System and method for using an ordinary article of commerce to access a remote computer
AssigneeNeoMedia Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFrank C. Hudetz, Peter R. Hudetz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for using identification codes found on ordinary articles of commerce to access remote computers on a network. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a computer is provided having a database that relates Uniform Product Code (“UPC”) numbers to Internet network addresses (or “URLs”). To access an Internet resource relating to a particular product, a user enters the product's UPC symbol manually, by swiping a bar code reader over the UPC symbol, or via other suitable input means. The database retrieves the URL corresponding to the UPC code. This location information is then used to access the desired resource.
Claims25
1-32. (canceled)
A method of providing a user computing device with access to one of a plurality of remote information computers available for communication over a network comprising
- providing a bar code symbol encoded with an index readable by a user computing device for
- transmission of the index by the user computing device to a remote server computer over the network for the remote server computer to
- access with the index a database comprising a plurality of records comprising predetermined relationships that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote information computer on the network,
- extract a pointer from the database as a function of the index, and
- return the pointer to the user computing device over the network
- for the user computing device to use to establish communication directly via the network with the remote information computer identified thereby.
A bar code symbol encoded with an index readable by a user computing device for
- transmission of the index by the user computing device to a remote server computer over the network for the remote server computer to
- access with the index a database comprising a plurality of records comprising predetermined relationships that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote information computer on the network,
- extract a pointer from the database as a function of the index, and
- return the pointer to the user computing device over the network
- for the user computing device to use to establish communication directly via the network with the remote information computer identified thereby.
An article of commerce comprising a bar code symbol encoded with an index readable by a user computing device for
- transmission of the index by the user computing device to a remote server computer over the network for the remote server computer to
- access with the index a database comprising a plurality of records comprising predetermined relationships that link an index to a pointer which identifies a remote information computer on the network,
- extract a pointer from the database as a function of the index, and
- return the pointer to the user computing device over the network
- for the user computing device to use to establish communication directly via the network with the remote information computer identified thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.