Method of and system for enabling access to 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-encorded documents

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

• a first Internet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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;
• and
• an Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network, accessible by a consumer and having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded therein;
• wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page,
• (1) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generates a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying the information retrieved from said Internet-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.

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

• (a) embedding a CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag is associated with a CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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;
• and
• (b) selecting said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag, whereupon (1) the CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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.

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

• a Web-based information server operably connected to an information network, for serving a consumer product advertisement having HTML code, within which a CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag is embedded;
• and
• an Internet-enabled information server for storing a CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag is embedded, and selectable by a clicking operation so that said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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.

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 Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component, and being embedded within a 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, and displayed on an Internet-enabled client computer;
• wherein said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag is selectable by a consumer by way of a clicking operation so that said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which brand-related information about the consumer product identified by the encoded UPN can be accessed, displayed and reviewed by the consumer.

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 Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag being associated with a CPIR-enabling Server-side component encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) assigned to one said product, and
• whereby, when the consumer selects one said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag, the associated CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 graphical user interface (GUI) served to and displayed on said Web-enabled client subsystem.

An Internet-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 Request (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 Server-side component tag being associated with a CPIR-enabling Server-side component encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) assigned to one said product;
• and
• (d) selecting one said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag in one of said HTML-encoded documents, and executing the associated CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 graphical user interface (GUI) served to and display on said Web-enabled client subsystem.

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 (CPIR) enabling Server-side component encoded with a Universal Product Number (UPN) of a consumer product;
• (b) embedding a CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) running on a first Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;
• (d) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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, said CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said first Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying 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 World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

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

• a first Internet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 first Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for said information made by said first Internet-enabled client computer;
• said first Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network, accessible by a consumer, and having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded therein;
• wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page,
• (1) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information links relating to 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 CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generates a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said first Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying information retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;
• wherein said displayed information comprises links based on one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

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

• (a) automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component for each consumer product (1) registered within an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network, and (2) identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), wherein each said CPIR-enabling Server-side component is encoded with the UPN identifying one said consumer product;
• (b) storing on a first Internet-based information server connected to an information network, each said CPIR-enabling Server-side component generated during step (a);
• (c) embedding a CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag associated with one of said CPIR-enabling Server-side components, 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 Server-side component tag embedded therein, on a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) running on a Web-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network and accessible by a consumer;
• (e) said consumer clicking on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate ( 1 ) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag to execute on said information network, and ( 2 ) a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server;
• and
• (f) in response to said request, said CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said Web-enabled client computer, for displaying information retrieved from said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server for access and use by said consumer;
• wherein said displayed information comprises links based on one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

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

• a subsystem for automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component for each consumer product (1) registered within an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network and (2) identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), wherein each said CPIR-enabling Server-side component is encoded with the UPN identifying one said consumer product;
• a first Internet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing a plurality of CPIR-enabling Server-side components encoded with the UPNs identifying a plurality of consumer products registered within said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server;
• 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 Server-side component tag associated with one said CPIR-enabling Server-side component is embedded;
• and
• said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server being operably connected to said information network and containing information relating to each registered consumer product 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;
• said Internet-enabled client computer operably connected to said information network, accessible by a consumer and having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with at least one said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded therein;
• wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page,
• (1) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 UPN/URL database server;
• and
• (2) in response to said request, said CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generates a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying information retrieved from said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server for access and use by said consumer;
• and
• wherein said displayed information comprises links based on one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

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

• (a) for each consumer product (1) registered within an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network and (2) identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component encoded with said UPN;
• (b) storing on a first Internet-based information server connected to an information network, each said CPIR-enabling Server-side component generated during step (a);
• (c) for each said consumer product registered within said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server, displaying on a first Internet-enabled computer, the CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag associated with the CPIR-enabling Server-side component encoded with the UPN of said consumer product;
• (d) selecting one of said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tags displayed during step (c), and downloading said selected CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag to said first Internet-enabled client computer;
• (e) embedding the downloaded CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag within the HTML code of a Web page served from a second Internet-based information server;
• (f) displaying said Web page with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page, so as to automatically initiate (1) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag to execute on said information network, and (2) a request for information links on the consumer product identified by said UPN to be carried out against an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server;
• and
• (h) in response to said request, automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said second Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying information retrieved from said Internet-enabled database server for access and use by said consumer;
• wherein said displayed information comprises links based on one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.

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

• a subsystem for automatically generating a Consumer Product Information Request (CPIR) enabling Server-side component for each consumer product (1) registered within an Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server operably connected to an information network and (2) identified by a Universal Product Number (UPN), wherein each said CPIR-enabling Server-side component is encoded with the UPN identifying one said consumer product;
• a first Internet-based information server operably connected to an information network, for storing one or more said CPIR-enabling Server-side components generated by said subsystem;
• a Web-based information server operably connected to the information network, for displaying a CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag generated for each one of said CPIR-enabling Server-side components;
• a first Internet-enabled client computer for browsing said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tags displayed from said Web-based information server, and for selecting one of said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tags and downloading said selected CPIR-enabling Server-side component 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 Server-side component tag is embedded;
• said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server being operably connected to said information network and containing information relating to each said registered consumer product, and serving said information to a second Internet-enabled client computer in response to a request for information made by said second Internet-enabled client computer;
• and
• said second Internet-enabled client computer being operably connected to said information network, accessible by a consumer, and having a Web browser program for producing a Web-browser enabled graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying said Web page with at least one said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded therein;
• wherein, when said consumer clicks on said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag embedded within said Web page,
• (1) said CPIR-enabling Server-side component associated with said CPIR-enabling Server-side component tag is automatically executed on said information network, and a request for information relating to the consumer product identified by said UPN is automatically carried out against said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server;
• and
• (2) in response to said request, said CPIR-enabling Server-side component automatically generates a Consumer Product Information Display (CPID) enabling graphical user interface (GUI) on said second Internet-enabled client computer, for displaying the information retrieved from said Internet-enabled UPN/URL database server for access and use by said consumer;
• wherein said displayed information comprises links based on one or more Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) pointing to one or more information resources on the World Wide Web (WWW), at which information related to the consumer product identified by said encoded UPN can be accessed and displayed for review and consideration.