Method and apparatus for acquiring, maintaining, and using information to be communicated in bar code form with a mobile communications device

A method of communicating information in bar code form with a mobile communications device having input capability and an information display capability for the user thereof, comprising:

• making available to the user by the mobile communications device descriptive information about diverse categories of information relating to the user, the descriptive information being organized under category headings;
• identifying at least one of the diverse information categories with user input from the user input capability of the mobile communications device in response to the step of making available descriptive information;
• making available to the user by the mobile communications device option information about various options for the user that relate to the identified category;
• identifying at least one of the options with user input from the user input capability of the mobile communications device in response to the step of making available option information;
• obtaining by the mobile communications device an item of information relating to the identified option;
• displaying the information item at least in part in user-readable form by use of the information display capability of the mobile communications device;
• and
• communicating the information item at least in part in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device.

A method of communicating information to a mobile communications device, the mobile communications device having user input and information display capabilities and the communicated information being suitable for display in bar code form by use of the information display capability of the mobile communications device, the method comprising:

• furnishing for the mobile communications device first information about diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device;
• receiving an identification of at least one of the diverse information categories made by the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• and
• furnishing for the mobile communications device, in response to the receiving step, second information from the identified information category, the second information being furnished in a form suitable for wireless transmission to the mobile communications device and at least part of the second information being furnished in a form suitable for display in bar code form by use of the information display capability of the mobile communications device.

A computer-implemented method of employing one or more computers to enable a mobile communications device having user input and information display capabilities to communicate information in bar code form, the one or more computers having access to a network that includes a wireless link for wirelessly communicating with the mobile communications device, the method comprising:

• receiving from the mobile communications device via the network a request for first information about diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device;
• furnishing the first information to the mobile communications device via the network;
• receiving from the mobile communications device via the network an identification of at least one of the diverse information categories contained in the first information furnished to the mobile communications device in the first information furnishing step, the identification being in response to the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• and
• furnishing to the mobile communications device via the network second information from the identified information category, in response to the information category identifying step, the second information comprising a component to enable the mobile communications device to display at least part of the second information in bar code form by use of the information display capability of the mobile communications device.

A method of controlling entry to a facility, comprising:

• furnishing to the mobile communications device first information about diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device, the categories of information including a ticket-related category;
• receiving an identification of the ticket-related category from the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• and
• wirelessly furnishing to the mobile communications device, in response to the receiving step, ticket information from the ticket-related category, at least part of the ticket information being furnished in a form suitable for display in bar code form by use of the information display capability of the mobile communications device.

A method of communicating information in bar code form with a mobile communications device having user input and information display capabilities, comprising:

• making available electronic access to diverse transactional information relating to a user of the mobile communications device, the transactional information being stored in a first non-transient memory comprising electronic memory of at least one computer system;
• identifying at least one transaction category in response to the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• furnishing to the mobile communications device first information for the identified transaction category from the diverse transactional information stored in the first non-transient memory, at least part of the first information being furnished in a form suitable for communication in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device;
• receiving a communication with light from the mobile communications device of at least part of the first information in bar code form, with a bar code scanner;
• and
• processing the part of the first information obtained in the receiving step to obtain second information about use of the first information by the user, the second information being stored in a second non-transient memory comprising electronic memory of at least one computer system.

A method of processing coupons comprising:

• issuing electronic coupons from an agency;
• furnish the electronic coupons to a delivery engine for storage in a database comprising diverse categories of information relating to a user of a mobile communications device;
• furnishing at least one of the coupons in electronic bar code form to a mobile communications device for communication with light from the mobile communications device;
• receiving, at the delivery engine, coupon usage data and a store identifier from a scan of light from the mobile communications device at a point-of-sale;
• forwarding the coupon usage data and an identifier for the point-of-sale from the delivery engine to a clearinghouse;
• preparing at the clearinghouse a report of coupon usage from the coupon usage data and the point-of-sale identifier;
• sending money from the clearinghouse to the point-of-sale based on the coupon usage report;
• and
• sending the coupon usage report to the agency.

A method of processing coupons comprising:

• issuing electronic coupons from an agency;
• furnish the electronic coupons to a mobile communications device for storage in a database thereof comprising diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device, and for communication of at least one of the coupons in electronic bar code with light from the mobile communications device;
• generating coupon usage data from a scan of light from the mobile communications device at a point-of-sale;
• forwarding the coupon usage data and an identifier for the point-of-sale from the point-of-sale to a clearinghouse;
• preparing at the clearinghouse a report of coupon usage from the coupon usage data and the point-of-sale identifier;
• sending money from the clearinghouse to the point-of-sale based on the coupon usage report;
• and
• sending the coupon usage report to the agency.

A mobile communications device comprising:

• a wireless communications capability;
• a user input capability;
• and
• a plurality of software components for communicating information in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device, the software components comprising:
• a component for acquiring first information about diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device;
• a component for identifying at least one of the diverse information categories acquired by the acquiring component in response to the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• a component responsive to the identifying component for acquiring via the wireless communications capability second information from the identified information category;
• and
• a component for communicating the second information at least in part in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device.

A mobile communications device comprising:

• a communications capability;
• a user input capability;
• a memory;
• and
• a plurality of software components for managing a database of information in diverse categories relating to the user stored in the memory, and for communicating information in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device, the software components comprising:
• a component for making available to the user first information about the diverse categories of information;
• a component for identifying at least one of the diverse information categories with user input from the user input capability of the mobile communications device in response to the first information made available by the first information making available component;
• a component for obtaining second information relating to the identified information category from the database;
• and
• a component for communicating the second information at least in part in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device.

A system comprising:

• a network comprising a wireless component;
• a mobile communications device having a user input capability and a capability of communicating information in bar code form with light, and being coupled to the network via the wireless component thereof;
• a bar code scanner coupled to the network;
• a database maintained on at least one database server coupled to the network, the database comprising diverse transactional information in a plurality of transaction categories relating to a user of the mobile communications device;
• means for furnishing information about at least some of the transaction categories from the database to the mobile communications device via the network;
• means incorporated into the mobile communications device for identifying at least one of the transaction categories in response to the user input capability of the mobile communications device;
• means for furnishing first information for the identified transaction category from the database to the mobile communications device via the network, the first information having a capability of enabling the mobile communications device to communicate at least part of the first information in bar code form with light from the mobile communications device;
• means for receiving from the bar code scanner the part of the first information communicated in a bar code form with light;
• and
• means for process the part of the first information obtained in the receiving step to obtain second information about use of the first information by the user.

A system of processing coupons, comprising:

• means for issuing electronic coupons from an agency;
• means for furnishing the electronic coupons to a delivery engine for storage in a database comprising diverse categories of information relating to a user of a mobile communications device;
• means for furnishing the coupons in electronic bar code form to a mobile communications device for communication thereof with light from the mobile communications device;
• means for receiving, at the delivery engine, coupon usage data and a point-of-sale identifier from a scan of light from the mobile communications device at a point-of-sale, the light communicating at least one of the coupons in bar code form;
• means for forwarding the coupon data and the point-of-sale identifier from the delivery engine to a clearinghouse;
• means for preparing at the clearinghouse a report of coupon usage from the coupon usage data and the point-of-sale identifier;
• means for sending money from the clearinghouse to the point-of-sale based on the coupon usage report;
• and
• means for sending the coupon usage report to the agency.

A system of processing coupons, comprising:

• means for issuing electronic coupons from an agency;
• means for furnishing the electronic coupons to a mobile communications device for storage in a database thereon comprising diverse categories of information relating to a user of the mobile communications device, and for communication the electronic coupons in electronic bar code form with light from the mobile communications device;
• means for generating coupon usage data from a scan of light from the mobile communications device at a point-of-sale, the light communicating at least one of the coupons in bar code form;
• means for forwarding the coupon data and the point-of-sale identifier to a clearinghouse;
• means for preparing at the clearinghouse a report of coupon usage from the coupon usage data and the point-of-sale identifier;
• means for sending money from the clearinghouse to the point-of-sale based on the coupon usage report;
• and
• means for sending the coupon usage report to the agency.