Abstract: A system and method for creating an accurate motor vehicle “window sticker” using a vehicle identification number and external data sources. A software application is provided that can be located on a smartphone. The smartphone has a processor, an associated memory, and a digital camera. The digital camera is used to take a photo of the vehicle's VIN plate. The software application reduces this photo to a character sequence representing the vehicle's unique VIN. The system next determines the vehicle make and model year using the VIN and in some instances other data sources. Once the vehicle make and model year is determined, the system determines the correct remote data source from which to request historical build data for that vehicle. A query is sent to the appropriate data source(s) and detailed information concerning the features and pricing for the particular vehicle is obtained. A data source adapter is then applied to transform the retrieved data from each source into a usable form.

Abstract: A system and method allowing a user to interact with objects in the user's environment using a hand-held pointing device. The pointing device is preferably incorporated in a hand-held device case or in the hand-held communication device itself. The pointing device projects a light beam that carries an identification code. The user directs the light beam toward an object of interest. The light beam fails upon a detector on the object of interest. The identification code serves to identify the pointing device that has projected the beam. The selected object of interest then sends a transmission providing: (1) its own identity, and (2) the identity of the pointing device. The identity of the selected object and the identity of the pointing device may be used to trigger any number of actions using software running on the selected object itself, a remote server, or a smart phone.