UPIC - UNIVERSAL PRODUCT INCLUSIVE CODE

UPIC - UNIVERSAL PRODUCT INCLUSIVE CODE

English Abstract

Our invention is an App named UPiC that brings together the main stakeholders
in a
retail business ecosystem these are the: manufacturers, distributors,
retailers and
consumers - the (MDRC).
The UPiC app turns on the package and makes it audible so it can talk to the
low
vision and fully sighted consumer about ingredients, in-store specials,
religious and
dietary restrictions, allergens, and health benefits and even give you a brand
jingle
or two.
It uses the existing database(s) of the MDRC and drives the information about
the
product/ package surface (s) to the consumer. It does this by tagging the
information driven to the price strip that houses the UPC as we currently know
it
The manufacturers, and retailers will need to use their local area network
(LAN).
This turn -key system turns on the retail store, the package and the consumer
to
make informed intelligent choices.

Claims

Claims
In the case of the process:
1. We are a curation system that utilizes the current UPC code on all
products to enable access to information/data
2. A process as defined in claim 1, in which data information about products
is made available to consumers
3. A process as defined in claim 2 in which the packaging and information is
made accessible to all consumers
without regard to the differently abled.
In the case of the product: The Reader
1. A reader that accesses the information from the curated process
previously described.
2. The reader as defined in claims 1, in the case of the product in which
the structured information is delivered to the
consumer as personalized by them.
3. The reader defined in Claim 3 utilizes the structured data (which also is
accessible) so that it becomes informative
to the consumer by adding information not on the packaging
4. The reader in conjunction with the curated system enables product
manufacturers and consumers to have access
to full product information making the retail environment all inclusive.

Description

CA 02878637 2015-01-15
upo
Universal Product Inclusive Code
UPiC is a retail business ecosystem that brings together the main stakeholders
these
are the: manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers - the (MDRC).
It uses the existing database(s) of the MD RC and drives the information about
the
product/ package surface (s) to the consumer - specifically the low vision
shopper.
It does this by tagging the information driven to the price strip that houses
the UPC
as we currently know it. The tagging allows the user to skip to the product
information they require or desire.
The Universal Product Code (UPC), is the black and white bar code on the side
of
products and in the price strip often below the products in the aisles. It has
been
used since the late 1970's for encoding standardized information for
manufacturers
and retailers throughout the world. There is nothing embedded in a UPC or EAN
barcode except for the numbers that are beneath the barcode.
However, for packages / products to be accessible a new labeling system is not
the
answer. From a print accessibility point of view, the designer's job is to
meet the
requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005
(AODA).
So we need to move further on, and recognize there needs to be a cross over
where
the information is also audible.
This hybrid solution must meet the needs of all shoppers.
Welcome to the advent of UPiC: Universal Product Inclusive Code.
The UPiC is the vision impaired shoppers dream to have access to all the
product
information on the package. This is done through the MDRC ecosystem that is
now
driving the product information plus all the added special features of sales
and
product points, and incentives etc.
The UPiC ecosystem is collective agreement to develop a strategy for
inclusively
designed shopping. The UPiC is a shopping buddy that is layered into any store
APP
provided the MDRC realizes the curb cut it will provide for sighted and low
vision
shoppers.