Destination website access and information gathering system

• US 6,148,331 A
• Filed: 04/25/1997
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jump Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Jump Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Parry, Rhys Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US08/845,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 705/14, 705/26, 705/27, 283/70, 709/245, 709/217, 709/218
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A destination website access system employs a bar code reader cooperating with a personal computer or workstation for accessing a unique destination website through a remote Internet service provider (ISP). The address of the unique destination website is embedded within a visibly displayed bar code on a visible medium. In turn, the bar code on the visible medium is scanned and the workstation automatically connects the workstation to the destination website. An intermediary website stores (for further usage) the identities of (i) the workstation; (ii) the visible medium; and/or (iii) the destination website.

Claims

1. A destination website access system for accessing a unique destination website through a remote Internet service provider (ISP), where the address of the unique destination website is embedded within a visibly displayed bar code on a visible medium, said destination website access system comprising:

A) a bar code scanner for reading said bar code and providing bar code output information indicative of said bar code representative of at least a selected start word and a destination website address; and

B) a workstation operable for;

i) receiving said bar code scanner output information, and

ii) executing a website express application program so that said workstation is operable for;

a) monitoring said bar code output information,

b) detecting said selected start word,

c) establishing a communication link between said workstation and said ISP, and

d) executing a browser application program component for establishing a communication link between said workstation and said destination website corresponding to said destination website address; and

e) causing said browser application to establish a communication link with an intermediary website and transferred selected information associated with said workstation and said visible medium to said intermediary website.

2. The destination website access system of claim 1 wherein said selected information includes visible medium source information embedded within said bar code.

3. The destination website access system of claim 2 wherein said selected information is selectively stored and retrievable from said intermediary website, and said selected information includes:

A) identity of the workstation,

B) identity of said visible medium, and

C) identity of said destination website.

4. A destination website access system for accessing a unique destination website through a remote Internet service provider (ISP), where (i) the address of the unique destination website;

(ii) an initiation sequence start word; and

(iii) publication source information are embedded within a visibly displayed bar code on a publication, said destination website access system comprising;

A) a bar code scanner for reading said bar code and providing bar code output information indicative of said bar code; and

B) a workstation operable for receiving said bar code scanner output information, and executing a website express application program operable for;

i) establishing a communication link between said workstation and a predetermined intermediary website, and

ii) establishing a communication link between said workstation and a destination website corresponding to said destination website address.

5. The destination website access system of claim 4 wherein said website express application program is further operable for transferring information associated with said workstation to said intermediary website.

6. The destination website access system of claim 4 wherein publication source information is embedded in said bar code and said website express application program is further operable for transferring said publication source information embedded within said bar code to said intermediary website.

7. The destination website access system of claim 4 wherein at least one of the following items of information is stored at (and retrievable from) said intermediary website:

A) identity of workstation;

B) identity of said visible medium; and

C) identity of said destination website.

8. A method of accessing a unique destination website from a workstation through a remote Internet service provider (ISP), where the address of the unique destination website is embedded within a visibly displayed bar code on a visible medium, the method comprising:

A) scanning said bar code for obtaining bar code output information indicative of said bar code representative of at least a selected start word and a destination website address;

B) inputting said bar code output information into a workstation operable for receiving said bar code scanner output information, and

C) executing a website express application program operable for;

i) monitoring said bar code output information and detecting a initiation sequence start word,

ii) upon detecting said start word, establishing a communication link between said workstation and said ISP, and

iii) executing a browser application program component for first establishing a communication link with an intermediary website and transferring selected information associated with said user and said visible medium to said intermediary website, and secondly establishing a communication link between said workstation and said destination website.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected information associated with said user comprises:

A) identity of workstation;

B) identity of said visible medium; and

C) identity of said destination website.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for the method recited in claim 8.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for the method recited in claim 9.

12. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process performing the method recited in claim 8.

13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process performing the method recited in claim 9.