Dynamic product information during barcode scanning

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request to scan a barcode and in response, displaying a split screen having a camera image portion and a product information portion. At least part of an image currently being captured by a camera and containing a barcode is displayed in the camera image portion. Product information for a product represented by the barcode is displayed in the product information portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 a camera interface in a web browser application executed by a script engine in the web browser application determining whether the web browser application supports accessing a camera;   the web browser application determining whether to display a selectable control in a user interface based on whether the web browser application supports accessing the camera, the selectable control for requesting barcode scanning;   receiving a request to scan a barcode;   in response, the web browser application displaying a split screen within a browser window of the web browser application, the split screen having a camera image portion and a product information portion;   displaying at least part of an image currently being captured by a camera and containing a barcode in the camera image portion; and   displaying product information for a product represented by the barcode in the product information portion.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the request to scan a barcode comprises receiving the request from the web application. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2  when the web browser application supports accessing the camera, displaying a selectable control for requesting the scan of the barcode; and
 wherein receiving the request to scan the barcode comprises receiving an indication that the selectable control has been selected. 
 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a series of images captured by the camera in the camera image portion such that within the series of images a second barcode is shown in the camera image portion and when the second barcode is shown, second product information for a product represented by the second barcode is automatically shown in the product information portion. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein displaying the product information in the product information portion further comprises displaying a control for adding the product to an electronic shopping cart. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5  wherein displaying the product information in the product information portion further comprises displaying a control for obtaining more information about the product. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 a camera interface of a web application executed by a script engine of the web browser application determining whether the web browser application supports accessing a camera;   the web browser application determining whether to display a selectable control in a first user interface based on whether the web browser application supports accessing the camera, the selectable control for requesting barcode scanning;   receiving a request to scan for barcodes; and   the web application executed by the script engine of the web browser application displaying a second user interface within a window of the web browser application, the second user interface having an image area containing images produced by the camera, and an area containing information for an item associated with a barcode shown in the image area wherein the information changes automatically when the barcode shown in the image area changes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein displaying the area comprises displaying a control to view details of the item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising in response to receiving the request to scan for barcodes sending a request for images from the camera through the web browser application. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 executing a web application within a browser application on a device such that:
 the web application performs a test to determine if the browser application can request images from a camera on the device; 
 when the browser application can request images from the camera, the web application displaying a control to request barcode scanning; 
 receiving an indication that the control has been used to request barcode scanning, and in response showing a split screen user interface depicting images captured by the camera in one portion of the user interface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein showing a split screen comprises displaying a barcode in the portion of the user interface depicting images captured by the camera and displaying information for a product associated with the barcode in a second portion of the user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein displaying information for a product associated with the barcode comprises displaying information for a second product associated with a second barcode automatically when the image captured by the camera contains the second barcode instead of the barcode. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising displaying a control for adding the product to an electronic shopping cart with the information for the product. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising displaying a control to request additional information about the product with the information for the product.