Interactive printer provider

A system for providing printed information from a remote computer source, the system including:

• a first data storage device that is connected to a network and stores first information;
• a second data storage device that is connected to the network and stores second information;
• a printer that is connected to the network, the printer being operable to print said first information on a first sheet with both visible and invisible ink such that the first information includes at least one identifier, in invisible ink, representing a request to the printer to retrieve the second information from the second data storage device and to print the second information on a second sheet;
• an interface module that is operatively connected to the printer to permit a user to request the first information from the first data storage device, via the printer, such that the printer generates a first sheet carrying the first information;
• a reader that is connected to the interface module and is configured to read the, or each identifier to generate a request for the second information such that the printer generates the second sheet carrying said second information;
• and
• an account computer that is connected to the network and is responsive to at least one of the module, the first data storage device and the second data storage device for determining a payment to be made by a provider of the second information to a provider of the first information.

A method for providing printed information from a remote source, the method including the steps of:

• interfacing the user with a printer connected to a network, the printer being connected to a first data storage device in which first information is stored and a second data storage device in which second information is stored, both devices being connected to the network;
• generating, with the printer, a first sheet carrying the first information from the first data storage device that includes an identifier printed with invisible ink that represents a request for the second information;
• retrieving, with the printer, the second information from the second data storage device, on receipt of a signal generated on reading the identifier;
• printing the second information on a second sheet;
• and
• calculating a payment to be made by a provider of the second information to a provider of the first information.