Computer-implemented object information service and computer-implemented method for obtaining information about objects from same

摘要

A computer-implemented method includes obtaining information about an object at a device; providing at least some of the information to an identification mechanism; obtaining an identifier for the object from the identification service; and using the identifier to access and store information about the object at an information mechanism. The information about the object may be determined from at least one image of the object. The information mechanism may include at least one object information application, and the information mechanism may have an Application Program Interface (API) to the at least one object information application, wherein the device uses the identifier to access the at least one object information application via the API. The identifier may be a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is resolvable to the information mechanism.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method, implemented by hardware in combination with software, operable on an object information service, said object information service comprising: (i) an object database, (ii) object information applications for maintaining and accessing information in said object database, and (iii) an Application Programming Interface (API) to said object information applications, said API being externally accessible, wherein said object database maintains a persistent profile for each of a plurality of objects,
the method comprising: (a) obtaining, at a device, information about an object; (b) determining an identifier for the object from the information obtained in (a) by:
(b)(1) providing at least some of said information to an identification mechanism; and(b)(2) obtaining an identifier for the object from an identification mechanism; and then (c) using the identifier and said API to add said object to said object information service, wherein the information service maintains a persistent online profile for the object in said object database, said profile being accessible at the information service using the identifier, and wherein the identifier for the object is unique within the information service; and then, (d) using the identifier and said API to access and store data about the object at said object information service.