Using low-cost tags to facilitate mobile transactions

This invention describes a system for buying physical items using a smartphone to scan a special low-cost tag attached to the object, bypassing traditional checkout systems. The tags, which can be barcodes or RFID, carry a unique code readable by a mobile device. The claims narrow this to a method for *creating* these tags, specifically involving booklets of tags, each with unique identifiers and a recordable code, which are then linked to a central database for pricing and transaction processing.

Why it matters: Filed before widespread adoption of QR code payments and advanced smartphone camera capabilities made scanning ubiquitous and reliable. The backend database and tag creation methods would also benefit from today's significantly cheaper cloud infrastructure and on-demand printing technologies.

Status: ExpiredProtection ended and was never renewed
How hard to build: SpecializedSoftware logic, database, tag manufacturing, mobile app.

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