Method of providing digital content for users of physical items

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9069770-B2
Application number	US-201313765678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2013
Priority date	Feb 12, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2015
Grant date	Jun 30, 2015

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for enhancing users' overall experiences with physical items by supplementing their physical experiences with digital experiences. According to an embodiment, a user uses an electronic device to scan a smart tag associated with an item to obtain an item identifier of the item. The electronic device sends the item identifier to a server, which selects digital content related to the item and sends the selected digital content to the user's electronic device for display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing a user with digital content related to an item, the item associated with a smart tag encoded with an item identifier that identifies the item, the smart tag configured to transmit the item identifier to an electronic device of the user when the electronic device is positioned proximate to the smart tag, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server from an application running on the electronic device of the user, a request to provide digital content related to the item, the request including a user identifier of the user and the item identifier transmitted from the smart tag to the electronic device upon the user positioning the electronic device proximate to the smart tag;
determining, by the server, whether the item is registered to the user, wherein the item is determined to be registered to the user if the item identifier is associated in a data store with the user identifier;
if the item is determined to be registered to the user, causing the application running on the electronic device of the user to display registered-user digital content that is designated for registered users; and
if the item is determined not to be registered to the user, causing the application running on the electronic device of the user to offer the user an option to register the item to the user and to display to the user digital content that is designated for non-registered users;
wherein the registered-user digital content is different from the digital content that is designated for non-registered users.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the application of the electronic device automatically launches when the user positions the electronic device proximate to the smart tag.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of applications are installed on the electronic device, and wherein the item identifier provided to the electronic device by the smart tag causes the electronic device to launch the appropriate one of the applications.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein, in the event the item is athletic equipment or apparel, the item identifier causes the electronic device to launch an athletic training application.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in the event the item is not registered to the user, providing the user with an option of registering the item to a user account of the user; and
responsive to an indication from the user to register the item, including the item identifier or a reference to the item identifier in the user account of the user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the registered-user digital content that is designated for the registered users includes a video describing manufacture of the item, a video describing key features of the item, a coaching video directed to use of the item, specification details of the item, news regarding the item, one or more discounts for other items, access to a restricted portion of a website, information about a famous athlete that uses the item, information about a famous athlete's use of the item, information about use of the item in professional competition, or marketing information.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital content that is designated for the non-registered users includes a link to a marketing website, an advertisement video, a video describing key features of the item, or specification details of the item.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to provide digital content provided by the electronic device of the user includes location information.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
checking-in the item to a location by updating one of an item profile or a user account to include the location information and a corresponding time.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the location information includes a geo-location, an event, or a venue.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in the event the item is registered to the user, offering the user an option to participate in a contest involving use of the item.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the contest involves checking-in the item at one or more locations within a designated timeframe.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the server, a category of the item based at least in part on the item identifier that identifies the item; and
causing the application running on the electronic device of the user to display information related to other items in the category.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein causing the application running on the electronic device of the user to display the digital content that is designated for the non-registered users includes:
causing the application running on the electronic device to open a webpage that includes marketing information related to the item, that enables the user to purchase the item online, that displays marketing information related to the other items in the category, and that enables the user to purchase the other items online.

15. A system of providing a user with digital content related to an item, the item associated with a smart tag encoded with an item identifier that identifies the item, the smart tag configured to transmit the item identifier to an electronic device of the user when the electronic device is positioned proximate to the smart tag, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory device including instruction that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive from an application running on the electronic device of the user, a request to provide digital content related to the item, the request including a user identifier of the user and the item identifier transmitted from the smart tag to the electronic device upon the user positioning the electronic device proximate to the smart tag;
determine whether the item is registered to the user, wherein the item is determined to be registered to the user if the item identifier is associated in a data store with the user identifier;
if the item is determined to be registered to the user, cause the application running on the electronic device of the user to display registered-user digital content that is designated for registered users; and
if the item is determined not to be registered to the user, cause the application running on the electronic device of the user to offer the user an option to register the item to the user and to display to the user digital content that is designated for non-registered users;
wherein the registered-user digital content is different from the digital content that is designated for non-registered users.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the application of the electronic device automatically launches when the user positions the electronic device proximate to the smart tag.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a plurality of applications are installed on the electronic device, and wherein the item identifier provided to the electronic device by the smart tag causes the electronic device to launch the appropriate one of the applications.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein, in the event the item is athletic equipment or apparel, the item identifier causes the electronic device to launch an athletic training application.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to:
in the event the item is not registered to the user, provide the user with an option of registering the item to a user account of the user; and
responsive to an indication from the user to register the ite

Assignees

• Adidas Ag

Inventors

• Werner Jon H
• Dibenedetto Christian
• Vaterlaus Amy Jones
• Vincent Stephen M

Classifications

• H04W4/80

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• G06F16/235

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• G06Q20/208

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• G06F16/24575

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• G06F16/2291

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