected for purchase and a request is sent to the server system to purchase the selected products.

This purchase request is than sent from the server system to the selected store and the order is filled by the store. The product recommendation can be for use, purchase, or just for the general education of the consumer. That is, the recommendation places no obligation on the consumer to buy or use the recommended products or to visit the recommended stores.

As used herein a"portable computing device"means any lightweight apparatus that has wireless communication capabilities, and is compatible with a bar code scanner.

Such portable computing devices include, but are not limited to, personal cellular and digital phones that can be a handheld apparatus, a headset, or combinations of these, portable personal computers, palm top computers, electronic personal planners, and the like. Such devices are well known and commercially available, for example, i-mode phones available from NTT DoCoMo, Japan.

More specifically, portable computing device 40 is preferably less than 300 cubic centimeters in volume, more preferably less than 200 cubic centimeters and even more preferably less than 100 cubic centimeters. If bar code scanner 42 is separate from portable computing device 40, that is bar code scanner 42 is a peripheral, the combined size of the portable computing device and the bar code scanner is preferably less than 450 cubic centimeters in volume, more preferably less than 350 cubic centimeters and even more preferably less than 300 cubic centimeters. Likewise, the combined weight of the portable computing device and the bar code scanner is preferably less than 1.5 kilograms, more preferably less than 1.0 kilogram and even more preferably less than 0.8 kilograms.

As used herein the term"store"is intended to broadly encompass any physical establishment that sells consumers products. Such establishments can include, for example, retail and wholesale stores, malls, kiosks, and the like. Mail order catalogs, Internet web sites and other sales vehicles that are not associated with a physical

establishment are generally not stores within the context of this invention because a consumer cannot physically visit or be directed to an Internet web site or a mail order catalog. A physical establishment that sells products directly to consumers that can also be purchased over the Internet or from a mail order catalog is, of course, a store as defined herein.

Likewise, the definition of "product" is intended to be broad in scope and encompass any wholesale or retail products purchased and used by an individual. Wholesale and retail products include, but are not limited to, automobiles, electric and gas appliances, audio and visual equipment, computer hardware and software, furniture, lawn and gardening equipment, clothes, shoes, books, sporting goods, consumer products and mixtures thereof all fall within the definition of products. Preferably, the products are consumer products that include a wide variety of items that are typically used up or "consumed"by the purchaser. Consumer products can include, but are not limited to, food, beverages, cosmetics, home cleaning supplies, fabric cleaning supplies, disposable diapers, incontinent pads and shorts, feminine hygiene products, shampoos, conditioners, mousses, personal health care items, pet food, lawn and gardening supplies, home hardware, and mixtures thereof. A"consumer"can be any person who uses or purchases products. Moreover, the"consumer"can be any person who uses or participates in the purchasing decision of products.

EXAMPLE The following example illustrates the methods of the present invention, but is not necessarily meant to limit or otherwise define the scope of the invention.

Example I In one step of the methods of this invention a product recommendation is provided.

Example I gives one non-limiting example of how the server system might prepare a recommendation for one or more consumer products for a given"class"of consumers.

Specifically, to determine if a person is in the class, one criterion selected from the personal database can be the age of the consumer. Table I gives exemplary product recommendations for a class of people who are generally finished taking care of children

and starting to enjoy their own life. The target age for this group would be around 65 years old but might include people 20 years older or younger depending on other criteria from the personal data base, for example, the ages and number of children, and the age of the spouse. A 55 year old man who has a 40 year old wife and children who are 2 and 4 years old might not fit into this class of consumers. But a 45 year old man whose wife is the same age and who have two children in college might qualify for this class.

Table n gives an example of how specific personal data can be generated for a given class of consumers. Women who fall in the class of consumers described above, and who are further exemplified in Table I below, are likely to be post menopausal, as such, they may have special needs for certain consumer products. To better identify the needs of these consumers, one might generate data like that in Table n, and add this information to the consumer's personal database.

Table I

THEME GENERAL PRODUCT EXAMPLES OF PRODUCT CATEGORIES RECOMMENDATIONS Women's Menopause/Osteoporosis Calcium supplement/drugs health Relaxing aroma products Functional foods Healthy Daily Foot care/Foot friendly walking Easy walking shoes or related Life Good sleep Massage machine for fbot/shoulder/back Stiff shoulder/Back pain/Knee pain Underwear for good sleep care Gmn care product Oral care Easy self diagnosis appliance Health maintenance Portable heat and cooling pads Healthy Diet & Fatigue relieti'Energy Fatigue relief bath products Nutrition Intestinal disorders Fatigue relief food and beverage products Good water & health Fiber supplement Healthy cooking Water purification products Healthy cooking oil Hygienic & Hygienic and clean with less effort Easy cleaning electric appliances Clean life Hygiene & health Odor and germ eliminators Antibacterial cleaning products Good Hair care and aging In-bath Out-bath product Appearance Skin care and aging Hair dye Make-ups Cosmetics Hair restoration Skin care electric appliance Active Life Light Incontinence Underwear & pad combination Nursing care for Light Adult Incontinence Table

SAMPLE QUESTIONS ON MENOPAUSE 1) Opening/Introduction Encourage the consumer to make proactive choices towards product selection issues 2) Understand my issue (Check sheet style 1- Am I perimeDopausaI ? diagnosis) 2-How severe are my symptoms ? 3-What are my osteoporosis risks ? 4- Emotions and mental function ? 3) Solutions List of recommended options 4) Store location information The nearest store which carries the recommended products

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS : 1. A method for providing a product recommendation for a consumer, the method comprising the steps of : under control of a client system; collecting personal data pertaining to the consumer's needs and habits; storing the consumer's personal data in an electronically readable format that can be accessed by a server system; providing a portable computing device and a bar code scanner that are in electronic communication with one another; using the bar code scanner, the consumer scans the bar code of at least one product to receive the electronic bar code identifier; the bar code identifier is electronically transferred from the barcode scanner to the personal computing device; the personal computing device sends the bar code identifier to a remotely located server system; wherein under control of the server system ; receiving the bar code identifier ; accessing a stored database that matches bar code identifiers to specific products; matching the bar code identifier to a specific product; accessing a database containing information about the specific product; accessing the consumer's personal data and comparing the information about the specific product to the customer's personal data; producing therefrom a product recommendation; and sending the product recommendation to the portable computing device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the consumer's personal data is generated by the steps of : under control of the client system ; displaying one or more queries;

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in response to one or more actions by the consumer, answers to the one or more queries are sent to a server system.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific product recommendation includes a recommendation selected from the group consisting of a purchase recommendation for the product, a recommendation that the product is not compatible with the consumer's medical or physical history, a dosage recommendation for the product, a list of stores that sell the product, usage instructions for the product and mixtures of these recommendations.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bar code is physically associated with: the product; an advertisement for the product; or in a catalogue from which products can be ordered.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the bar code is associated with an advertisement that is : in a printed publication; on a kiosk; on the Internet, wherein the bar code can be displayed or printed; or in a product brochure.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the product recommendation includes an electronic order form that allows the consumer to place an order for the product using the personal computing device, wherein if the consumer completes the order form the personal computing device sends it to the remotely located server system, the order form is then forwarded by the server system to a distributor of the specific product and the distributor completes the sale of the product to the consumer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the client system can be electronically accessed by a portable client system, a remote client system, the server system and mixtures of these and preferably the portable computing device comprises the portable client system.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system communicates with the portable computing device via wireless communication via the Internet.

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9. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of electrical appliances, gas appliances, audio equipment, visual equipment, computer hardware, computer software, furniture, lawn and gardening equipment, clothes, shoes, books, sporting goods, consumer products and mixtures thereof
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is a consumer product, and preferably, the consumer product is selected from the group consisting of food, beverages, cosmetics, home cleaning supplies, fabric cleaning supplies, disposable diapers, incontinent pads and shorts, feminine hygiene products, shampoos, conditioners, mousses, personal health care items, pet food, lawn and gardening supplies, home hardware, and mixtures thereof.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal data pertaining to a consumer's consumer needs and habits is selected from the group consisting of : the number, ages and gender of the people in the consumer's household ; the consumer's purchase history of products, and mixtures thereof.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the server system comprises a customized web site having a user interface, wherein the user interface includes consumer identification data unique to each consumer who accesses the web site, and wherein the consumer identification data is stored in a data repository and is used to create a unique consumer profile corresponding to the consumer identification data for each consumer.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a portable phone.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bar code scanner is separate from, but in electronic communication with, the portable computing device.

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15. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of the portable computing device is less than 300 cubic centimeters, preferably les than 200 cubic centimeters and even more preferably less than 100 cubic centimeters.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined volume of the portable computing device and the bar code scanner is less than 450 cubic centimeters, preferably less than 350 cubic centimeters and even more preferably less than 300 cubic centimeters.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined weight of the portable computing device and the bar code scanner is less than 1.5 kilograms, preferably less than 1.0 kilograms and even more preferably less than 0.8 kilograms.