METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR ENABLING THE ACCESS OF CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED INFORMATION AND THE PURCHASE OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS AT POINTS OF CONSUMER PRESENCE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW) AT WHICH CONSUMER PRODUCT INFORMATION REQUEST (CPIR) ENABLING SERVLET TAGS ARE EMBEDDED WITHIN HTML-ENCODED DOCUMENTS

• US 6,625,581 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Perkowski
• Original Assignee: IPF Incorporated
• Inventors: Perkowski, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US09/447,121
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/27.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Method of and system for delivering consumer product related information to consumers over the Internet. The system and method involves creating an UPN-encoded Consumer Product Information (CPIR) enabling Applet for each consumer product registered within a manufacturer-managed UPN/URL database management system. Each CPIR-enabling Applet is encapsulated within an executable file and then stored in the UPN/URL database management system. Each CPIR-enabling Applet is searchable and downloadable by, for example, (1) retailers purchasing products from an electronic-commerce enabled product catalog, (2) advertisers desiring to link consumer product information to Web-based product advertisements, or (3) anyone having a legitimate purpose of disseminating such information within the stream of electronic commerce. After downloading and extraction from its encapsulating file, the CPIR-enabling Applet is embedded within an HTML-encoded document associated with, for example, an EC-enabled store, on-line auction site, product advertisement, Internet search engine or directory, and the like. Upon encountering such an Applet-encoded HTML document on the WWW, the consumer need only perform a single mouse-clicking operation to automatically execute the underlying CPIR-enabling Applet (on either the client or server side of the network), causing a UPN-directed search to be performed against the manufacturer-defined UPN/URL Database, and the results thereof displayed in an independent Java GUI, without disturbing the consumer'"'"'s point of presence on the WWW. Preferably, the CPIR-enabling Applets are realized using Java™ technology, although it is understood that alternative technologies can be used to practice the system and methods of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of purchasing a consumer product over the Internet comprising the steps of:

(a) storing on a first Internet-based information server connected to an information network, a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) of identifying a particular consumer product;

(b) embedding a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet within the HTML code of a Web page served from a second Internet-based information server;

(c) displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) nmining on a client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;

(d) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate said CPITR-enabling Serviet associated with said CPTR-enabling Serviet tag to execute on said information network, and a request for information on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Internet-enabled database server; and

(e) in response to said request, automatically displaying on said Web-browser enabled GUI, information retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information comprises one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more EC-enabled stores or on-line catalogs on the WWW at which the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be purchased and delivered to a particular address in physical space.

2. A system for purchasing a consumer product over the Internet comprising:

a first Intemet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) identifying a particular consumer product;

a second Internet-based information server operably connected to said information network, for serving a Web page having HTML code, within which a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded;

an Internet-enabled database server operably connected to said information network, for containing information on the consumer product identified by said UPN, and serving said information to an Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for said information made by said Internet-enabled client computer;

an Intemet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer, said Intemet-enabled client computer having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein;

wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page,

(1) said CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information on the consumer product identified by said UPN is automatically carried out against said Intemet-enabled database server; and

(2) in response to said request, said Web-browser enabled GUI automatically displays the information retrieved from said Intemet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information comprises one or more URLs pointing to one or more EC-enabled stores or on-line catalogs on the WWW at which the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be purchased and delivered to a particular address in physical space.

3. A method of purchasing a consumer product over the Internet comprising the steps of:

(a) embedding a CPIR-enabling Serviet tag within the HTML-code of a consumer product advertisement served from an Web-based information server operably connected to an information network,

wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is associated with a CPIR-enabling Servlet stored on an Internet-enabled information server operably connected to said information network, and encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) identifying a particular consumer product;

(b) selecting said CPIR-enabling, whereupon (1) the CPIR-enabling Servlet is automatically executed, (2) a search is conducted against a UPN/URL database, and (3) the information results from said search are automatically displayed in an independent graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on an Internet-enabled client computer,

wherein said displayed information results comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more EC-enabled stores or on-line catalogs on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which the consumer product identified by the encoded UPN can be purchased and delivered to a particular address in physical space.

4. A system for purchasing a consumer product over the Internet comprising:

an Web-based information server operably connected to an information network, for serving a consumer product advertisement having HTML code, within which a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is embedded;

an Internet-enabled information server for storing a CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag, and encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) identifying a particular consumer product;

an Internet-enabled client computer for displaying said consumer product advertisement in which said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is embedded, and selectable as by a clicking operation so that said CPIR-enabling the CPIR-enabling Servlet is automatically executed, and a search is conducted against a UPN/URL database, and the information results from said search are automatically displayed in an independent graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on said Internet-enabled client computer,

wherein said displayed information results comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more EC-enabled stores or on-line catalogs on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which the consumer product identified by the encoded UPN can be purchased and delivered to a particular address in physical space.

5. A cyber-kiosk launchable from a predefined point of presence along the HTML fabric of the World Wide Web (WWW), said cyber-kiosk comprising:

a consumer product information requesting (CPIR) enabling Servlet code stored on an Internet-enabled information server operably connected to an information network, and encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) identifying a particular consumer product; and

a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag, and being embedded within Web-based document located at a predefined point of presence along the HTML fabric of the WWW;

wherein said Web-based document is served from a Web-based information server operably connected to said information network;

wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag selectable by a consumer by way of a clicking operation so that said CPIR-enabling the CPIR-enabling Servlet is automatically executed, and a search is conducted against a UPN/URL database, and the information results from said search are automatically displayed in an independent graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on said Internet-enabled client computer, and

wherein said displayed information results comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources the WWW, at which brand-related information about the consumer product identified by the encoded UPN can be accessed, displayed and reviewed by the consumer.

6. An Internet-based electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping system comprising:

an Internet information server connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and supporting the hypertext transmission protocol (http);

a Web-enabled client subsystem connected to the infrastructure of the Internet; and

an EC-enabled WWW site comprising a plurality of interlinked HTML-encoded documents arranged and rendered to provide an electronic store environment for a consumer when served to said Web-enabled client subsystem,

wherein said electronic store environment presenting a plurality of products for purchase and sale by an EC-enabled payment method supported over the Internet,

wherein a consumer product information requesting (CPR) enabling Servlet tag, associated with each said product, is embedded within at least one of said HTML-encoded documents displayed on said Web-enabled client subsystem, and each said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag being associated with a CPIR-enabling Servlet encoded with a universal product number (UPN) assigned to one said product, and

whereby, when the consumer selects one said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag, the associated CPIR-enabling Serviet is automatically executed, enabling a search to be conducted against a product information database hosted on an Internet database server connected to the Internet, and the results from the search displayed in a GUI served to said Web-enabled client subsystem.

7. An Intemet-based method of electronic commerce (EC) enabled shopping comprising the steps of:

(a) operating an Internet information server connected to the infrastructure of the Internet and supporting the hypertext transmission protocol (http);

(b) operating a Web-enabled client subsystem connected to the infrastructure of the Internet;

(c) serving from said Internet information server, an EC-enabled WWW site comprising a plurality of interlinked HTML-encoded documents arranged and rendered to provide an electronic store environment for a consumer when served to said Web-enabled client subsystem,

wherein said electronic store environment presents a plurality of products for purchase and sale by an EC-enabled payment method supported over the Internet and

wherein a consumer product information requesting (CPIR) enabling tag, associated with each said product, is embedded within at least one of said HTML-encoded documents displayed on said Web-enabled client subsystem, and each said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag being associated with a CPIR-enabling Servlet encoded with a universal product number (UPN) assigned to one said product;

(d) selecting one said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag in one of said HTML-encoded documents, and executing the associated CPIR-enabling Servlet so as to automatically enable a search to be conducted against a product information database hosted on an Internet database server connected to the Internet, and the results from the search displayed in a GUI served to said Web-enabled client subsystem.

8. A method of accessing consumer product related information at points within HTML-encoded documents, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing on a first Internet-based information server connected to an information network, a Consumer Product Information Request (CPTR) enabling Serviet encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;

(b) embedding a CPIR-enabling Serviet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet within the HTML code of a Web page served from a second Internet-based information server;

(c) displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUT) running on a client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;

(d) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate said CPIR-enabling Serviet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag to execute on said information network, and a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Internet-enabled database server; and

(e) in response to said request, automatically displaying on said Web-browser enabled GUI, information links retrieved from said Intemet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

9. The Internet-based consumer product information method of claim 8, wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded within HTML-encoded documents associated with EC-enabled stores, catalogs, Internet-based product advertisements, on-line auction sites, and other locations on the WWW where consumer product related information is desired or required without leaving the point of presence on the WWW at which the consumer resides.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said one or more URLs comprise a manufacturer-defmed menu of categorized URLs pointing to product-related Web-documents.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said information network is the Internet, and the consumer initiating the execution of said CPIR-enabling Serviet may be anyone desiring or requiring consumer product related information while interacting with the communication medium provided by the Internet and its supported technologies.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded within an object selected from the group consisting of a thumb-nail picture, an arbitrary graphical object, a predesignated CPIR-indicating icon, and a hypertext-type link associated with the particular consumer product identified by the UPN, so as to enable the consumer to produce a CPID-enabling GUI upon selecting the tag of said CPIR-enabling Servlet embedded in an HTML-encoded document on the WWW.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein prior to step (b) licensed users can download CPIR-enabling Serviet tags from a Web-based CPIR-Enabling Serviet Library Server to an Internet-enabled client computer for eventual insertion within the HTML code of a particular Web-document to be published on the Internet in accordance with the licensing arrangement between the contracting parties.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein CPIR-enabling GUTI enabled by the executed CPIR-enabling Servlet can function as consumer product information (CPI) serving virtual kiosk that can be installed at virtually location in Cyberspace for the convenience of consumers residing therewithin without disturbing their point of presence.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said CPIR-enablig GUI is enabled by an executed CPIR-enabling Java Servlet.

16. A system for accessing consumer product related information at points within HTML-encoded documents, said system comprising:

a first Intemet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;

a second Internet-based information server operably connected to said information network, for serving a Web page having HTML code, within which a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded;

an Internet-enabled database server operably connected to said information network, for containing information on the consumer product identified by said UPN, and serving said information to an Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for said information made by said Internet-enabled client computer;

an Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer, said Intemet-enabled client computer having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlt tag embedded therein;

wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page,

(1) said CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information on the consumer product identified by said UPN is automatically carried out against said Internet-enabled database server; and

(2) in response to said request, said Web-brower enabled GUI automatically displays the information retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded within HTML-encoded documents associated with EC-enabled stores, catalogs, Internet-based product advertisements, on-line auction sites, and other locations on the WWW where consumer product related information is desired or required without leaving the point of presence on the WWW at which the consumer resides.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said one or more URLs comprise a rnanufacturer-defined menu of categorized URLs pointing to product-related Web-documents.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said information network is the Internet, and the consumer initiating the execution of said CPIR-enabling Servlet may be anyone desiring or requiring consumer product related information while interacting with the communication medium provided by the Internet and its supported technologies.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded within an object selected from the group consisting of athumb-nail picture, an arbitrary graphical object, a predesignated CPIR-indicating icon, and a hypertext-type link associated with the particular consumer product identified by the UPN, so as to enable the consumer to produce a CPID-enabling GUI upon selecting the tag of said CPIR-enabling Servlet embedded in an HTML-encoded document on the WWW.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein licensed users can download CPIR-enabling Serviet tags from a Web-based CPIR-Enabling Serviet Library Server to a client computer for eventual insertion within the HTML code of a particular Web-document to be published on the Internet in accordance with the licensing arrangement between the contracting parties.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the CPIR-enabling GUl enabled by the executed CPIR-enabling Servlet can function as consumer product information (CPI) serving virtual kiosk that can be installed at virtually location in Cyberspace for the convenience of consumers residing therewithin without disturbing their point of presence.

23. An Internet-based Consumer product information search and delivery method, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) for each consumer product registered within a UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network, and identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN) automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with said UPN;

(b) storing on a first Interniet-based information server connected to an information network, each said Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with the Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;

(c) embedding a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with one of said CPIR-enabling Servlets, within the HTML code of a Web page served from a second Internet-based information server;

(d) displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) running on a client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;

(e) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Serviet tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate said CPIR-enabling Serviet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag to execute on said information network, and a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Intemet-enabled database server; and

(f) in response to said request, automatically displaying on said Web-browser enabled GUI, information retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

24. An Internet-based consumer product information search and delivery system, said system comprising:

a subsystem for automatically generating, for each consumer product registered within a UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network and identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with said UPN;

a first Intemet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Serviet encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;

a second Intemet-based information server operably connected to said information network, for serving a Web page having HTML code, within which a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet is embedded;

an Internet-enabled database server operably connected to said information network, for containing information on the consumer product identified by said UPN, and selving said information to an Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for said information made by said Internet-enabled client computer;

an Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer, said Internet-enabled client computer having a Web browser program for producing a Web-broxvser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein;

wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page,

(1) said CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN is automatically carried out against said Internet-enabled database server; and

(2) in response to said request, said (Web-brower) Web-browser enabled GUI automatically displays the information links retrieved from said Intemet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

25. An Internet-based consumer product information search and delivery method, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) for each consumer product registered within a UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network, and identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN) automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with said UPN;

(b) storing on a first Inteenet-based information server connected to an information network, each said Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with the Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;

(c) for each said consumer product, displaying a CPIR-enabling Servlet tag associated with one of said CPIR-enabling Serviets;

(d) selecting one of said CPIR-enabling Servlet tags, and downloading said selected CPIR-enabling Servlet tag to first Internet-enabled client computer;

(e) embedding the downloaded CPIR-enabling Serviet tag within the HTML code of a Web page served from a second intemet-based information server;

(f) displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Serviet tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) running on a second Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;

(g) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Serviet tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate said CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Serviet tag to execute on said information network, and a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Internet-enabled database server; and

(h) in response to said request, automatically displaying on said Web-browser enabled GUI, infomiation links retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

26. The Internet-based consumer product information search and delivery method of claim 25, wherein said one or more URLs have been specified by the manufacturer of the consumer product identified by said UPN and/or an agent thereof.

27. An Internet-based consumer product information search and delivery system, said system comprises:

a subsystem for automatically generating, for each consumer product registered within a UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network and identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with said UPN;

a first Internet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Servlet encoded with the UPN of a consumer product;

a Web-based information server operably connected to the information network, for displaying a CPIR-enabling Serviet tag generated for each one of said CPTR-enabling Serviets;

a first Internet-enabled client computer for browsing said CPIR-enabling Servlet tags displayed from Web-based information server, and for selecting one of said CPIR-enabling Servlet tags and downloading said selected CPIR-enabling Servlet tag to said first Internet-enabled client computer;

a second Internet-based information server operably connected to said information network, for serving a Web page having HTML code, within which said downloaded CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is embedded;

an Internet-enabled database server operably connected to said information network, for containing information on the consumer product identified by said UPN, and serving said information to a second Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for said information made by said second Internet-enabled client computer;

an Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer, said internet-enabled client computer having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag embedded therein;

wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPTR-enabling Servlet tag embedded within said Web page,

(1) said CPIR-enabling Servlet associated with said CPIR-enabling Servlet tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN is automatically carried out against said Intemet-enabled database server; and

(2) in response to said request, said Web-browser enabled GUI automatically displays the information links retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;

wherein said displayed information links comprise one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the WWW, at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

28. The Intemet-based consumer product information search and delivery system of claim 27, wherein said one or more URLs have been specified by the manufacturer of the consumer product identified by said UPN and/or an agent thereof.