Portable image processing and multimedia interface

Abstract

A portable device configured to provide enhanced shopping information is provided. The portable device has a display screen and an image capture device and the portable device is configured to access databases through a wireless network. The portable device includes image recognition logic that is configured to perform analysis of an image of an object that includes a bar code associated with a product. The analysis determines if the graphics found on the object correspond to a bar code and a portion of an image with the bar code is communicated through the wireless network to the databases to identify the product. The portable device further includes image generation logic that is configured to obtain product information for the identified product from the databases and present the product information on the display screen of the portable device.

1 . A portable device configured to provide enhanced shopping information, comprising:
 the portable device configured to access a wireless network, the portable device having a display screen and an image capture device, the portable device configured to access at least one database through the wireless network, the portable device including,
 image recognition logic configured to perform analysis of an image of an object captured using the image capture device, the object including a bar code associated with a product, the analysis being done on the image to determine if graphics found on the object correspond to the bar code, an image portion having the bar code is communicated through the wireless network to the one or more databases to identify the product associated with the bar code; and 
 image generation logic configured to obtain a plurality of product information for the identified product from the one or more databases and presenting the plurality of product information on the display screen of the portable device, wherein the presenting defines multimedia data in a graphical user interface that includes one of an image of the product or text information about the product. 
   
   
   
       2 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein analysis of the image of the object recognizes the bar code from the graphics found on the object. 
   
   
       3 . The portable device of  claim 2 , wherein recognition of the bar code in the image of the object triggers communication of the image portion having the bar code to the database. 
   
   
       4 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the image portion having the bar code is matched to a corresponding entry in the database. 
   
   
       5 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein capturing the image of the object is performed without scanning the image of the object. 
   
   
       6 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of product information includes pricing, product reviews, and quantity in stock associated with the identified product. 
   
   
       7 . The portable device of  claim 1 , wherein the portable device is one of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a web tablet, or a pocket PC. 
   
   
       8 . A method for obtaining product information through a portable device, comprising:
 capturing an image of an object using an image capture device, the object including a bar code associated with a product;   analyzing the image of the object to determine if graphics found on the object correspond to a bar code;   transmitting an image portion having the bar code to at least one database through a wireless network;   identifying the product associated with the bar code through the image portion having the bar code that is provided to the one or more databases;   obtaining a plurality of product information from the one or more databases; and   presenting the plurality of product information associated with the identified product, wherein the presenting defines multimedia data in a graphical user interface that includes one of an image of the product or text information about the product.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 recognizing the bar code from the graphics of the object.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 triggering communication of the image portion having the bar code to the database upon recognition of the bar code in the image of the object.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 matching the transmitted image portion having the bar code to a corresponding entry in the database.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of product information includes audio/video media associated with the identified product. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the audio/video media associated with the identified product includes an audio clip representing a portion of a music compact disc or a video clip of a movie. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the audio/video media associated with the identified product represents a portion of a video game. 
   
   
       15 . A computer readable media including program instructions for presenting product data associated with an identified product to a viewer, comprising:
 program instructions for capturing an image of an object, the object having a bar code associated with a product;   program instructions for analyzing the image of the object to determine if graphics found on the object correspond to the bar code;   program instructions for transmitting an image portion having the bar code to at least one database through a wireless network;   program instructions for identifying the product associated with the bar code through the image portion having the bar code that is transmitted to the one or more databases;   program instructions for obtaining a plurality of product information associated with the identified product from the one or more databases; and   program instructions for presenting the plurality of product information associated with the identified product, wherein the presenting defines multimedia data in a graphical user interface that includes one of an image of the product or text information about the product.   
   
   
       16 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 program instructions for recognizing the bar code from the graphics of the object.   
   
   
       17 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 program instructions for matching the transmitted image portion having the bar code to a corresponding entry in the database.   
   
   
       18 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 program instructions for triggering communication of the image portion having the bar code to the database upon recognition of the image of the bar code in the image of the object   
   
   
       19 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of product information includes catalogue information associated with the identified product. 
   
   
       20 . The computer readable media of  claim 15 , wherein the multimedia data associated with the identified product includes an audio clip representing a portion of a music compact disc or a video clip of a movie.