Method and system for directing end user to selected network location of provider based on user-provided codes

• US 20020030096A1
• Filed: 10/04/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Airclic Inc. (The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Airclic Inc. (The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ritz, Peter, Lommock, John, Nygren, Kaj, Isherwood, David
• Application Number:
  US09/971,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030096A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An end user is directed to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end user. A database including records associated with a different machine-readable code is provided. One or more of the records includes a number of different network addresses associated therewith, each network address being associated with a different provider. Scans of machine-readable codes are received at a network site. In response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the user are retrieved from the database. At least one network address for each of the retrieved records is selected based on criteria specified by the provider, an express need of the user or property information of a session of the end-user on the network. At least one selected network address is transmitted from the network site to the end-user.

Claims

1. A method for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a) providing a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

b) receiving at a network site, scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

c) retrieving from the database, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user;

d) based on criteria specified by the provider associated with the end-user, selecting at least one network address for each of the retrieved records; and

e) initiating transmission of the at least one selected network address from the network site to the end-user.

2. A method for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a) providing a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

b) receiving at a network site, scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

c) retrieving from the database, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user;

d) based on an expressed goal of the end-user, selecting at least one network address for each of the retrieved records; and

e) initiating transmission of the at least one selected network address from the network site to the end-user.

3. A method for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a) providing a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

b) receiving at a network site, scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

c) retrieving from the database, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user;

d) based on property information of a session of the end-user on the network, selecting at least one network address for each of the retrieved records; and

e) initiating transmission of the at least one selected network address from the network site to the end-user.

4. A system for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

a network site at which scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device is received, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

wherein, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user are retrieved from the database;

based on criteria specified by the provider associated with the end-user, at least one network address for each of the retrieved records is selected; and

transmission of the at least one selected network address is initiated from the network site to the end-user.

5. A system for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

a network site at which scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device is received, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

wherein, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user are retrieved from the database;

based on an expressed goal of the end-user, at least one network address for each of the retrieved records is selected; and

transmission of the at least one selected network address is initiated from the network site to the end-user.

6. A system for directing an end-user to a network location using information corresponding to a provider associated with the end-user, comprising:

a database with a plurality of records each of which is associated with a different machine-readable code, wherein one or more of the records has a plurality of different network addresses associated therewith, the different network addresses being associated with different providers;

a network site at which scan information associated with one or more scans of machine-readable codes made by the end-user with a remote scanning device is received, the end-user being associated with one of the different providers;

wherein, in response to the scan information, records associated with the machine-readable codes scanned by the end-user are retrieved from the database;

based on property information of a session of the end-user on the network, at least one network address for each of the retrieved records is selected; and

transmission of the at least one selected network address is initiated from the network site to the end-user.