Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for identifying a product through reading of the product label by a retail terminal. The product/product label is scanned by an imager of a retail terminal. An attribute recognition program such as an optical character recognition (OCR) program is used on the scanned product label which generates text strings from alphanumeric label information and graphics maps/images from graphics/logos. Text strings and/or graphics data are then compared to various text strings and graphics data in a database or look-up table to return information relative to the scanned text string(s)/graphic(s). In one form, kiosks, incorporating an imager and the necessary hardware and software to scan a product label and process the scanned information in accordance with the present principles, may provide printouts of product information, instructions, order forms or the like for the scanned product. Additionally, standard queries or user-generated queries may be answered relative to the scanned product label. Data, stored either locally or at a remote site accessible via a network or the like, is correlated to a plurality of text strings/graphics that correspond to alphanumeric text/graphics on a plurality of product labels.

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First Claim