US5995976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for distributing supplemental information related to printed articles
Assignee: Walker Asset Management LP
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Filing: 1996-10-11
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Granted: 1999-11-30
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Expires: 2016-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A method for readers of standard-length articles in magazines, newspapers, or similar printed media to purchase supplemental information on portions of information in the articles from publishers that print the articles, operators of electronic databases containing the supplemental information, or third party intermediaries handling requests for supplemental information. Embedded in the midst of the printed articles is a code that is physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in the printed article. A reader may use the code to indicate further interest in supplemental information located in an electronic database, and to select a method of delivery whereby the supplemental information in the database can be delivered the reader.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 T. Scott Case
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 20:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9554; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing standard-length printed articles intended to inform a reader; embedding in the midst of at least one of said printed articles a code; said code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said printed article; providing an electronic database containing supplemental information about said limited portion of information in said article; providing means by which said reader can use said code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and permitting said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing standard-length printed articles intended to inform a reader; embedding in the midst of at least one of said printed articles a code; said code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said printed article; providing an electronic database containing supplemental information about said limited portion of information in said article; providing means by which said reader can use said code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and permitting said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing standard-length printed articles includes the substep of: printing one of a newspaper, magazine, or similar printed media.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus comprising: an electronic database containing supplemental information corresponding to limited portions of information in printed articles, at least one of said printed articles being embedded with a code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said printed article and for which said electronic database contains supplemental information; indicating means configured to permit a reader to use said code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and selection means configured to permit said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
98 words
An apparatus comprising: an electronic database containing supplemental information corresponding to limited portions of information in printed articles, at least one of said printed articles being embedded with a code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said printed article and for which said electronic database contains supplemental information; indicating means configured to permit a reader to use said code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and selection means configured to permit said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing standard-length printed articles intended to inform a reader; embedding in the midst of at least one of said articles a code; said code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said article; and providing written instructions associated with said article which permit said reader to access a remote electronic database containing supplemental information relating to said limited portion of information in said article, utilize said code to indicate further interest directly in said supplemental information, and select a method of delivering said supplemental information in said database to said reader.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing standard-length printed articles intended to inform a reader; embedding in the midst of at least one of said articles a code; said code physically positioned to identify a limited portion of information in said article; and providing written instructions associated with said article which permit said reader to access a remote electronic database containing supplemental information relating to said limited portion of information in said article, utilize said code to indicate further interest directly in said supplemental information, and select a method of delivering said supplemental information in said database to said reader.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of providing standard-length printed articles includes the substep of: printing one of a newspaper, magazine, or similar printed media.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: receiving from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; utilizing said code to identify a portion of an electronic database containing supplemental information about said article; providing to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating delivery of said supplemental information from said electronic database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of a method of delivery.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: receiving from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; utilizing said code to identify a portion of an electronic database containing supplemental information about said article; providing to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating delivery of said supplemental information from said electronic database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of a method of delivery.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: updating an account balance for the reader to reflect the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: billing the reader for the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of: notifying a third party to bill the reader for the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; an identifier configured to permit said reader to utilize said code to identify a portion of an electronic database containing supplemental information about said article; delivery selection means configured to provide said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating means configured to initiate delivery of said supplemental information from said electronic database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of a method of delivery.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; an identifier configured to permit said reader to utilize said code to identify a portion of an electronic database containing supplemental information about said article; delivery selection means configured to provide said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating means configured to initiate delivery of said supplemental information from said electronic database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of a method of delivery.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: receiving from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; contacting a remote electronic database; utilizing said code to identify a portion of said remote electronic database containing supplemental information to said article; providing to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating delivery of said supplemental information from said remote database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of method of delivery.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: receiving from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; contacting a remote electronic database; utilizing said code to identify a portion of said remote electronic database containing supplemental information to said article; providing to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and initiating delivery of said supplemental information from said remote database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of method of delivery.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: updating an account balance for the reader to reflect the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: billing the reader for the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: notifying a third party to bill the reader for the delivery of said supplemental information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; contacting means configured to contact a remote electronic database; an identifier configured to utilize said code to identify a portion of said remote electronic database containing supplemental information to said article; selection means configured to provide to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and delivery means configured to initiate delivery of said supplemental information from said remote database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of method of delivery.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive from a reader a code, said code indicating a limited portion of information in an otherwise standard-length printed article, said article intended to inform the reader; contacting means configured to contact a remote electronic database; an identifier configured to utilize said code to identify a portion of said remote electronic database containing supplemental information to said article; selection means configured to provide to said reader a selection of methods of delivery of said supplemental information to said reader; and delivery means configured to initiate delivery of said supplemental information from said remote database to said reader in accordance with said reader's selection of method of delivery.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of distributing supplemental information corresponding to a printed article intended to inform a reader, comprising the steps of: receiving from the reader a request identifying a code in the printed article, the code physically positioned in the printed article to indicate the existence of supplemental information related to a limited portion of information in the printed article; receiving from the reader a selected method of delivery; retrieving from storage the supplemental information corresponding to the code; sending the retrieved information to the reader in accordance with the selected method of delivery.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of distributing supplemental information corresponding to a printed article intended to inform a reader, comprising the steps of: receiving from the reader a request identifying a code in the printed article, the code physically positioned in the printed article to indicate the existence of supplemental information related to a limited portion of information in the printed article; receiving from the reader a selected method of delivery; retrieving from storage the supplemental information corresponding to the code; sending the retrieved information to the reader in accordance with the selected method of delivery.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the sending step includes the substep of: transmitting the retrieved supplemental information as an E-mail response.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the sending step includes the substep of: transmitting the retrieved information via facsimile.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16, further including the step of: generating a bill for the retrieved information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the bill generating step includes the substep of: receiving credit card information from the reader.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the bill generating step includes the substep of: using a telephone system billing number.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving step includes the substep of: obtaining in the request an identification of an output device; and wherein the sending step includes the substep of: transmitting the supplemental information to the output device identified in the request.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the sending step includes the substep of: transmitting an error notification when no supplemental information corresponding to the request can be retrieved from storage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving step includes the substep of; obtaining a numeric identifier embedded in the printed article and distinguishable from the remainder of the article.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving step includes the substep of: obtaining an identifier corresponding to the printed article and a location of the identified portion within the printed article.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the receiving step includes the substep of: obtaining an identification for the identified portion of the printed article, the identified portion represented by an altered appearance within the printed article.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the retrieving step includes the substep of: decoding the code to identify a location of the supplemental information.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for distributing supplemental information corresponding to a printed article intended to inform a reader comprising: a receiver configured to receive from the reader (i) a request identifying a code in the printed article, the code physically positioned in the printed article to indicate the existence of supplemental information related to a limited portion of information in the printed article and (ii) a selected method of delivery; retrieving means configured to retrieve from storage the supplemental information corresponding to the code; sending means configured to send the retrieved information to the reader in accordance with the selected method of delivery.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for distributing supplemental information corresponding to a printed article intended to inform a reader comprising: a receiver configured to receive from the reader (i) a request identifying a code in the printed article, the code physically positioned in the printed article to indicate the existence of supplemental information related to a limited portion of information in the printed article and (ii) a selected method of delivery; retrieving means configured to retrieve from storage the supplemental information corresponding to the code; sending means configured to send the retrieved information to the reader in accordance with the selected method of delivery.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the sending means includes: a transmitter configured to transmit the retrieved supplemental information as an E-mail response.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the sending means includes: a transmitter configured to transmit the retrieved information via facsimile.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising: a bill generator configured to generate a bill for the retrieved information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the bill generator includes: a receiver configured to receive credit card information from the reader.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the receiver includes: obtaining means configured to receive in the request an identification of an output device; and wherein the sending means includes: a transmitter configured to transmit the supplemental information to the output device identified in the request.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the sending means includes: a transmitter configured to transmit an error notification when no supplemental information corresponding to the request can be retrieved from storage.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the receiver includes: obtaining means configured to receive a numeric identifier embedded in the printed article and distinguishable from the remainder of the article.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the receiver includes: obtaining means configured to receive an identifier corresponding to the printed article and a location of the identified portion within the printed article.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the receiver includes: obtaining means configured to receive an identification for the identified portion of the printed article, the identified portion represented by an altered appearance within the printed article.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the retrieving means includes: a decoder configured to decode the code to identify a location of the supplemental information.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing to said reader means to identify a location code associated with a limited portion of information physically positioned in the midst of at least one article; providing an electronic database containing supplemental information about said limited portion of information in said article; providing means by which said reader can use said location code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and permitting said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for providing supplemental information to readers, comprising the steps of: providing to said reader means to identify a location code associated with a limited portion of information physically positioned in the midst of at least one article; providing an electronic database containing supplemental information about said limited portion of information in said article; providing means by which said reader can use said location code to indicate further interest in said supplemental information; and permitting said reader to select a method of delivery whereby said supplemental information in said database can be delivered to said reader.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-29 | 2003-05-31 | 2003-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-29 | 2007-05-31 | 2007-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-29 | 2011-05-31 | 2011-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |