Method and apparatus for allowing a remote site to interact with an intermediate database to facilitate access to the remote site
First Claim
1. A method for delivering information from a source location on a global communication network and a user location thereon, comprising the steps of:
- associating a unique code having no routing information with an advertising action associated with the source location;
storing the unique code in a database;
associating with the unique code in the database routing information over the global communication network to a defined source location on the global communication network;
delivering the unique code to a user in an electronic broadcast;
accessing the database by the user and retrieving the routing information associated with the delivered unique code to the user;
connecting the user to the defined source location associated with the delivered unique code in the database and in accordance with the associated routing information retrieved from the database; and
changing the routing information associated in the database with the delivered unique code to another defined location on the global communication network in response to a previous access of information from the source location and commands transferred to the database from the source location, such that a later access of the database will cause the accessing user to be routed to the another defined location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for allowing a remote site to interact with an intermediate database to facilitate access to the remote site a method for delivering information from a source on a global communication network to a second and a user location thereon. A unique code is associated with an advertising action associated with the source location. The unique code is stored in a database and routing information over the global communication network to a defined location on the global communication network for the source associated with the unique code in the database. The unique code is delivereed to the user and then accessed of the database by the user results in retrieval of the routing information associated with the delivered unique code by the user. The user is connected to the defined location associated with the delivered unique code in the database and in accordance with the associated routing information retrieved from the database. The associated routing information is changed in the database between the delivered unique code and another defined location on the global communication network in response to commands transferred to the database from the source, such that a later access of the database will cause the accessing user to be routed to another defined location
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for delivering information from a source location on a global communication network and a user location thereon, comprising the steps of:
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associating a unique code having no routing information with an advertising action associated with the source location;
storing the unique code in a database;
associating with the unique code in the database routing information over the global communication network to a defined source location on the global communication network;
delivering the unique code to a user in an electronic broadcast;
accessing the database by the user and retrieving the routing information associated with the delivered unique code to the user;
connecting the user to the defined source location associated with the delivered unique code in the database and in accordance with the associated routing information retrieved from the database; and
changing the routing information associated in the database with the delivered unique code to another defined location on the global communication network in response to a previous access of information from the source location and commands transferred to the database from the source location, such that a later access of the database will cause the accessing user to be routed to the another defined location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
transferring the unique code from the user location on the global communication network to the intermediate location;
comparing the received unique code with the database and determining if there is a match therein;
if there is a match, retrieving from the database the routing information associated with the received unique code; and
returning the retrieved routing information to the user location.
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5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting comprises:
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receiving the retrieved routing information delivered to the user location from the intermediate location; and
utilizing the received routing information from the intermediate location to define the route over the global communication network to the source location and connecting thereto.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the unique code to the user comprises delivering the unique code to the user at the user location.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the unique code to the user comprises not delivering the unique code over the global communication network.
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8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of delivering comprises delivering the unique code to the user through a transmission broadcast which is receivable by the user at the user location.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein the unique code is delivered by encoding the unique code in an audio segment of a relatively short duration.
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10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of accessing includes the step of receiving the encoded unique code and decoding the received unique code to extract the unique code information therefrom.
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11. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of delivering the unique code comprises delivering the unique code through the printed media.
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12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of changing occurs over the global communication network.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of changing comprises:
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accessing the database over the global communication network from an advertising control server location on the global communication network; and
transferring updated parameter information comprising a new defined location in association with a predetermined one of the unique codes stored in said database.
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14. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertiser control server is associated with a predetermined plurality of unique codes in the database.
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15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of accessing the database comprises a password protection method requiring the input of the password from the advertising control server before access is granted.
Specification