Patent US6032195A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6032195A
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Method, system, and article for navigating an electronic network and performing a task using a destination-specific software agent
Assignee: Hanger Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1998-07-31
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2018-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A method comprises steps of reading (80) an optical code (14) associated with a destination (20) of an electronic network (10), retrieving (92) task information associated with the destination (20) based upon the optical code (14), linking (94) to the destination (20) based upon the optical code (14), and performing (96) a task with the destination (20) using the task information. A system and an article are provided to perform the aforementioned steps.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Reber
- 👤 Cary D. Perttunen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/955; G06F16/9554
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A method comprising the steps of: reading an optical code associated with a destination of an electronic network; retrieving task information associated with the destination based upon the optical code; retrieving, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code; linking to the destination based upon the optical code; and performing a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
79 words
A method comprising the steps of: reading an optical code associated with a destination of an electronic network; retrieving task information associated with the destination based upon the optical code; retrieving, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code; linking to the destination based upon the optical code; and performing a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the optical code comprises a bar code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task information comprises user information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task information comprises transaction information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the task information comprises receiving the task information from a database via the electronic network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of retrieving the task information further comprises communicating a request message to the database, the request message including information based upon the optical code and user identification information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of linking to the destination comprises transmitting an electronic address based upon the optical code and the task information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of creating the electronic address having a prefix based upon the optical code and a suffix based upon the task information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of transmitting a message based upon the task information upon linking to the destination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the task comprises an on-line transaction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of retrieving the at least one software agent comprises retrieving the at least one software agent from a database having a plurality of software agents, each of the software agents being specific to a corresponding one of a plurality of destinations.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of performing the task with the destination comprises: receiving a first message from the destination; using the software agent to process the first message with the task information and to generate a second message; and transmitting the second message to the destination.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A system comprising: an optical code reader to read an optical code associated with a destination of an electronic network; and a network navigation apparatus responsive to the optical code reader to retrieve task information associated with the destination based upon the optical code, to retrieve, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code, to link to the destination based upon the optical code, and to perform a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A system comprising: an optical code reader to read an optical code associated with a destination of an electronic network; and a network navigation apparatus responsive to the optical code reader to retrieve task information associated with the destination based upon the optical code, to retrieve, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code, to link to the destination based upon the optical code, and to perform a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the optical code reader comprises a bar code reader.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the task information comprises user information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the task information comprises transaction information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the network access apparatus retrieves the task information from a database via the electronic network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the network access apparatus retrieves the task information by communicating a request message to the database, the request message including information based upon the optical code and user identification information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the network access apparatus links to the destination by transmitting an electronic address based upon the optical code and the task information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the network access apparatus creates the electronic address having a prefix based upon the optical code and a suffix based upon the task information.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 19 wherein the network access apparatus transmits a message based upon the task information upon linking to the destination.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the task comprises an on-line transaction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the network access apparatus comprises a computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the network access apparatus retrieves the at least one software agent from a database having a plurality of software agents, each of the software agents being specific to a corresponding one of a plurality of destinations.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 24 wherein the network access apparatus is to perform the task with the destination by receiving a first message from the destination, using the software agent to process the first message with the task information and to generate a second message, and transmitting the second message to the destination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
96 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer-readable storage medium; and computer-readable data stored by the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable data to direct a network navigation apparatus to retrieve task information associated with a destination of an electronic network based upon an optically-read code, to retrieve, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code, to link to the destination based upon the optically-read code, and to perform a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
An article of manufacture comprising: a computer-readable storage medium; and computer-readable data stored by the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable data to direct a network navigation apparatus to retrieve task information associated with a destination of an electronic network based upon an optically-read code, to retrieve, from a location remote from the destination, at least one software agent specific to the destination based upon the optical code, to link to the destination based upon the optically-read code, and to perform a task with the destination using the task information and the at least one software agent.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
130 words
A method comprising the steps of: reading a bar code associated with a destination of an electronic network; retrieving a software agent and task information specific to the destination based upon the bar code, the task information including user information and transaction information, the software agent and the task information retrieved from a database via the electronic network, the database remotely located from the destination, the database having a plurality of software agents, each of the software agents being specific to a corresponding one of a plurality of destinations; creating an electronic address having a prefix based upon the bar code and a suffix based upon the task information; linking to the destination based upon the electronic address; and performing an on-line transaction with the destination using the software agent.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
130 words
A method comprising the steps of: reading a bar code associated with a destination of an electronic network; retrieving a software agent and task information specific to the destination based upon the bar code, the task information including user information and transaction information, the software agent and the task information retrieved from a database via the electronic network, the database remotely located from the destination, the database having a plurality of software agents, each of the software agents being specific to a corresponding one of a plurality of destinations; creating an electronic address having a prefix based upon the bar code and a suffix based upon the task information; linking to the destination based upon the electronic address; and performing an on-line transaction with the destination using the software agent.
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) | 2003-02-28 | 2003-08-30 | 2004-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-28 | 2007-08-30 | 2008-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-30 | 2012-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |