System and method for carrying out information-related transactions using Web documents embodying transaction-enabling applets automatically launched and executed in response to reading URL-encoded symbols pointing thereto

An Internet-based system for enabling information-related transactions over the Internet, comprising:

• an HTTP information server connected to the Internet, for storing an HTML-encoded document having a location on the Internet specified by a predetermined URL, said HTTP-encoded document embodying a transaction-enabling Java-Applet which, when executed, enables a user to conduct an information-related transaction over the Internet;
• and
• a transaction-enabling Internet terminal for requesting said HTML-encoded document and executing said transaction-enabling Java-Applet embedded therein, said transaction-enabling Internet terminal including
• a Java-enabled browser program for executing Java-Applets, including said transaction-enabling Java-Applet, embedded within said HTML-encoded document,
• a display screen for visually displaying said HTML-encoded documents,
• a data entry means for entering data into said Java-enabled browser program, and
• a symbol reader, operably connected to said Java-enabled browser program, for scanning a URL-encoded symbol encoded with said predetermined URL, decoding said scanned URL-encoded symbol, producing symbol character data representative of said predetermined URL, and providing said predetermined URL to said Java-enabled browser program for accessing said HTML-encoded document whose location is specified by said predetermined URL,
• wherein, when said URL-encoded symbol is scanned by said code symbol reader, said scanned URL-encoded symbol is automatically decoded, symbol character data representative thereof is automatically produced and provided to said Java-enabled browser program,
• whereupon said Internet browser program automatically accesses said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server in order to execute said transaction-enabling Java-Applet embedded therein and thereby enable the user to conduct said information-related transaction over the Internet at said transaction-enabling Internet terminal.

A method of enabling information-related transactions over the Internet, comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing in an HTTP information server connected to the Internet, an HTML-encoded document having a location on the Internet specified by a predetermined URL, said HTTP-encoded document embodying a transaction-enabling Applet which, when executed, enables a user to conduct an information-related transaction over the Internet;
• (b) providing a transaction-enabling Internet terminal for accessing said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server and executing said transaction-enabling Applet embedded therein, said transaction-enabling Internet terminal including
• an Internet browser program for executing Applets, including said transaction-enabling Applet, embedded within said HTML-encoded document,
• a display screen for visually displaying said HTML-encoded documents,
• a data entry means for entering data into said Internet browser program, and
• a symbol reader, operably connected to said Internet browser program, for scanning a URL-encoded symbol encoded with said predetermined URL, decoding said scanned URL-encoded symbol, producing symbol character data representative of said predetermined URL, and providing said predetermined URL to said Internet browser program for accessing said HTML-encoded document whose location is specified by said predetermined URL;
• (c) reading said URL-encoded symbol using said code symbol reader, whereupon symbol character data representative of said URL-encoded symbol is automatically produced and provided to said Java-enabled browser program, and said Internet browser program automatically accesses said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server in order to execute said transaction-enabling Applet embedded therein and thereby enable the user to conduct said information-related transaction over the Internet at said transaction-enabling Internet terminal.