US5804803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for retrieving information using data encoded on an object
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-04-02
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Granted: 1998-09-08
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Expires: 2016-04-02
Abstract
Abstract A client computer with a scanner capable of scanning objects for a code. The client computer scans the object of interest and translates the code into a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that specifies both a server computer and the location within the server of information that is relevant to the object. The client computer transmits the URL to the server computer, receives the information related to the object from the server computer, and communicates the information to the customer.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian John Cragun
- 👤 Wayne Jay Rothschild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0022; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9554; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method in a client computer system for retrieving a document, comprising the machine executed steps of: scanning data encoded on an object; creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from said scanned encoded data, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to said client computer system via a network and a location of said document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating step further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; transmitting said URL to said first server; and receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method in a client computer system for retrieving a document, comprising the machine executed steps of: scanning data encoded on an object; creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from said scanned encoded data, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to said client computer system via a network and a location of said document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating step further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; transmitting said URL to said first server; and receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said client computer system and said second server are the same computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said client computer system and said second server are different computer systems and said client computer system is connected to said second server via said network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said encoded data is encoded on said object as a bar code.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step further comprises using said scanned encoded data as a key into a database located in said second server, wherein said database contains said URL.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said substituted values further comprise at least one of the following: a language preference, a user age, and a user name.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said substituted values are calculated from a formula contained in said customer data record.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus in a client computer system for retrieving a document, comprising: means for scanning data encoded on an object; means for creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from said scanned encoded data, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to said client computer system via a network and a location of said document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating means further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; means for transmitting said URL to said first server; and means for receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus in a client computer system for retrieving a document, comprising: means for scanning data encoded on an object; means for creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from said scanned encoded data, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to said client computer system via a network and a location of said document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating means further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; means for transmitting said URL to said first server; and means for receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said client computer system and said second server are the same computer system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said client computer system and said second server are different computer systems and said client computer system is connected to said second server via said network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said encoded data is encoded on said object as a bar code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said creating means further comprises using said scanned encoded data as a key into a database located in said second server, wherein said database contains said URL.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said substituted values further comprise at least one of the following: a language preference, a customer age, and a customer name.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said substituted values are calculated from a formula contained in said customer data record.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
149 words
A program product, comprising: means for creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from encoded data scanned from an object, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to a client computer system via a network and a location of a document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating means further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; means for transmitting said URL to said first server; means for receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object; and signal bearing media bearing said scanning means, said transmitting means, and said receiving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
149 words
A program product, comprising: means for creating a uniform resource locator (URL) from encoded data scanned from an object, wherein said URL identifies a first server connected to a client computer system via a network and a location of a document on said first server, and wherein said URL is created from information retrieved from a second server using said scanned encoded data as a key into said information and wherein said creating means further comprises creating said URL by substituting values into said scanned encoded data from a customer data record wherein said customer data record is retrieved to said client computer system from said second server; means for transmitting said URL to said first server; means for receiving said document from said first server wherein said document is different from said object; and signal bearing media bearing said scanning means, said transmitting means, and said receiving means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The program product of claim 15 wherein said client computer system and said second server are the same computer system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The program product of claim 15 wherein said client computer system and said second server are different computer systems and said client computer system is connected to said second server via said network.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The program product of claim 15 wherein said encoded data is encoded on said object as a bar code.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The program product of claim 15, wherein said creating means further comprises using said scanned encoded data as a key into a database located in said second server, wherein said database contains said URL.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The program product of claim 15 wherein said substituted values further comprise at least one of the following: a language preference, a customer age, and a customer name.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The program product of claim 15 wherein said substituted values are calculated from a formula contained in said customer data record.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-07 | 2002-03-09 | 2002-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-07 | 2006-03-09 | 2006-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-07 | 2010-03-09 | 2010-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |