Method using database for facilitating computer based access to a location on a network after scanning a barcode disposed on a product

• US 7,424,521 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack A. Turpin, RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: LV Partners LP (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Philyaw, Jeffry Jovan, Mathews, David Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): LUU, LE HIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/382,421
• Time in Patent Office: 3,304 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/427.01, 705/26, 705/20, 709/217, 709/219, 709/238
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

A visual indicia for facilitating computer based access of a network by consumer. A machine readable code is disposed on a surface having encoded therein information as to a product or a surface, which machine readable code has no routing information contained therein to allow a user to access any location on a network. A visual indicia is disposed on the surface indicative of a relationship between the machine readable code and the presence of a location on a network. This allows this location on the network can be accessed by a computer having an appropriate input device for reading the machine readable code, such that reading of the machine readable code by the input device will connect the computer to the location.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating computer based access to a location on a network by a consumer utilizing a product having information disposed thereon, the method comprising:

scanning a machine readable code disposed on a surface of the product, wherein the machine readable code has encoded therein information related to the product, which the product is provided by a product manufacturer, and which the machine readable code is physically associated with the product itself, which the machine readable code has no routing information contained therein to allow the consumer to access any location on a network, and which the machine readable code has a relationship to the product or service unrelated to routing information;

accessing a relational database after scanning the machine readable code, wherein the machine readable code being a part of the relational database that associates the machine readable code with a defined location on the network, wherein the relational database is associated with a routing system that facilitates connection to the defined location on the network; and

connecting to the defined location on the network by a computer indicated by a visual indicia, wherein the visual indicia disposed on the product having no apparent relationship to the machine readable code or to the defined location disposed on the surface in a predetermined proximate visual orientation to the machine readable code and the visual indicia associated only with the routing system and not with the product manufacturer, such that the machine readable code and the visual indicia together form a defined composite visual appearance, indicative of a relationship between the machine readable code and the presence of a location on a network that will use the routing system for connection to the defined location and that such location on the network can be accessed by the computer having an appropriate input device for reading the machine readable code, such that reading of the machine readable code by the input device will cause the routing system to connect the computer to the defined location, and wherein the visual indicia indicates only that scanning of the machine readable code will cause computer based access to the defined location on the network by the routing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said visual indicia is not machine readable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said machine readable code represents a product.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said machine readable code is disposed directly on a product.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said machine readable code is disposed in close association with said product.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said machine readable code is a UPN.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the machine readable code is an ISBN.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the machine readable code is an EAN.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device for reading said machine readable code is a scanner.