Bar code symbol driven systems for accessing information resources on the internet
First Claim
1. A bar code driven system for accessing information resources on the Internet, comprising:
- a bar code symbol reader programmed for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard;
Internet accessing means responsive to said bar code symbol reader, for accessing information resources from said information servers using said TCP/IP standard and said address information encoded in bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader;
telecommunication means operably connected to said Internet accessing means, for establishing a two-way telecommunication link between said Internet accessing means and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet so that said Internet accessing means can access information resources stored in said information servers at locations specified by the information encoded in the bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader; and
display means for visually displaying information resources accessed by said Internet accessing means, from said information servers connected to the Internet.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bar code symbol driven system for accessing information resources from information servers connected to communication networks, including the Internet. The system includes a bar code symbol reader (7a) for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard. A computing platform (6) is provided for supporting an Internet browser. A telecommunication modem is operably connected to the computing platform in order to establish a two way telecommunication link between the Internet browser and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet. In response to reading bar code symbols (8), the Internet browser automatically accesses information resources from Internet information servers (2) using the information encoded in bar code symbols read by the bar code symbol reader (7a).
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Citations
112 Claims
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1. A bar code driven system for accessing information resources on the Internet, comprising:
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a bar code symbol reader programmed for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard;
Internet accessing means responsive to said bar code symbol reader, for accessing information resources from said information servers using said TCP/IP standard and said address information encoded in bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader;
telecommunication means operably connected to said Internet accessing means, for establishing a two-way telecommunication link between said Internet accessing means and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet so that said Internet accessing means can access information resources stored in said information servers at locations specified by the information encoded in the bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader; and
display means for visually displaying information resources accessed by said Internet accessing means, from said information servers connected to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A bar code driven system for accessing information resources from an information network, comprising:
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a bar code symbol reader programmed for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in information servers connected to said information network and supporting a network communication protocol;
network accessing means for accessing information resources from said information servers using said network communication protocol and said information encoded in bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader;
telecommunication means operably connected to said network accessing means, for establishing a two-way telecommunication link between said network accessing means and an network service provider (NSP) connected to said information network in order that said network accessing means can access information resources stored in said information servers specified by the information encoded in the bar code symbols read by said bar code symbol reader; and
display means for visually displaying information resources accessed by said network accessing means, from said information servers connected to said information network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A bar code driven Internet access system, which comprises:
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a programmed bar code symbol reader for reading one or more URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on various types of media; and
an Internet terminal operably connectable to said bar code symbol reader, and the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for accessing HTML-encoded documents stored in information servers on the Internet, and displaying said HTML documents on a display surface;
whereby, when said programmed bar code symbol reader reads each said URL-encoded bar code symbol, said Internet terminal automatically accesses said one or more HTML-encoded documents having a World Wide Web (WWW) address specified by said read URL. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A bar code driven Internet access system, comprising:
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a programmed optical character reader for reading one or more URLs printed on various types of media; and
an Internet terminal operably connectable to said programmed optical character reader, and the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for accessing HTML-encoded documents stored in information serves on the Internet and displaying said HTML documents on a display surface;
whereby, when said programmed optical character reader reads each said URL, said Internet terminal automatically accesses one or more HTML-encoded documents having a World Wide Web (WWW) address specified by said read URL and displaying said accessed HTML-encoded documents on said display surface. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A Web-site guide comprising:
one or more sheets with a plurality of URL-encoded bar code symbols printed thereon.
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32. A system for composing lists of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on various types of print media, said system comprising:
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an Internet terminal operably connectable to Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP); and
menu composition means for composing a menu of bar code symbols, wherein each said bar code symbol is encoded with the URL of a HTML-encoded document having a World Wide Web (WWW) addressed specified by said URL-encoded bar code symbol. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A bar code driven Internet access system, which comprises:
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a programmed bar code symbol reader for reading one or more URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on various types of media; and
an Internet terminal operably connectable to said bar code symbol reader, and the Internet by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), for accessing HTML-encoded documents stored in information servers on the Internet, and displaying said HTML documents on a display surface;
whereby, when said bar code symbol reader reads each said URL-encoded bar code symbol, said Internet terminal automatically accesses one or more HTML-encoded documents having a World Wide Web (WWW) address specified by said read URL-encoded bar code symbol and displaying said accessed HTML documents on said display surface. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A portable bar code driven Internet access system for accessing information resources on the Internet, comprising:
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a programmed code symbol reader having a housing and means in said housing for reading code symbols encoded with information representative of information resources in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard;
Internet accessing means in said housing and being responsive to said programmed code symbol reader, for accessing information resources from said information servers using said TCP/IP standard and said information encoded in code symbols read by said code symbol reader;
telecommunication means in said housing and being operably connected to said Internet accessing means, for establishing a two-way telecommunication link between said Internet accessing means and an Internet service provider connected to the Internet so that said Internet accessing means can access information resources from said information servers, using the information encoded in the code symbols read by said programmed code symbol reader; and
display means on said housing, for visually displaying information resources accessed by said Internet accessing means, from said information servers connected to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information resources from an information network, comprising:
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a programmed code symbol reader having means for mounting said code symbol reader to the arm of an operator and means for reading code symbols encoded with information representative of information resources stored in information servers connected to said information network and supporting a network communication protocol;
a housing for mounting to a portion of the body of said operator;
network accessing means in said housing for accessing information resources from said information servers using said network communication protocol and said information encoded in bar code symbols read by said programmed code symbol reader;
telecommunication means in said housing and being operably connected to said network accessing means, for establishing a two-way telecommunication link between said network accessing means and an network service provider connected to said information network in order that said network accessing means can access information resources from said information servers, using said information encoded in the code symbols read by said programmed code symbol reader; and
display means integrated with said housing for visually displaying information resources accessed by said network accessing means, from said information servers connected to said information network. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A portable bar code driven device for accessing information resources from the Internet, comprising:
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a hand-supportable housing;
a programmed bar code symbol reader, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard;
Internet accessing means, disposed in said hand-supportable housing and responsive to said bar code symbol reader, for accessing information resources from said information servers using said TCP/IP standard and said information encoded in bar code symbols read by said programmed bar code symbol reader;
a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, integrated with said hand-supportable housing and being operably connected to said Internet accessing means, for establishing a wireless two-way telecommunication link between said Internet accessing means and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet so that said Internet accessing means can access information resources stored in information servers at locations specified by the information encoded in the bar code symbols read by said programmed bar code symbol reader; and
display means, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for visually displaying information resources accessed by said Internet access means from said information servers connected to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A portable bar code driven device for accessing information resources from an information network, comprising:
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a hand-supportable housing;
a programmed bar code symbol reader, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for reading bar code symbols encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in information servers connected to said information network and supporting the TCP/IP standard;
network accessing means, disposed in said hand-supportable housing and responsive to said programmed bar code symbol reader, for accessing information resources from said information servers using said TCP/IP standard and information encoded in bar code symbols read by said programmed bar code symbol reader;
a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, integrated with said hand-supportable housing and being operably connected to said Internet accessing means, for establishing a wireless two-way telecommunication interface between said Internet accessing means and an network service provider connected to said information network in order that said Internet accessing means can access information resources stored in said information servers specified by said information encoded in the bar code symbols read by said programmed bar code symbol reader; and
display means, integrated with said hand-supportable housing, for visually displaying information resources accessed by said network accessing means from said information servers connected to said information network. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A system for routing, tracking and delivering packages from a shipping point to a plurality of destination points, comprising:
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a RTD Internet Server connected to the Internet infrastructure, for storing package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system;
a Package Log-In/Shipping Computer Subsystem located at a shipping location and connectable to said RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for entering package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system, and producing a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol for application to each said package being logged-in with said system;
a plurality of Package Routing Subsystems located at remote hub stations and connectable to said RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for scanning URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbols applied to said packages, transmitting tracking information on said package to said RTD Internet Server, and routing said packages within said system; and
a plurality of Package Delivery Computer Subsystems connectable to said RTD Internet Server, for accessing package delivery information served therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A method of routing, tracking and delivering packages from a shipping point to a plurality of destination points, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol to each said package being tracked within said system;
(b) reading said URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol on each said package at different locations within said system in order to track the position of said package therein and facilitate routing operations; and
(c) reading said URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol on each said package in order to access delivery information from an Internet Server, for delivering said package to its destination.
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81. A system for tracking objects and linking information thereto, said system comprising:
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an Internet Information Server connected to the Internet infrastructure, for storing object tracking information on each package logged-in within said system;
a plurality of Client Computer Subsystems connectable to said Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for entering into said Internet Information Server and accessing therefrom object-related information maintained on each object being tracked by said system; and
a Log-In Computer Subsystem for entering object identifying information into the Internet Information Server in order to log-in each object to be tracked within said system, and producing a printed URL encoded bar code symbol for application to each said object being logged-in within said system. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84)
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85. A method of linking, storing and accessing information relating to an object using an Information Server, comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a URL-Encoded bar code symbol to an object being logged-in with said Information Server;
(b) storing in an Information Server, information related to said object; and
(c) reading said URL-Encoded bar code symbol on said object in order to access information related to said object stored in said Information Server.
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86. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information on the Internet, comprising:
a programmed bar code symbol reader operably connectable to an Internet terminal having an Internet browser program operably associated therewith, said programmed bar code symbol reader having means for reading a bar code symbol encoded with (i) the complete URL of an Internet information resource to be accessed, (ii) the Internet browser program command for writing the URL to said Internet browser program, and (iii) an Internet browser program command for executing a Hyper-Text Transmission Protocol (HTTP) request on the said URL. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information on the Internet, comprising:
a programmed bar code symbol reader operably connectable to an Internet terminal having an Internet browser program operably associated therewith, said programmed bar code symbol reader having means for (i) reading a bar code symbol encoded with the complete URL of an Internet information resource to be accessed, and (ii) automatically affixing thereto (1) a prefix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that writes the URL said Internet browser program, and (2) a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes a HTTP request on said URL provided to said Internet browser program. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information on the Internet, comprising:
a programmed bar code symbol reader, operably connectable to an Internet terminal having an Internet browser program operably associated therewith, said programmed bar code symbol reader including means for (i) reading a bar code symbol encoded with the complete URL of an Internet information resource to be accessed, and (ii) automatically affixing thereto prefix code strings representative of (1) the Internet browser program command that writes the URL to said Internet browser program, (2) the Internet protocol identifier, and (iii) affix thereto a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes a HTTP request on said URL provided to said Internet browser program. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100)
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101. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information on the Internet, comprising:
a programmed bar code symbol reader, operably connectable to an Internet terminal having an Internet browser program operably associated therewith, said programmed bar code symbol reader including means for (i) reading a bar code symbol encoded with the complete URL of an Internet information resource to be accessed, and (ii) automatically affixing thereto prefix code strings representative of (1) the Internet browser program command that writes the URL to said Internet browser program operably associated with said Internet terminal, and (2) the Internet protocol identifier, and (iii) affix thereto a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes a HTTP request on said URL provided to said Internet browser program. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105)
- 106. A document tracking and management system, in which each document to be tracked and managed within the system is uniquely assigned and affixed with a printed URL-encoded bar code symbol that specifies a particular information storage location within an HTML-encoded relational database management system (RDBMS), realized on an Web-based information server located on the Internet or behind the corporate firewall of an HTTP-supporting Intranet.
- 110. A Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system, wherein one or more Routing, Tracking and Delivery (RTD) Internet Server Subsystems are connected to the Internet and updated with package related information produced by either (i) a Package Log-In/Shipping Subsystem that is located at a product shipping location (e.g., warehouse) and connected to the RTD Internet Server by a first data communication link, (ii) a Package Routing Subsystem that is located at a hub station and connected to the RTD Internet Server by a second data communication link, or (iii) a Portable Package Delivery Subsystem that is carried by the package delivery person and connected to the RTD Internet Server by a wireless data communication link.
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111. A Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system comprising a plurality of remote hub stations, wherein each remote hub station within the system further comprises:
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means for reading URL-encoded bar code symbols on packages;
means for recovering the URL-encoded in the bar code symbol at the hub station; and
means for updating the location of the package within the system using said recovered URL.
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Specification