Bar code symbol driven systems for accessing information resources on the internet

• US 20030173405A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilz, David M. Sr., Knowles, Carl Harry
• Application Number:
  US10/274,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173405A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10891 the scanner to be worn on a finger or on a wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

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).

Claims

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.

2. The bar code driven system of claim 1, wherein said bar code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader.

3. The bar code driven system of claim 1, which further comprises information entry means for entering information into said system.

4. The bar code driven system of claim 3, wherein said information entry means comprises a keypad.

5. The bar code driven system of claim of claim 1, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means for executing computer programs, including an Internet browser program; and

an Internet browser program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

6. The bar code driven system of claim 1, wherein said telecommunication means comprises a modem.

7. A bar code driven system for accessing information resources from an information network, 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 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.

8. The bar code driven system of claim 7, wherein said bar code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader.

9. The bar code driven system of claim 7, which further comprises information entry means for entering information into said system.

10. The bar code driven system of claim 9, wherein said information entry means comprises a key-type data entry device.

11. The bar code driven system of claim of claim 7, wherein said information network comprises the Internet, said network communication protocol is the TCP/IP standard, and said network accessing means comprises an Internet accessing means for accessing information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet.

12. The bar code driven system of claim of claim 11, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means for executing computer programs including an Internet access program;

an Internet access program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

13. The bar code driven system of claim 12, wherein said Internet access program is an Internet browser program.

14. The bar code driven system of claim 7, wherein said telecommunication means comprises a modem.

15. A bar code driven Internet access system, which comprises:

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.

16. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 15, wherein the bar code symbol reader may be a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol, or a Wand-type bar code symbol reader.

17. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 15, wherein said URL-encoded bar code symbol is a truncated-type encoded symbol, having a very low height to length ratio.

18. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 17, wherein said one or more URL-encoded bar code symbols are printed on a single sheet or page of a Web-site guide, along with their corresponding human-readable URLs and Web-site content descriptions.

19. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 15, wherein said Internet terminal comprises:

a computer system having a GUI-based web browser program; and

said programmed bar code symbol scanner is interfaced with said computer system for automatically surfing to Web-sites listed in a Web-site guide by simply scanning corresponding URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on the page(s) thereof.

20. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 15, wherein said Internet terminal comprises an interactive web-based television system having an audio-visual display monitor for displaying graphical and audio information content of Web-sites, and a portable Internet surfing device having said programmed bar code symbol reader integrated therewith.

21. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 15, wherein said Internet terminal comprises a Scanner Integrated Terminal having an integrated GUI-based web browser program, display panel, keypad, and said programmed bar code symbol reader.

22. A bar code driven Internet access system, comprising:

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.

23. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 22, wherein the programmed optical character reader may be a laser scanning optical character.

24. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 22, wherein said one or more URLs are printed on a single sheet or page of a guide, along wwith their corresponding human-readable URLs and content descriptions.

25. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 22, wherein said Internet terminal comprises a computer system having a GUI-based web browser program;

and said programmed optical character reader is interfaced with said computer system for automatically surfing to HTML-encoded documents listed in a guide by simply reading corresponding URLs printed on the pages thereof.

26. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 22, wherein said Internet terminal comprises an interactive Web-based television system having an audio-visual display monitor for displaying graphical and audio information content of HTML-encoded documents, and a portable Internet surfing device having said Internet reader integrated therewith.

27. An Internet Scanning System of claim 22, wherein said Internet terminal comprises a Scanner Integrated Terminal having an integrated GUI-based web browser program, display panel, keypad, and said programmed optical character reader.

28. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 22, wherein said bar code symbol reader has a scan field, and said system further comprises an optically transparent scanning plate extending from said bar code symbol reader and disposed within said scanfield, for aligning said URL-encoded bar code symbol with said scan field.

29. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 27, wherein said bar code symbol reader is an automatic laser scanning bar code symbol reader having an object detection field spatially coincident with at least a portion of said scan field.

30. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 27, wherein each said URL-encoded bar code symbol is a truncated bar code symbol.

31. A Web-site guide comprising:

one or more sheets with a plurality of URL-encoded bar code symbols printed thereon.

32. A system for composing lists of URL-encoded bar code symbols for printing on various types of print media, said system comprising:

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.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said Internet terminal comprises a programmed Web-enabled computer system having a graphical user interface (GUI) and an Internet browser program, and

wherein said menu composition means comprises a plug-in type module to said Internet browser program.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said Internet browser program and said plug-in type module allows a user of said system to compile, during operation of the Internet browser program, an information structure including a list of human-readable URLs corresponding to a set of HTML-encoded documents and a set of URL-encoded bar code symbol data structures corresponding to said URLs.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said information structure compiled from said system further comprises:

a set of brief descriptions of content contained in said HTML-encoded documents, and date or dates the set of Web-sites were last visited by the compiler, for subsequent printing in the form of a menu.

36. A bar code driven Internet access system, which comprises:

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.

37. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 36, wherein the bar code symbol reader may be a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol, or a Wand-type bar code symbol reader.

38. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 36, wherein said URL-encoded bar code symbol is a truncated-type encoded symbol, having a very small height to length ratio.

39. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 38, wherein said one or more URL-encoded bar code symbols are printed on a single sheet or page of print media, along with their corresponding human-readable URLs and HTML-document content descriptions.

40. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 36, wherein said Internet terminal comprises:

a computer system having a GUI-based web browser program; and

said programmed bar code symbol scanner is interfaced with said computer system for automatically accessing HTML documents listed in a guide by simply scanning corresponding URL-encoded bar code symbols printed on the page(s) thereof.

41. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 36, wherein said Internet terminal comprises an interactive web-based television system having an audio-visual display monitor for displaying graphical and audio information content of said HTML-encoded documents, and a portable Internet surfing device having said bar code symbol reader integrated therewith.

42. The bar code driven Internet access system of claim 36, wherein said Internet terminal comprises a Scanner Integrated Terminal having an integrated GUI-based web browser program, display panel, keypad, and said programmed bar code symbol reader.

43. A portable bar code driven Internet access system for accessing information resources on the Internet, comprising:

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.

44. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader, and a magnetic-stripe reader.

45. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, which further comprises information entry means, associated with said housing for entering information into said system.

46. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 45, wherein said information entry means comprises a keypad.

47. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means for executing computer programs, including an Internet browser program; and

an Internet browser program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

48. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, which further comprises means for mounting said housing to the arm of an operator.

49. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said telecommunication means comprises a modem.

50. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said information comprise a uniform resource locator (URL).

51. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said code symbol is a bar code symbol and said code symbol reader is a bar code symbol reader.

52. The portable bar code driven Internet access system of claim 43, wherein said code symbol reader is an automatic laser scanning bar code symbol reader.

53. A bar code driven information access system for accessing information resources from an information network, comprising:

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.

54. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said programmed code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, a wand-type bar code symbol reader and a magnetic-stripe reader.

55. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, which further comprises information entry means, associated with said housing, for entering information into said system.

56. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said information entry means comprises a key-type data entry device.

57. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said information network comprises the Internet, said network communication protocol is the TCP/IP standard, and said network accessing means comprises an Internet accessing means for accessing information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet.

58. The bar code driven information access system of claim 57, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means for executing computer programs including an Internet access program;

an Internet access program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

59. The bar code driven information access system of claim 58, wherein said Internet access program is an Internet browser program.

60. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said telecommunication means comprises a modem.

61. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said bar code symbols are encoded with information representative of the location of information resources stored in said information servers.

62. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said code symbol is a bar code symbol and said code symbol reader is a bar code symbol reader.

63. The bar code driven information access system of claim 53, wherein said code symbol reader is an automatic laser scanning bar code symbol reader.

64. A portable bar code driven device for accessing information resources from the Internet, comprising:

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.

65. The portable bar code driven device of claim 64, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader.

66. The portable bar code driven device of claim 64, which further comprises information entry means for entering information into said device.

67. The portable bar code driven device of claim 66, wherein said information entry means comprises a keypad integrated with said hand-supportable housing.

68. The portable bar code driven device of claim of claim 64, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing; and

an Internet browser program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

69. A portable bar code driven device for accessing information resources from an information network, comprising:

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.

70. The portable bar code driven device of claim 69, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader is a device selected from the group consisting of a laser scanning bar code symbol reader, a CCD bar code symbol reader, and a wand-type bar code symbol reader.

71. The portable bar code driven device of claim 69, which further comprises information entry means for entering information into said device.

72. The portable bar code driven device of claim 71, wherein said information entry means comprises a keypad mounted on said hand-supportable housing.

73. The portable bar code driven device of claim of claim 69, wherein said information network comprises the Internet, and said network accessing means comprises an Internet accessing means for accessing information resources stored in information servers connected to the Internet.

74. The portable bar code driven device of claim of claim 73, wherein said Internet accessing means comprises:

computing means disposed in said hand-supportable housing; and

an Internet browser program executable by said computing means and supporting the client-side of the HTTP standard so that said Internet accessing means can access HTML-encoded information resources from HTTP-type information servers.

75. A system for routing, tracking and delivering packages from a shipping point to a plurality of destination points, comprising:

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.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said RTD Internet Server comprises:

a relational database management system (RDBMS) for storing package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system;

an HTTP Server for serving HTML-encoded web-pages having URL-specified information storage fields represented therein, each said URL-specified information storage field being linked to one said package logged-in with said system; and

a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for interfacing said RDBMS with said HTTP Server.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein said RDBMS contains information elements that are related to an information storage location in an HTML-encoded web-page which is specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that has been uniquely assigned to a particular package being tracked within said system.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein said Package Log-In/Shipping Computer Subsystem comprises a desktop computer system and bar code symbol printer.

79. The system of claim 75, wherein said Package Routing Subsystem is a portable scanning terminal programmed to automatically connect to said RTD Internet Server upon reading a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol.

80. A method of routing, tracking and delivering packages from a shipping point to a plurality of destination points, comprising the steps of:

(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.

81. A system for tracking objects and linking information thereto, said system comprising:

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.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein said Internet Information Server comprises:

a relational database management system (RDBMS) for storing object tracking information on each object logged-in within said system;

an HTTP Server for serving HTML-encoded web-pages having URL-specified information storage fields represented therein, each said URL-specified information storage field being linked to one said object logged-in with said system; and

means for interfacing said RDBMS with said HTTP Server.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein said RDBMS contains information elements that are related to an information storage location in an HTML-encoded web-page which is specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that has been uniquely assigned to a particular object being tracked within said system.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein said Log-In Computer Subsystem comprises a desktop computer system and bar code symbol printer.

85. A method of linking, storing and accessing information relating to an object using an Information Server, comprising the steps of:

(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.

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.

87. The bar code driven information access system of claim 86, which further comprises:

said Internet terminal operably connectable to said programmed bar code symbol reader, for interconnecting to the Internet infrastructure by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using communication media or link and carrying out the client-side of the Internet protocol required to access and display said Internet information resource specified by said URL encoded within the bar code symbol.

88. The bar code driven information access system of claim 87, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader comprises

an optical scanning device and scan data processor for optically scanning bar code symbols, and producing words of digital scan data representative of the length of the bars and spaces of the bar code symbol;

programmable decoder module for processing said words of digital scan data and producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol; and

data transmission module for transmitting said symbol character data from said programmable decoder module to said Internet Terminal for use in accessing and displaying said Internet information resource specified by said URL encoded within the decoded bar code symbol.

89. The bar code driven information access system of claim 88, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a bar code laser scanner.

90. The bar code driven information access system of claim 88, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a CCD-based bar code scanner.

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.

92. The bar code driven information access system of claim 91, which further comprises:

said Internet terminal operably connectable to said programmed bar code symbol reader, and including said Internet browser program for interconnecting to the Internet infrastructure by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using communication media and carrying out the client-side of the Internet protocol required to access and display said Internet information resource specified by the URL encoded within the bar code symbol.

93. The bar code driven information access system of claim 91, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader comprises:

an optical scanning device and scan data processor for optically scanning bar code symbols, and producing words of digital scan data representative of the length of the bars and spaces of the code symbol;

programmable decoder module for processing said words of digital scan data and producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol;

an ASCII code generation module for generating (1) an ASCII-based prefix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that writes the URL to the Internet browser program, and (2) a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes said HTTP request on said URL;

a code string synthesizer module for synthesizing the prefix and suffix code strings produced from said ASCII code generator, with the URL character string from said programmable decoder module, in order to form a complete code string; and

data transmission module for transmitting said complete code string to said Internet Terminal for use in accessing and displaying said Internet information resource specified by said URL encoded within the decoded bar code symbol.

94. The bar code driven information access system of claim 93, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a bar code laser scanner.

95. The bar code driven information access system of claim 93, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a CCD-based bar code scanner.

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.

97. The bar code driven information access system of claim 96, which further comprises:

said Internet terminal operably connectable to said programmed bar code symbol reader, for interconnecting to the Internet infrastructure by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using communication media and carrying out the client-side of the Internet protocol required to access and display said Internet information resource specified by the URL encoded within the bar code symbol.

98. The bar code driven information access system of claim 96, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader comprises

an optical scanning device and scan data processor for optically scanning bar code symbols, and producing words of digital scan data representative of the length of the bars and spaces of the code symbol;

programmable decoder module for processing said words of digital scan data and producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol;

an ASCII code generation module for generating

(1) an ASCII-based prefix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that writes the URL into the Internet browser program,

(2) the appropriate Internet protocol identifier, and

(3) a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes said HTTP request on said URL;

a code string synthesizer module for synthesizing the prefix and suffix code strings produced from said ASCII code generator, with the URL character string from said programmable decoder module, in order to form a complete code string; and

data transmission module for transmitting said complete code string to said Internet Terminal for use in accessing and displaying said Internet information resource specified by said URL encoded within the decoded bar code symbol.

99. The bar code driven information access system of claim 98, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a bar code laser scanner.

100. The bar code driven information access system of claim 98, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a CCD-based bar code scanner.

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.

102. The bar code driven information access system of claim 101, which further comprises:

an Internet terminal operably connected to said programmed bar code symbol reader, for interconnecting to the Internet infrastructure by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using communication media and carrying out the client-side of the Internet protocol required to access and display said Internet information resource specified by the URL encoded within the bar code symbol.

103. The bar code driven information access system of claim 102, wherein said programmed bar code symbol reader comprises:

an optical scanning device and scan data processor for optically scanning bar code symbols, and producing words of digital scan data representative of the length of the bars and spaces of the code symbol;

programmable decoder module for processing said words of digital scan data and producing symbol character data representative of said decoded bar code symbol;

an ASCII code generation module for generating

(1) an ASCII-based prefix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that writes the URL into the Internet browser program,

(2) the appropriate Internet protocol identifier, and

(3) a suffix code string representative of the Internet browser program command that executes a HTTP request on the URL entered into the Internet browser program;

a code string synthesizer module for synthesizing the prefix and suffix code strings produced from said ASCII code generator, with the URL character string from said programmable decoder module, in order to form a complete code string; and

data transmission module for transmitting said complete code string to said Internet Terminal for use in accessing and displaying said Internet information resource specified by said URL encoded within the decoded bar code symbol.

104. The bar code driven information access system of claim 103, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a bar code laser scanner.

105. The bar code driven information access system of claim 103, wherein said optical scanning device optical scanning device and said scan data processor comprises a CCD-based bar code scanner.

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.

107. the document tracking and management system of claim 106, wherein said document is selected from the group consisting of brochure, a drawing, 3-D objects or specimens, a photograph, a specification, a blue-print, and the like.

108. The Web-based document tracking and management system of claim 106, wherein information relating to a document registered within the system can be accessed therefrom by simply scanning the printed URL-encoded bar code symbol on the document using the bar code symbol reader associated with an Internet access terminal.

109. The document tracking and management system of claim 107, wherein said Internet access terminal comprises:

means for assigning a URL-encoded bar code symbol to any document to be registered with the system;

means for entering document-related information into the information storage location assigned to the document within the Web-based RDBMS;

means for printing URL-encoded bar code symbols for attachment to corresponding documents registered within the system;

means for modifying the document-related information currently stored in the information storage location assigned to the document within the Web-based RDBMS; and

means for accessing document related information from the system by reading its corresponding URL-encoded bar code symbol.

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.

112. The Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system of claim 110, which further comprises means for reading the URL/ZIP CODE encoded bar code symbol using a portable (wireless) Internet access terminal and recovering the URL-encoded therein.

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:

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.