Method for managing printed medium activated revenue sharing domain name system schemas

• US 6,314,457 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Airclic Inc. (The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schena, Robert J., Anderer, Mike, Ritz, Peter B., Bernstein, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/295,823
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/206, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/224, 709/227, 709/230, 709/250, 709/313, 709/328, 709/329
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A method for bridging the gap between the virtual multimedia-based Internet world and the physical world of tangible object media, such as print media. More particularly, a method for managing a domain name service based on initiating a communication from an object containing provider information using a scanner, a portal server and a receiver connected across a network. The method involves scanning a machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to the provider information from the object using the scanner and storing the machine-readable code in a memory. The link information is then extracted from the machine readable code in the memory. A user input information corresponding to the provider information is also obtained and stored in the memory. The link information and the user input information are then sent to the portal server via the network. The portal server receives the link information and user input information and selects a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information. The multimedia information sequence is then sent to the receiver via the network. The receiver receives and stores the multimedia information sequence plays the sequence automatically or in response to a stimulus, such as a user request.

Claims

1. A method for managing a domain name service based on initiating a communication from an object containing provider information via a network connecting a scanner, a portal server, and a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning a machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to the provider information from the object using the scanner;

storing the machine-readable code in a memory;

extracting the link information from the machine readable code in the memory;

obtaining and storing a user input information corresponding to the provider information in the memory;

sending the link information and the user input information to the portal server via the network;

receiving the link information and the user input information at the portal server;

selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information;

sending the multimedia information sequence to the receiver via the network;

receiving and storing the multimedia information sequence at the receiver;

playing the multimedia information sequence via the receiver; and

tracking, by means of a code tracking module within the portal server, at least one of a link table entry, embedded template calls for interactivity, references to a publisher, a media originator, an ad placement, a date of publication, a dealer, or other provider information, licensing fees corresponding to licensing at least one of the data, a link table entry or a machine readable code to third parties, advertising used in connection with the codes, and demographics or indigraphics corresponding to the use of the codes.

2. A method for managing a domain name service based on initiating a communication from an object containing provider information via a network connecting a scanner, a portal server, and a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning a machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to the provider information from the object using the scanner;

storing the machine-readable code in a memory;

extracting the link information from the machine readable code in the memory;

obtaining and storing a user input information corresponding to the provider information in the memory;

sending the link information and the user input information to the portal server via the network;

receiving the link information and the user input information at the portal server;

selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information;

sending the multimedia information sequence to the receiver via the network;

receiving and storing the multimedia information sequence at the receiver;

playing the multimedia information sequence via the receiver; and

performing, by means of a credit card module within one of the scanner, the receiver, and the portal server, at least one of the steps of;

tracking transactions and corresponding referrals,

accessing electronically credit limits for the transactions,

tracking the size and frequency of purchases and corresponding purchasers, communicating in a two-way manner,

obtaining credit and balance information, and

maintaining transactions.

3. A method for managing a domain name service based on initiating a communication from an object containing provider information via a network connecting a scanner, a portal server, and a receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning a machine-readable code containing a link information corresponding to the provider information from the object using the scanner;

storing the machine-readable code in a memory;

extracting the link information from the machine readable code in the memory;

obtaining and storing a user input information corresponding to the provider information in the memory;

sending the link information and the user input information to the portal server via the network;

receiving the link information and the user input information at the portal server;

selecting a multimedia information sequence corresponding to the link information and the user input information;

sending the multimedia information sequence to the receiver via the network;

receiving and storing the multimedia information sequence at the receiver;

playing the multimedia information sequence via the receiver; and

tracking by the portal server fees corresponding to transactions initiated via a scan whereby everyone along a consumption and distribution food chain gets paid a percentage of the transaction.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the consumption and distribution food chain includes at least one of portal providers, hardware manufacturers, bandwidth carriers, media companies, ad firms, persons placing the ad, stores where the transaction was initiated, information providers, and any other parties facilitating the transaction.