US5978773A — System and method for using an ordinary article o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host adapted for network communication; and a first network containing a plurality of nodes, each having an assigned network address; said network being operatively coupled to said local host for allowing communication between said local host and that one of said nodes whose assigned network address corresponds to the network address provided by said database.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 177 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host adapted for network communication; and a first network containing a plurality of nodes, each having an assigned network address; said network being operatively coupled to said local host for allowing communication between said local host and that one of said nodes whose assigned network address corresponds to the network address provided by said database.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1 where said machine-readable indicia is a bar code, and wherein said input device includes a bar code reader.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 2 where said identification number is at least a portion of a Universal Product Code.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 2 wherein said identification number is at least a portion of a EAN code.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia includes human-readable elements, and wherein said input device includes a keyboard for manually entering said identification number.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said local host is a multi-user computer with a plurality of user terminals.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said local host is a single-user computer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a server, wherein said local host computer is remotely connected to said server and wherein said database is resident on said server.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said communication between said local host and said one of said nodes is carried through said server.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said database is resident on said local host.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said database is resident on one of said nodes that is remote from said local host.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 181 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to generate the network address of a computer on a network, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal corresponding to an article identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce in accordance with a standard that specifies the length of the identification number; (b) a database having a plurality of identification numbers including said article identification number and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and (c) control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which correspond to said article identification number; further comprising a local host in communication with said database to receive the network address provided by said database; further comprising a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said local host is adapted for communicating with one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 181 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to generate the network address of a computer on a network, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal corresponding to an article identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce in accordance with a standard that specifies the length of the identification number; (b) a database having a plurality of identification numbers including said article identification number and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and (c) control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which correspond to said article identification number; further comprising a local host in communication with said database to receive the network address provided by said database; further comprising a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said local host is adapted for communicating with one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said identification numbers are Universal Product Codes.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said network addresses are Uniform Resource Locators.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a remote host adapted for network communication, wherein said reader for generating said signal is resident on said local host, and said database is resident on said remote host.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said identification numbers are EAN codes.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for generating said signal includes a bar code scanner.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for generating said signal includes a keyboard.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said local host is a multi-user computer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said local host is a single-user computer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for generating said signal is coupled to said local host so that said signal is communicated to said database through said local host.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 218 words

In an apparatus comprising means for generating a signal corresponding to a product identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce bearing an indicia on which said product identification number is encoded in accordance with an extrinsic standard that specifies the length of the identification number; a computer database having a plurality of identification numbers including said product identification number, and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said product identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which corresponds to said product identification number; a method for generating the address of a node on the network, comprising the steps of: (a) associating in computer memory at least a portion of a product identification number with the node's network address; said identification number having recognized significance in accordance with an extrinsic standard as a number identifying an article of commerce; (b) providing an article of commerce bearing an indicia on which said identification number is encoded; (c) reading at least a portion of said identification number from said indicia; and (d) retrieving from said computer memory the network address associated therein with said product identification number.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 218 words

In an apparatus comprising means for generating a signal corresponding to a product identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce bearing an indicia on which said product identification number is encoded in accordance with an extrinsic standard that specifies the length of the identification number; a computer database having a plurality of identification numbers including said product identification number, and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said product identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which corresponds to said product identification number; a method for generating the address of a node on the network, comprising the steps of: (a) associating in computer memory at least a portion of a product identification number with the node's network address; said identification number having recognized significance in accordance with an extrinsic standard as a number identifying an article of commerce; (b) providing an article of commerce bearing an indicia on which said identification number is encoded; (c) reading at least a portion of said identification number from said indicia; and (d) retrieving from said computer memory the network address associated therein with said product identification number.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein said identification number is a Universal Product Code.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method according to claim 22 where said network address is a Uniform Resource Locator.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein said indicia is encoded in machine-readable format.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 22 where said indicia is encoded in human-readable format.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein said step of reading is performed using a bar code reader.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein said step of reading is performed by a human reading said indicia and entering said identification number using a keyboard.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein the database has one or more tables containing said identification number and said network address.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method according to claim 29 wherein said tables are distributed over a plurality of computers.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method according to claim 29 wherein said tables are resident on a single computer.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method according to claim 22 wherein said identification number is an EAN code.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 179 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host in communication with said database to receive the network address provided by said database; further comprising a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said local host is adapted for communicating with a selected one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 179 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host in communication with said database to receive the network address provided by said database; further comprising a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said local host is adapted for communicating with a selected one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for generating said signal is coupled to said local host so that said signal is communicated to said database through said local host.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 183 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host operatively coupled to said means for generating a signal; a server operatively coupled to said local host and said database; and a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said server is adapted for communicating with a selected one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 183 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to access a remote computer, comprising: (a) a machine-readable indicia associated with the article of commerce, said indicia encoding at least one of a plurality of identification numbers, said encoded identification number corresponding to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard; (b) an input device generating a signal corresponding to said encoded identification number; and (c) a database containing a plurality of network addresses and said plurality of identification numbers, each of said identification numbers being associated with at least one of said plurality of network addresses; said database being responsive to said signal for providing one of said network addresses which is associated with said encoded identification number; further comprising a local host operatively coupled to said means for generating a signal; a server operatively coupled to said local host and said database; and a network including a plurality of nodes, each associated with one of said plurality of network addresses; wherein said server is adapted for communicating with a selected one of said nodes using said network address generated by said database.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to generate the network address of a computer on a network, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal corresponding to an article identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce in accordance with a standard that specifies the length of the identification number; (b) a database having a plurality of identification numbers including said article identification number and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and (c) control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which correspond to said article identification number; further comprising: (d) a first network containing a plurality of nodes, each corresponding to one of said network addresses; (e) a local host in communication with said network and said control means and adapted for communication with that one of said nodes corresponding to the network address retrieved by said control means.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for using an article of commerce to generate the network address of a computer on a network, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal corresponding to an article identification number which is used to identify the article of commerce in accordance with a standard that specifies the length of the identification number; (b) a database having a plurality of identification numbers including said article identification number and a plurality of network addresses, and associating each of said identification numbers with at least one of said network addresses; and (c) control means responsive to said signal and operatively coupled to said database for retrieving from said database at least one of said network addresses which correspond to said article identification number; further comprising: (d) a first network containing a plurality of nodes, each corresponding to one of said network addresses; (e) a local host in communication with said network and said control means and adapted for communication with that one of said nodes corresponding to the network address retrieved by said control means.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said local host is a multi-user computer with a plurality of user terminals.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said local host is a single-user computer.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 36 further comprising a server, wherein said local host computer is remotely connected to said server and said database is resident on said server.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said communication between said local host and said one of said nodes is carried through said server.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said database is resident on said local host.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-01	2003-05-03	2003-11-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-01	2007-05-03	2007-11-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-01	2011-05-03	2011-11-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for using an ordinary article of commerce to access a remote computer

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