Systems and methods used for publishing and aggregating real world and online purchases via standardized product information

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to enabling users to broadcast their purchases by means of a service provider. Service provider catalogs such purchases based on standardized product data, such as UPC or RFID, allowing for the aggregation and consequent utility of such data for commercial purposes.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 obtaining user data associated with a user having an account with a social network;   obtaining product information associated with an identified product; and   transmitting the user data and product information to the social network for publication.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the product information further comprises transmitting a request for the product information to a product information service. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining purchase information associated with a user purchase, and wherein obtaining the user data, obtaining the purchase information, and obtaining the product information comprises electronically receiving the user data and product information from a retailer from which the user purchased the identified product. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the user data and product information further comprises causing the social network to publish the user data and product information through the account associated with the user. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining purchase information associated with a user purchase, and further comprising storing the user data, purchase information, and product information in a database. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising storing user data for a plurality of users, purchase information for a plurality of purchases, and product information for a plurality of products in the database. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining product information further comprises:
 receiving a request from the user device regarding the identified product; and   retrieving the product information from a web server associated with a product information service.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the product information via a communication network using an applications programming interface (API) to a web server associated with a third party web service, the third party web service being configured to receive product information from a plurality of sources, tabulate product information for a plurality of products, and enable a plurality of users to access the product information for the plurality of products. 
     
     
         9 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program comprising:
 logic adapted to obtain user data associated with a user having an account with a social network;   logic adapted to obtain product information associated with an identified product; and   logic adapted to transmit the user data and product information to the social network for publication.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the logic adapted to transmit the user data and product information to the social network is further adapted to cause the social network to publish the publication information through the account associated with the user. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program of  claim 9 , further comprising logic adapted to store user information. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program of  claim 11 , wherein the logic adapted to store user information is further adapted to store information related to a plurality of users, a plurality of products, and a plurality of purchase information. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program of  claim 9 , further comprising logic adapted to communicate with a web server associated with a retailer, wherein the user data is obtained through a financial institution card used to purchase the product via a point-of-sale device associated with the retailer, the point-of-sale device being in communication with the web server. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 logic adapted to receive a request from a user device regarding the identification of the product; and   logic adapted to obtain the product information from a web server associated with a product information service.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program of  claim 9 , further comprising logic adapted to enable the user to rate the product. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 9 , wherein the logic adapted to enable the user to rate the product is further adapted to enable a user rating interface having a value scale and a desirability scale. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program of  claim 16 , wherein the user rating interface includes a two-dimensional rating screen incorporating the value scale and the desirability scales and a target controllably positioned on the two-dimensional rating screen representing the user's rating with respect to the value scale and the desirability scale. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented system comprising:
 logic adapted to obtain user data associated with a user having an account with a social network;   logic adapted to obtain product information associated with an identified product; and   logic adapted to transmit the user data and product information to the social network for publication.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic adapted to transmit the user data and product information is further adapted to cause the social network to publish the publication information through the account associated with the user. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein the computer-implemented system is configured as a web server. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic adapted to store the user data is further adapted to store information related to a plurality of users, a plurality of products, and a plurality of purchase information. 
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic adapted to transmit publication information is further adapted to communicate via the communication network using an Applications Programming Interface (API) or web-based interface. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the logic adapted to obtain product information is further adapted to obtain the product information and user data from a web server associated with a retailer;   the user data is obtained from a financial institution card used to purchase the product via a point-of-sale device associated with the retailer; and   the point-of-sale device is in communication with the web server.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , wherein the logic adapted to obtain product information is coupled with an electronic device comprising a code obtaining device configured to obtain a code that identifies the product. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 24 , wherein the code comprises one of a Universal Product Code (UPC), QR code, Electronic Product Code (EPC), radio frequency identification (RFID) signal, or a barcode. 
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , further comprising a user interface configured to enable the user to publish the product data on the social network. 
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , further comprising a user interface configured to enable the user to rate the product. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented system of  claim 18 , further comprising logic adapted to electronically distribute advertising information and coupons regarding the product.